The Laker/Lutz News

Chasco Fiesta

Chasco Fiesta celebrates 100 years

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When the Chasco Fiesta began in 1922, it was headed by Postmaster Gerben DeVries as a way to raise money for the local library, according to a resolution of congratulations adopted on March 22 by the Pasco County Commission.

Kurt Conover appeared on behalf of the Chasco Fiesta celebration, at the March 22 Pasco County Commission meeting, to receive a resolution of congratulations honoring the event’s 100th anniversary. From left: Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, County Commissioner Ron Oakley, County Commissioner Mike Moore, Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey, Kurt Conover, Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick and Commissioner Jack Mariano. This year’s festivities began on March 25 and runs through April 3. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

DeVries was inspired by the Native Americans in the area and the nearby Pithlachascotee River, the source of the names for King Pithla and Queen Chasco, two central characters of the festival, the resolution says.

The resolution credits the sponsors and more than 700 volunteers as the driving forces behind Chasco Fiesta.

They “work tirelessly to create a fun and memorable experience for every attendee, including a steering committee that oversees the year-round planning and organization of the Chasco Fiesta,” the resolution says.

Kurt Conover, accepted the resolution, on behalf of Chasco Fiesta.

“We are very excited. We anticipate record crowds,” Conover said. “We’re expecting over 200,000 people to be participating,” he said.

This year’s festival began on March 25 and runs through April 3.

After the resolution was read, Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said: “I cannot believe the 100-year date, that it’s the oldest fiesta celebration in the state. That’s amazing. Very cool.”

Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick, who sponsored the resolution, said, “I want to say thank you to all of the volunteers who help make this possible. I’ve been attending this for 33 years, since I’ve been here.

“From watching the parade and watching the boat parade every year. It’s been a very exciting event. I want to encourage everyone to come out,” Fitzpatrick said.

Chasco Fiesta is a 501(C)4 organization, and in 2019 benefited 20 not-for-profit organizations in the local community and surrounding areas.

This year’s festival began on March 25 and runs through April 3. For a look at the festival’s remaining schedule, visit the events calendar at ChascoFiesta.com.

Published March 30, 2022

Pasco’s tourism director wants to take a new approach

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Adam Thomas envisions Pasco County becoming one of Florida’s “must-see” tourism destinations.

Aside from mostly pleasant weather, the county lays its claim to bountiful ecotourism, miles of bike trails, premier multipurpose sports facilities — as well as beaches and resorts.

“We have a lot of opportunities,” said Thomas, who is Pasco’s newest tourism director.

“Our destination is really primed for success in the future, and ready for success now. We have a lot of key attractions and key different segments in tourism right here…”

Thomas, 38, started his $82,000-a-year job in September.

New Pasco County tourism director Adam Thomas shared his vision during a Nov. 8 luncheon hosted by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. He began the job in September. (Kevin Weiss)

He shared his vision for Pasco County’s Office of Tourism Development — which is known as Visit Pasco — during a Nov. 8 luncheon hosted by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

He expressed confidence in the county’s tourism offerings, but he said the county’s current strategy “lacks an identity.”

“Not one person can identify what our brand is, as a tourism destination,” Thomas told chamber members and county stakeholders gathered at the Fox Hollow Golf Club.

Thomas needs to develop a brand strategy that highlights the county’s assets and create a business model that attracts not just locals, but also resonates with people “50 miles and beyond.”

He noted he has considerable work to do to attract visitors that will produce economic impact over the course of the year.

Most recently, Thomas served as director of the Citrus County Visitor’s Bureau, since 2013. Before that, he was a minor league baseball player, a career that spanned more than a decade, and took him to three continents and countless cities across the United States.

Thomas replaced Doug Traub, who left after just three months on the job as the county’s first tourism director. Traub arrived in Pasco from Lake Havasu, Arizona, where he was the chief executive officer of the visitor and tourism bureau.

Pasco County previously had a tourism manager position, but the director’s job expands on those duties to handle long-range strategic goals.

In Citrus County, Thomas said tourism generated $11.7 million in sales taxes in 2016, ultimately saving each county household about $197 on taxes that year.

“Something that I love about our industry is that it’s no tax burden on the citizens in their household, but it’s providing economic sustainability,” Thomas said.

Duplicating results for Pasco, he said, starts with auditing each event and festival coordinated by his office — to determine whether or not they drive hotel room nights and create an economic impact that “brings the highest yield of investment.”

Thomas noted Visit Pasco last year spent $285,000 on local events and festivals, and $160,000 on tourism advertising initiatives.

He questioned whether those local events — such as the Pasco County Fair in Dade City and the Chasco Fiesta in New Port Richey — actually entice tourists and nonresidents.

“On an annual basis, we’re spending more money on local events and festivals than we actually do marketing the destination,” he said. “We have to take a look at the bigger picture.”

The tourism director also panned the economic model for the Dick’s Sporting Good Tournament of Champions in Wesley Chapel, a youth lacrosse showcase that draws more than 50 teams from more than a dozen states, as well as Canada. The three-day event has been held in the county each year since 2008.

Thomas pointed out the county spent a combined $694,000 on the three-day event over the last seven years alone.

“That’s a $94,000 (annual) bill for us, with 80 percent of the rooms going to Tampa. Is that a good business decision?” he asked.

“It’s really not all about heads and beds. It’s about getting the right event or the right audience in our destination to create the highest economic impact and the highest visitor expenditure. That’s going to offset costs, again, to the local community in the sales tax,” he said.

He also detailed some of his long-term ideas.

He said he wants to lure more small conferences and trade associations — with various incentive packages — to places such as Saddlebrook Resort & Spa and the forthcoming Wiregrass Sports Complex, both of which offer thousands of square feet of meeting space, along with numerous recreation opportunities.

“These are small, little initiatives that can really make an impact to the entire community,” Thomas said.

He also wants to popularize scallop harvesting in west Pasco, with the approval of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Scalloping was a draw for traveling families in Citrus County between June and September, he said.

Drawing other profitable sporting events and fishing tournaments are definite possibilities, too.

Elsewhere, Thomas wants to furnish interactive kiosks and mobile video displays to promote the county at events and trade shows. He noted other communities have introduced digital billboards, videos and virtual reality to portray their respective various tourist attractions.

“There’s a lot of things our office hasn’t been doing in the past that we need to be doing moving forward,” he said. “We’re behind the eight-ball a little bit…”

Meanwhile, Thomas plans to completely rebrand “Visit Pasco” during the next several months.

He plans to have a consulting firm in place by January to help with new branding, as well as marketing efforts.

The process could take anywhere from six months to eight months, he said.

“We first have to identify who our target audience is…and we have to do that through a brand and research strategy where a firm comes in and works directly with our events holders, our properties, to actually find out who’s coming here and why,” he explained.

“We have some really key attractions, but it’s all going to be a part of the brand umbrella,” Thomas said.

Whatever slogan is selected, Thomas wants Pasco to identify as an entirely separate entity from Tampa — not merely an extension of it.

“We want to pull ourselves away from Tampa,” he said, “and the only way we’re going to be able to do that is with the brand strategy to be a standalone competing destination for it.

“We don’t want to be a room night, a day trip from Tampa into Pasco. We don’t want to be a bedroom community to Tampa,” Thomas said.

Thomas and his staff of two will have a budget based on the recent doubling of Pasco’s tourism tax, to 4 percent from 2 percent.

The surcharge on overnight hotel stays and other short-term rentals had remained at 2 percent for 26 years, until August.

Pasco officials estimate the additional 2 percent tourism tax will generate an additional $1.2 million in fiscal 2018, which began Oct. 11.

Published November 15, 2017

Resolve to have fun in 2017

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Maybe 2017 is the year that you’re going to have more fun.

But, perhaps you want to improve planning your activities, and to get a better handle on your spending, too.

The Laker/Lutz News is here to help.

Whether you’re new to area, or have lived here for decades, this guide is intended to help you plan fun activities for you and your family, without breaking the bank.

January
Raising Cane, a sweet & spicy event
When: Jan. 14, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
How much: Admission: $5 per person
Details: Cane syrup making, cane syrup competition, chili cook-off, salsa competition, greased pole climbing, iron skillet toss, entertainment and vendors

This blues band is keeping the crowd entertained at the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues fest. (File Photos)

Seventh annual Pigs in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues
When: Jan 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 5200 Airport Road, at the new community venue
How much: Free admission; $10 parking
Details: Mouth-watering barbecue, blues music, classic car show, aircraft displays, World War II museum, beer and wine, gift vendors, business showcase, kids zone and more
For information, call (813) 782-1913, or visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

 

12th annual Suncoast Arts Fest
When: Jan. 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Jan. 22, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel
How much: Free admission and parking
Details: More than 125 fine artists and craftsmen; live entertainment; emerging artist booth, featuring work of area middle and high school students; street painting; roaming entertainers; and, free art projects for the kids

Dade City’s annual Kumquat Festival
When: Jan. 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Downtown Dade City
How much: Admission and parking are free; free shuttles for satellite lots
What: Local entertainment, antique cars, arts and crafts, activities for kids, vendors, health and wellness, kumquat pies, kumquat products, quilt challenge and more
Several events are held leading up to the festival, visit DadeCityChamber.org for information.

February
Farm Fest & Quilt Show
When: Feb. 4, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Florida Pioneer Museum & Village,15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
How much: $10 per day, or $15 for both days.
What: Draft horse pull on Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Bring your own lawn chair, limited seating); quilt show, activities, music and more
For information, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Florida Ranch Days
When: Feb. 11 and Feb. 12
Where: Little Everglades Ranch, 17951 Hamilton Road, Dade City
How much: Free admission; parking, $10 for cars and $25 for RVs
Details: Live entertainment on multiple stages; guided ranch tours on hay wagons; swamp buggy rides; trading post; food roundup; children’s area; and more
For information, visit RanchDays.com.

Third annual Snowbird Palooza
When: Feb. 11, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
How much: Free parking and free admission
Details: Entertainment, speakers, coffee and donuts social, Bingo tent, live magician, art classes and more
For information, email .s.

Pasco County Fair
When: Feb. 20 to Feb. 26
Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City
Details: Midway, fair food, entertainment, competitions
For a schedule of events, admission charge and other information, visit PascoCountyFair.com.

March
Flea Market at the Old Lutz School
When: March 3 and March 4
Where: The Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 N.
How much: Admission is free.
Details: Thousands of items for sale to generate funds for causes supported by the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

Second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Fest
When: March 11, noon to 8 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
How much: Early bird $10 general admission, $15 at the gate; Early bird $25 reserved seating, $30 at the gate; $5 parking.
Details: Live music, car show, bounce houses, obstacle course, video games, food and drink vendors, business and arts & crafts showcase. No outside food or coolers allowed. Event will be held, rain or shine.

Founders’ Day Parade in Zephyrhills
When: March 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Main Street Zephyrhills District
How much: Free admission
Details: A parade to celebrate Founders’ Day in Zephyrhills. This year’s theme is classic board games.
For information, visit MSZI.org.

Savage Race
When: March 18 and March 19
Where: 17951 Hamilton Road, Dade City
Details: Twenty-five obstacles, mud in your underwear, chip timing, T-shirt, beer, action photos, camaraderie, memories
For information, visit SavageRace.com.

Dogs Day in Dade City
When: March 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Agnes Lamb Park, in downtown Dade City
Details: Dog wagon parade, dog costume contest, canine got talent, ice cream/yogurt eating contest and more

Zephyrhills Pie Festival
When: March 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
How much: Free admission and parking; $10 all-you-can-eat pie buffet, from noon until 3 p.m.
Details: Pie bakers and vendors, slices of pie and whole pies for sale; pie-eating contests, a pie buffet, local business showcase, kids’ area, DJ entertainment and other activities

Gran Fondo Florida
When: March 26, start time 8 a.m.
Where: San Antonio
Details: Bicycle road race through the rolling hills of Dade City and San Antonio. Cyclists can choose to ride three distances: 30 miles, 60 miles or 100 miles, and are timed on certain stretches of the race.For information, visit GranFondoNationalChampionshipSeries.com.

April
Jelly Bean Fling
When: April 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
Details: Easter bunny, Easter bonnet parade, egg hunt, face painting, bounce house and more
For information, visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Easter Sunrise Service
Where: Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills
When: April 16, 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
How much: Free admission
Details: Live Christian music, an inspirational message, a live dove release and free refreshments. Seating is limited and lawn chairs are encouraged.

 

 

 

 

Wesley Chapel Boat Show
When: April 21 to April 23
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel
For information, visit TheShopsatWiregrass.com.

June
Third Annual Zephyrhills SummerFest
Where: Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills
When: June 24, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
How much: Free admission, free parking
Details: Live entertainment; bounce houses, slides, a rock wall, trampoline and other kids’ activities; vendor village of arts & crafters; pet friendly; fireworks at sunset
For information, contact .

July
What: Lutz Fourth of July
When: July 4, parade starts at 10 a.m. (There’s a race and other festivities before and after the parade). More details will be available closer to the event.
Where: Downtown Lutz, near the Train Depot
How much: Admission and parking are free.

November
29th annual Florida Bug Jam
When: Nov. 11 and Nov. 12
Where: Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52, Dade City
For details, visit FloridaBugJam.com.

 

 

 

December
Lutz Arts & Crafts Show
When: Dec. 2 and Dec. 3|
Where: Keystone Preparatory High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa
Details: Hundreds of arts and crafts vendors and food booths in an annual show that draws tens of thousands of shoppers

Christmas in the Park
When: Traditionally held on the first Sunday in December
Where: City Park, 12202 Main St., in downtown San Antonio
How much: Free admission, free refreshments
Details: Annual lighting of giant Christmas cards, old-fashioned carol singing and other nostalgic touches.

Tampa Tour de Clay
When: Dec. 9 and Dec. 10
Where: Stops at area pottery studios
How much: The tour is free.
Details: Those making the tour will have the chance to watch kiln openings, talk with nationally known ceramic artists and perhaps do a bit of shopping.
For details, visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

Church Street Christmas
When: Traditionally held on select dates in December
Where: Historic Church Avenue in Dade City
How much: Admission is free
Details: Enjoy carolers, musicians and other entertainers along a street where the sidewalks are lit by luminaries and the houses are brilliantly decorated.

Old Lutz School Christmas House
When: Traditionally held on select dates in December
Where: 18819 U.S. 41 N.
How much: Free admission; donations of toys and nonperishable foods are encouraged
For details, visit OldLutzSchool.com.

Festival of Lights on Main Street
When: Traditionally held on the first Saturday in December
Where: On Fifth Avenue, from Seventh to 10th streets in downtown Zephyrhills
How much: Admission is free
Details: The event includes food, entertainment, holiday activities and a Christmas parade.

REGIONAL EVENTS
These events are beyond The Laker/Lutz News coverage area, but may be of interest to our readers.

Gasparilla Parade of Pirates
When: Jan. 28, 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Where: The parade goes from Bay to Bay and Bayshore boulevards, and continues on a route through downtown Tampa, ending at Cass Street and Ashely Drive. (People begin gathering hours before the parade begins; parking can be difficult to find).
Details: The parade includes 130 units, including floats, marching bands, pirates and more.

Florida State Fair
When: Feb. 9 through Feb. 20
Where: Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. 301 N.
Details: Fair foods, midway, entertainment, competitions
For information, visit FloridaStateFair.com.

Bay Area Renaissance Festival
When: Weekends, Feb. 18 through April 2
Where: 11315 N. 46th St., Tampa
How much: $17.95 adults, $9.95 children; free parking
Details: Step back to medieval times, with live jousting, and old time foods and shops.
For information, visit BayAreaRenFest.com.

Strawberry Festival
When: March 2 through March 12
Where: 303 N. Lemon St., Plant City
Details: Strawberry shortcake, entertainment, festival rides, contests, fair foods, competitions and more.
For information, visit FlStrawberryFestival.com.

Chasco Fiesta
When: March 24 through April 1
Where: Downtown New Port Richey
Details: Chasco Fiesta is a nine-day festival with events ranging from a Native American Pow Wow, to a street parade, to a boat parade to shows, a carnival, a fiesta and more.
For information, visit ChascoFiesta.com.

Florida Blueberry Festival
When: April 22, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and April 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Historic downtown Brooksville
How much: $10 for adults (over 18); $5 for ages 13 to 17; free for those 12 and under; $5 in designated parking areas. The event is pet friendly.
Details: Entertainment, fresh blueberries, kids zone, arts and crafts, beer, wine, food and more
For information, visit FloridaBlueberryFestival.org.

Tampa Bay International Dragon Boat Races
When: April 29, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Contachobee Fort Brooke Park, 601 Old Water St., Tampa Bay
Details: Rowing teams compete
For information, visit PanamDragonBoat.com, and click on “Events.”

GeckoFest
When: Sept. 2, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: 3101 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport
Details: The theme of the 17th annual GeckoFest will be Geckostock, a celebration of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, as was hippies and the “Peace and Love” generation.

Published January 4, 2017

Special events eligible for tourism grants

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Every year, thousands of tourists flock to festivals in Pasco County, spending money and getting to know the county’s best features.

They dine on kumquats, browse through arts and crafts booths, immerse themselves in Native American culture, listen to old-time music, and learn about the environment.

But, putting on those special events takes cash.

Thousands flocked to Dade City to enjoy the activities and displays at the 2016 Kumquat Festival. Events hoping to secure support through Pasco County’s tourism grants have until April 13 to apply. (File Photo)
Thousands flocked to Dade City to enjoy the activities and displays at the 2016 Kumquat Festival. Events hoping to secure support through Pasco County’s tourism grants have until April 13 to apply.
(File Photo)

Each year the Pasco County Office of Tourism Development and the Tourist Development Council award $80,000 in grants to organizations staging special events.

For fiscal year 2016-17, applications for the grants will be accepted through April 13.

Staff members at tourism development will review the application packets and make recommendations to the council members. All applicants will then make presentations to the council on May 18.

“We look for unique events that can really draw people to the event,” said Pasco Tourism Manager Ed Caum, in a press release. “We also recognize that event success doesn’t happen overnight, so we look for the potential growth as well.”

Grants can be spent on promotions, marketing, paid advertising and media buys.

The Kumquat Festival, the Suncoast Arts Fest, Rattlesnake Festival and Chasco Fiesta are among past recipients.

The Pasco Eco Fest, which staged its first event in 2015, also got some seed money for the event through the county’s special events grant program.

Last year, about $69,000 of the $80,000 in grants was awarded. The remaining $14,000 was spent by Pasco tourism on marketing efforts for each of the recipients.

Some of the funds paid for advertisement buys on Facebook. One ad drew about 33,000 visits to the page, Caum said.

“We’re trying to show them the power of online ways to attract people from outside of the county,” he said. The ad reach doesn’t have to go far. Even those people who come from surrounding counties are tourists – known as day trippers – once they cross into Pasco, he said.

Once the Tourism Development Council makes it recommendations for grants, the Pasco County Commission will have final say, probably in July or August.

Funds will be available Oct. 1, with the start of fiscal year 2017.

To apply, call the Pasco County OTD at (727) 847-8129. Forms and requirements are available at PascoCountyFl.net.

Published March 30, 2016