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Plans For Festival Continue To Grow

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By LENORA LAKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: August 27, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - Plans for a free festival meant to unify the community west of the University of South Florida are growing, with more exhibitors and entertainers committing to the event.

Members of a committee organizing the festival Oct. 25 at the University Area Community Park and Community Center on North 22{+n}{+d} Street have suggested that the projected number of attendees, 500, needs to be revised, perhaps to as much as four or five times greater.

At a committee meeting Thursday, Vinson H. Davis of Amerigroup Community Care predicted the attendance could be between 1,500 and 2,500 people. He said that in addition to residents, he thinks supporters will come from churches to hear their praise bands and choirs perform. Exhibitors and volunteers may bring family members and friends, he said.

The festival, with free food, games and entertainment, will be from 11 to 3 p.m. It is being organized by the University Area Faith-Based Coalition with support from the University Area Community Development Corp., the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and other local organizations.

As of Thursday, more than 30 exhibitors had agreed to participate, with about 50 expected, said Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputy Barbara Reichard, who is co-chairing the event with senior community outreach worker Jeannette Palencia from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute.

Exhibitors include nonprofit agencies such as the Patel Conservatory and Junior Achievement; private businesses including Wild Rose Lawn Care and Kalesia Tea Lounge; and government services including the sheriff's office, which will provide a police dog, a motorcycle unit and a Spanish liaison for crime prevention.

Several mobile units will provide health screening. Another will offer driver's license renewals, and a mobile command unit from Critical Intervention Services, a private security company, will give tours of the unit.

"I want people to provide an activity for the kids. If you want to advertise your business, that's fine, but I want things for the kids to do and make it a family affair," Reichard said.

Dance troupes representing various cultures are expected to participate.

Dale Felix, coordinator of the Faith-Based Coalition, said: "A cultural component will help people understand more about each other. The Hispanics don't know much about the African-Americans, who don't know much about the Hispanics."

The event also will feature hot dogs, sodas, snow cones and popcorn. The organizers are seeking donations and sponsorships for the food.

Reichard said she hopes to add one more aspect: a pumpkin patch with hay, scarecrows and pumpkin painting.

IF YOU GO

The coalition's next meeting is 11 a.m. Sept. 25 at the community center, 14310 N. 22nd St. For information about the coalition or participating in the fall festival, call Dale Felix at (813) 558-5212.

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

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