Dade City is the seat of Pasco County, with an iconic historic courthouse and the east side Government Center. It has approximately 7,000 residents and is growing. The City is 6.183 square miles in size with rolling hill topography. Dade City is popular with tourists for its antique stores, restaurants and historic architecture including the Pasco County Courthouse, Hugh Embry Library, and Edwinola. The annual Kumquat Festival is hosted downtown. It is home to the Pioneer Florida Museum, a historic train depot and an industrial center.
Have you ever tasted kumquat pie? How about the little orange fruit that is both sweet and sour at the same time? Whether your answer is yes or no, you will want to make plans to attend the 25th Annual Kumquat Festival in Dade City on January 29, 2022. Read More
Monarch butterflies and family fun will take center stage at the Dade City Monarch Butterfly Festival on Saturday, October 23, 2021. The Festival will be held at Hibiscus Park (7th Street & Bougainvillea Avenue) from 10 am to 3 pm and is being presented by the Dade City Garden Club… Read More
Is your Rottweiler rambunctious? Is your poodle depressed? Perhaps they just need to “paws” and reflect. Dogs put on a happy face for their owners, but experts say they are actually more vulnerable to mental or emotional stress than humans, triggering any number of physiological ailments. One method of… Read More
Have you ever wondered what a garden club does? The Dade City Garden Club states it is dedicated to the education of its members and the public in the fields of gardening, horticulture, landscape design, floral design, and environmental awareness. They are a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose members noticed that… Read More
Check us out on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/PascoExt UF/IFAS Pasco Extension upcoming May 2022 events! Orchid Identification and Care Orchids are easier to care for than you might think! Discover how you can keep your orchids thriving. We’ll discuss and identify various orchids, how you can grow and… Read More
Watch live; In-person and online public participation options May 3 Pasco Board of County Commissioners Meeting The Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BCC) Meeting Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., in the Historic Pasco County Courthouse Boardroom in Dade City, will be streamed… Read More
Learn about the environment and how you can make a difference Pasco County Extension Hosts Earth Day 2022 Celebration Show your support for our amazing planet this Earth Day! Join UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension for our Earth Day 2022 Celebration Friday, April 22, 2022, at the… Read More
Note** Events are subject to change and in Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted. UF/IFAS Extension Pasco County upcoming April 2022 events! Plant Propagation! Learn the joy of taking a piece of your neighbor’s prized plant (with permission of course), and growing an identical one for yourself. Date: Sat,… Read More
~Pre-registration required for March session~~ Learn How to Become a Master Gardener Volunteer Grow your gardening skills while helping your community! The UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service will host a preview session for anyone interested in applying for the 2022 Master Gardener Volunteer Training Class. Read More
Brian E. Corley, Supervisor of Elections, announces that vote-by-mail ballots for the April 12, 2022 Municipal Elections for the cities of Dade City, New Port Richey, Port Richey, St. Leo and San Antonio will be mailed on Thursday, March 3rd to voters with requests already on file. The deadline to… Read More
Learn critical cleaning & safety techniques for shared-use & commercial kitchens Pasco County Extension Hosts Food Safety Class Are you a food entrepreneur looking to create a food safety plan, improve food safety practices or better understand regulations? Join UF/IFAS Pasco County Extension and the… Read More
If your partner put a ring on it over the holidays and you love the idea of a memorable, no-fuss wedding, Pasco County Clerk of the Courts, Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, has just the thing for you. The Office’s 14th Annual Valentine’s Day Wedding Ceremony is set for Feb. 14 at 11… Read More
Note** Events are subject to change. Masks are recommended. UF/IFAS Pasco Extension upcoming January 2022 events! Learn on the Lawn “The Basics of Vegetable Gardening” Join us at this FREE UF/Pasco county seminar. Pre-registration is required. Please note this is an outdoor event, dress accordingly also sunscreen, hat etc. Location… Read More
~~Preregistration required for January session~~ Become a Master Gardener Volunteer in 2022 If you’re ready to improve your gardening skills while helping others, now’s your chance! The UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service is holding a free preview session for anyone interested in applying for the… Read More
Have you ever tasted kumquat pie? How about the little orange fruit that is both sweet and sour at the same time? Whether your answer is yes or no, you will want to make plans to attend the 25th Annual Kumquat Festival in Dade City on January 29, 2022. Read More
Pre-registration required for December 9 class Green Industry Best Management Practices Training The UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service is offering Green Industry Best Management Practices Training Thursday, December 9, 2021, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the new UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Office in Dade… Read More
In the rolling hills of eastern Pasco County, is a place where Southern hospitality can be felt: Dade City. Established in 1889, this Nature Coast gem is the seat of Pasco County. Its downtown restaurants, antique, and specialty shops are fun to visit – you may want to stay – and you will probably return.
In recent years, Dade City has become synonymous with its largest event, the Kumquat Festival. Kumquats are a marvelous fruit that is both sweet and sour. The whole town joins in this annual celebration held the last weekend of January, and there are many reasons to visit this Nature Coast town any day of the week.
The historic architecture.
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad building in Dade City was constructed in 1912. Image by Diane Bedard
On September 14, 1885, the first regular train of the Florida Central and Peninsular Railway passed through Dade City. A historic brick rail station, originally built in 1912, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it houses a Heritage and Cultural Museum.
The iconic Pasco County Courthouse was built in 1909, and a thriving downtown radiates from it. Designed by noted architect Edward Columbus Hosford in the Classical Revival style, it is also on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can view the common areas inside. The craftsmanship is impressive.
The 1909 historic Pasco County courthouse is a Dade City icon and is registered on the the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can look inside. Image by Diane Bedard.
Dade City Educational Institutions and Attractions
Two excellent educational institutions, St. Leo University and Pasco-Hernando State College, are located in the Greater Dade City area, as is the Pioneer Florida Museum. On the outskirts is an exotic animal attraction, Giraffe Ranch, a Tree Hoppers adventure park, SnowCat Ridge, and the Joy-Lan Drive In Theater, where you can see first-run movies or attend a swap meet on weekends.
The Joy Lan Drive In Theater offers first run movies weekly in an old-fashioned outdoor experience! Images by Diane Bedard
But the real magic of Dade City, in my opinion, is the charm of its residents and proprietors.
Dade City Shopping & Dining
This is a place with local shopkeepers offering service and selection. Choose from several antique stores in the downtown area offering selections from primitive to ostentatious at all price points. It is really fun to go from shop to shop and see what is new in the “old stuff” while reliving memories from finding a toy, tool, or piece of art reminiscent of one’s youth.
Antique stores abound in Dade City. Image by Diane Bedard
There are many specialty shops with a little of this and a little of that, including home décor and furniture, fashion and jewelry, whimsical gifts and cards, art and wine, an authentic Mexican market and taqueria, grocery items and more. Most of these shops offer modest prices and excellent service.
Historic Buildings house fun shops with whimsical gifts., window displays and comfortable service. Image by Diane Bedard.
Plan to stay for a meal because there are at least twenty restaurants to choose from! Sandwich shops and bakeries lead to fire-grilled gourmet and restaurants owned and run by top-chefs – all located within historic and sometimes eclectic buildings. A tea room decorates for each season located next to a quilt shop that offers classes.
The variety of choices ensures that you will find what suits your palate and your wallet right in the courthouse square. Lunch on Limoges is famous for its servers wearing starched white uniforms and its open kitchen – but I always remember their Fairy Cake.
If you get lucky, you might find Fairy Cake when you visit Dade City. Image courtesy of Robin Draper, AuthenticFlorida.com
Dade City is a pet-friendly place and some restaurants offer outdoor seating and even a menu for your canine companion. A huge pet store offers everything from healthy treats to custom specialty items to visitors. The owners welcome your pets in the store and love to help solve diet and skin problems with their extensive line of products.
There is a true community atmosphere here. Originally a farming community, you will find ranchers and farm workers traveling through or stopping in for a meal while visiting Dade City.
Del Carmen is a special Mexican market and Taqueria. The interior mural is magnifico! Image by Diane Bedard
Parks and Gardens
Several parks are located in the downtown area, including Hibiscus Park where a farmers market is held the first Saturday of every month from September through May, and Price Park, which offers more traditional city recreation including playground equipment, racquetball and tennis courts, and picnic tables with barbecue grills.
There is a strong Garden Club in Dade City, contributing to the City’s beauty and charm with certified Butterfly Gardens. Additionally, the Dade City Garden Club has put on a Monarch Butterfly Festival and Dade City is a Monarch City USA.
Enjoy the historic buildings as you meander around. Historic storefronts abound. It can be fun to discover what’s inside, such as exposed brick walls from the early 1900s.
Sometimes one visits a place and not everyone wants to shop; Then what? Dade City has a nice cigar bar, sports bars, coffee shops, and a Brass Tap location featuring several locally crafted brews for refreshment, including seasonal kumquat flavored brews.
Plan to attend the Kumquat Festival
Dade City plays host each year to a large number of popular community-sponsored events, including the Kumquat Festival, Church Street Christmas, and the Country Christmas Stroll. A former Main Street organization, the Dade City Merchants Association puts on several events throughout the year, including Antique Faire & Markets in the spring and fall and a monthly Car Cruise In around the Courthouse Square. There is a strong Chamber of Commerce that provides visitor information and business promotion.
A nice Hampton Inn is south of downtown if you decide to stay overnight because you simply want to see more than one day will accommodate. Stop in and visit Dade City.
Plan to visit for an event and stay to enjoy the leisurely pace and friendly residents. You’ll be glad you did.