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Highlands Today

Area Activities Ready To Crank Up

Highlands Today file photo

Mary Simerlink spins rabbit fur during the CCC Festival held at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring.

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Pallavi Agarwal

Published: September 28, 2008

Updated: 09/27/2008 03:56 pm

It's that time of the year. Those tired of Highlands County's summer doldrums should get their planning calendars out.

Longtime residents will attest that from October to April, the roads are not the only things that get busy. Bands rev up for their acts; crafts and art shows offer back-to-back fares for Christmas shopping; dance clubs get moving, and residents get something to do.

This year, there will be some big and small changes in the events schedule. A longtime November arts and crafts festival has been replaced by a smaller one in March. The Highlands Art League, which sponsors this festival, has refocused its efforts with brand new art events for the community. The Sebring downtown Gallery Walk has been discontinued for now and may restart later in the season. The Sebring Carousel of Lights will be more amped up. At least one new Halloween spook-out awaits the young and the young-at-heart. A community "paint out" has been planned for next year, and a new dance club is in town.

Here's a list of what to expect new this season:

Terror Trail To Help Spook Up Funds

SEBRING - Those who want to get spooked without leaving the county now have their chance this October.

The Humane Society of Highlands County is sponsoring a new Terror Trail, to be open to the public every Friday and Saturday in October, and on Halloween night. The first day is Oct. 3.

Pretend zombies and monsters will jump at visitors along a half-a-mile trail on the Humane Society property, which is close to the Sebring Regional Airport.

"There will be cool lighting and sound effects complete with barking dogs," said Barbara Clark, president of the Humane Society of Highlands County.

In the pitch-black darkness of the desolate property, lit only by sparse lighting, those who come to be spooked will not go home disappointed, Clark promised.

Not everyone wants to get the heebie jeebies, and the Humane Society has taken care of that.

Kids with candy on their mind, or those 13 and under, can take the trail from 7 to 8 p.m. Candy stations will substitute monsters. Cost is $4 per person.

The spooky version will play out from 8 to 10 p.m. Cost is $6 per person.

YMCA Haunted House/Open House Is Free

SEBRING - The YMCA of Highlands County is holding its first-ever Haunted House from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Y, located at 100 YMCA Lane, in Sebring.

There will be games and food.

It's free to the public, and is open to everyone.

Dave Scheck, program director for the YMCA, said there won't be monsters or coffins, just a chance to have fun at the Y.

New Arts Festival To Replace November Tradition

SEBRING - The Highlands Art League's annual November crafts and arts festival is being replaced by something similar in March.

The Historic Downtown Sebring Festival will be held March 7.

League Executive Director Alice Stroppel said the festival will have vendors selling arts and crafts, but no community streets like what the November fest sponsored.

She was referring to how the different streets radiating off the Sebring Circle each had themed events and arts and crafts.

The League has decided to let an outside vendor organize the March festival to free up volunteers' time and refocus their efforts on developing the League's art complex, called The Village, and offer more "cultural experiences" throughout the year.

1st Fridays Makes Its Debut At Art League

SEBRING - Staring Oct. 3 and every first Friday of the month, the Highlands Art League will have its 1stFriday - Sunset at the Village from 5-8 p.m. at the art league complex, at 1989 Lakeview Drive, Sebring.

The League will open up to the public its three buildings, the Yellow House, the Visual Arts Center and the Highlands Museum of Art, or MOTA, collectively called The Village. Various events will be offered that evening during the year, from art exhibits to wine tasting, with a band playing one and off. It's free to the public.

On Oct. 3, visitors will be able to see a stained glass demonstration in the arts center, members' artwork on display at the Yellow House Gallery, and MOTA's exhibition of Cuban artists from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Village is located at 1989 Lakeview Drive, Sebring, Florida.

Museum Getting Retrofitted For Fine Art Exhibits

SEBRING - The Highlands Museum of the Arts is being retrofitted for fine art exhibits, said Alice Stroppel, executive director of the Highlands Art League.

A painting exhibit of 26 Cuban artists from the 60s to the present will kick off the premier reopening of the museum.

The exhibit will run until Nov. 28. It will be followed by other exhibits like entries for a 2-D art competition the league is hosting early next year.

The opening reception will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Oct. 3. Museum hours will be Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by appointment.

2-D Juried Competition To Be Held 2009

SEBRING - The Highlands Art League will hold its first ever Art 2009 National Juried Competition from Feb. 20 to March 28.

2-D art entries will be taken nationwide. Ken Rollins, Director Emeritus, Gulf Coast Museum of Art, will judge the contest. The entries will be on display at the Highlands Museum of Arts.

Awards of $2,500 and above will be given out.

Christmas Carousel Of Lights To Get Brighter

SEBRING - Be prepared to be dazzled 40 percent more when the annual Sebring Carousel of Lights comes on, Dec. 6, and continues until Dec. 28.

The Sebring Community Redevelopment Agency is upgrading the electric service in Circle Park, and Carousel of Lights coordinator Jon Spiegel has promised more razzle dazzle. Newcomers will be a hot air balloon, a giant worm coming in and out of the ground, race cars, turtles and octopuses. They are all going to be lighted and custom made for Sebring, Spiegel said.

Those looking for the annual fare will still find the singing zoo, miniature golf, the traditional lighting, and Santa Claus. New additions are sand art and make-your-own-beads for a nominal fee.

5K Race Combines With Pet Walk And Parade

SEBRING - Here's a chance to dress up and parade your pet for a new Santa Paws 1 Mile Pet Walk And Parade at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 13 at Highlands Hammock State Park.

It will be in conjunction with a 5K run, which will begin earlier at 8 a.m.

People have the option of participating in the 5K or in the pet parade.

The event benefits the Highlands County Humane Society.

Pre-registration for the 8 a.m. 5K run is $15 or $20 day of the race.

Registration for the pet walk and parade is $10 per person. Pets can be dressed up. Santa Paws also will be available for photos.

Pre-register at hshcsantapaws5k@live.com or call the Highlands County Human Society at 863- 655-1522.

New Group To Teach Ballroom Dancing

SEBRING - A new dance group is in town, and a ballroom dance kick-off party has been planned from 7 to 10 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Sebring Women's Club, located at 4260 Lakeview Drive, Sebring.

A new Sebring-based chapter of USA Dance Inc. is spearheading this.

A dance lesson will be offered from 7 to 8 p.m. General dancing will follow until 10 p.m.

Dances will be held Thursdays.

There is a $5 "get acquainted special" for the first dance. Thereafter, USADance Inc. members pay $8 and non-members pay $10. That includes the dance lesson and the two hours of dancing.

The new chapter will sponsor social dances, promote ballroom dance in local colleges and high schools and seek to increase the number of business establishments that offer ballroom dancing to the public.

Membership is open to singles and couples and a special welcome is extended to beginners.

Those interested can call the group's Steering Committee chairpersons, Mark and Shelley Hilburn, at 863-655-2774 for more information.

Artists To Capture Local Scenes In 'Paint Out'

AVON PARK - The South Florida Community College Museum Of Florida Art And Culture, or MOFAC, is having an all-day community "paint out" of plein air painting April 11 in Avon Park.

Artists will gather at the Hotel Jacaranda in the morning and then fan out to different locations in Avon Park. The outdoor painting can be in watercolor, pastel or oil.

After spending the day painting, the artists will gather back in the Jacaranda and winners will be chosen, said Mollie Doctrow, MOFAC curator.

New Attractions At Run To Heartland

SEBRING - The 5th annual Run To The Heartland is getting ready to roar into town for a weekend of fun, food and lots of bikes.

This year, several new attractions have been added to the event, which will run Oct. 3 to Oct. 5, said Lora Todd, marketing director for Heartland Riders, the organizers.

The "Sauce Boss," an entertainer who cooks gumbo, plays original Blues music and then feeds the crowd, will take center stage from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 on the Sebring Circle. The Circle will be the focus of several of the shows.

There will be motorcycle clothing fashion shows on two days: Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m., and at 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., Oct. 4. They will be held at the Circle Shop.

Also new this year is a motorcycle thrill show that will offer several performances on all three days on Mango Street, in downtown Sebring.

A Kid'z Zone will keep children entertained with games, puppet shows, clowns and this year's attraction, the motivational speaking team of Steve Carrier of the Power Team.

This year, the Central Florida Drill Team will offer more demonstrations on motorcycle skill and safety.

The ABATE "Frisco's Famous" Poker Run, with signup beginning at 8 a.m. Oct. 4, once again will take bikers on 100 miles of backroads.

Downtown Sidewalk Sale Gets New Name

SEBRING - Harvest Moon is the name of a sidewalk sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Sebring Circle.

Downtown merchants will be selling their fares along with anyone else in the community who wants to have a booth.

Ist Annual 75 Target Fun Shoot To Help Charities

OKEECHOBEE - Make It Count Foundation Inc. has organized this fundraising shoot for Dec. 7 at Quail Creek plantation, 12399 N.E. 244th St., in Okeechobee.

There are five different participation levels, and the proceeds help two charities.

For more information, call Chris Miller at 414-0842.

O'Bannon Memorial Golf Tourney On Tap

AVON PARK - The inaugural Travis O'Bannon Memorial golf tournament is slated for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 at Highlands Ridge North golf course.

Registration is at 7:30 a.m. and a lunch, silent auction and raffle will be held at 1 p.m.

Cost is $75 and there are two flights; The "I Wanna Win Flight" (for serious golfers) and the "I Wanna Have Fun Flight" for recreational players.

The tournament is in memory of Travis O'Bannon and his contribution to the youth of Highlands County. Proceeds will benefit the Grace Bible Church building fund. Corporate, family and individual sponsorships are available.

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