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Come Flip Over Flapjacks

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By SHERRI LONON

In The Loop

Published: October 26, 2008

DADE CITY - With less than a week to go until the Flapjack Festival's grand opening in a new location, organizers at the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce are busy finalizing details.

The event, which has been held in Land O' Lakes throughout its 30-plus-year history, will move this year to the Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52. The move, officials said, was necessary due to space limitations on the Land O' Lakes Community Center grounds and the impending construction at Sanders Elementary School.

Although this year's festival will be "a little different," it will have all the features festival goers have come to expect, said Kathy Dunkley, the chamber's executive director. The fairgrounds do deliver quite a few perks that previous festivals have not enjoyed, including three stages for live entertainment and events.

"This gives us a better opportunity for our local groups to get more stage time," Dunkley said. In addition, the baby pageant and the Miss Central Pasco pageant also will take place during the festival thanks to the indoor space. The events had to be held at different times and locations in previous years.

These aren't the only highpoints of the new location, however. Gary Williams, the festival's chairman, pointed out that the fairgrounds has full bathrooms, complete with running water.

The festival began in 1977 when a group of community clubs got together to put on an event that would provide fun, food and entertainment for the entire community, according to the chamber's Web site.

Free flapjacks were offered for the first time in 1983 and the Land O' Lakes Butter company of Minnesota supplied the butter that year and every year since.

Beyond flapjacks and community performances, the festival also is famous for its midway. This year will be no different, Dunkley said. The cost for unlimited ride armbands is $20 this year, but area schools and the chamber have advanced sales armbands for $14 until Wednesday. This year's festival will have a gate admission charge of $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger, but parking will be free.

The festival runs Friday through Nov. 2. It is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 2.

For more information, visit the chamber Web site at www.centralpascochamber .com or call (813) 909-2722. To pick up advance ride armbands, check with area schools or visit the chamber during normal business hours at 2810 Land O' Lakes Blvd. in Land O' Lakes.

LAND O' LAKES FLAPJACK FESTIVAL ENTERTAINMENT

Friday

Dan Cannon Auditorium

6 p.m.: Karaoke preliminaries

7:30 p.m.: Land O' Lakes "Mayor" installation

8 p.m.: Karaoke finals

Madill Stage

7 p.m.: Halloween costume contest and candy treats for children 12 and younger; face painting and Mr. Balloon Man

Dan Cannon Auditorium

10 a.m.: Lil' Mr. and Miss Flapjack

3 p.m.: Miss Flapjack Pageant

6 p.m.: Island Girl and The Beach Bums

7 p.m.: Mr. LOL Legs Contest

8 p.m.: James Taylor Curtis and The Silver Eagle Band

Madill Stage

8 a.m.: Flapjack breakfast with music by Linda Mangione

2 p.m.: Cake and pie baking awards and sale

3 p.m.: Bay Cities Bank Flapjack Eating Contest

Back Porch Theater

Noon: Temple Twirlers

1 p.m.: Pine View Jazz Band

2 p.m.: Rushe Middle School music

3 p.m.: Orange Blossom Singers

5 p.m.: Bridwell Trio

6 p.m.: Donny Simonds Band

8 p.m.: Skywire Project

Sunday

Dan Cannon Auditorium

11 a.m.: Song & Dance

Noon: Arts in Motion

1 p.m.: Family Fun Magic Show

2 p.m.: Contempo Dance

3 p.m.: Suncoast School of the Arts

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