5 Things To Know Today: Festival, Chalk Walk, Golf, Japan and More

As March approaches its mid-point, the Florida Strawberry Festival ends its 13-day run. Today, March 13, is your last chance to attend what has been recognized as one of Florida’s top 10 events. Also on tap today, a community “Chalk Walk” at Center Place for artists of all ages, which makes for a family friendly outing. We round off the list with an idea for lunch and dinner tomorrow and a recounting of the day in history, as well as an opportunity to learn more about the historical significance of the disaster in Japan and ways to send aid to the people of Japan.

1. Today is the last day of the 2011 Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City. Headliner entertainment is Easton Corbin at 3:30 p.m. and Lady Antebellum at 7:30 p.m., both on the Wish Farm Soundstage on the Strawberry Festival Grounds. Corbin tickets cost $15 to $20. Lady Antebellum is sold out, but as with every headliner show, a few thousand free seats are available on a first- come, first-served basis, with seating in the adjacent Direct Auto Insurance Free Grandstands.

1. The annual “Chalk Walk” at gets underway at 1 p.m. Artists young and old chalk their art on the sidewalk surrounding the lake outside the Sandy Rodriguez Center, which houses both the Center Place Fine Arts & Civic Association and the Brandon Regional Library.
2. Planning for lunch and dinner tomorrow, consider at 1912 West Brandon Blvd. Eat between 11:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. and a donation will be made on your behalf to the Brandon chapter of the All Children’s Hospital Guild. You must present a flier upon ordering, and that flier is available on this Facebook page.
3. The Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce golf tournament gets underway at 1 p.m. at the Summerfield Golf Course in Riverview. Event Sponsors include South Bay Hospital, Tampa Electric Co., Mosaic, Crane Tech and Superior Residences of Brandon Memory Care.
4. This month is Women’s History Month. Today in history, in 1942, the U.S. Army launched K-9 Corps. Learn about the century’s biggest quakes and more about the devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan. All at the History.com. SUPPORT JAPAN: Those who want to send support to Japan can go to www.redcross.org and donate to Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami. People can also donate $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to support our disaster relief efforts in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.  

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL COVERAGE: