Get out and go

Here's another great guide to everything that's on in our area for the next month courtesy of those wonderful people over at the Sun-Sentinel.
You have no excuse to be at a loose end!

Mar 27-Apr 5: Sarasota Film Festival, Sarasota. Featuring more than 200 films, public events, panels, parties, filmmaker discussions and musical performances. At Regal Cinemas Hollywood 20. 941-364-9514. www.sarasotafilmfestival.com
Apr. 2, 18: Festival of States, St. Petersburg. Grand Prix Illuminated Night Parade on Apr. 2 has been an audience favorite since 1969, winding through downtown St. Petersburg's beautiful waterfront with lighted floats, music, dancing and beads galore. On Apr. 18 are the Harley Davidson Motorcycle Show, the Festival of States Day Parade, and the Festival Familyfest, the city's largest family event, with two areas of entertainment, games, inflatables, rock climbing wall, bungee jump, batting booth, Radio Disney and more. At North Straub Park. 727-821-9888. www.festivalofstates.com/
Apr. 3-4: Central Florida Dragon Boat Festival, Tavares. Dragon boat racing was born out of myth and legend more than 2,000 years ago in southern China, commemorating the life and death of a great patriot who threw himself into the Mi Lo River. When news of his death spread, local fishermen raced out onto the water and splashed their paddles to prevent fish from eating his body. Today, worldwide, some two million people participate in dragon races. This year the government of Taiwan is sending 40 entertainers to Tavares to take part in the 2009 event. Action-packed contests begin with a crew of 20 paddlers led by the loud, steady beat of the drummer. As the long and colorful boats compete, an ancient rite is revisited, all in the spirit of charity and fun. At Wooten Park. 352-343-2531. www.cfdragonboat.org
Apr. 3-5: Spring Fling, St. Cloud. Springtime celebration with arts and crafts, food, kid's activities, carnival rides and games, and classic boat and car shows. At St. Cloud Lakefront Park. Free. 407-892-9141. www.floridakiss.com/do/events
Apr. 3-5: Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg. International field of elite race car drivers compete on a challenging 14-turn race circuit through downtown St. Petersburg. Admission. 727-824-7223, 898-4639. www.gpstpete.com
Apr. 3-5: DeSoto Seafood Fest, Bradenton. One of Florida's largest outdoor festivals, this downtown riverfront event combines outstanding cuisine with multi-stage entertainment, a large variety of vendors, and fun for the entire family. Downtown on the riverfront. Free admission. 941-747-1998. www.desotohq.com
Apr. 3-5, 10, 25: DeSoto Heritage Festival Seafood Fest, Children's Parade and Party in the Park, and Grand Parade and After-Parade Party, Bradenton. The Apr. 3-5 seafood event features fresh area seafood plus other tasty offerings from area food restaurants. Also continuous entertainment on two stages, arts and crafts and other activities. At downtown riverfront. On Apr. 10, The Heritage Festival Children's Parade proceeds from Manatee County Fairgrounds to Sutton and Lamb Parks, where food and fun activities including games and a magic show fill the rest of the day. The DeSoto Grand Parade on Apr. 25 is the grand finale of the Heritage Festival. Acclaimed as the area's most dazzling, it is an illuminated night parade with more than 150 entries and more than 180,000 spectators as it wends its way from Manatee High School to the downtown area. An After-Parade Party follows at Bradenton Auditorium. Admission. 941-747-1998. www.desotohq.com
Apr. 4: Collector's Day and Mosquito County BBQ Cook-Off, Kissimmee. Includes live entertainment, great BBQ, a huge rummage sale, Veteran's Museum display, antique coins and musical instruments. At Osceola County Historical Society. Free. 407-396-8644. http://osceolahistory.org/index.php/events/collectors-day/
Apr. 4: King of the Wing Chicken Wing Competition, Inverness. Chicken wing competition sponsored by Citrus County Builders Assn. At Liberty Park. 352-341-1365. www.visitcitrus.com/eventpop.asp?EventID=760
Apr. 4: Best of Tampa Bay 2009, Tampa. Bay Area's premier food event, hosted by The Producers Volunteer Group as a benefit for Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Stroll the Hillsborough River to enjoy live entertainment and sample food and drinks from the Bay Area's best restaurants and caterers. At TBPAC. Admission. 813-229-7827. http://events.tboextra.com/tampa-fl/events/show/84988169-best-of-tampa-bay-2009
Apr. 4-5: Anna Maria Island Art and Craft Festival, Holmes Beach. Fine arts and crafts, music, food. To benefit the Butterfly Park. Free. 352-344-0657. www.tnteventsinc.com
Apr. 4-5: Antiques on the Avenue Festival, Holly Hill. This annual festival features an array of quality antiques and collectibles from premier vendors. On the avenue downtown. Free. 386-248-9435. www.antiquesontheavenue.net
Apr. 4-5: Eighth Annual Celebration Spring Art Festival, Celebration. The creations of more than 120 fine artists will be displayed, with paintings, sculptures, jewelry and more for sale. Also offered are kid's crafts, entertainment and more for the whole family. At Celebration Town Center. 407-566-4007. www.celebrationtowncenter.com
Apr. 5: National Philharmonic of Russia, Daytona Beach. Performance by the National Philharmonic of Russia, with the most recent Tchaikovsky Competition winner. At Peabody Auditorium. 386-671-3461. www.peabodyauditorium.org
Apr. 7: Moonlight Carillon Concert at Bok Sanctuary, Lake Wales. Hear the famous 60-bell Singing Tower in a moonlight concert that will be the last in a once per month over three months series.. At Historic Bok Sanctuary. Admission. 863-676-1408. www.boksanctuary.org
Apr. 9-12: The Ultimate National Championship, Kissimmee. Cheerleaders compete for the Ultimate National Championship. At Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. Admission. 800-252-4337. http://www.COAcheer.com
Apr. 11: Easter Beach Run, Daytona Beach. Kids' races start at 3 p.m., the 2-mile and 4-mile at 3:45 and 4:30 respectively. Staging area has been permanently moved to the new Breaker's Oceanfront Park adjacent to the Main Street Pier. 386-671-3409, 671-3402. www.easterbeachrun.org
Apr. 11: Underwater Egg Hunt, Crystal River. Underwater egg hunt at Bicentennial Park Pool. For more advanced swimmers there will be different levels of difficulty based on swimming ability. Also a land-based egg hunt for non-swimmers and little ones, plus kids can even paint an egg bigger than themselves. 352-795-1478. www.visitcitrus.com/eventpop.asp?EventID=777
Apr. 11-12: Market Fest at Water Tower Place, Celebration. Art, crafts, food. Free. 352-344-0657. www.tnteventsinc.com
Apr. 12: Easter Sunrise Service at Bok Sanctuary, Lake Wales. Easter morning worshipers are invited to greet the dawn of this special day atop peninsular Florida's highest point, as the sunrise is heralded with music from the sanctuary's 60-bell Singing Tower carillon and the Lake Wales Chorale. Free admission 6 to 8 a.m; regular admission rest of the day. Easter buffet offered in the Blue Palmetto Café for an additional fee. Carillon selections also played at 1 and 3 p.m. 863-676-1408. www.boksanctuary.org
Apr. 16-19: 2009 NSSA East Coast Championships, Melbourne Beach. National Scholastic Surfing Association East Coast Championship. At Sebastian Inlet State Park. 321-984-4852. www.floridastateparks.org/sebastianinlet/default.cfm
Apr. 16-26: Central Florida Fair, Orlando. Enjoy rides, arts and crafts, food, music and much more. At Central Florida Fairgrounds. Admission. 407-295-3247. http://www.CentralFloridaFair.com
Apr. 16-May 2: Daytona Beach International Festival, Daytona Beach. Biennial festival featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, previously known as the Florida International Festival. Its mission is to enhance demand for diverse, artistically brilliant live music performances in the Daytona Beach region. At Peabody Auditorium and other venues. 866-978-3243. http://dbif.com/
Apr. 17-20: Bern's Winefest, Tampa. The steakhouse long known for its 15-pound wine list and gargantuan cellar hosts four days of dinners, parties and a grand tasting at both Bern's and SideBern's and under tents near Bern's wine store. Admission. 813-250-9463. www.bernsfinewines.com
Apr. 18: St. Johns River Paddle Battle, Orange City. Enjoy the 3.5-mile kayak and canoe race on the St. Johns River from Blue Spring State Park to Hontoon Island State Park. Originally planned around National Public Lands Day in September but moved to a date near Earth Day when high water caused a postponement. 386-775-3663. www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/Events.cfm
Apr. 18-19: Inlet Harbor ShrimpFest, Ponce Inlet. Benefit for Daytona Beach College Culinary Institute. On Saturday students will serve visitors and hone their presentation skills for the competition Sunday evening. Shrimp dishes will be prepared by teams of students and be judged for taste, presentation and creativity. There also will be shrimp stations offering fried, coconut and peel-and-eat shrimp served by students and restaurant employees, plus entertainment and activities for children. At Inlet Harbor Marina and Restaurant, 386-767-5590. www.daytonabeach.com/calendar.cfm/caldate/2009-04-01
Apr. 18-19: Celebration Exotic Car Festival, Celebration. Town Center at Celebration will exhibit some of the world's most exotic and rare automobiles. Free admission and parking. 407-566-2200. www.celebrationexoticcars.com/
Apr. 18-19: Mainsail Arts Festival, St. Petersburg. Thirty-fourth annual. Juried fine art and craft show with live entertainment, Young at Art student show, a children's art activity tent, and a culinary arts food court. At Vinoy Park. 727-892-5885. www.mainsailartsfestival.org
Apr. 18-19 : Sponge Docks-Tarpon Springs Art and Craft Festival, Tarpon Springs. Fine arts and crafts, food, music. Free. 352-344-0657. www.tnteventsinc.com
Apr. 19: Earth Day Celebration at Oscar Scherer State Park, Osprey. Annual celebration traditionally held on the third Sunday of April. Includes plant sales, exhibits, music, guided walks, food and children's activities. 941-483-5956. www.floridastateparks.org/OscarScherer/Events.cfm
Apr. 23-26: Florida Winefest and Auction, Sarasota. Wineries from all over will strut their stuff during four days of tastings, winemaker dinners, parties, seminars and an auction of notable wines. Event benefits children's charities and the arts. 800-216-6199. www.floridawinefest.com
Apr. 25: Sea Grapes Fine Wine and Food Festival, Tampa. Sample over 100 wines, dine on cuisine from 20 premier Bay area restaurants, bid on unique and exciting auction items, enjoy live jazz and other entertainment throughout the aquarium, and explore all exhibits. At Florida Aquarium. Admission. 813-273-4030. www.flaquarium.org/cm/templates/planvisit.aspx?articleid=154&zoneid=41
Apr. 25: Sixth Annual Dark Sky Festival, St. Cloud. Outdoor festival offering stargazing through telescopes, along with knowledgeable guides to explain what guests are seeing. Also featured are informative speakers, live entertainment and a kid zone with hands-on interactive exhibits. At Harmony. Free. 407-957-0207. www.darkskyfestival.com
Apr. 25: Art Walk on Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach. Features, in the five blocks between the Indian River and the ocean, a variety of interesting and unique art works by resident and visiting artists. Also offers demonstrations, entertainment and free prize drawing. Held fourth Saturday each month. Free. 386-428-1770. www.flaglergallerygroup.com/
Apr. 25-26: The Great American Pie Festival, Celebration. Includes never-ending pie buffet, National Pie Championships, culinary demonstrations, pie-eating contest, children's pie-making, cooking demonstrations, and children's games and crafts. Also entertainment both days. At Lakeside Park. Admission. 847-371-0170. www.piecouncil.org/pie_events/gapf/index.php
Apr. 25-26: Siesta Fiesta Craft Fair, Siesta Key. Includes handmade jewelry, ceramics, stained glass, paintings, photography and more. At Siesta Key Village. 866-831-7778. www.siestakeychamber.com/events.php
Apr. 25-26: Blues at the Winery, Clermont. Live music, food, wine. At Lakeridge Winery and Vineyards. Admission. 800-768-WINE. http://www.lakeridgewinery.com/aboutus-events.php
Apr. 26: Taste of South Tampa, Tampa. Includes food and beverages from 40 restaurants, plus live music. Third annual. At Hyde Park Village Circle. Admission. 813-637-0156. http://events.tboextra.com/tampa-fl/events/show/85986472-3rd-annual-taste-of-south-tampa