By DON DEEDRICK
Special to Hernando Today

WEEKI WACHEE - Sail away with the Manatee Man to "Manatee Island" at the 11th Annual Weeki Wachee Swamp Festival March 6-7, at the festival's new location - Hernando Beach Park on Shoal Line Boulevard.
Swamp Fest organizers are excited about moving the event to the loveliest park in Hernando County this year, which is located at Jenkins Creek in the Weeki Wachee swamp with palm trees, waterways and gulf breezes.
To top another year of superb entertainment, Gary Pane, the Manatee Man, will sing selections from his newest album, "Manatee Island," which features his original collection of such tunes as "The Manatee Man," "Manatee Dance," "Jamaican Manatee," "Manatee Insanity" and "Paddlin' My Canoe."
Pane's performance will be at noon on Saturday. His manatee songs are gaining more and more popularity in Florida. For example, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee has contracted Pane's songs for their statewide manatee education program. He is also releasing a number of new manatee songs to complete his new album and will present several to the public at Swamp Fest.
A teacher at Suncoast Elementary School since it opened in 1994, Pane's interest in singing about manatees began with a song he wrote and dedicated to the school mascot, Sunny, a manatee. The song was a hit with the students, so he decided to put it on a record.
"But my first inspiration to help the manatees came in 1984 when I had my first sighting," Pane said about his music. "I was snorkeling with friends in Crystal River and this huge animal gave me a start! It was breathtaking to say the least. Since then, I have felt more should be done to save the wildlife of our great country."
Again this year, country singer and composer Eddie McConnell will serve as master of ceremonies on the variety stage and will bring some of his former band members back for a special jam session on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Other entertainment on Saturday includes the Nature Coast Sandkickers cloggers, who will open the show at 11:30 a.m.
Then at 1 p.m., the Cutting Edge Steel Band from Chocachatti Elementary School will thrill the crowd with its famous sounds. Saturday's acts will conclude at 3 p.m. whit a performance by Jody's Center Stage Dancers.
On Sunday, March 7, the high-stepping, grandmother tap troupe, The Step Sisters, will open the show at 11:15 a.m. They will be followed at 11:45 a.m. by another Swamp Fest favorite, Lynn Poindexter, returning with her high-spirited style of current and classic songs. She will again be joined by her son, Trevor, who will amaze the crowd with his fantastic rope act.
At 12:30 p.m., the Down South Cloggers will perform and at 1 p.m., there will be folk songs by Wayne Hansen, including his original song "It's the Buccaneers."
At 1:30 p.m., Annie Rau Riley of local karaoke fame, will lead a troupe of young singers with a talent show. The final act this year will feature Tina's Dance Academy at 2:30 p.m. and wrapping up with the drawing for the grand prize.
This year, the prize is a 14-karat gold charm of this year's Swamp Fest mascot, the otter, created and donated by Robert Samson of Samson Jewelers.
Free remote parking is available with shuttle buses running to the festival's entrance. Admission is free.
Hernando Beach Park is about four miles west from the corner of Highway 19 and State Road 50 on Cortez Boulevard, then about two miles south on Shoal Line Boulevard.
If coming from the south, turn left at the intersection of Spring Hill Drive and Highway 19 onto Osowaw toward Hernando Beach, then turn right onto Shoal Line Boulevard and head north about 3.5 miles.

If you go
The 11th Annual Weeki Wachee Swamp Fest will be held Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7 at the Hernando Beach Park on Jenkins Creek. Free remote parking is available and shuttle buses will take attendees to the entrance. Admission to Swamp Fest is free with all-day entertainment and more than 150 arts and crafts booths.

Swamp Fest promises good old-fashioned fun March 6-7
By RAY REYES rreyes@hernandotoday.com
Published: Mar 1, 2004

WEEKI WACHEE -- This weekend, the swamps are going to be alive with the sound of music.
On March 6-7, the 11th Annual Weeki Wachee Swamp Festival will be held at the event's new location, Pederson Park (formerly known as Hernando Beach Park) on Shoal Line Boulevard.
Seven musical acts are scheduled to perform according to Swamp Festival organizers, including singer Gary Pane, a.k.a. "The Manatee Man," who will play songs from his newest CD, "Manatee Island."
Swamp Fest organizers added that the new location boasts scenic palm trees, waterways and gulf breezes.
"It's a beautiful park," said Don Deedrick, festival organizer. "(We) intend (the park) to be our permanent home."
For the past nine years, the festival was held at the Christian Camp, about a half-mile from the new location.
Deedrick said he expects about 55,000 people to attend the free two-day event, which he bills the largest festival in the county.
Deedrick said the organizers' goal is to make the event the best festival in Florida. Hernando Today is one of the primary sponsors of the Swamp Festival.
Performers scheduled to appear at this year's festival include country singer and composer Eddie McConnell, the Nature Coast Sandkickers Cloggers, the Cutting Edge Steel Band from Chocachatti Elementary School and the tap dance troupe the Step Sisters.
Also performing will be singer Lynn Poindexter, the Down South Cloggers, folk singer Wayne Hansen, Annie Rau Riley and dancers from Tina's Dance Academy.
A Swamp Monster costume contest will also be held at the festival, and over 150 arts and crafts vendors and wild life exhibits will set up on the festival grounds.
"Swamp Food" vendors will offer alligator and catfish ka-bobs, as well as hamburgers, hot dogs, seafood and desserts.
"It's a good old fashioned family fun festival," Deedrick said. "It'll be in a picturesque park with gulf breezes, and it'll be a nice day for a family outing."
For more information on the 11th Annual Weeki Wachee Swamp Festival, log on to the Web site, www.coastalhernando.com/swampfest/.

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