Following is a summary of festivals and events set for this month. If you know of an event or festival not listed here, please contact me with the details.
Hernando
- Chinsegut Birding and Wildlife Festival
Where: Chinsegut Nature Center, 23212 Lake Lindsey Road, Brooksville
When: Friday, April 17, 6:45 p.m.; and Saturday, April 18, 7:30 a.m.
What: The event will include bat and owl prowls, a talk on hummingbirds, a birds-of-prey demonstration, a beetle and bug walk and off-site field trips to view burrowing owls.
Hillsborough
- USF Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Festival
Where: University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., NES107, Tampa
When: Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, April 12, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
What: The event will feature more than 70 vendors, workshops on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m., a free children’s activity area and an Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday. Admission is $5 for the general public, free for USF Botanical Garden members and children age 11 and younger.
- 29th Annual Tampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival
Where: Hillsborough High School, 5000 N. Central Ave., Tampa
When: Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What: Hosted by the Tampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival Committee, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System and the city of Tampa Recreation Department, the festival will feature storyteller Donald Davis, hundreds of school-aged festival quality storytellers, regional storytellers of all ages, balladeers, puppets and storybook characters.
Manatee
- De Soto Heritage Festival Grand Parade
Where: Starting at Manatee High School, 903 33rd St. Ct. W., Bradenton
When: Saturday, April 25, 6:30 p.m.
What: The parade will feature more than 150 illuminated parade entries, lighting up the night with color, music and fanfare as the finale to the De Soto Heritage Festival.
Pasco
- Black Tie and Blue Jeans Country Ball
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Saturday, April 18, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m.
What: The sixth annual Black Tie and Blue Jeans Country Ball will feature fine dining with a country flair, live entertainment by the Steelwater Band, a live and silent auction and dancing. Cost is $75 a person. Advance tickets only. Call 352-567-0262.
Pinellas
- 23rd Annual Antique Car Show
Where: Heritage Village, 12211 Walsingham Road, Largo
When: Saturday, April 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What: Sponsored by the Pin-Mar Antique Car Club, the event will feature more than 100 restored automobiles as well as entertainment and a food court. Admission is free.
- Celebrate Earth Day
Where: Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo
When: Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
What: The event will feature exhibits and experts who will share tips and offer suggestions on ways to protect the environment and conserve natural resources. There will be nature-friendly activities and crafts for children. Admission is free.
- Island EarthDays
Where: Honeymoon Island State Park, at the extreme west end of State Road 586, north of Dunedin
When: Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What: The annual event features nature-based entertainment in a beautiful, relaxing setting with white sandy beaches and a state-of-the-art nature center. There will be food and drink, a wide range of musical performances, eco-friendly craft vendors, interactive nature exhibits, guided nature walks as well as children’s games. Hawaiian outriggers will speed through the surf on Saturday, while kayaks will race on Sunday.
- 2009 Festival of States Day Parade
Where: Downtown St. Petersburg, beginning on Central Avenue and Fifth Street.
When: Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m. to noon
What: At least 12 Pinellas County high school bands will participate in this year’s parade along with dozens of other entries, including floats, krewes and walking groups.
- 2009 Festival of States Familyfest
Where: North Straub Park, 398 Fifth Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg.
When: Saturday, April 18, noon to 4:30 p.m.
What: The event will feature two stages of entertainment, games, inflatables, rock climbing wall, bungee jump, batting booth, Radio Disney and concessionaires selling food and drink. Admission is free, but some venues require the purchase of a ticket.
- 34th Annual Mainsail Arts Festival
Where: Vinoy Park, 500 Bayshore Drive N.E., St. Petersburg.
When: Saturday and Sunday, April 18 and 19, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What: The festival will feature more than 200 artists who will set up in the park. There will be visual exhibits in seven categories, craft demonstrations, a children’s arts activity tent and culinary arts and food vendors. Live entertainment will include Southern rock, jazz, country rock and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Call 727-892-5882.
- First Annual Palm Harbor Citrus Festival
Where: Downtown Palm Harbor, 642 Florida Ave.
When: Saturday, April 25, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What: The festival will celebrate Palm Harbor’s heritage. Included will be carnival rides, vendors, games, a bake off, demonstrations, vignettes, concerts and a Miss Palm Harbor Citrus Festival Queen.
Sarasota
- 17th Annual Shark’s Tooth Festival
Where: Airport Festival Grounds, Venice
When: Friday, April 17, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, April 18, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What: The Sharks Tooth Festival takes place each spring against the backdrop of Venice's best sharks tooth hunting beach. It's a weekend of food, fossils, arts and crafts, music and fun for the whole family.
- 31st Annual Siesta Fiesta
Where: 5124 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota
When: Saturday and Sunday, April 25 and 26, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What: The festival will feature 250 of the nation’s most talented artists and crafters showcasing life-size sculptures, spectacular paintings, one-of-a-kind jewels, photography and ceramics. There also will be a green market selling live orchids, body products and tasty dips.