Night in the Tropics set to heat up downtown New Port Richey
NEW PORT RICHEY –
“It’s the hottest night of the summer, and the coolest party in town.”
That’s how Ted Thomas, Main Street marketing and promotions coordinator, bills New Port Richey’s annual Bright House Networks A Night in the Tropics street fest to partygoers each year.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said of the yearly affair that will take place again today. “People come downtown and seem to love it and have a great time.”
During the event’s 10-year history, it has been recognized as Most Outstanding Special Event by the Florida Secretary of State’s office and the Florida Main Street organization.
Along with celebrating a decade in existence, organizers at Greater New Port Richey Main Street are also incorporating homage to the Woodstock Music Festival. The legendary, four-day concert began 40 years today, on Aug. 15, 1969.
The motif adds to the recurring Flower Power theme of this year’s downtown festivals. June’s Main Street Blast also was in tribute to Woodstock.
Four live bands will fill the night air with an eclectic blend of music to highlight the event that runs from 5 to 11 p.m.
The Margaritaville Stage will be on Grand Boulevard, just north of Montana Street. It will feature Supernatural – An Amazing Tribute to the Music of Carlos Santana. Solid Core, a local group that fuses dance, pop, funk and blues, will be the opening act there.
In the newly renovated Railroad Square, the Havana Stage headlines Gabriel “Puly” Sequeira and the Sounds of Havana. Also playing there will be former American Idol contestant Jonathan Cortez, who played at last year’s Founders Day Fall Celebration.
Keynoting the festival will be the Island Hoppers Club, a group that has helped keep the Caribbean theme going strong for eight years. It is a $30 charge to join the club and $25 for returning members.
All members receive custom made Island Hoppers T-shirts, tropical themed light-up beads and two tickets for the Island Hoppers Punch, a tropical drink created just for the celebration.
Members also participate in a treasure hunt where clues can be sniffed out at local businesses. Gifts Island Hoppers receive come in a bag from sponsor, Sweetbay Supermarket.
In addition to the Island Hoppers’ punch, Thomas said there will be a contest called the Punch Punch-Out. Each downtown nightclub will develop its own version of a tropical punch and be judged by those taste-testing. There will be 100 tickets in addition to those held by Island Hopper members for purchase by others.
The winning nightclub wins a one-hour remote broadcast during happy hour by WJQB, 106.3 FM, an oldies station transmitting from Spring Hill.
Throughout the day, police expect anywhere from 15,000 to 18,000 people to show up and partake in an array of sights, sounds and activities, Thomas said.
Visitors will be treated to a Classic Car Cruise-In from 5 to 9 p.m. along Main Street, from Bank Street to Adams Street.
There will be two Tropical Beer Gardens. Each stage will have one nearby, serving until 10 p.m.
Keeping with the island theme, hand-rolled cigars, a Tampa-area tradition, will be available at Little Coronas Cigar Lounge on Grand Boulevard, Thomas said. There may also be a roller on the premises to provide the freshest product.
