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Flutists To Fill River Park

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By GEOFF FOX

gfox@tampatrib.com

Published: October 11, 2008

DADE CITY - Dock Green Silverhawk hopes to see 2,000 friends this weekend.

Last year, about 1,800 people attended his annual Silverhawk Native American Flute Gathering, an event that started in his Plant City backyard five years ago. Although Silverhawk, who is part Creek and part Cherokee, has enough land for horses to graze on, the event soon became too popular for his limited acreage.

The event is now held at Withlacoochee River Park, about 4 1/2 miles east of Dade City.

"It started off as a backyard barbecue, and it has just exploded," said Silverhawk, 66, an equipment technician for Verizon. "I've tried to keep the same flavor. Although it's gotten pretty big, I'm trying to get away from it becoming a commercial thing. I just want to break even."

There is no admission to attend the event, which starts at 9 a.m. today and ends at 6 p.m. Sunday. It costs "about 15 bucks a night" to camp at the park, Silverhawk said.

The event attracts flutists, singers and drummers from across the state. There also will be vendors selling Native American clothing, jewelry, instruments and other items.

Utah Farris, 72, a flute maker and player from Lake Wales, attends every year. He and Silverhawk both said the event is not a powwow.

"Powwows tend to have a lot of dead spots, where there's nothing going on," Silverhawk said.

"The big thing with this is we have continuous entertainment from Saturday morning to Sunday evening," Farris said. "We have a big community down here of people interested in the Native American flute style and the music. We treat each other like brothers and sisters, and it just keeps growing."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Silverhawk Native American Flute Gathering

WHERE: Withlacoochee River Park, 12449 Withlacoochee Blvd., Dade City
WHEN: 9 a.m. today to 6 p.m. Sunday

INFORMATION: Call Dock Green Silverhawk at (813) 754-8990; e-mail slvhawk@aol.com, or visit www.silverhawkflute gathering.com.

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613.

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