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Good Morning! If you have any big plans this weekend, it’s a good idea to double-check that your event is still on with the weather moving through. Gasparilla in Tampa and the Kumquat Festival in Dade City are both still happening, but a few other events have been canceled or adjusted, so we’ve done our best to keep everything below as up to date as possible.

We just created a rather sizeable curated guide to the live music venues across our footprint north of Tampa, covering everything from acoustic sets and full bands to dueling pianos and outdoor stages.

You can unlock it free by referring three neighbors to North Tampa Buzz.
Here’s how it works:

This guide is a living community resource. We will keep updating it as new venues are added and as we get better photos and details. If you spot anything we should include or have photos or tips to share, just reply and let us know so we can keep making it better.

If you’re feeling antsy: jump to all of our event links here:

And let’s get to it.

-Mike

In this edition of the North Tampa Buzz:

🧙 Wizard weekend transforms Raprager Farm
🚒 Firefighters get more family time
🍗 KFC launches Saucy chicken concept

…and more!

Feel free to follow us on Instagram for more local updates.

Share this with a neighbor who’s braving the cold this weekend and heading to the Kumquat Festival in Dade City.

Wizard Weekend Takes Over Raprager Farm

Lets get started with something that will be a big hit for the kids! Raprager Family Farm in Odessa is turning into a full wizarding world for a few weekends starting February 20. Families can walk into an immersive fantasy experience filled with witches, wizards, dragons, live owls, and hands on activities spread across the farm at 16907 Boy Scout Road. It runs February 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and March 1, with evenings on Fridays and full day fun on Saturdays and Sundays.

Here’s what kids and parents can expect:

It’s designed to be playful and magical for all ages, more like stepping into a storybook than walking through a scare event, making it a great weekend adventure for families looking for something a little different.

Pasco Firefighters Get More Family Time

Pasco Fire Rescue just gave its crews something that really matters: more time at home. The department has officially moved to a 24 hours on, 72 hours off schedule, meaning after a full day on duty, firefighters now get three full days to rest, reset, and be with their families before returning to the station. It went live this week, with the first crew completing the new rotation on Monday.

What makes this even more notable is that this schedule is still pretty rare across the country, and Pasco is one of the early adopters in Florida helping to push it forward. Most departments still work far heavier rotations, but this change drops Pasco firefighters from about 53 hours a week down to 42, the lowest in the Tampa Bay area. Leaders say that kind of balance helps keep firefighters healthier, reduces burnout, and makes it easier to keep experienced crews serving our community.

KFC Brings Saucy to Tampa

I can almost hear some of you saying, “we really need another chicken spot!” Saucy! KFC’s new fast casual concept built around crispy chicken tenders and a wall of bold sauces, just opened in Tampa and already has Carrollwood and Trinity on the list for upcoming locations.

Everything starts with tenders and turns into tacos, burritos, sandwiches, bowls, or salads, all drenched in flavors like Korean Sweet Heat, chimichurri ranch, Thai sweet and spicy, and smoky bacon ranch. So yes, it is another chicken place, but one that leans hard into flavor and customization, which might be exactly why it is spreading so fast.

Fulfillment Lab Picks Pasco for HQ

As Pasco grows, it matters more than ever that residents are not forced to commute out of the county for good jobs. Bringing employers here means less time on the road, stronger local businesses, and more money staying in our community. That is exactly what is happening with The Fulfillment Lab, which just moved its headquarters to Pasco County and is investing more than $2 million into new technology and warehouse operations.

The Fulfillment Lab is a software driven logistics company that helps online sellers handle everything after someone clicks “buy,” from processing orders to packing and shipping them. Their platform connects directly with TikTok, Amazon, and Shopify, giving sellers real time visibility into their entire fulfillment process. The company is now based at Sunlake Business Center in Pasco, where it started with 35,000 square feet last year and already added another 10,000 as business took off. Beyond the growth, they are also using their operation to support local charities and donation drives, which means this new headquarters is creating both jobs and community impact right here.

A Huge Thank You to our wonderful local partners!

A New Indie Bookstore Is Coming to Pasco

We love seeing small, thoughtful businesses open their doors around here, especially ones built around community. A brand new family owned bookstore called Novel in the Neighborhood is getting ready to open at 8507 Old County Road 54 in New Port Richey, near Trinity, and it is designed to be more than just a place to buy books. Along with over 5,000 new titles, puzzles, games, and gifts, it is meant to be a welcoming space for neighbors to gather, read, and enjoy weekly events for all ages. Even better, 100 percent of the proceeds from their in store coffee and tea go directly to support Pasco County schools, teachers, and students, so every visit gives back.

Their grand opening is Sunday, March 1 from 11 AM to 4 PM, and it will include cupcakes, a food truck, crafts, and free goody bags for the first 50 guests. This is one of those feel good local spots that we are really excited to help introduce to the community.

Buzz Bite: 🔥 Pasco County is now under a countywide burn ban.

All outdoor burning is temporarily prohibited, including yard waste, campfires, and bonfires, due to extremely dry conditions. Grills and smokers are still allowed, but officials are urging everyone to be extra careful, since even a tossed cigarette can spark a fast-moving brush fire.

MOSI Doubles Down on Innovation

A great day trip for the young ones just got an exciting upgrade. MOSI has unveiled a new name and a big expansion, keeping the familiar MOSI brand but now standing for the Museum of Science and Innovation. The change reflects a sharper focus on technology, future careers, and hands-on learning as North Tampa continues to grow into an innovation hub.

Along with the new name, MOSI added 30,000 square feet of classrooms, labs, and makerspaces, allowing it to serve four times as many students through field trips and camps. New offerings include astrophysics, advanced coding, and video game design, plus a digital lab where students create immersive planetarium-style films used around the world. With attendance already up nearly 35 percent, MOSI is quickly becoming one of the most exciting places in the area for kids to explore science and creativity.

I hope this answers the question, “What is there to do around town without having to drive down to Tampa?”

Instead of listing every single event here, I’m going to start highlighting/featuring a few things each day to keep this section easy to scan. So these are just some standouts.

If you’re looking for everything happening around town, the full Community Calendar is still the best place to go. Or, you can find the full list here.

Eight Turn Crêpe Grand Opening

Eight Turn Crêpe is opening in Wesley Chapel with a full weekend of sweet deals and beautiful crepes. If you’ve been waiting to try them, this is the perfect time to go and bring a friend. Wesley Chapel Local was already there for the soft opening!

Opening Weekend: Jan 31–Feb 1 | 9 AM–6 PM
📍 2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Wesley Chapel

Kumquat Festival Takes Over Dade City

This Saturday, Dade City will be full of energy as the 29th Annual Kumquat Festival returns to downtown. With food, music, vendors, classic cars, kids activities, and all things kumquat, it’s one of the biggest and most loved events of the year. If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, this is a great place to start.

Saturday, January 31 | 9 AM–5 PM
📍 14112 8th Street, Dade City
🎟️ Admission is FREE

2nd Annual HOG Chili Cook-Off
Saturday, January 31 | 11 AM to 2 PM

Hosted by the Cypress Creek Chapter of the Harley Owners Group at Harley-Davidson Wesley Chapel in Lutz. Chili is judged by the crowd, and the event also features bike displays, parts and upgrades, and test rides of the new 2026 Harley-Davidson models.

We’ll be on Instagram with updates wherever we end up. Feel free to slide into our DM’s.

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