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Flapjacks Warming On Griddle For Festival

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By GEOFF FOX, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 1, 2007

LAND O' LAKES - Parking was such an issue during last year's Flapjack Festival that about 500 people had to be turned away from the community's signature event.

Thanks to the community-minded spirit of area landowners, parking shouldn't be an issue this year, said Kathy Dunkley, executive director of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event.

A large lot on the north side of School Road will be used for parking, as well as the festival's main lot.

'We cleared it all out and it's huge,' Dunkley said. 'It's going to be very convenient. People won't have to cross over U.S. 41 or anything.'

That's a good thing, because Dunkley expects even more people to attend the event than last year, when 35,000 to 40,000 people rode midway rides, enjoyed local entertainment and, of course, gobbled flapjacks.

The festival, sponsored in part by The Tampa Tribune, begins at 5 p.m. Friday and ends at 4 p.m. Sunday. The event is at the Land O' Lakes Community Center on U.S. 41, a few miles north of State Road 54.

New events this year include live karaoke and dance contests Friday night, while the popular Mr. Legs contest returns Saturday night.

Workers started erecting midway rides Monday. 'Kids see the rides going up on their way to school, and they're getting excited,' Dunkley said. 'It takes a long time to set it all up and you have to start on Monday because the rides will be inspected' today.
Marble Slab Creamery will be among the first-time food vendors at the festival. Marble Slab's district manager, Dana Matson, said the shop's customers and teenage employees had been asking whether Marble Slab would participate.

'We never were aware of what a big event it is,' said Matson, whose sister and brother-in-law, Shawn and Jimmy Sotolongo, own the shop. 'Then, as time has progressed, the customers asked us if we were going to participate. We're really looking forward to it.

'Several of our employees have lived in Land O' Lakes practically all their lives, and it's probably the biggest event in Land O' Lakes for the year. For the people in Land O' Lakes, it's like the Strawberry Festival or the Florida State Fair. It's the biggest event that takes place.'

As it has since 1982, the Minnesota company Land O' Lakes, known for its line of dairy products, is donating thousands of butter packets for the free flapjack breakfast, which is from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. McDonald's donates syrup.

According to Dunkley, the festival began as a 'fall festival'-type event.

'I believe the chamber got involved in 1977 and took it over,' she said. 'They were cooking flapjacks and they just said, 'Why don't we just call it the Flapjack Festival?' and they started the free breakfast.'

FLAPJACK FACTS

WHAT: 30th annual Flapjack Festival
WHERE: Land O' Lakes Community Center on U.S. 41, about four miles north of State Road 54

WHEN: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

CONTACT: For information, call the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722. A schedule of events can be found at www .centralpasco chamber.com.

ROAD CLOSED: School Road, between Bell Lake Road and U.S. 41, will be closed to traffic from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday for the festival parade. Local residents will have access to the road.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 948-4217 or gfox@tampatrib.com.

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