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Palm Harbor Parrot Head Party Transformed Into Music, Food Fest

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: May 31, 2008

PALM HARBOR - The Parrot Head Day Festival will go on as planned, next weekend, but it was a close call.

Parrot Head Day, put on by Old Palm Harbor Main Street, will take place from 2 - 10 p.m. Saturday, June 7. The rain date is Sunday, June 8.

Lesley Klein, a co-founder of the event and an Old Palm Harbor Main Street board member, said a lack of sponsors almost forced cancellation of the 2008 Parrot Head Day.

Corporations that supported the event in the past told Main Street leaders they could not afford to do so this year because of the economic downturn.

At the last minute, however, sponsors were found to defray enough of the cost of putting on the celebration of rock troubadour Jimmy Buffett and the Key West lifestyle.

Parrot Head Day is the Main Street group's largest fundraiser.

Old Palm Harbor Main Street aids the redevelopment of the community's historic downtown district, the site of the Parrot Head party.

Main Street leaders are hoping the proceeds from the June 7 event will be enough to guarantee its financial success, according to Klein.

Kathy Govola, Main Street office administrator, said the event promises to be bigger and better than ever.

This year's event will feature a much wider selection of food from area restaurants to go along with the music and Key West-style crafts.

Some of the restaurants expected to take part are: Brady's Backyard Barbecue, Safety Harbor, the Melting Pot, Oldsmar; and St. Larry's and Piranha's Bar and Grill, Palm Harbor.

Downtown restaurants also plan to offer their own special brand of entertainment, food and drink specials, Govola said.

Florida Avenue, the heart of the downtown district will be closed to vehicular traffic from C.R. 1 to Alt. 19 from Friday to Saturday night.

Several specialty crafters and vendors are expected to attend this event, widely supported by the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club and its members, Govola said.

This year's Parrot Head music festival has two popular headliners performing on one stage rather than two:

•At 2 p.m. Alan Darcy, a jazzy-pop saxophonist, opens the concert series.

•At 6 p.m. The Caribbean Chillers, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band from Orlando will take the stage for a 4-hour set.

The event will include a children's inflatable ride area and rock climb wall.

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

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