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Spring Jubilation At St. Stephen

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By PAUL CATALA pcatala@mediageneral.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 27, 2009

For the past seven years, the outdoor festival has meant fun for over 300,000 people and over $50,000 to help better a church, school and a community.

Now in its eighth year, the St. Stephen Catholic Church Spring Jubilee will be take place April 16 to 19, with events, games and entertainment spread all around the church's eight-acre campus at 10428 St. Stephen Circle.

Held on the corner of Boyette Road and Bell Shoals Road, with 35 rides, Spring Jubilee is third behind the State Fair and Strawberry Festival in having the most rides of any festival in the Tampa Bay area. Each year, about 40,000 people are estimated to go to the Jubilee for fun, food and festivities over four days.

Deb Heine, Spring Jubilee marketing director, said although the fun is an important aspect of the event, the payoff has been the money that has been raised and distributed to local charities. Another portion of proceeds from the festival go towards education programs for the 20-year-old Catholic church, its ministry and education programs and academic programs for kindergarten through eighth grade in St. Stephen Catholic School.

Heine, a member of St. Stephen's, said this year, the annual chili cook-off has been resurrected, after a year off due to a conflict with Easter break in 2008. The cook-off is open to anyone who thinks they might have winning recipe and is being emceed by Ernest Hooper, a columnist with The St. Petersburg Times.

In addition, for the first time, a motorcycle event is being planned for Sunday, with proceeds from it and other Spring Jubilee events going to local charities such as Brandon Outreach, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Thorn Ministries and Metropolitan Ministries.

"The festival is meant to be a way for the church to participate in the local community," said Heine. "It's a fun festival for families."

Hours for the Spring Jubilee are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 12 noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 12 noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Parking and entrance to The Spring Jubilee are free. Armbands for rides tickets are $20 Thursday, Friday and Sunday and $20 per session Saturday, 12 noon to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. All-day ride Saturday armbands can be purchased for $32.

All stage entertainment is free.

For information and a schedule of entertainment, see www.springjubilee.com or call (813) 689-4900 ext. 311.

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