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Hudson Seafest Adds Spice To Lineup

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: November 4, 2007

Updated: 11/04/2007 09:34 am

HUDSON, Fla. - HUDSON, Fla. - Besides the trademark fish dinners, Hudson Seafest organizers will spice up the schedule with new events Nov. 9-11 in hopes of raising even more money to build community projects such as a local park.

A Salute to Veterans is planned for Sunday, Nov. 11.

The first Dress Your Dog Contest will take place Saturday, Nov. 10.

Also for the first time, the Richey Community Orchestra will appear. The performance on Saturday, Nov. 10, will emphasize music from popular movies such as "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Titanic," and "Mission Impossible."

The festivities will take place once again at USA Fleamarket along U.S. 19 near S.R. 52. For a list of entertainment enter keyword search: hudson seafest, or click here: Entertainment Lineup

Admission is free to the 23rd annual event, although a parking donation of $3 is requested.

The fish dinners will cost $8.

Seafest proceeds have built many of the sidewalks and planted many of the roadside palm trees in the Hudson area. The money also goes toward up to four scholarships a year and support for numerous nonprofit groups.

Seafest President John "Ike" Isaacson hopes a community park concept might be jump-started soon with Seafest revenue.

In 2004, the Seafest board had pledged up to $20,000 to help start converting part of the old Hudson Library county property on Old Dixie Highway into a small park. The Seafest would work with the Hudson Community Center with an adjoining parcel.

A drawing circulated by the Hudson-based King Helie Planning Group shows a community center, a super playground, a clubhouse, picnic shelters, shuffleboard courts, basketball court, a field for soccer or baseball and other possible features.

The long list of other Seafest beneficiaries includes Boys & Girls Clubs of Pasco County, The Toymakers, Paint Your Heart Out, CARES Enrichment Center for Seniors, Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation, Richey Community Orchestra, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Hudson Community Club and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Last year the Seafest netted $25,000 after expenses, Isaacson said. With up to 25,000 people expected to visit the Seafest this year, Isaacson hopes to top that amount.

Salute to veterans

Among the new events, the 42nd Street Big Band will play patriotic music during the salute to veterans at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

Singer Fred Smith will do tunes such as "God Bless the USA," by Lee Greenwood, according to Seafest entertainment chair Denise Isaacson.

Dog costume contest

Strictly for fun, the first Dress Your Dog Contest is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Register online at www.hudsonseafest.com/events.htm or call Denise Isaacson at 727-919-3866.

The free event will award prizes and ribbons in three categories for small, medium and large dogs.

Winners will be selected by audience applause, so entrants should bring all their friends, Isaacson said.

Orchestra to perform

Another new event on the schedule is a performance by the Richey Community Orchestra on Saturday, Nov. 10, 1 - 2:30 p.m.

"It's not your mother's symphony orchestra," Denise Isaacson commented as the orchestra director. "I hope people will come out and see what they are missing."

KidZone

Returning for a second year is the KidZone, an area dedicated to youngsters 6 years old and younger with prizes, games, movies, crafts, story hours and other activities. The KidZone will be available all three days of the festival.

Read more about the Hudson Seafest in Nov. 7 print editions of The Suncoast News.

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