Event Calendar

January 2008 Close Window
1 to 31	Manatee Springs State Park	Manatee Awareness Month Annual week end programs, tours and children's activities to celebrate manatees, known as Sea Cows, seen in the spring run during cool weather. Call (352) 493-6072 for more information
February 2008 Close Window
3 to 9	Cedar Key	Cedar Key Star Party A week of astronomical happenings including lectures, star and sun gazing through an amazing variety of telescopes, and nature trips. Events will take place at the Cedar Key State Museum, the City Park Beach and the Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve.
9	Manatee Springs State Park	Step Up Florida! Guided Paddling Program 8:30 a.m.Description: Manatee Springs State Park offers a guided paddling trip leaving from the canoe launch promptly at 8:30 a.m. The hope is to see manatees, most frequently seen in the spring run area during early morning hours. This is a great opportunity to learn about manatees, and to learn the proper behavior to maximize your viewing experience without disturbing these gentle giants. If no manatees are present, there is still other wildlife to experience along the natural serenity of the cypress-lined crystal clear spring run stream.To make sure the experience is the best it can be, and as safe as possible, participation will be limited to the first ten boats. Arrive early. If you need to rent the equipment, contact our Visitor Services Provider, Suwannee River Tours, at 352-490-9797 by 3:00 p.m. the day before (Thursday). The park opens at 8:00 a.m.Fees: The entrance fee will be waived for this event.Contact: Call 352-493-6072 for more information.
22	Manatee Springs State Park	Full Moon Canoe/Kayak Guided Trip 8:00 p.m.Description: Venture with others as night crawls in and the full moon rises on a guided canoe/kayak trip. Under the silvery light of the moon, your guides will share secrets of the Suwannee River as you paddle through the nocturnal world. Participation is limited and based upon first come- first served so arrive early; only 10 boats are allowed and the estimated time of paddle is 2 hours followed by refreshments and fire-side program provided by our Citizen Support Organization , Friends of Manatee Springs Parks, Inc. Don’t forget to bring flash light , whistle and life jacket.These trips are free with regular paid camping fees. Day use visitors will need to pay regular day use fee and advise the guide that they will need assistance with the entrance gate upon departure.Only 10 boats are allowed; DON’T BE LATE as the adventure begins promptly at 8:00 p.m!Canoes can be rented the day of the trip at the Manatee Springs Café located inside the park. Come early! They are open 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the month of March. For more information, call 352-949-4878.Fees: These trips are free with regular paid camping fees. Day use visitors will need to pay regular day use fee and advise the guide that they will need assistance with the entrance gate upon departure.Contact: For more information, call 352-493-6072.
March 2008 Close Window
8 to 9	Goethe Forest	Endurance Riding Festival Riders will enjoy the various distances that we are offering. Saturday will have a 30 mile Limited Distance ride in addition to a 50 mile ride. On Sunday we will be hosting a 50 mile ride as well as a 1-day 100 mile ride.
14	Dechamplain	Annual - Educational Foundation Beast Feast Gilchrist County Educational Foundation 6pm - 8pm DeChamplain's Farm - CR 307 - Trenton - The best cooks in the county come together to help raise money for our student scholarship fund by serving up wild game and fowl along with all the fixings. A must see event! The Educational Foundation gives out nearly $60,000 every year to area high school students. Cost: $30.00 donation per person Call (352) 463-3194 for more information
TBA	Black Prong Equestrian Center	Black Prong Driving Trial More details coming soon.
15	Trenton	Suwannee Valley Antique Quilt Festival Celebrate America’s quilting heritage with hundreds of antique quilts displayed in a wide variety of historic buildings with the focus at Trenton’s turn of the century railroad depot. For more information contact Stephanie Metts or Lois Scott at 352-463-3842.
22	Manatee Springs State Park	Full Moon Canoe/Kayak Guided Trip 8:00 p.m.Description: Venture with others as night crawls in and the full moon rises on a guided canoe/kayak trip. Under the silvery light of the moon, your guides will share secrets of the Suwannee River as you paddle through the nocturnal world. Participation is limited and based upon first come- first served so arrive early; only 10 boats are allowed and the estimated time of paddle is 2 hours followed by refreshments and fire-side program provided by our Citizen Support Organization , Friends of Manatee Springs Parks, Inc. Don’t forget to bring flash light , whistle and life jacket.These trips are free with regular paid camping fees. Day use visitors will need to pay regular day use fee and advise the guide that they will need assistance with the entrance gate upon departure.Only 10 boats are allowed; DON’T BE LATE as the adventure begins promptly at 8:00 p.m!Canoes can be rented the day of the trip at the Manatee Springs Café located inside the park. Come early! They are open 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the month of March. For more information, call 352-949-4878.Fees: These trips are free with regular paid camping fees. Day use visitors will need to pay regular day use fee and advise the guide that they will need assistance with the entrance gate upon departure.Contact: For more information, call 352-493-6072.
28 to 2	Fair Grounds, Fanning Springs	Suwannee River Youth Livestock Show and Sale Combined Livestock fair for Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy Counties. Contact Shiela Langford, Gilchrist Extension Office at 352-463-3174 or HollyHaughton, Dixie County Extension Office at 352-498-1237.
April 2008 Close Window
4 to 5	Gilchrist County Womens Club	WOMENS CLUB ANNUAL RUMMAGE SALE RUMMAGE SALE FRI & SAT 8am - 3 pm 819 SE CR 339 Trenton Gilchrist County Woman’s Club Sharon Bard, President Bldg. Rental for Weddings & Events- Connie Sanchez- 352-463-3194 819 SE CR 339 Trenton, FL 32693 Phone: 352-463-8187 Cell: 352-213-0829 sjbard@aol.com
11 to 12	Gilchrist County Rodeo Arena	Gilchrist FFA Alumni Scholarship Rodeo Gilchrist FFA Alumni Scholarship Rodeo Firday April 11, 2008 at 8:00 pm & Saturday April 12, 2008 at 8:00 pm.
12	Oak Tree Landing	1st Annual Oak Tree Landing Family Fun Day & BBQ Oak Tree Landing... Discover A Luxury Fly-In/Golf Community OAK TREE LANDING Come meet the developers of this proposed community. See what wonderful things we have planned! April 12, 2008, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. BBQ, bouncehouse, live entertainment, and much more! 1st Annual Oak Tree Landing Family Fun Day & BBQ Everyone is Welcome & Admission is free! 7308 NW 294th Terrace CR 232 just east of SE 80th For more information call Julie Cole 352-871-5354
12 to 13	Cedar Key	42nd Annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts in Cedar Key 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Booths of fine arts & crafts line both sides of Cedar Key’s main street while the local school, civic and church groups prepare and serve seafood with other goodies in the City Park. There will also be musical entertainment. There is a juried show and prizes. For more information call Missy Woods (352) 543-5400
May 2008 Close Window
3 to 4	Cedar Key City Park	21st Annual Small Boat Meet Meet at Cedar Key City park at 9:00 a.m. each day This informal and unsanctioned meet is open to all small sail & paddle boats but not limited to sharpies, mulit-hulls, canoes and kayaks. A weekend of fun on the water, it brings meaning to the expression "messing around in boats." Open to anyone, with no fees For more information call Hugh Horton (810) 468-6456 or Mac McCarthy (941) 355-6736
16	The Old Train Depot - 419 North Main St., Trenton	National Trails Day Bike Ride, Nature Coast State Trail In recognition of the 15th annual National Trails Day, enjoy a family-friendly bike ride along the beautiful Nature Coast State Trail. The bike ride is designed as an open, low key excursion on the smoothly paved Nature Coast State Trail. Ride options range from a few miles for beginners up to 64 miles for experienced cyclists. Helmets are required for children under 16 and recommended for everyone. For information on the National Trails Day Bike Ride, contact Kirk Marhefka at Kirk.Marhefka@dep.state.fl.us or (352) 535-5181.
16 to 18	Canterbury Equestrian Showplace - Hwy 26,Newberry	63rd Annual Newberry Watermelon Festival Friday 6 p.m. - Sunday 10 p.m. Carnival, Queen's Pageant, Parade & Concert.
17	Ayers Health & Rehabilitation Center	16th Annual Antique Car Show Sponsored by The Suwannee River Early Ford Club. A blast from the past hosted by Ayers Health & Rehabilitation Center in honor of National Nursing Home Week. Entire community is welcome. 10AM - 2PM 606 NE 7th Street Trenton. 352-463-7101
24	Trenton FFA Arena	NBHA Barrel Race Benifit Ride Barrel Race Benefit Ride for Gilchrist County Animal Shelter - Exibitions @ 10:00am , Open Race @ 1:00pm. Pet Adoption, Bake Sale, Cake auction, Raffles, 50/50 & Silent Auction. Information call:Penny 352-472-3702,Beckie 352-538-4433,Stacey 352-538-7470.
26	Gilchrist County Courthouse	Gilchrist County Memorial Day Service Memorial Day services will be held in front of the Gilchrist County Courthouse at 11 a.m. A riderless horse will be present in honor of USMC Sergeant Ricky Lord killed in action in Iraq. Immediately following the program a special BBQ luncheon in honor of all veterans and their families will be provided at the Trenton Community Center. Please come out and help us honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Events are sponsored by the Gilchrist County Historical Society and the Gilchrist County Veterans Service.
June 2008 Close Window
7		54th Annual Chiefland Watermelon Festival www.chieflandwatermelonfestival.com
13 to 7	Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce	Gilchrist County Welcomes the Heart Gallery of Mid-Florida Gilchrist County Welcomes the Heart Gallery of Mid-Florida Trenton, Fla. (June 3, 2008) – The Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce is very excited to host the Heart Gallery of Mid-Florida from June 13th – July 7th, 2008. What is a Heart Gallery? Presented by Children's Home Society and the Professional Photographers of North Central Florida, it is an incredible photo exhibit of children in foster care whose hearts’ desire is to be adopted by their forever family. The goal is to raise overall awareness of the foster care adoption program and recruit prospective parents for these children. “We are so excited about the Heart Gallery,” states Jennifer Anchors, Executive Director of Children’s Home Society. “It a tremendous opportunity to increase awareness of the children that are hoping to find their forever families. Every time I look at their faces I am moved by what they’ve been through in their short lives and how much potential they have to overcome it with the right opportunities.” This moving display of children will be exhibited at The Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce, at 220 S. Main Street in Trenton, FL from June 13th – July 7th, 2008. Guests can see the children’s photos, read about their likes and dislikes and find out more about the adoption process. We invite you to come closer to our children. Close enough to see their faces. Close enough to touch your heart. Since its inception in 2006, over 40 percent of the children in the Heart Gallery of Mid-Florida have been adopted or matched with their forever families, while last year Children’s Home Society of Florida placed over 1,100 children statewide. As the oldest and largest statewide children’s advocacy agency, Children’s Home Society has been providing programs to build and strengthen families since 1902. ###
16 to 19	Lake City Community College	First Annual Occupational Careers Summer Camp The First Annual Occupational Careers Summer Camp is scheduled for June 16–19, 2008 on the campus of Lake City Community College. The camp is open to rising seventh and eighth- graders in the counties of Baker, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, and Union. Students may obtain applications for the camp at their respective school counselor’s offices or by contacting the Tech Prep coordinator’s office at Lake City Community College. Admission of campers is free and will be through an application process submitted by postal mail or via their school counselor. Students will be transported to campus by their parents or by car pooling from each county. The camp will provide a lunch and snacks for each participant and volunteers. The Occupational Careers Summer Camp is very important, especially at this point in the student’s academic life. Students will begin the exploration of a possible career choice to be studied in their immediate future and learn what it takes to succeed. During the career camp, the student will have the unique opportunity to look at many career options in business, law enforcement, health sciences, childhood education, golf, landscape, forestry, irrigation, cosmetology and more. The career summer camp also needs sponsors, so if you can sponsor a child or in any other way, please call Grimes. For more information contact James Grimes via e-mail Grimesj@lakecitycc.edu or by calling (386) 754-4230.
21	Trenton Train Depot	The 2nd Annual Trenton Community Farmers Market Chili Cook-Off The 2nd Annual Trenton Community Farmers Market Chili Cook-Off will be held on June 21 from Noon to 4 PM at the historic Trenton Train Depot. For more information contact: Tom and Ellen Hogan Trenton Community Farmers Market Managers (352) 472-7632
July 2008 Close Window
4	Cedar Key	5th Annual Clamerica Celebration Cedar Key City Park from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.Bring the whole family out for a great time there will be exhibits, demonstrations, games and some wonderful food including clams.Fun with clambag races, clam hunts, cultured clam cook-off & live music
24 to 14	Gilchrist County Library - Trenton	Whole Wide World Three Rivers Regional Library System / Florida Library Youth Program -1st - 5th Grade. July 24th - August 14th -10:00am - 11:00am. Contact Jennifer Geiger - 463-3176
26	Bell Park	BACK· TO· SCHOOL· BASH * HOSTED BY THE RELATIVE CARE GIVER FOUNDATION Bell, Florida - July 26, 2008 -The “BACK-TO-SCHOOL-BASH” will be a hosted fundraiser and program awareness event scheduled to take place at the Bell City Park on July 26, 2008 with pre-registration to begin at 9:30am.
August 2008 Close Window
9	Bell Community Center	Bell Band Boosters are Hosting a Pancake Breakfast & Yard Sale Bell Band Boosters are Hosting a Pancake Breakfast & Yard Sale on August 9th, 2008, at the Bell Community Center from 7:00 AM - til? If you have any items you wish to donate, please contact Connie Jordan, (386) 935-0026 or Yvonne Nobs (386) 454-4750
12	Gilchrist County Library - Trenton Branch	Tobacco Free Partnership at Gilchrist County Introductory Meeting Tobacco Free Partnership at Gilchrist County Introductory Meeting. August 12, 2008, 1:00pm - 2:00pm. For information call 866-355-7848 or email - Dr. barry Hummel at BHummel@QuitDoc.com
23	Bell High School Cafeteria	BELL FFA ALUMNI SHINDIG AND CAKE AUCTION BELL FFA ALUMNI SHINDIG AND CAKE AUCTION WHEN: August 23, 2008 WHERE: Bell High School Cafeteria WHAT IS IT? Each year the Bell FFA Alumni hosts a “Shindig and Cake Auction” to benefit the Bell FFA Members. Members are encouraged to bake and decorate cakes to be auctioned off to the public. The monies raised by this cake auction go towards scholarships, travel account expenses, leadership schools, and many other activities of the Bell FFA Members. Cake entries will be received starting at 5:00 p.m. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. The cake auction will begin immediately following dinner. To top the night off we invite everyone to participate in the SQUARE DANCE following the auction. For more information, contact Emory Wilson, Bell FFA Alumni President, at 352-222-0309. Thank you for your support of the youth of Gilchrist County.
26	Pine Grove Baptist Conference Center on CR 339	Tourism Summit Join other tourism-related businesses for this informative symposium presented by Pure Water Wilderness and the local chambers of commerce in Dixie, Gilchrist & Levy Counties. Learn new ways to maximize your business as well connecting with expected partners.This event is free and lunch will be served. MUST RSVP no later than Tuesday, August 19, 2008 For more information call Donna @ (352) 463-3467
Gilchrist County • Event Calendar Scroll up for previous 3 months - Current events are below
September 2008 Close Window
9	Tyler Creek Business Association Grounds	Gilchrist Antique Car Show Saturday, September 6th 9am - 3pm Tyler Creek Business Association Grounds Hwy 47, Trenton
13	Gilchrist Club	Gilchrist Club opens doors for Haven Hospice benefit Gilchrist Club opens doors for Haven Hospice benefit WHAT: The Gilchrist Club in Trenton, a private hunting and sporting club set in the heart of Florida’s timberland, will open its doors to guests of Fall at the Lodge, a benefit for Haven Hospice. The country casual evening will feature food, festivities and music. Guests also have the option of making reservations for a guided clay shoot and overnight accommodations in one of the beautifully appointed lodges, as well as a breakfast buffet the following morning. WHEN: Sat. Sept. 13, 2008 Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. Guided clay shoot groups begin at 4:45 and end at 7 p.m. (Space is limited.) Sun., Sept. 14. Breakfast buffet for those opting for overnight accommodations, 8 – 10 a.m. WHERE: Gilchrist Club, 3290 SE 4th Way, Trenton, Fla. WHY: All proceeds from Fall at the Lodge benefit the many grief support programs, community outreach and educational programs Haven Hospice provides. COST: Tickets are $75 per person for Fall at the Lodge. One night’s lodging and a breakfast buffet for Fall at the Lodge guests is $250. One-half the room cost will be donated to Haven Hospice. CONTACT: Reservations for Fall at the Lodge, the guided clay shoot and overnight accommodations are required. For tickets, reservations, corporate sponsorships or additional information, contact Kay Gove at (352) 271-4662 or (800) 727-1889 ext. 14662. DIRECTIONS: From Chiefland: Take SR129 to Trenton, proceed through the traffic light and follow the directions from SR 129 below. From Cross City: Take ALT27 South to SR26. Turn left on SR26 to Trenton. Turn left at the light/SR129 and follow the directions from SR129 below. From Gainesville: Go west on SR26/Newberry Road through Newberry to the only traffic light in Trenton. Turn right onto SR129/Main Street. From SR129, turn right on SR47. Ace Hardware will be on your left. Go 4.3 miles northeast on SR47. Look for the Gilchrist Club entrance on your left. Enter through the gates and go 2.7 miles on the main access road to the third right turn, the entry to the lodge area. About Haven Hospice Haven Hospice is North Florida’s expert in end-of-life and palliative care and is one of three 2008 Circle of Life Award® winners nationwide to be recognized as leaders in improving the care of patients near the end of life or with life-threatening conditions. Haven Hospice has also been recognized as a Florida Pacesetter for its leadership in promoting living wills. Haven Hospice has served more than 39,000 patients and families since 1979 and has been licensed in Florida as a not-for-profit hospice since 1980. For more information visit www.havenhospice.org or call 800-727-1889. ###
October 2008 Close Window
18 to 19	Cedar Key	39th Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM each day. This major event features well over 200 arts and crafts exhibits, and great local seafood food in City Park. There will be live musical entertainment at several places around town during the days and nights, and a parade on Saturday morning. In addition on this weekend, there is an open house at the lighthouse on Seahorse Key, the big island 3 miles to the west of Cedar Key. Explore the light, look at the exhibits and wander this beautiful island. Shuttle boats are available at City Marina. Be sure to remember your camera and binoculars!
25	Community Nazarene Church	Down Home Days Arts & Crafts Festival Saturday October 25th 9am - 3pm Call for information 352-463-1057
November 2008 Close Window
7 to 8	FFA Alumni Rodeo Arena	Loomis Brothers Circus Friday & Saturday, November 7 & 8 Hwy 129 between Bell & Trenton.
11	Downtown Trenton	Veteran Tuesday, November 11, 2008
December 2008 Close Window
6	Downtown Bell	Bell Christmas Parade Saturday, December 6th, Line-up 12:30
13	Fanning Springs State Park	Festival of Lights Festival of Lights The annual Fanning Springs Festival of Lights. Arts and Crafts, antique car show, entertainment, food,rubber ducky race and the lighted boat parade just after dark.