April Happenings At The Florida State Fairgrounds

Enjoy the splendid spring weather with a variety of entertaining indoor and outdoor events taking place on the Fairgrounds property adjacent to I-4 and U.S. Highway 301 in eastern Hillsborough County.

March 31-April 4: Winter Equestrian Festival

Tournament of Champions is presented by Stadium Jumping. This horse competition is the culmination of the Winter Equestrian Festival held at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. The USEF-sanctioned show features amateur-owner, adult amateur, junior, and children competing in jumper and hunter divisions. The 2009 Tampa Series Hunter High Score Circuit Awards will be presented during the Budweiser American Invitational on the evening of April 4 in Raymond James Stadium to the horses that have accumulated the most points throughout the three-week festival. Admission and parking is free. Visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. For more information, visit online http://www.stadiumjumping.com/ or call Stadium Jumping at 813-253-2782 prior to the event. Call the show grounds office number at 813-740-3500 for questions during the event.

April 4: Hands-On History Tours

Held in Cracker Country, the hands-on history tours for youth groups are offered the first Saturday of every month, except in February, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Cracker Country. Give your youth organization the opportunity to learn about the past and become a part of it. Led by knowledgeable historical interpreters, kids can spend the morning experiencing life as a Florida pioneer through hands-on chores and practices of the late 1800's. The tour cost is $5 for students ages six to twelve and one chaperone is admitted free for every 10 paid admissions. Youth groups may stay after the tour to enjoy the new "Discover the Past" program at no additional cost. Reservations are required in advance with a 10-student minimum per group. Parking is free for this event when visitors enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. To make a reservation, call 813-627-4225 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit online http://www.crackercountry.org/, call Susan Obarski by e-mail obarsks@doacs. state.fl.us or call 813-627-4225.

April 4: Discover the Past

Imagine what it was like for settlers of rural Florida living in 1898 -- use your senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing to relive this time from Florida's past. The event is held in Cracker Country on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except in February). It is a fun way for families to spend an enjoyable day together by learning new activities like churning butter and tasting it, making a rope, spinning wool into yarn, or help to plant crops. Adult admission is $6, children ages six to 12 years old and senior citizens enter for $5, and kids five and under are admitted free. Parking is free for this event when visitors enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. Reservations are not necessary for this event. For more information, visit online http://www.crackercountry.org/ or call 813-627-4225 on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

April 11-12: FPtHA Horse Show

The Florida Pinto Horse Association (FPtHA) will host a Pinto/Paint combined horse show with two judges in the Charlie Lykes Arena. Pinto points will count for FPtHA and Paint points for DPHC towards year-end awards. The two-day show begins at 8:30 a.m. each day. Admission and parking are free for spectators. Visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. For more information, visit online www.fptha.com or call Michele Franz at 407-349-8855 prior to the event. Call the show grounds office number at 813-740-3500 for questions during the event.

April 11-12: PCHA Non-Rated Horse Show

The Pinellas County Hunter Association (PCHA) hosts a two-day horse show featuring horses and riders competing in hunter, equitation and jumper classes at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. Competition begins at 8 a.m. each day. There is no set end time; all show rings go until the last horse competes. Admission and parking is free for spectators. Visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. For more information, visit online www.pcha-fl.org or call Michelle Drain at 727-546-7664 prior to the event. Call the show grounds office number at 813-740-3500 for questions during the event.

April 14-17, 20-23, 27-30: Spring Ag Venture

The Florida State Fair Authority's Agribusiness Department, in conjunction with the Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service and the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau, hosts these school tours for third grade students from public, private and home schools in Hillsborough County. Children get the chance to learn about the importance of agriculture in everyday life through these "Ag Venture" tours. From transplanting plants and squeezing oranges, to learning about farm animals first-hand, there's plenty to engage students in this Florida agriculture experience. Parking is free for school tours and visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. All school tours must be booked in advance prior to arrival. For more information on these tours, call the Agribusiness Department at 813-621-7821, Ext. 387 or 388.

April 14: Town Hall Meeting

The Florida State Fair Authority (FSFA) will have a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Florida Center. Anyone wishing to express their opinions or comments regarding general operations at the Florida State Fairgrounds and/or the 2009 Florida State Fair held recently in February is encouraged to attend the meeting. Visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. Parking is complimentary for this event. For more information, call Kathleen Fisher via e-mail at fisherk@doacs. State.fl.us or call 813-627-4221.

April 17: FQHA American Quarter Horse Show

This single day horse show is part of the 36th annual American Quarter Horse Show taking place in the Covered Ring and West Ring at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. Amateur, youth and novice riders can participate in green working hunter, green western pleasure, green hunter under saddle, green western riding and green trail classes. The show begins at 8 a.m. The event begins at 8 a.m. Admission and parking is free for spectators. Visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. For more information, visit www.fqha.net or call Peg Edmondson at 941-484-4687 prior to the event. Call the show grounds office number at 813-740-3500 for questions during the event.

April 18-19: Optimist Club Quarter Horse Show

The Optimist Club of Tampa hosts this two-day, split combined horse show that is part of the 36th annual American Quarter Horse Show taking place in the Covered Ring and West Ring at the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. Amateur, youth and novice riders can participate in green working hunter, green western pleasure, green hunter under saddle, green western riding and green trail classes. The event begins at 8 a.m. each day. Admission and parking is free for spectators. Visitors should enter the Fairgrounds via the Orient Road entrance. For more information, visit www.fqha.net or call Peg Edmondson at 941-484-4687 prior to the event.