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Mystery Event 'A Day At The Circus'

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 3, 2008

WIMAUMA - Equestrians and hikers may encounter colorful clowns or other whimsy in the woods as they navigate through this year's Mystery Map event, a fundraiser to help the Little Manatee State Park.

Dubbed "A Day at the Circus," the Oct. 18 event promises to include plenty of fanfare, from a make-believe big top, to a number of acts and games, organizers say.

"Every year we have a different theme," said organizer Cathy Moore of The Friends of the Little Manatee River Park Inc. "We've had the 'Wizard of Oz' and 'Alice in Wonderland.' Last year, it was 'Robin Hood,'" an appropriate theme in a year of budget cutting, she said.

This year, organizers chose the circus theme in honor of carnival retirees in Gibsonton and because of the park's close proximity to Sarasota, the winter home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Participants, who pay $20 to enter, will follow the Mystery Map Trail at the state park on foot or on horseback through the make believe big top and join in on the acts as they go. Everyone is timed as they follow the map and directions. A mystery person will have gone ahead and set the time that will be sealed until the last person has finished the course.

The entry with the closest time to the mystery time will be awarded Star of the Show and receive the first-place prize. Second and third places also will be awarded.

The event begins with registration at 8 a.m. and the trail ride beginning at 8:30. Awards will be given at 2:30 p.m. A silent auction with gifts from local businesses closes at 2 p.m., but the midway will remain open until 3.

All entrants receive a barbecue lunch with a drink and dessert. Extra lunches will be available for $6 each.
Seminole Feed will bring a scale to weigh horses and Moore is hoping to get a horse massage therapist to work with people and their horses.

"We're also hoping to have some games and face painting," Moore said.

"On your own, it's just a fun thing," she said. And in the end, it will be helping a local park.

"If it weren't for the nonprofit group, we would have to get donations from the community" for such projects, said park ranger Amiee Simmons. The money just doesn't exist in the park's operating budget, she said.

This year, money from the event will pay for electrical upgrades to the park's laundry room. The group is also building four new horse stalls at the park.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Mystery Map fundraiser

WHERE: Little Manatee State Park, 215 Lightfoot Road, Wimauma

WHEN: Oct. 18, with registration starting at 8 a.m.

HOW MUCH: $20 per person

INFORMATION: Cathy Moore, (813) 677-9291; or the park, (813) 671-5005

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 865-1566 or yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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