2020/2021 Special Events Calendar
Mermaids & Margaritas Experience
Saturday, May 16, 2020
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
Chamber Pillar Awards
Friday, May 29, 2020
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Citrus Hills Golf & Country Club, 505 East Hartford Street, Hernando
This event celebrates those who have continued to support and promote the growth and prosperity of our beautiful community. Our theme this year is “Under the Sea” and will feature exciting entertainment and perhaps a surprise or two.
Estimated attendance: 200 | Tickets are available at www.citruscountychamber.com or at both Chamber offices.
Chamber Business Expo
Saturday, September 19, 2020
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 September.
Estimated attendance: 500 | Register at www.citruscountychamber.com
B.A.M. FAM Tour
Thursday, October 15, 2020
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Meet at the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, 915 N. Suncoast Boulevard, Crystal River to board a luxury motor coach for an invitation-only full day familiarization tour for local business and community leaders to get a first-hand look at some of the new Citrus County businesses, development sites and plans in progress. Held in October, every other year.
Estimated attendance: 35
Business Appreciation Month Barbeque
Thursday, October 29, 2020
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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
Citrus County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parades
Saturday, December 5, 2020 – Crystal River | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Parade start: Citrus Avenue & U.S. Hwy 19| Parade end: Paradise Point Rd. & U.S. Hwy. 19
An evening parade with lights and Santa down U.S. Highway 19 in Crystal River. Always the first Saturday in December.
Estimated attendance: 15,000
Saturday, December 15, 2020 – Inverness | 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Parade start: 1201 W. Main Street | Parade end: CHS – 600 W. Highland Boulevard
An old fashion parade through historic downtown Inverness. Always the second Saturday in December.
Estimated attendance: 5,000
Register at www.citruscountychamber.com
Florida Manatee Festival
Saturday, January 16 – Sunday, January 17, 2021
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1/16 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1/17
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. Always the third weekend in January.
Estimated attendance: 22,000 | www.gomanateefest.com
Floral City Strawberry Festival
Saturday, March 6 – Sunday, March 7, 2021
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3/6 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3/7
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
Saturday, May 16, 2020
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
Chamber Pillar Awards
Friday, May 29, 2020
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Citrus Hills Golf & Country Club, 505 East Hartford Street, Hernando
This event celebrates those who have continued to support and promote the growth and prosperity of our beautiful community. Our theme this year is “Under the Sea” and will feature exciting entertainment and perhaps a surprise or two.
Estimated attendance: 200 | Tickets are available at www.citruscountychamber.com or at both Chamber offices.
Chamber Business Expo
Saturday, September 19, 2020
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 September.
Estimated attendance: 500 | Register at www.citruscountychamber.com
B.A.M. FAM Tour
Thursday, October 15, 2020
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Meet at the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce, 915 N. Suncoast Boulevard, Crystal River to board a luxury motor coach for an invitation-only full day familiarization tour for local business and community leaders to get a first-hand look at some of the new Citrus County businesses, development sites and plans in progress. Held in October, every other year.
Estimated attendance: 35
Business Appreciation Month Barbeque
Thursday, October 29, 2020
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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
Citrus County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parades
Saturday, December 5, 2020 – Crystal River | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Parade start: Citrus Avenue & U.S. Hwy 19| Parade end: Paradise Point Rd. & U.S. Hwy. 19
An evening parade with lights and Santa down U.S. Highway 19 in Crystal River. Always the first Saturday in December.
Estimated attendance: 15,000
Saturday, December 15, 2020 – Inverness | 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Parade start: 1201 W. Main Street | Parade end: CHS – 600 W. Highland Boulevard
An old fashion parade through historic downtown Inverness. Always the second Saturday in December.
Estimated attendance: 5,000
Register at www.citruscountychamber.com
Florida Manatee Festival
Saturday, January 16 – Sunday, January 17, 2021
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1/16 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1/17
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. Always the third weekend in January.
Estimated attendance: 22,000 | www.gomanateefest.com
Floral City Strawberry Festival
Saturday, March 6 – Sunday, March 7, 2021
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 3/6 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 3/7
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
