Ripe for the picking

Behold, the kumquat! The what?

The little orange citrus fruit with a funny name, best known for its sweet and sour taste, is being celebrated at the 15th Annual Kumquat Festival in Dade City this Saturday, Jan. 28. Over 40,000 people and 350 vendors are expected to attend this one-day, action packed event, filling the downtown Dade City historical district.

First thing in the morning on Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., runners will kick off the festivities with the Kumquat Festival 5K race. A portion of the proceeds from the race will benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life events of Dade City and San Antonio. The 5K race will start and end at the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, located at 14112 8th St., Dade City. Entry fees are $25 per runner. Supporters who don't wish to participate in the 5K race are encouraged to stand at the side lines and cheer on the runners.

At the same time, a 5K and 10K walk and treasure hunt of historic Dade city begins at 8 a.m. at Agnes Lamb Park, located at Meridian Avenue and 9th Street in Dade City. Walkers will follow a written route where they will be challenged to find items to win Kumquat Festival mementos. Fee is $2 per walker. Leashed pets are permitted. For more info contact about the 5K and 10K walks, contact Alice Lawrence at (727) 542-9742.

Starting at 9 a.m., a car & truck show will be held in front of the Pasco County Judicial Courthouse, located at 38053 Live Oak Ave, Dade City. Trophies for the top 30 entries will be given for best engine, best interior, best paint, best-in-show for pre-1979, and best-in-show for 1980 and newer cars and trucks. Trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m.

Quilts from the 2012 Kumquat Quilt Challenge will also be displayed. The quilts will reflect this year's theme "Luscious Orange". Visitors to the festival are able to vote for their favorite quilt for the Viewers' Choice Award in five different categories: Small quilts, large quilts, wearables, miniature quilts, and miscellaneous items, such as purses, totes, pillows and placemats. The exhibitor with the most votes in each category will win the coveted Viewer's Choice 1st place ribbon.

Many other arts and crafts vendors will be displaying their works of art throughout the day, along with many tasty treats featuring the kumquat, such as kumquat pie, cookies, smoothies, and ice cream.

And don't worry; the kids are not being left out of all the festivities! They can enjoy getting their faces painted and playing in the Kids Corral while mom or dad shop and enjoy the local music entertainment at the festival.

In addition, Kumquat Growers Inc. will be having their annual open house today at their kumquat packing house and grove, located at 31647 Gude Rd., Dade City, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Frank Gude, co-owner of Kumquat Growers, explained that visitors can take a tour of the family owned and operated packing house and kumquat grove, and see how the kumquats are picked, processed, and shipped firsthand at their annual open house.

"We will have free samples of the kumquats and all our products that are made from kumquats, such as kumquat marmalades, jellies, chutneys, marinades, salsas, and BBQ sauce", explained Gude.

If you can't make it to their annual open house, don't despair. Just look for the Kumquat Grower's tent at the festival and you will find more samples and their yummy kumquat products there! Bulk quantities of kumquats will be available for purchase at both the open house and festival from Kumquat Growers. And be sure to check out their many kumquat recipes at kumquatgrowers.com/recipes.html.

Admission is free to Kumquat Festival. Vendors open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info about the festival activities, contact the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769 or visit kumquatfestival.org.