Special Events Calendar
Annual Pillar Awards Ceremony
Friday, April 30th
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Every year the Chamber of Commerce celebrates the "pillars of our community" to recognize excellence in our community and honor those individuals, organizations and businesses that make Citrus County a wonderful place to live, work and play.
Estimated attendance: 200 | www.citruscountychamber.com/pillar-awards
Chamber Business Expo
Saturday, October 2nd
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Citrus County Auditorium, 3610 S. Florida Avenue, Inverness
The Chamber Business Expo is an opportunity to showcase the unique and exciting talents local businesses offer our community, and also presents an opportunity for new businesses to begin building professional relationships. Open to both Chamber and non-Chamber members. Held in October.
Estimated attendance: 500 | Register at www.citruscountychamber.com
Fire Up Citrus
Thursday, October 21st
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Valerie Theatre
Do you have what you think is a great idea to help put a fire under Citrus County to move our economy forward? Can you make it a little entertaining, fairly fun, and totally presentable in 5 minutes flat? Then we want YOU to present it at Fire Up Citrus! During the four years that Fire Up Citrus! has taken place, a number of ideas were presented that have since resulted in projects or businesses that are coming to reality, including a " Veterans Village, a Construction Academy, new technology and advanced homes, a fruit tree grove maintained by shelter residents to grow healthy food, a kitchen incubator and more”.
General Admission $10 | Free for Presenters
For more information, contact Ardath Prendergast at 352-795-3149 or ardath@citruscountychamber.com
Business Appreciation Month - BAM BBQ
Thursday, October 28th
M & B Dairy, 8760 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto
This annual event, produced by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and hosted by M & B Dairy, is the place to network with local businesses over mouth-watering BBQ prepared by Leon McClellan and the Citrus County Agricultural Alliance. Join 700 of your “best biz buds” as we
celebrate the achievements and contributions of our local businesses to our Citrus County economy and quality of life. Always the third Thursday in October.
Estimated attendance: 700 | Tickets available at www.eventbrite.com or at both Chamber offices | www.citruscountychamber.com
Florida Manatee Festival
Saturday, January 15 – Sunday, January 16
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1/15 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1/16
Both sides of Citrus Ave. from the waterfront at Third Street across US 19 to Crystal Street and surrounding areas, Crystal River
The Florida Manatee Festival, produced by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its 34th year in 2021. The Florida Manatee Festival attracts over 20,000 people over two days and has consistently been awarded the “Best of the Best” festival by readers of the Citrus County Chronicle for many years, providing quality entertainment and manatee encounter opportunities for residents and visitors to our community! Musical entertainment on three stages, a beer & wine garden, over 300 booths featuring fine arts and craft artists, business marketplace and local non-profit vendors, two food courts, a huge kid zone, free bus tours to view the manatees and manatee boat tours are available for a small fee.
Estimated attendance: 22,000 | www.gomanateefest.com
Floral City Strawberry Festival
Saturday, March 5 – Sunday, March 6
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3/5 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3/6
Floral Park, 9530 South Parkside Avenue, Floral City
The Floral City Strawberry Festival is a salute to local agriculture. Ferris Farms, our local grower, supplies hundreds of flats of strawberries that are made into fresh strawberry shortcakes, and are also sold fresh to festival goers to bring home to make their own strawberry delicacies. The Floral City Strawberry Festival brings over 15,000 people to Floral City to enjoy live entertainment, two kid zones, over 200 arts and craft vendors, a beer & wine garden, pie eating contests, the Little Miss Strawberry Princess Pageant and plenty of food in two food courts. Always the first weekend in March.
Estimated attendance: 16,000 | www.GoStrawberryFest.com
Mermaids & Margaritas Experience
Saturday, May 23, 2022
12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hunter Springs Park, 18 N.E. 2nd Street, Crystal River
In partnership with the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, The Mertailor’s Eric Ducharme will feature live mermaids modeling the exquisite custom mermaid and merman tails that his company creates here in Citrus County and ships worldwide. Enjoy the mermaids in and out of the water and get a close up look at each one of a kind tail. Look for a great variety of local food vendors, a beer & wine garden, live entertainment, exciting merchandise vendors, free paddle board rides, a Kid Zone, and frosty Margaritas. Advance tickets only available at Eventbrite.com.
Estimated attendance: 800 | www.mermaidsandmargaritasfestival.com
Friday, April 30th
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Every year the Chamber of Commerce celebrates the "pillars of our community" to recognize excellence in our community and honor those individuals, organizations and businesses that make Citrus County a wonderful place to live, work and play.
Estimated attendance: 200 | www.citruscountychamber.com/pillar-awards
Chamber Business Expo
Saturday, October 2nd
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Citrus County Auditorium, 3610 S. Florida Avenue, Inverness
The Chamber Business Expo is an opportunity to showcase the unique and exciting talents local businesses offer our community, and also presents an opportunity for new businesses to begin building professional relationships. Open to both Chamber and non-Chamber members. Held in October.
Estimated attendance: 500 | Register at www.citruscountychamber.com
Fire Up Citrus
Thursday, October 21st
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Valerie Theatre
Do you have what you think is a great idea to help put a fire under Citrus County to move our economy forward? Can you make it a little entertaining, fairly fun, and totally presentable in 5 minutes flat? Then we want YOU to present it at Fire Up Citrus! During the four years that Fire Up Citrus! has taken place, a number of ideas were presented that have since resulted in projects or businesses that are coming to reality, including a " Veterans Village, a Construction Academy, new technology and advanced homes, a fruit tree grove maintained by shelter residents to grow healthy food, a kitchen incubator and more”.
General Admission $10 | Free for Presenters
For more information, contact Ardath Prendergast at 352-795-3149 or ardath@citruscountychamber.com
Business Appreciation Month - BAM BBQ
Thursday, October 28th
M & B Dairy, 8760 S. Lecanto Highway, Lecanto
This annual event, produced by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce and hosted by M & B Dairy, is the place to network with local businesses over mouth-watering BBQ prepared by Leon McClellan and the Citrus County Agricultural Alliance. Join 700 of your “best biz buds” as we
celebrate the achievements and contributions of our local businesses to our Citrus County economy and quality of life. Always the third Thursday in October.
Estimated attendance: 700 | Tickets available at www.eventbrite.com or at both Chamber offices | www.citruscountychamber.com
Florida Manatee Festival
Saturday, January 15 – Sunday, January 16
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1/15 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1/16
Both sides of Citrus Ave. from the waterfront at Third Street across US 19 to Crystal Street and surrounding areas, Crystal River
The Florida Manatee Festival, produced by the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its 34th year in 2021. The Florida Manatee Festival attracts over 20,000 people over two days and has consistently been awarded the “Best of the Best” festival by readers of the Citrus County Chronicle for many years, providing quality entertainment and manatee encounter opportunities for residents and visitors to our community! Musical entertainment on three stages, a beer & wine garden, over 300 booths featuring fine arts and craft artists, business marketplace and local non-profit vendors, two food courts, a huge kid zone, free bus tours to view the manatees and manatee boat tours are available for a small fee.
Estimated attendance: 22,000 | www.gomanateefest.com
Floral City Strawberry Festival
Saturday, March 5 – Sunday, March 6
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3/5 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3/6
Floral Park, 9530 South Parkside Avenue, Floral City
The Floral City Strawberry Festival is a salute to local agriculture. Ferris Farms, our local grower, supplies hundreds of flats of strawberries that are made into fresh strawberry shortcakes, and are also sold fresh to festival goers to bring home to make their own strawberry delicacies. The Floral City Strawberry Festival brings over 15,000 people to Floral City to enjoy live entertainment, two kid zones, over 200 arts and craft vendors, a beer & wine garden, pie eating contests, the Little Miss Strawberry Princess Pageant and plenty of food in two food courts. Always the first weekend in March.
Estimated attendance: 16,000 | www.GoStrawberryFest.com
Mermaids & Margaritas Experience
Saturday, May 23, 2022
12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hunter Springs Park, 18 N.E. 2nd Street, Crystal River
In partnership with the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, The Mertailor’s Eric Ducharme will feature live mermaids modeling the exquisite custom mermaid and merman tails that his company creates here in Citrus County and ships worldwide. Enjoy the mermaids in and out of the water and get a close up look at each one of a kind tail. Look for a great variety of local food vendors, a beer & wine garden, live entertainment, exciting merchandise vendors, free paddle board rides, a Kid Zone, and frosty Margaritas. Advance tickets only available at Eventbrite.com.
Estimated attendance: 800 | www.mermaidsandmargaritasfestival.com
