Things to do — our top three:
Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge
9:30 a.m. Friday, April 12; 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Coachman Park, 300 Cleveland St., Clearwater. The nation’s premier canine athletes representing 14 states (and provinces) will gather to compete in a variety of events during the Eastern Regionals with a trip to the National Finals in St. Louis on the line. This free, family-friendly canine sporting event brings people and pets together to cheer on an array of dog breeds competing in several challenges, including high-flying disc routines, head-to-head weave pole racing, large, medium and small dog agility courses, and the crowd favorite – dog diving – where dogs take a running leap off a 50-foot dock into a more than 20,000-gallon pool of water.
Pinellas Pepper Fest
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13-14. England Brothers Park, 5010 81st Ave. N. The festival includes specialty exhibitors and food trucks that will feature special dishes and desserts, fiery sauces, salsas, rubs and more. The event will also feature hundreds of samples and live music while you explore pepper plants, local arts and crafts, gadgets and kitchenware. New this year is the chili pepper-eating contest on April 13. Admission and parking are free. facebook.com/PinellasPepperFest
Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival
10 a.m. Thursday-Sunday, April 11-14. Adjacent to Pier 60, Clearwater Beach. The event has a “Sands of Time” theme this year and will incorporate some of the festival’s most popular past sand sculptures plus new additions inside and outside the 20,000-square-foot main tent. $14 for general admission. Children under 3 get in free. sugarsandfestival.com.
THURSDAY
South Pasadena Community Band concert
7:30 p.m. April 11. South Pasadena City Hall, 7047 Sunset Drive S. The South Pasadena Community Band will present a free band concert. Parking is free.
Pinellas Genealogy Society: Ancestry Family Trees
1-2 p.m. April 11. In person at the Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, and online via Zoom. A free hybrid class. Registration is only required for Zoom attendees, who must register at the PGS website.
Florida West Coast Orchid Society meeting
6:45 p.m. April 11. Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 10891 102nd Ave. N. Philip Hamilton of Bredren Orchids in Apopka will speak about how to grow and hybridize Phalaenopsis orchids. Plants will be for sale.
Friends of Library meeting
5 p.m. April 11. In the community auditorium next to the library at 1507 Bay Palm Blvd. The Friends of the Indian Rocks Beach Library will hold its annual membership meeting. Lifetime members will be honored and new officers elected. A private tour of the library will be offered. Members of the community are encouraged to attend. Refreshments will be served. The Friends of the Library will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the library opening in November 1974, during the year, with events and special programs. For information, contact Librarian Lee Miller at 727-598-1822 or lmiller@irbcity.com
FRIDAY
Dunedin Downtown Market
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 12-13. John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park, 420 Main St. Each Friday and Saturday, shoppers can pick up fresh produce and a wide choice of gourmet items.
Trivia Night
6:30-8:30 p.m. April 12. Largo Community Center, 400 Alt. Keene Road. Bring your friends for a trivia challenge. Beer and wine will be sold. The subject will be TV Time. 727-518-3131.
Largo Live at Ulmer Park
6-8 p.m. April 12. Ulmer Park, 301 W. Bay Drive, Largo. Gather up the family, grab your blankets and chairs and join event organizers for live music, games, food trucks and more. On-site parking and snack concessions are available. No personal alcohol will be permitted. Email specialevents@largo.com or call 727-587-6740, ext. 5014.
SATURDAY
Farmers & Flea Market
7 a.m.-2 p.m. April 13-14. 13600 Icot Blvd., Clearwater. The weekly market features locally grown vegetables and tropical fruits; arts and crafts; antique collections, and household products. pinellas-farmers-and-flea-market.ueniweb.com.
Arbor Day Tree Giveaway
8 a.m. April 13. Achieva Credit Union Corporate Headquarters, 1659 Achieva Way, Dunedin. Dunedin residents (with proof of residency) can receive two 3-gallon trees, while supplies last. For a smooth and safe pickup process, city staff will load the trees into your vehicle as you drive through the pickup line. 727-298-3279 or email cityarborist@dunedinfl.net.
5K by the Bay
8 a.m. April 13. Safety Harbor Marina, 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor.
This race is chip-timed. The cost of registration also includes T-shirt and medal. All proceeds will benefit the Gramatica Family Foundation and its mission to positively impact the quality of life of our community’s veterans through housing initiatives.
Largo ShredFest
9 a.m.-noon. April 13. Starkey Road Recycling Center, 1551 Starkey Road. This drive-thru event allows residents to bring up to five boxes of documents for free and secure on-site shredding and recycling. All patrons are to remain in their cars during the event. The Starkey Road Recycling Center is also a 24-hour facility where residents can drop off their mixed recycling at no cost, recycle used cooking oil, and pick up free, recycled mulch all year-round. LargoRecycles.com or call 727-587-6760.
Second Saturday Market
9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 13. The Mother Meres parking lot downtown at the corner of Alt. 19 and Tarpon Avenue. The Tarpon Springs Merchants Association hosts the outdoor market the second Saturday of each month. Tarponspringsfloridausa.com or email tarponspringsflorida@gmail.com.
Lakes & Ponds Education and Arbor Day
9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 13. City of Seminole Parkview Room, 7464 Ridge Road, Seminole.
Pinellas County is partnering with the city of Seminole to host the Arbor Day celebration. Virtual participation is also available via Zoom. The event is designed for anyone interested in learning more about the health and management of the county's freshwater resources and green spaces. It offers opportunities to share information, gain useful management tips and learn about efforts of similar groups. There will be a special focus on best management practices for maintaining stormwater ponds in Pinellas County. Participants can browse educational and informative displays from government, environmental and private organizations. Attendees are also invited to bring in a plant specimen for identification. Specimen plants should be brought in a self-sealing plastic bag with water from the plant’s pond or lake. Free native aquatic plants, wildflowers and trees will be available to registered attendees at the conclusion of the talks. Both the in-person and the virtual events are free, but registration is required. In person: https://bit.ly/4bqzqc7. Virtual: https://bit.ly/3SMm2Ih.
Folly Faire
9 a.m.-noon. April 13. Folly Farm Nature Preserve, 1538 Dr. MLK St. N., Safety Harbor. Every second Saturday, spend the morning at Folly Farm by getting some fresh air, taking a walk through the park, visiting the nursery for a plant sale, asking a Master Gardener questions, enjoying music, or participating in family-friendly nature activities and kids crafts.
Soiree by the Bay fundraiser
6 p.m. April 13. Nova Southeastern University Tampa Bay Regional Campus, 3400 Gulf to Bay Blvd. The Arthritis Foundation’s annual event will include strolling tasting stations from local eateries, open bar with signature cocktails, entertainment, dancing and bidding on unique silent and live auction items as well as taking part in the special Action Against Arthritis program. Steven Taylor, Arthritis Foundation president and CEO, will speak. All proceeds help fund research, treatment and myriad support for the nearly 4.5 million Floridians living with arthritis including more than 800,000 people in Tampa Bay
SUNDAY
Art in the Park
10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 14. John R. Lawrence Pioneer Park, 420 Main St., Dunedin. View works of art created and displayed by members of the Creative Artists Guild of Dunedin. www.CreativeArtistsGuild.club or email cagdunedin@gmail.com.
MONDAY
Republican Club of Greater Largo
6 p.m. Daily News Restaurant, 1575 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. Dr. William Urban, former special advisor to the U.S. State and Defense departments will speak. RSVP by April 12 to Jan Cox, 727-515-0163, or jansh@tampabay.rr.com. Social time at 5:30 p.m.
Pinellas Genealogy Society: Exploring the Library of Congress Digital Collections
1-2 p.m. April 15. In-person at the Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, and online via Zoom. Registration is only required for Zoom attendees, who must register at the PGS website.
Coakley Golf Tournament for firefighters
1 p.m. April 15. Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club, 8001 Cumberland Road, Largo. The Firefighter Steven Coakley Foundation will host its second annual Steven Coakley Golf Tournament. Shotgun start is at 1 p.m. Coakley, a firefighter in New York City, was killed on 9/11 and owned a home in Madeira Beach where he was going to retire. The foundation supports educational scholarships, funds local first responders, and hosts 9/11 memorials. www.ffstevencoakley.org.
TUESDAY
Shred Fest
April 16. Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation, 1500 16th St. Donations accepted (three-box maximum per guest). Bring paper items to be shredded and discarded. www.PHparksandrec.org.
Mayor's Coffee Chat
8:30 a.m. April 16. Largo Golf Course, 12500 Vonn Road. Largo residents are invited to engage with Mayor Woody Brown in a casual and friendly setting on the third Tuesday of each month
LOOKING AHEAD
37th Annual John Elias Memorial Golf Tournament
1 p.m. Thursday, April 18. Seminole Lake Country Club, 6100 Augusta Blvd., Seminole. The Rotary Club of Seminole will host the tournament, which begins at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start. Individual golfers and foursomes can register to participate; sponsorship opportunities are available. Registration forms for golfers and sponsorships can be downloaded at https://seminolerotary.org/golf. The cost to register as an individual golfer is $150, and $600 for a foursome. For questions, contact Michele Davidson, event chair, at 571-377-9489.
Humane Society of Pinellas’ Happy Tails fundraiser
6-9 p.m. Thursday, April 18. Ozona Blue Grilling Co., 125 Orange St., Palm Harbor.
Enjoy the sunset while mingling with fellow animal lovers over an Italian-themed dinner, live music, silent and live auctions, ring toss and plenty of wet kisses from adoptable dogs. Individual tickets are $75 and can be purchased at www.humanesocietyofpinellas.org/happy-tails-2024/
Friends of Seminole Library Spring Book Sale
8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18; 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Friday, April 19; 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, April 20; noon-4:30 Sunday, April 21. Shoppers will have access to the Friends’ entire inventory of books. Most books just $1, specially marked books are 2/$1 and children/youth books are 3/$1. CDs and DVDs are 4/$1, with audio books and series selling for $2. The sale will take place in the lobby and Friends Shoppe.
North Pinellas Republican Club
6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18. Legends Bar and Grill, Tarpon Woods Golf Club, 1100 Tarpon Woods Blvd., Palm Harbor. Social hour starts at 6 p.m. The turnoff is about a mile north of Woodlands Blvd. so get in the right lane after Woodlands Blvd. Meets the third Thursday of the month.
Oakhurst United Methodist Church Monthly Food Drive
9 a.m.-noon. Friday, April 19. The church food drive is a partner with local food banks. All food and household products are welcome. The food banks serve the houseless and food insecure households. Meats, cereals, rice, pasta and ready to eat meals are always needed.
Third Friday
6-10 p.m. Friday, April 19. Main Street Safety Harbor. Nine blocks of Main Street will come together to showcase the restaurants, bars, shops and nonprofits in the community. The street is wet-zoned so that patrons can purchase and enjoy alcoholic beverages from establishments within the event footprint. info@safetyharborchamber.com.
Largo Live
6-8 p.m. Friday, April 19. Northwest Park, 1599 Sixth Ave. NW. Gather up the family, grab your blankets and chairs and join event organizers for live music, games, food trucks and more. On-site parking and snack concessions are available. No personal alcohol will be permitted. Email specialevents@largo.com or call 727-587-6740, ext. 5014.
Dunedin Family FunFest
6-10 p.m. Friday, April 19. Highlander Park, 903 Michigan Blvd.
Enjoy this free family event with activities, games, inflatables, music, a talent showcase, and an outdoor movie in the park. The movie begins at dark and is shown on a large screen. If you are interested in participating in the talent showcase, call 727-812-4530 or email RJohnson@DunedinFL.net.
Art in the Park
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Seminole City Park, 7464 Ridge Road. Enjoy a scenic and artful stroll through Seminole City Park featuring local artists and their works. Art demonstrations will be held throughout the day. Food and beverage will be available for purchase. Free
Taste of IRB
3-9 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Chic-a-Si Park, Fourth Avenue North and Second Street, Indian Rocks Beach. Event features food from a variety of local restaurants, beer, wine, soda and water. Bring beach chairs and/or blankets and spend the evening listening to great music, sampling the best fare the beach has to offer, and partying with good friends and neighbors. www.irbhome.com.
Cruisin’ The Park Charity Car Show
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20. John Chesnut Sr. Park, 2200 E. Lake Road S., Palm Harbor. The 17th annual Cruisin’ The Park Charity Car Show & Community Festival is sponsored by the Rotary Club of East Lake Sunrise. The show will feature more than 200 vintage and modern cars, a DJ, live music, raffles and a silent auction, demonstrations from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, Team 79 Krunch Robotics, East Lake Fire Rescue, as well as displays from local community and non-profit organizations. Admission and parking are free. All proceeds are distributed throughout the year to 501(c)(3) charities and is supported by volunteers.
Tarpon Springs Shred Day
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 20. 905 E. Martin Luther King Drive.
Free event only for Tarpon Springs residents, who can bring three file-size boxes or paper grocery bags of personal information to be shredded. No plastic or computer hard drives are allowed at the drive-thru event.
Pinellas Genealogy Society: ‘Saint of Plymouth’
1-2 p.m. Thursday, April 25. In person at the Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, and online via Zoom. The Genealogy Society will conduct a free hybrid class on “Isaac Allerton: Fallen Saint of Plymouth.” Lori Coffey will speak on how Allerton helped develop the Plymouth Colony’s economy, but was banished from Massachusetts. Registration is only required for Zoom attendees, who must register at the PGS website.
Friends of the Clearwater Library Book and Jewelry Sale
Noon-5 p.m., Friday, April 26; noon-4 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Countryside Branch Library. If you have children or grandchildren, come check out the low prices on these books. Lots of jewelry as well, also at low prices.
Largo Live
6-8 p.m. Friday, April 26. Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive. Gather up the family, grab your blankets and chairs and join event organizers for live music, games, food trucks and more. On-site parking and snack concessions are available. No personal alcohol will be permitted. Email specialevents@largo.com or call 727-587-6740, ext. 5014.
Playcon Gaming and Comic Convention
11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Highland Recreation Complex, 400 Highland Ave., Largo. Playcon is a celebration of gaming, comics, and nerd culture. Featured will be vendors catering to these interests that include toys and collectibles, artwork, apparel, comic books, games, and more. There will also be gaming competitions, free-play gaming, cosplay contests guests, and panels. $7 in advance and $10 the day of the event. Ages 11 and younger are admitted free. playlargo.com
Medicare 101 Largo
Noon. Wednesday, May 1. Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive. A SHINE volunteer will be available to answer Medicare questions. For more information call 727-587-6715 ext. 2508. SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas. Specially trained volunteers can assist with Medicare, Medicaid, and Health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information. SHINE services are free, unbiased, and confidential. SHINE counselors do not sell anything.
Sunset Beach Concert Series
7 p.m. May 2. Sunset Beach, Tarpon Springs. The Sunset Beach Concert Series, presented by the city of Tarpon Springs and AdventHealth North Pinellas, features shows on the first Thursday of the month through November. In the event of inclement weather and the concert is canceled before the start time, the concert will be held the following Thursday. Concessions are available for purchase. Alcohol and pets are prohibited. Parking is limited onsite, so a free courtesy shuttle will deliver concertgoers to and from the beach and Tarpon Springs High School.
The band lineup includes:
May 2 – Rhythm Express
June 6 – The Band Grounded
July 11 – ChillyFish
Aug. 1 – Big Picture
Sept. 5 – 60 West
Oct. 3 – The Flipside Band
Nov. 7 – Code Monkey
Belleair Women’s Republican Club
11:30 a.m. Friday, May 3. Belleair Country Club, One Country Club Lane. Social time begins at 11:30 a.m., with luncheon at noon. Speaker will be Jimmy Theo Patronis Jr., the chief financial officer for Florida. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2006 to 2014. Mail checks for $37 for the meal, to arrive by April 24, to BWRC, P.O. Box 1117, 850, E. Lime St., Tarpon Springs, FL 34688. Walk-ups cannot be accommodated.
Tarpon Springs First Friday
6-10 p.m. Friday, May 3. Downtown Tarpon Springs. The event is sponsored by the Tarpon Springs Merchant Association. tarponspringsfloridausa.com
Purse auction
6:30 p.m. Friday, May 3. Seminole United Methodist Church, 5400 Seminole Blvd. GFWC Seminole Junior Woman’s Club will hold a live auction of beautiful new and gently used purses. The live auction will start at 7 p.m. The evening will include a 50/50 raffle and light refreshments. 727-687-3077. Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted. All proceeds go to local charities.
Hurricane Expo
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 11. Palm Harbor Parks and Recreation, 1500 16th St. Prepare yourself for the season. Valuable information from vendors and experts on how to best prepare you and your property from seasonal weather. www.PHparksandrec.org
Medicare 101 Pinellas Park
11 a.m. Wednesday, May 15. Pinellas Park Library. 7770 52nd St. N. A SHINE volunteer will be available to answer Medicare questions. For information call 727-369-0669.
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas. Specially trained volunteers assist with Medicare, Medicaid, and Health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information. SHINE services are free, unbiased, and confidential. SHINE counselors do not sell anything.
Medicare Basics Gulfport
1 p.m. Wednesday, May 15. Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S. A SHINE volunteer will be available to answer Medicare questions. For information call 727-893-1073.
SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) is a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco & Pinellas. Specially trained volunteers assist Medicare, Medicaid, and Health insurance questions by providing one-on-one counseling and information. SHINE services are free, unbiased, and confidential. SHINE counselors do not sell anything.
Pinellas Genealogy Society: ‘FamilySearch.org’
Saturday, May 18. In-person at the Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, and on-line with Zoom. Explore all that FamilySearch.org has to offer including powerful search features, online family trees, family activities, digitized books, an exciting app feature, Memories (a digital scrapbook), the research wiki, and how to get help from the FamilySearch community. Led by professional genealogist Tamara Hallo. Registration is only required for Zoom attendees, who must register at the PGS website.
Raymond James Veterans Inclusion Network (Valor) Golf Fundraiser
Saturday, Sept. 7. Innisbrook Golf Resort, Copperhead Course. The event welcomes over 200 participants from the financial service industry and military community. To learn about sponsoring a team, sign up at the event’s website. Proceeds of this year’s tournament will benefit 19 charities focused on mental health, rehabilitation, enhanced mobility, affordable housing and home maintenance and career transition for veterans and their families. The Valor Network represents all service branches, military spouses, and allies, fostering camaraderie, networking, and community involvement by providing support to the veteran community nationwide through national and local outreach programs. Keynote speaker will be Chef Robert Irvine. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or donating to one of Valor’s veteran community outreach partners or volunteering, email ValorNetwork@RaymondJames.com.