September Activities and Events at the Villages of Citrus Hills

While the month of September might mean that the days are going to be a little bit cooler, it also means that the activities and events here at the Villages of Citrus Hills are going to start heating up. With summer sliding into our rearview mirror, we are ready to kick off the most exciting fall lineup yet.

Between all of the great social events, golf and tennis activities, and dinner specials at each of our three amazing restaurants, there is enough happening around here to fill up your entire September calendar without setting foot outside of the community. So buckle up, because it is going to be an eventful month! 

Social Events 

The first big event of the month is going to be the Summer Bazaar and Ice Cream Social on Saturday, September 10. This fun-filled event will take place at the Activity Center from 1 pm to 5 pm where there will be lots of local vendors selling their products inside, and homemade ice cream out by the pool.

In case that doesn’t sound wild enough for you, the next event of the month will be the Disco Party on Thursday, September 15 in the Hampton Room. Doors open at 5:30, and shortly after the live music will start from Amee Reese’s Boogie Feva Band.  

Our regular monthly Trivia Challenge will be back in the Hampton Room on Tuesday, September 20. Do you have what it takes to knock off last month’s champs?

On Saturday, September 24, The Vacationers Club is sponsoring a group trip to The Straz Center for Performing Arts to see The Illusionists. The trip will be for the matinee show that begins at 2 pm, and tickets are $124 per person.

The final social event of the month will be the Summer Splash Sunday at the Activity Center Pool on Sunday, September 24 from 1 pm to 4 pm. This month, the live music will be provided by acoustic duo Mark and Sherrie.  

Golf & Tennis 

The Florida golf season will officially kick off on Sunday, September 3 with the Citrus Hills Labor Day Open. That will be followed by the Skyview Ryder Cup Tournament on September 12 and 13, and then by the Skyview Men’s Shootout on September 29.  

For those golfers who are looking for some serious competition, there will be a VIP Card Tournament at Ocala National Golf Club on September 14 starting at 9 am.

If you aren’t quite ready to compete in any of those tournaments, you might want to think about checking out the Free Golf Clinics being offered with Golf Pro Wayne Larsen this month. Wayne will be instructing beginners on September 5, 6, and 7. He will also be holding clinics for intermediate golfers on September 13, 20, and 27.

This month’s Free Beginners Tennis Clinic will take place on Tuesday, September 13 at 11 am at the Skyview Tennis Center. This is a great month to start practicing for the Tennis Taco Fest doubles tournament that is being held in October.  

Dinner Specials 

Skyview Restaurant and the Tiki Bar will both be putting out Labor Day Buffets on Monday, September 5. The Skyview Buffet will have Barbecue Chicken and Baby Back Ribs from 12 pm to 4 pm, and then the Tiki Bar will offer Chicken, Brisket, and Pulled Pork from 4 pm to 7 pm.  

Other great specials at Skyview Restaurant this month include Brazilian Steakhouse Night on September 13, the return of Sunday Brunch on September 18, and a fabulous “Taste of France” wine dinner on September 27.

You also won’t want to miss the Rum Party Buffet with live music at the Tiki Bar on Wednesday, September 28! And if all of those specials aren’t enough to keep you busy, there will also be Wings and Brews at the Tiki Bar every Thursday, and football parties every Sunday! 

In between all of the great events and activities happening around the club during the month of September, you are also going to want to make some time to stop by the BellaVita Spa, where The Perfect Appearance Dermafile and Cool-Min Cucumber Massages are on special this month! 

It doesn’t matter whether you are looking for disco dancing, nerdy trivia, competitive golf tournaments, or a great place to watch the game, we have got it all at the Villages of Citrus Hills this month. See you at the events!

Day Trip To Tarpon Springs

The historic town of Tarpon Springs is located about an hour south of the Villages of Citrus Hills right on the Gulf Coast, just north of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater.  

The town represents an interesting combination of rich history and modern culture with a dash of Greek heritage. If you are passionate about history, shopping for antiques, or excellent Greek food, Tarpon Springs will make an excellent day trip for you and your family. 

History of Tarpon Springs 

Tarpon Springs received its name when some of the first visitors to the town observed a number of Tarpon jumping out of the water out in the Gulf of Mexico.

As you can probably guess, the Tarpon Fishing here is excellent. But that wasn’t originally the most popular sea item in Tarpon Springs. 

Tarpon Springs is also known as “The Sponge Capital of the World” because its 51-mile coast was once filled with sponges. In the early 1900s, many Greek sponge divers made their way to Tarpon Springs to harvest these sponges, which led to Tarpon Springs having the largest Greek population in all of Florida. 

In 1947, just about all of the sponge fields around Tarpon Springs were destroyed, so most of the sponge industry was then converted to fishing and shrimping. However, “The Sponge Capital of the World” lives on in spirit with attractions like the Sponge Docks and Spongeorama.  

The first stop for any history buffs visiting Tarpon Springs should be the Tarpon Springs Area Historical Society’s Welcome Center and Museum. Other great historic sites include the Tarpon Springs Historic District, the Safford House, Old Tarpon Springs City Hall, and the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral.  

Tarpon Springs Attractions 

One of the most popular attractions in Tarpon Springs is known as The Sponge Docks. This wharf area is filled with boats, but has also become populated with great shopping and restaurants.  

You can stroll the docks, tour sponge boats, visit dozens of small shops, and find great authentic Greek cuisine, all in one central location. The Tarpon Springs Aquarium is also located right next to The Sponge Docks. 

Another popular attraction in Tarpon Springs is the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center. This former high school turned theater plays host to a wide variety of community theater and music events throughout the year. There is a lot of information about upcoming shows on their website, where you can find the perfect event to schedule your trip around. 

Wine drinkers will absolutely want to plan on stopping at the Tarpon Springs Castle Winery. This beautiful facility offers daily tours, information on how their handcrafted wines are produced, and plenty of tasting opportunities.

Dining in Tarpon Springs  

With its rich Greek heritage, Tarpon Springs is known for having some of the best Greek restaurants in Florida. If you are a fan of Greek cuisine, you will have more than your fair share of options in Tarpon Springs.

The most popular Greek restaurant is probably Hellas Restaurant and Bakery, but you will also find outstanding Greek food at Mykonos, Mr. Souvlaki, and The Original Mama Maria’s Greek Cuisine.  

While Greek food is obviously a staple in Tarpon Springs, there are plenty of other options as well. Rusty Bellies at the end of The Sponge Docks is known for serving great seafood, and the Tarpon Tavern has some outstanding pub-style cuisine. You might also want to try the Caribbean food at the Jerk Center and the pizza at Plum Tomato. 

The ideal day trip to Tarpon Springs would contain a little bit of history in the morning, followed by pizza or pub food for lunch. After that, you could plan an afternoon of shopping at The Sponge Docks, followed by a Greek dinner and a show at the Tarpon Spring Cultural Center.  

Even if you can’t find a show that sparks your interest, there is still plenty to do here, which is what makes Tarpon Springs a great place to spend the day!

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August Activities and Events at the Villages of Citrus Hills

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The month of August has arrived, and once again the events calendar is packed full of socials and excursions here at the Villages of Citrus Hills. As we begin to wind down the summer of 2016 and prepare for the upcoming fall golf season, this month will give us the opportunity to enjoy time with friends and neighbors, and also time to work on our short game! 

Whether you are interested in social events, recreational sports like golf and tennis, or just knowing when to plan on heading to one of our excellent restaurants for dinner, we’ve got you covered with just about everything that is happening around the Villages of Citrus Hills this month. Let’s dive in and get started! 

Social Events 

August will jump off to a fun start with the Dance Party that is scheduled to happen in the Hampton Room on Thursday, August 11.  There will be live music, dancing, and a cash bar from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, and the cost is $15 for members and $20 for guests.

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Trivia Junkies like the “Cool Cats” and “In the Hunt” who won the Trivia Challenge in June and July will be back to compete in this month’s challenge on August 16 in the Hampton Room. The menu this month will include Chicken Parmesan and Baked Haddock.  

If you are new to the Villages of Citrus Hills, you won’t want to miss the New Member Social that is scheduled for Wednesday, August 17 at Skyview Restaurant from 4 pm to 6 pm. This will be a great opportunity to meet and get to know other members who are new to the community.  

A group of baseball fans will be heading down to Tampa on Monday, August 22 to watch the Tampa Bay Rays host the Boston Red Sox. Tickets for members are $45, which includes a ticket to the game, round-trip transportation, and a Tampa Bay Rays hat!

Another exciting musical event this month will be Copacabana Night in the Hampton Room on Thursday, August 24. Espresion Latina and DJ Benny Cruz will be performing live music throughout the evening, and the menu will feature Cuban Pulled Pork and other Cuban specialties.  

You also won’t want to forget that the last Sunday of the month is Summer Splash Sunday at the Activity Center Pool. This month, the party will feature variety pop duo Robert and Mandy France. There will also be lemonade and iced tea provided.  

Golf & Tennis

On August 15, Ocala National Golf Club will be hosting the VIP Card Tournament. This tournament will be scored using the individual point quota format, and the shotgun start is scheduled for 8:30 am.

If you are looking to improve your golf game this month, there will be free golf clinics for beginners on August 8, 9, and 10 at 11 am. There will also be intermediate clinics on August 16, 23, and 30 at 11 am.

This is a great month to take advantage of those free clinics, because the Citrus Hills Labor Day Open, the Skyview Ryder Cup Tournament, and the Skyview Men’s Shoot-Out are all right around the corner in September.  

You can also participate in the Free Beginners Tennis Clinic at the Skyview Tennis Center on Tuesday, August 9 at 11 am. This is a great place for anyone who is new to tennis to learn the game in a fun and friendly environment.

Dinner Specials

The biggest dinner special of the month is going to be the Pacific Rim Wine Tasting hosted by Skyview Restaurant on Tuesday, August 30 from 6 pm to 9 pm. This will be a delicious four-course meal with four perfectly paired wines from the Pacific Rim. Tickets are $39 per person.

Our friends at Skyview Restaurant will also be having a Bay Scallop & Shrimp Night on August 9, a New England Clambake on August 18, and a Mixed Grill Night on August 23. Yum! 

Over at the Tiki Bar and The Grille, you won’t want to miss Cheeseburger in Paradise Night on August 4 or the Mixed Grill Special at the Grille on August 12.  

With the month of August having even more social events scheduled than we are used to, it might be hard to find any time at all to head over to BellaVita Spa. But if you do, you’ll definitely want to ask about their Revitalizing Seaweed Wrap and Oxygenating Bubble Facial specials this month!