The Fourth of July brought old-fashioned fun to the Pasco County Fairgrounds. The annual Sparklebration included apple pie and hot dog eating contests, balloon artists, clowns and more, and parachutists from Skydive City in Zephyrhills dropped in with flags. Major sponsors were Medical Clinic and Dade City Business Center. Other sponsors included The Tampa Tribune; Pasco County Tourist Development Council; CenterState Bank; West Florida, N.A.; State Farm Insurance, Baldy Boyd, agent; Growers Fertilizer Corp.; Tampa Electric Co.; San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union; Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Inc.; First National Bank of Pasco; Jarrett Ford; Pasco Regional Medical Center; Smile Design; and Bank of America. ...more

July 8, 2009

Hillsborough Fourth of July Celebration; family fun features face painters, balloon artists, live music and more; 2 p.m.Friday (fireworks at 9 p.m.); free; Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa; (813) 223-4250 ...more

July 3, 2008

Hillsborough Fourth of July Celebration; family fun features face painters, balloon artists, live music and more; 2 p.m. today (fireworks at 9 p.m.); free; Channelside Bay Plaza, 615 Channelside Drive, Tampa; (813) 223-4250 ...more

July 3, 2008

Parades and fireworks mark the celebration of the country's birthday, the Fourth of July. Many events are free, several feature musicians and other entertainers, and virtually all are designed for all ages. Here are some of the events Friday: ...more

June 30, 2008

TAMPA - With only about 48 hours to wait, roughly 25 people are lined up this morning at the entrance to an Ikea store set to open in Orlando on Wednesday. Joseph Roth, a spokesman for the Swedish company, said that number may swell to several thousand by the time doors open in the 309,000-square-foot store at 9 a.m. Wednesday. ...more

November 12, 2007