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Red alert
By JORGE SANCHEZ, Times Staff Writer
Treat your taste buds to strawberry shortcake made with locally grown fresh berries this weekend at the Floral City Strawberry Festival. The festival also offers a large arts and crafts sales area, plenty of other food and live entertainment. The first stop for most folks is the strawberry shortcake booth, conveniently located near the front entrance. The booth stays busy. Shortcakes cost $3, and many people start off with dessert and then head somewhere else for lunch. And you won't be disappointed by the rest of the food, from the local organizations such as Mount Carmel Baptist Church, which sells barbecued chicken and sweet potato pies, to vendors selling sweet kettle corn, gigantic pork chops on a stick, cotton candy, hamburgers and hot dogs. Once you get your food, head over to one of the hundred or so hay bales to enjoy a leisurely meal beneath the shade of oaks. After lunch, you might want to work off those extra calories by taking a walk through the trail, which winds through the arts and crafts exhibits. There are works of wood such as shelves, decorative bowls, lawn and garden ornaments, tables and mobiles. Other crafts include hand-made jewelry and clothing. A classic car display is also part of the festival scene. The Little Miss Strawberry Princess Pageant begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, and the Miss Strawberry Princess Pageant follows at 3. The Citrus County public transportation system is offering free bus rides to the festival. This is by far the best way to get there. It's a park-and-ride system based out of the Citrus County Fairgrounds on U.S. 41 S, Inverness. Buses depart every 15 minutes. At a glanceThe 16th annual Floral City Strawberry Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday at Floral Park, U.S. 41 S, 2.5 miles south of Floral City. Festival admission is $2 per person, free for children under 12. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Food, strawberry sales and live music included. Free bus rides from the fairgrounds on U.S. 41 S, Inverness. Entertainment scheduleSaturday 9 a.m.: Opening ceremonies. Presentation of colors by American Legion Post 225 and VFW Post 7122. The Star-Spangled Banner, sung by Amy Crowell. 10 a.m.: Keri Thompson 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Citrus A's antique cars display 10:30 a.m.: Amazzing Steel Drum Band 11:30 a.m.: Dunnellon Riverlanders Noon: Lecanto Show Chorus 12:45 p.m.: Amazzing Steel Drum Band 1:45 p.m.: Citrus County Cloggers 2:30 p.m.: Fortuity -- Irish Music Show 3:30 p.m.: Brad Jarlinski Children's activitiesFree continuous games and crafts 9 a.m. to noon: Ident-A-Kid by the Sheriff's Office Noon: Clowns Are Fun 2 p.m.: Little Miss Strawberry Princess Pageant 3 p.m.: Miss Strawberry Princess Pageant 4 p.m.: Pie Eating Contest (18 and younger) 4:30 p.m.: Pie Eating Contest (18 and older) Sunday10 a.m.: Carol Lee Wallis 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Citrus Cruisers classic cars display 10:30 a.m.: David and Rusty 11 a.m.: Mast Brothers Noon: Sounds of Joy 12:30 p.m.: One Heart 1 p.m.: Forgiven 1:30 p.m.: Two Thorns and a Rose 2 p.m.: Red Chapeaus 2:30 p.m.: Two Thorns and a Rose 3 p.m.: Citrus County Line Dancers 3:30 p.m.: Jackie Sharp's School of Music Children's activitiesFree continuous games and crafts Noon: It's a Clown Thing 1:30 p.m.: Pie Eating Contest (18 and younger) 2 p.m. Pie Eating Contest (18 and older)
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