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Old-Fashioned Twist To A Fall Festival

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By ANNETTE MARDIS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 28, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - You don't have to live here to appreciate Founders Day.

That's the premise, and the promise, of the annual celebration, which offers a little bit of NASCAR, a pinch of pumpkin time and a whole bunch of tunes and home-style entertainment.

'We wanted to re-create an archetypical fall festival, with something of a county fair atmosphere without the livestock, so that people from all parts of the country can identify and grow nostalgic,' says Judy DeBella Thomas, who heads Greater New Port Richey Main Street, which introduced the festival in 1997.

This year's edition is today through Sunday in and around Sims Park, which is bounded by Main and Bank streets, Grand Boulevard and the Pithlachascotee River in the downtown area.

Read on for a look at what the weekend will bring.

FIRST, A QUICK HISTORY LESSON: Compared with Boston, Seattle, Dallas, New Orleans, Tampa, Atlanta and Charleston, S.C., to name a few, New Port Richey's history is fairly short. Capt. Aaron M. Richey founded the community and the Port Richey Land Co. began promoting it as the 'ideal retirement area' as early as 1911, according to the city's Web site.

Boosting development was the expansion of railroad service and the proximity to Dixie Highway. That major north-south rail route along Florida's west coast ran through the center of New Port Richey's business district.

Most of the pre-1920s buildings downtown were made of wood and, over time, went up in flames.

Incorporated in 1924, New Port Richey spent much of that decade entertaining cinema stars and other celebrities in the legendary attempt to become the 'Hollywood of the east.' The Great Depression stripped the tinsel from the town.

The population swelled from 1,500 to more than 3,500 in the 1950s, and multilane U.S. 19 replaced Dixie Highway as the major north-south thoroughfare.

After dabbling in redevelopment since the 1970s, New Port Richey has made renewing and rebuilding a rallying cry - especially downtown - in the 2000s. But much of the grand plan remains on paper.

NOW, A FEW BASICS: Founders Day runs from 5 to 11 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free but organizers hope you will plunk down a $2 donation at the welcome center.

PICNIC WITH A POOCH: Whether you live with a dog or don't, share lunch between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday along Orange Lake. With help from Suburban Feed and Pet Supply, and the SPCA Suncoast, Main Street is serving free 'gourmet meals' (donations accepted, of course) to diners whose tails wag, and boxed food from Sweetbay Supermarket to the doggies' guests (that's you). For people without pups, the SPCA will bring Fido and friends as lunch buddies for those who bid $1 at a time.

SPANNING MUSICAL STYLES: Tonight's the night to get country and rock a little, too, with John Wayne Wilkinson and the six-piece Dixie Highway band from 7:30 to 10:30. Local teen talent Victoria K. opens the show at 6 at the Sims Park Amphitheatre.

The Friends of Florida Folk will fill Queen of Peace Hall, next to the West Pasco Historical Society, with authentic acoustical sounds starting at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

True Oldies radio, WJQB, 106.3 FM, will go back to the '60s again in Saturday night's free concert in Sims Park. The Rock-a-Fellas open the show with rockabilly at 7:45, followed by the headliners, '60s Groove, from 9 to 10:30. The tribute band brings back hits from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers, The Doors and The Byrds, among other acts of the period.

Performing at the park earlier Saturday are Renaissance Academy Drum Line, 11:45 a.m.; children's Gotta Dance troupe, noon; acoustic guitarist Shannon, 1 p.m.; nightspot singer Lulu, 2 p.m.; Kat Turner, acoustic guitarist, 4:15 p.m.; and Radio Girls, 1940s sass and harmony, 6:30 p.m.

An audience-participation circle jam features folk singer Susan Boyer Haley from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday in the amphitheatre area. Afterward, the Wayne Pearson Group lends a little Dixieland from 1 to 5 p.m.

Here's more on the friends from Florida's folk scene:

•Tom Ellis - doubles as the soundman and a singer of easy listening folk in the early afternoon open mic sessions.

•Susan Boyer Haley - the Clearwater songstress plays guitar, mountain dulcimer and psaltery (think strings stretched across a flat sound-box). Husband Bill accompanies her on banjo and mandolin. Their repertoire draws on the traditional tunes of England, Ireland, Scotland and Appalachia.

•Star Bird - husband and wife Jay Hall and Valinda McQueen of Eustis offer a mix of Celtic, mountain and traditional folk, plus songs about Florida.

•Ken and Trisha Brooks - the Spring Hill couple play multiple instruments to make feel-good, foot-stomping, old-time music.

•Mike Jurgensen - the contemporary singer-songwriter-guitarist from New Port Richey is featured at festivals and other events throughout Florida.

•Roseville Fare - Ron Gilbert and wife Jenny James of Brandon bring two voices, two guitars, Celtic whistle, mandolin, banjo and a romantic flare.

•Blind Willie James and David Lee Maxwell - a mix of folk, jazz, blues and gospel with both St. Petersburg men on vocals; James on acoustic guitar and piano; and Maxwell backing up on spoons, tambourine, cardboard box with brushes, and washboard.

•Bobby Hicks - a singer, songwriter, guitarist, Tampa resident and Florida native with a 'let's don't spread asphalt over the whole bleeping state' attitude.

OTHER STUFF TO SEE, DO, HEAR: From hawking native plants, to pulling a truck to showing classic cars, Founders Day also features:

•New Port Richey Marine Institute Truck Pull - registration at 9 a.m., competition at 11 on Grand Boulevard between the amphitheatre and Peace Hall.

•Master Gardeners - 10 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, West Pasco Historical Society grounds.

•Nature Coast Florida Native Plants Sale - 10 a.m. to noon Saturday on the historical society grounds.

•Classic Car Show - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on Circle Boulevard.

•Pumpkin painting and scarecrow making - noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday across from the historical society at Orange Lake.

•West Pasco Historical Society - archival photo show, period costumes, quilt display, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at 6431 Circle Blvd.

•Miss Daisy boat tours and Makai Kayak and Canoe tours - starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sims Park.

•Arts and crafts village, antique engines and demonstrations - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sims Park.

•NASCAR racing simulator - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sims Park.

•Carnival and midway - 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; look for flashing lights, blaring music and stuff that spins.

•Pasco Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley - register to vote, change name, address or party, see an iVotronic demonstration and pick up pamphlets, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, in the gazebo near the historical society.

WANT EVEN MORE DETAILS? Visit these Web sites: nprmainstreet.com; www. itsmydowntowntoo.com; cityofnewportrichey.org; fivay.org/new_port_richey; and www.rootsweb.com/~flwphs. Reach Greater New Port Richey Main Street at 6231 Grand Blvd.; call (727) 842-8066; send a fax to (727) 849-2667; or send e-mail to info@nprmainstreet.com.

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