Weekend activities step off with Christmas parade
By Phyllis Day, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Friday, December 10, 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From left, sisters Mia and Samantha Lopez wave to floats as their mother, Tonia Rojero, holds their sister Briahna Lopez during last year’s parade.
[Will Vragovic | Times (2009)]
xPrintEmailPostRepublishStory Tools
Comments (0) Contact the editor
Email Newsletters
Social Bookmarking
ShareThis
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
[MYNDEE WASHINGTON | Special to the Times]
Ghostly happenings await Ebeneezer Scrooge, seated, is played by Jerry Cowling, who does not share the spirit of Christmas with his nephew Fred, played by Patrick Moran, in the production of What the Dickens Happened to Scrooge? The show premieres today at Stage West Community Playhouse. For details on this and other holiday events, see Page 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Featured
Crist, Cabinet pass resolution for civil rights-era activists
Tampa Bay Watch intalls oyster domes
Times Male Athlete of the Week: James Wilder Jr.
Largo woman gets 105th birthday wish
Abandoned Shih Tzus get surgery
Gary Shelton on Urban Meyer
Help Portrait gives smiles to many
Raw Video: President Obama on "Mythbusters"
Private Company Launches Test Spacecraft
Farmers race to save strawberries from cold snap
Writing a Letter to Santa Claus Goes Digital
Hundreds Attend Wisc. Hostage Taker's Memorial
Gary Shelton on Bucs' 28-24 loss to Atlanta
Friday Night Rewind -- Regional finals
Man accused of Thanksgiving vengeance shootings targeted wrong people
No bail for suspect in fatal Largo drive-by shooting
Vinoy's 6-foot-long cake for 85th
Year-end interview with Gov. Charlie Crist
Times female athlete of the week: Nicole Adams
Scooter vs motorized wheelchair
Checking in with Tampa's Kristy McPherson
Observers Play Down Fraud in Haiti's Election
Times Male Athlete of the Week: Robinson's J.J. Hubbard
Camera Catches Crowd Pile-up at Target
Drive-by shooting victim has died; manhunt continues for suspect
Abandoned Shih Tzus get surgery
Brutal 'Gladiator School' Prison Brawl on Camera
Whitey Markle quiets the airboats on Orange Lake
Seminole Warhawk Band completes march to Macy's Parade
Friday Night Rewind -- Second-round playoffs
Witness: Deputy fires rounds into SUV as driver attempts to flee
Finding meaningful life after spouse dies
Times male athlete of the week: Josh Grady
Times female athlete of the week: MacKenzie Dagostino
A Thanksgiving dinner
Seminole Warhawk Band on March to Macy's Parade
Friday Night Rewind -- First-round playoffs
Football safety takes a hit from new data
"...no making sense of what happened." "It's hard to move forward."
Times male athlete of the week: Matt Ellis
Suspects sought in robbery, two carjackings
Gary Shelton on Bucs' win over Carolina
Support The Troops, Inc. sends packages to those abroad
A soldier's surprise visit to St. Petersburg
Coming Soon - The March to Macy's
One arrested in robbery, kidnapping
Gadget Guy - Things to Do iPhone app will keep you busy
Red-light cameras increase number of tickets
Joseph Safrany gets 50 years for dui crash
Seminole High band needs help to get all to Macy's parade
Catching up with Brittany Lincicome
Tampabay.com golf tour
'Hiccup Girl' attorney seeks to have her released on bail
Panhandling Tampa's drivers
A ghost bike for Diane Vega
Injured soldier gets a hero's welcome home
Take Nitally's Inferno Soup challenge — if you dare
'Hiccup girl' held without bail
Thief took car with child aboard
They serve, she clothes
Does Charlotte's light rail system offer a glimpse into Tampa's future?
On the hunt for alligator
Sixth bicyclist killed in Tampa in a collision involving three cars
Second rape trial begins for Kendrick Morris
Nearly 12-foot long alligator caught near downtown St. Pete
Braving alligators to dive for golf balls
The Columbia's Cuban
7-foot alligator removed from Tampa middle school
Authorities 'arrest' gator in East Lake
Gator bites handler during show
Large alligator captured in Clearwater
Mystery Monkey up close in St. Pete
If nothing else, the nippy weather this week may have begun to put people in the holiday spirit. If so, the timing couldn't be more perfect, as spectators of all ages prepare to converge on downtown Brooksville for Saturday morning's 36th annual Brooksville Christmas Parade.
The event, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Brooksville, will feature more than 100 entries, including high school marching bands, law enforcement, Smokey Bear, Shriners on motorized vehicles, horses, Santa and numerous others.
The theme is "A Country Christmas," and the grand marshal will be longtime Brooksville businessman Tommy Bronson.
The parade will start at 10 a.m. along Varsity Drive on the north side of Brooksville and continue on Oakwood Drive to Howell Avenue, then travel south down Howell and S Main Street before turning east onto Broad Street and ending at Bell Avenue. The parade is expected to last until about 12:30 p.m.
"Everything has been pulling together well," said event chairwoman Diana Koontz. "We have 101 entrants, which is not quite as much as we had last year, but there are always last-minute entries."
A special addition to this year's parade will be 11-year-old Madison Schmidt, who has been selected this year's Hometown Hero.
Madison, a sixth-grader at West Hernando Middle School, collects pull tabs from beverage cans for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Her goal is to collect 6 million tabs, which may be worth $3,000 to $4,000.
"That is one of the main reasons we picked her," Koontz said. "She puts herself out there to help the Shriners."
Along with celebrating the holidays, the parade serves as a fundraiser for the local Kiwanis. Funds raised from parade entry fees, as well as sales in the parade booklet, go toward children's events in the community.
Koontz said sales for this year's parade booklet are higher than last year, "which is great, because all that money goes back to the children in the community."
The parade is the first of several holiday events this weekend throughout Hernando County.
Some are longtime staples, such as the Christmas Candlelight Tours at the Hernando Heritage Museum in Brooksville and the lighted boat parades in Weeki Wachee and Hernando Beach.
New this year is the local premiere of What the Dickens Happened to Scrooge, a play written by local author and playwright Jerry Cowling, which will be performed at Stage West Community Playhouse today through Sunday.
It stars Cowling in the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge. After the folks affected by Scrooge's miserly ways hatch a plan to get him intoxicated, they act out his life before him and force him to become the "most generous soul in London."
"It's amazing to see such a mild-mannered person as Jerry transform into Scrooge," said the show's director, Myndee Fleury Washington, who is also executive director of the Hernando County Fine Arts Council. "He does such a great job."
Tonight's show is part of the fine arts council's Winter Gala at Stage West. A wine and hors d'oeuvres reception and silent auction start at 6:30 p.m.; showtime is at 8. Tickets are $10.
Additional performances of the play will be at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday; tickets to those shows are also $10 but do not include a reception or auction. Call the fine arts council at (352) 754-4788 or the Stage West box office at (352) 683-5113.
Watery wonderland part of holiday fun
Here are some other holiday activities taking place around the county this weekend:
• Hernando Hills Hi-Lites Christmas Show, 7 p.m. today, Mariner United Methodist Church, 7079 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill. The D'Lites Quartet and special guests will be featured. St. Nick will pass out goodies, and there will be door prizes and a raffle to win a gift basket. After the show, cookies and Christmas treats will be served, and Santa will be available for pictures. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students and free for children 3 and younger. Call (352) 686-4122.
• Holiday Lights at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, 6 to 10 p.m. today and Saturday, 6131 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee. Stroll through the park and enjoy the holiday sights and sounds. Santa will make an appearance for photo opportunities. Admission is $2. The Winter Waterland Holiday Festival is from 7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18 at the park. The event will include holiday-themed mermaid performances, John Leggio's Christmas Spectacular, the Grinchmas show, arts and crafts, and Santa. Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 12. Call (352) 592-5656.
• Hernando Heritage Museum Christmas Candlelight Tour, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Hernando Heritage Museum, 601 Museum Court, Brooksville. The museum is in the May-Stringer House, a 1854 Victorian home that will be decorated with a lighted tree, ornaments and numerous candles. There will be carolers. Punch will be served. Admission is $5 at the door. Call (352) 799-0129.
• Hernando Beach Yacht Club Christmas Boat Parade, 6 p.m. Saturday, Hernando Beach Yacht Club, 4163 Shoal Line Blvd., Hernando Beach. Prizes will be awarded for best original theme, best lighted and funniest boats. There will be hot dogs, chili, drinks and chips available at the club. Those wishing to enter boats in the parade must register between 3 and 6 p.m. today. The entry fee is a donation of an unwrapped toy. There is no cost for spectators. Call (352) 200-7822.
• 25th annual Weeki Wachee River Lighted Christmas Boat Parade, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Rogers Park, 7244 Shoal Line Blvd., Weeki Wachee. The parade, open to all boat owners, is sponsored by Weeki Wachee Marina. The entry fee is an unwrapped toy. There is no cost for spectators. All toys will be donated to the Dawn Center. Call (352) 596-2852.
• Nature Coast English Car Club and Suncoast Classic MG Club present Toys for Tots Car Show, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Duke's American Grill, 1320 Commercial Way, Spring Hill. Top 50 trophies awarded. Entry is a donation of a toy with a value of at least $10 (no stuffed animals). All proceeds benefit the Hernando County Toys for Tots program. There is no cost for spectators. Call (352) 688-0316.
• Brooksville Woman's Club presents the 10th annual Historic Tour of Homes, Sunday, downtown Brooksville. Tour times are available at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Three homes will be shown, along with the clubhouse, where hot apple cider and homemade cookies will be served. Tickets are $12. Call Yvonne Malone at (352) 796-6026 or (352) 848-7988.
• Hernando Jazz Society's "Holiday Celebration," 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Wellington Clubhouse, 400 Wexford Blvd., Spring Hill. Dance to seasonal music such as Winter Wonderland, Let It Snow and Rudolph the Red-No
