Florida Events, February 2008

You can hunt for chocolate doubloons, see Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade, watch the Magic, Music and Mayhem fireworks spectacular and the Dream Along With Mickey castle stage show. Selected attractions will remain open and you can come in costume if you wish.

Tickets cost US$43.95 for adults and US$37.95 for children if bought in advance or US$45.95 for adults and US$39.95 for children if bought on the day (all prices plus tax).

The Big Band Concert Series in the Stanleyville Theater comes to a close with The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra (January 31 to February 3) and The Artie Shaw Orchestra featuring Dick Johnson (February 7 to 10) (www.buschgardens.com).

This is the largest rodeo in the Southeast with more than 60 of the top professional rodeo riders competing for more than $100,000 in prize money. You can watch bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronco riding, steer wrestling and barrel racing as well as the world famous Silver Spurs Quadrille horseback team (www.silverspursrodeo.com).

• Islamorada Women's Sailfish Tournament in Islamorada (February 8 to 10)
• Poor Girls Sailfish Tournament in Islamorada(February 19 to 20)
• The Backcountry Fly Championship in Islamorada(February 23 to 24),
• Backbone Lures “Fish ‘Til You Lose It.” in Islamorada (February 29 to March 1)
• Capt. Leon Shell Memorial Billfish Tournament 10th Anniversary in Marathon (February 29 to March 2)

Amongst the athletes scheduled to take part are Brandon Jacobs and Amani Toomer (New York Giants), Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts), Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles), baseball legend Cal Ripken, Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic ), tennis legend Martina Navratilova and the famous Harlem Globetrotters.

ESPN personalities include Jay Crawford, Peter Gammons, Mike Greenberg, Orestes Destrade, Mike Tirico, Colin Cowherd, Mike Golic, Linda Cohn, John Kruk, Karl Ravech, Jemele Hill and Trey Wingo (disneyworld.disney.go.com).

At the Pinewood Estate there are two concerts. here is a George Soulos and Carol Thompson Concert with Piano and Flute on February 3, and a Judith Alstadter Piano Concert on February 17.

There are carillon concerts every day at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm but on February 14 there is a Valentine's Day Carillon Concert with traditional romantic favourites and then on February 19 it is Presidents Day with a patriotic musical selection.

At the Visitor Center on February 9, there a living history performance by actress Betty Jean Steinshouer when she portrays Marjory Stoneman Douglas, author of "A River of Grass" which helped start the movement to save the Everglades, in Voice of the Everglades: Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

This is followed on February 22 by Father of Conservation: John Muir which tells the story of John Muir who helped start the U.S. National Park System back in the late 1800s.

Finally on February 23, there is an Acoustic Eidolon in Concert at Visitor Center which combines Celtic, folk, bluegrass and Latin music with guitarist Joe Scott and cellist Hanna Alkire (http://www.boksanctuary.org).

On Saturdays at SeaWorld you can see Trisha Yearwood (February 16), Creedence Clearwater Revisited (February 23), Craig Morgan & Pat Green (March 1) and Joe Nichols & Jason Michael Carroll (March 8).

Meanwhile on Sundays at Busch Gardens you can watch Sara Evans (February 17), Styx (February 24), Clay Walker (March 2) and Gary Allan (March 9).

All washed down with ice-cold Anheuser-Busch beers and southern style smokin' barbecue ribs and chicken (www.budandbbq.com).

All are included in the standard park admission, though reserved seats can also be purchased. The concerts planned for Kenny Rogers (February 2) and Pam Tillis (February 10) have had to be rescheduled due to unforeseen illnesses (www.cypressgardens.com).

If you fancy seeing or even flying in one of them, head over to Page Field Airport Fort Myers (January 30 to February 1), Venice Municipal Airport (February 1 to 4), Vandenberg Airport Tampa (February 4 to 6), Kissimmee Gateway Airport (February 6 to 8), Ocala Regional / Jim Taylor Field (February 8 to 10) and finally Keystone Airpark, Keystone Heights (February 22 to 25).

Note that the Consolidated B-24 Liberator does not join the tour until the last Florida venue at Keystone Heights (www.collingsfoundation.org)

There is also the Country Gold Tour 2008 Concert featuring Leroy Van Dyke, Jim Ed Brown, Helen Cornelius, Bobby Bare, Steve and Rudy Gatlin (The Gatlin Brothers), Narvel Felts, Ronnie Prophet, Moe Bandy and T.G. Sheppard on February 14 (www.floridastatefair.com).

There is live entertainment from Southern Star Bluegrass Band, Three Bridges, The Lewis Family, The Greenes and Ron Diamond plus the 39th Annual Heart of Florida Folk Festival (www.pascocountyfair.com).

Entertainment is provided by Southern Star Bluegrass, Vocal Trash, Dennis Lee and Runa Pacha plus every day, there are concerts from well known country artists including Bobby Vinton, Josh Turner, Charlie Pride, Miranda Lambert, Jeff & Sheri Easter/The Isaacs, Mercy Me, Chris Cagle, Alan Jackson, Mickey Gilley, Travis Tritt, Glen Cambell, Blake Shelton, Crystal Gayle, Tom Jones, Smothers Brothers, Charlie Daniels, Gene Watson, Trace Adkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Neal Mccoy, Sugarland and Jason Aldean (www.flstrawberryfestival.com).