There are many aspects of Citrus County living that contribute to its casual way of life and comfortable neighborly feel. Among the most notable are the locale’s numerous fairs and festivals. The events, including art shows, craft exhibits and specialty festivals, offer area residents an opportunity to load their social calendars.

The recent fall-holiday season offered a spectrum of activities fostering the community spirit prevalent throughout the region. One Saturday monthly you’ll find the Market Day at Heritage Village in historic downtown Crystal River and the nearby Dunnellon Village Market in its namesake’s historic district. Both feature a stroll through an outdoor market offering produce, flowers, antiques and crafts.

Among the season’s scheduled highlights is the annual Festival of the Arts at the historic courthouse square in Inverness. This event features over 100 artists displaying artistic creations of all shapes and styles. The early October event sets the stage for the following week when theHomosassa Arts, Crafts & Seafood Festival comes to Old Homosassa. As one of the largest festivals along Florida’s Gulf Coast the rustic river town comes alive with crowds eager to browse fine arts and crafts while enjoying true Southern delicacies and local catch seafood specialties.

Putting good food and good times together is always a formula for a successful community festival. Complementing the Fall festival season you’ll find the German Club Octoberfest at the Crystal River Mall and theGreek Festival at St. Michaels provide the perfect excuses to get out and stretch the waistline…just a little!

Perhaps the most unusual of local festivals is The Great American Cooter Fest. The annual event celebrating the virtues of the cooter (turtle) plays host to thousands of visitors in search of fun, food and frivolity. As you might expect, you’ll find great BBQ, live entertainment and contests that will delight even the cooter clueless.

As the holiday season approaches festival goers turn their attention toSanta Comes to Broadway in Crystal River’s Heritage Village and the sparkling Christmas Celebration of Lights adjacent to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park attraction.

Of course, all of the above is just the wrap-up of a year long schedule of community sponsored happenings. It all starts again in January with the huge Florida Manatee Festival in Homosassa. I guess there is just no rest for the weary festival lover!