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'Strawberry Stroll' Saturday In Downtown New Port Richey

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: March 11, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - NEW PORT RICHEY Greater New Port Richey Main Street's 'Shop 'n Stroll' events usually are meant to showcase the city's downtown district in a positive, leisurely light.

The way the downtown booster group is planning on doing it this time around, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday is guaranteed to make people see red.

For the second year, the spring edition of the series of quarterly Shop 'n Stroll events has taken on a new theme. It is dubbed the Strawberry Stroll to take advantage of the springtime treat, now in its peak season in nearby Plant City.

Although it proved popular enough last year to warrant repeating, the event will be new and improved for 2009, according to Greater New Port Richey Main Street Director Judy DeBella-Thomas. Organizers have addressed one recurring criticism of last year's inaugural Strawberry Stroll, namely there just weren't enough strawberries to meet demand, she said.

"We're making sure there are plenty of strawberries," Thomas said.

Maps will be available at the event registration area, at the intersection of Main Street and Grand Boulevard. The maps will show precisely where fresh Plant City strawberries will be available for sale.

Merchants throughout the festival area will offer all manners of strawberry-centric treats - chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry shakes and slushes, strawberry shortcake, strawberry cookies and more.

And to make sure the Strawberry Stroll lives up to the second part of its name, the event will feature a scavenger hunt with a $200 prize at stake.

Guests can sign up for the free scavenger hunt between 10 and 11 a.m. at a registration area at Main and Grand, then search for "strawberries" hidden at participating downtown businesses.

Contestants will have until 2 p.m. to turn in their completed scavenger hunt lists. A drawing will be held at 4 p.m. from among the completed lists to determine the winner.

Guests should also keep an eye out for Baby Bottle Fund Raiser bottles set out in their stores by the Bishop Larkin School Student Council. Student volunteers will be on site to collect baby bottles, baby wipes and diapers in support for the West Pasco Pregnancy Center.

Aside from hidden strawberries and baby bottles, there will be plenty more to look at throughout the stroll area, which officially runs along Main Street from Bank Street heading east and on Grand Boulevard to Missouri Street. Many businesses in that area will have sidewalk sales and other attractions to entice visitors to pound the pavement.

Along with those promotions, there will be other things to see and do. Kayak rentals will be available at Sims Park, as well as boat tours for those more leisurely inclined. Both will run $5 per half hour.

Meanwhile, the weekly downtown outdoor market that runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. every Saturday in Railroad Square will blend right into the Strawberry Stroll. In addition, there will be others offering handmade arts and crafts items and "trash to treasure" collectibles and other pre-owned items.

Meanwhile, adjacent to the square, Progress Energy Art Gallery will present an art stroll along Grand Boulevard featuring the work of dozens of area artists.

Once back on their feet, visitors may want to head east on Main Street, where the New Port Richey Library will hold a "Friends of the Library" book sale to coincide with the stroll.

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