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RevampedHudsonSeafestreturns

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By CARL ORTH

The Suncoast News

Published: October 22, 2009

HUDSON - After scrapping the fundraising community festival last year, Hudson Seafest officials are bringing back the event for its 25th anniversary - but with dramatic changes.

Instead of the traditional three days, the 2009 edition of Seafest will be a single day, board member Denise Isaacson said. It will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

Instead of the back lots at USA Fleamarket at Bayonet Point, the event this year will be at the Rotary Pavilion at the Concourse, on State Road 52 near the Suncoast Parkway.

Instead of crowds that numbered up to 30,000 in the past, the goal is to sell about 500 tickets for $25 apiece, which includes dinner and drink tickets.

The aim remains the same, however: to raise money for local charities, scholarships and community improvements such as sidewalks, Isaacson said.

The recession has been the biggest culprit in reshaping the event. Sponsors pulled out in 2008, causing Seafest to collapse, Isaacson said.

Hudson Water Works, Covanta and WJQB, 106.3 FM, came onboard as sponsors this year to get Seafest back on its feet.

"We're kind of going back to our roots," Isaacson said, adding that Seafest was kind of a block party when it launched in 1984.

"To produce a three-day festival is quite an expensive endeavor," Isaacson said. The rent for a tent was $6,500.

The former location, at the flea market near U.S. 19 and S.R. 52, required elaborate plans to wire the fields for electricity, Isaacson said.

One of the appeals of the Rotary Pavilion is that electricity is included.

"We'll be saving an enormous amount of money," Isaacson said.

The Rotary facility, however, already was booked for the first weekend of November, the traditional time for Seafest. So Seafest leaders chose Oct. 24.

"We are kind of sorry to leave the flea market," Isaacson said. There won't be room for a carnival at the new Seafest site. But a change in location is nothing new during the 25-year history of Seafest.

Seafest will gain a full bar at the new site, though.

The "famous Seafest fish dinner" will return as usual, although the menu will expand to include some barbecue dishes.

Music, auctions, games and 50-50 drawings will be part of festivities.

A Seafest fishing tournament will be held on Nov. 7. The catch-and-release tournament will offer more than $4,000 in cash and prizes. The entry fee is $50. Seafest, WestPasco Navigator.com and OldHome Ideas.com sponsor the tournament.
Isaacson said scaling back Seafest means the nonprofit group might be able to attempt several smaller events throughout the year.

For tickets or information, call (727) 236-3854 or go online to www.hudsonseafest.com. The Web site soon could offer online purchases of tickets, Isaacson said.

Reporter Carl Orth can be reached at (727) 815-1068 or corth @suncoastnews.com.

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