This month Tampa celebrates its Gasparilla Festival with the invasion of the pirates!   With an estimated attendance of nearly half a million people, this yearly event kicks off "festival season"!

Kumquat Festival, held in nearby historic Dade City, Florida is held this month too.  Additional information on this festival can be found at www.kumquatgrowers.com/festival.html.  While the festival begins on January 19th, the big day for the festival is on Saturday, January 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Florida State Fair is held in Tampa from February 8-19, 2007.  This will be the 103rd annual state fair. 

From February 17-April 1st Tampa has the Bay Area Renaissance Festival if you are into jousting knights and fire eaters! Held at MOSI  (Museum of Science & Industry)  (800) 779-4910. 

On February 24th from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ybor City celebrates Fiesta Day.  Held in Ybor City, one of three national historical districts in the state of Florida, this festival celebrates the Cuban, African Cuban, German, Jewish, Spanish, & Italian immigrants. 

In March, The Florida Strawberry Festival® is held in Plant City, Florida.  This festival was first held in the 1930s.  Held from March 1-11th, there is plenty to do in addition to eating strawberry shortcake! 

So, if you are thinking about visiting Tampa, don't forget to consider these three festivals while you are here.  It is also a great time to consider purchasing a home!