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Community Should Unite To Keep Flapjack Festival

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 18, 2008

Communities aren't always defined by boundaries. Often, they become known for events that bring together locals and residents from other areas eager to take a break from the routine rigors of life.

Such is the case with Land O' Lakes, home of the Flapjack Festival.

The annual fall festival began 30 years ago as the Land O' Lakes Festival when neighbors and community leaders joined for what amounted to a big block party that offered food, fun and entertainment.

The focus shifted to pancakes a few years later - hence the name change - and free flapjacks have been served since 1983. Appropriately enough, Land O'Lakes Butter of Minnesota provides that main ingredient. And tens of thousands descend upon the central Pasco County community every year for the event, which is usually held over three days.

This history is important. The festival is moving about 18 miles northeast to the Pasco County Fairgrounds in Dade City after a tremendous run at the Land O' Lakes Community Center on U.S. 41.

Understandably, some in the community are upset. This is Land O' Lakes' signature event. It is a source of pride in a community that has changed much over the past decade because of central Pasco's rapid growth. If the festival relocates, the community will have lost part of its identity.

Look at it this way: Imagine if the San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival, 40 years strong, became the New Port Richey Rattlesnake Festival. Or if the Kumquat Festival in Dade City moved to Zephyrhills, or New Port Richey's Chasco Fiesta relocated to Land O' Lakes.

Some things are just meant to be, and those festivals, as well as the Flapjack Festival, are vibrant parts of their communities.

The Flapjack Festival's planned relocation isn't the fault of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, its organizer. Growth in the community has usurped the facility and space the festival needs at the Land O' Lakes Community Center and an adjacent parcel of land that had been used for parking.
Chamber officials have scouted around for a new location in Land O' Lakes but haven't had any luck. They worked out an agreement with the Pasco County Fair Association, which is logical because it has the space and facilities just off State Road 52.

But the Land O' Lakes Flapjack Festival in Dade City? It doesn't fit, and that's no disrespect to that city. And distance isn't an issue. The issue is that the festival is Land O' Lakes - a constant among a landscape that continues to change.

The community - businesses, residents and government agencies, among others - needs to come to the festival's rescue.

Surely, a resident or business can meet the chamber's needs for land, water and infrastructure for this once-a-year event that means so much - if not for this year's festival but next year.

Surely, somewhere along State Road 54 to the Suncoast Parkway or along U.S. 41 north to State Road 52, and in between, there exists a suitable piece of property to hold a festival.
Chamber officials also need to be flexible. Even if a location as ideal as the Land O' Lakes Community Center grounds isn't available, perhaps some small changes can be made to the festival to accommodate a smaller site - as long as patrons' safety isn't compromised.

Keeping the festival where it belongs would be worth the extra work and revisions that may be needed.

If no one tries, then perhaps the festival isn't as important as many say.

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