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Manatee Festival Of Arts Has New Name, Home

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By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

APOLLO BEACH - This year's Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts, formerly known as the Manatee Arts Festival, will sport a new venue, as well as the new name.

About 90 artists and craftsmen from across the country will display and sell their work at the 16th annual event, which will be March 8-9.

"After years of planning and permitting delays, we finally have a new home," said Joanne Gadek, executive director of the Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce and festival chairwoman. "It's a year of major change for us. We have a new name, logo and location."

The new site is the South Shore Community Center, which is at Dickman and Noonan Branch roads. There visitors will find a gated area that features a band shell, covered pavilions and plenty of parking. The former site on U.S. 41 North was an open field.

The festival, which is expected to attract about 8,000 people, Gadek said, will include a juried art competition, young artists' contest, culinary arts contest, children's creativity center, cooking demonstrations, food court and lots of live entertainment.

Gadek said the culinary competition will be between Riverview, Sickles and East Bay high schools. The hourlong contest will feature teams of young chefs preparing an entire meal from scratch, using pork loin as the entree.

A panel of culinary professionals, including Larry Cotton, who is a production technician at WFLA, Channel 8, and does the "Daytime" show's "Larry's Good Eats" reviews, will judge the culinary competition. Some members of the audience also will be invited to provide feedback to pick the People's Choice Award. First place will win $500; second place is $300, and third place will take home $200.

The festival also will feature a number of cooking demonstrations. Slated to participate are Seminole Hard Rock Cafe, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Circles Restaurant, StarShip Yachts and Winn-Dixie. For those who like wine, WineStyles of Riverview, PRP International Wines and Keel & Curley Winery of Plant City will offer tastings.

Lester Freeman and "D" Band will once again lead a packed venue of live performers. Freeman was an original member of the Soul Brothers Six, best known for their hit "Some Kind of Wonderful." He is an Apollo Beach resident.

The food court will feature jambalaya, shrimp Creole and other Cajun specialties, seafood, barbecue and other festival fare.

Admission will be $5 for adults, while children 12 and younger will be admitted free. In addition to the on-site parking, visitors may also park at Apollo Beach Elementary School and be shuttled for free to the festival. The shuttle also will make stops at the Manatee Viewing Center, where festivalgoers get free admission.

Also on tap is a patrons program reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Circles Restaurant, 1212 Apollo Beach Blvd., to support the artists participating in the event. For information, call (813) 645-1366 or e-mail abeachcham @verizon.net.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

Barbara Batchelderof Summerfield

Acrylics

Doug Burns of Apollo Beach

Watercolors

Melissa Carter of Riverview

Glass

Richard Chillcottof Apollo Beach

Wood

Barbara DeTullioof Apollo Beach

Ceramics

Arthur Dillard of Riverview

Watercolors

Frank Gabriel of Apollo Beach

Wood

Che Gray of Apollo Beach

Acrylics

Kate Hamilton of Ruskin

Jewelry

Michele Hares of Apollo Beach

Jewelry

Tom Haverfieldof Apollo Beach

Watercolors

Kathleen Jones of Apollo Beach

Watercolors

Donna McClaneof Apollo Beach

Jewelry

James "Moose" Rood of Ruskin

Photography

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Apollo Beach Manatee Festival of the Arts

WHERE: South Shore Community Center, Dickman and Noonan Branch roads, Apollo Beach

WHEN: March 8-9

HOURS: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 8; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 9

TICKETS: Presales at Winn-Dixie and Publix, Apollo Beach; Super Wal-Mart, Wimauma; The Home Depot, Ruskin. Also at the gate during the event.

ADMISSION: $5 for adults; children 12 and younger, free

PARKING: Free

INFORMATION: (813) 645-1366 or www.apollobeachchamber.com

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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