Eight real, dated things are happening across Pasco County this weekend, and three of them are at the same hundred-year-old theater on Grand Boulevard. Here’s what’s actually on, by day.
Friday, August 21
Rated ‘M’ for MAGIC — Cory Van Valin — Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd, New Port Richey. 8 p.m. $25 general admission, $35 preferred, $50 front row with merch. 18-and-up, about two hours.
A four-time Best of the Bay winner with credits on ABC7, Fox 13, CW44 and PBS, doing large-scale illusions and comedy with a comedian, Ginger Kelly, opening. The “Rated M” in the title is doing real work — this is billed as the grown-up version, not a family magic show. Van Valin stays afterward at the merch booth for photos, which isn’t standard for a touring act at this price point.
Downtown Dine Out, last weekend — Restaurants across downtown New Port Richey. Prix-fixe specials and menu deals, running through Saturday.
The week-long restaurant crawl that started Sunday wraps up this weekend. If you’ve been meaning to work through downtown’s dinner scene and haven’t gotten to it yet, Friday and Saturday are what’s left.
Line dancing at The Stockyard — 1916 US Hwy 19, Holiday. Lesson at 7:30 p.m., all skill levels. $6 cover for 21-and-up, free after 9 p.m.
This runs Thursday through Saturday every week, so it’s not a special occasion — it’s just what an 18,000-square-foot honky-tonk a mile north of Tarpon Springs does most nights.
Saturday, August 22
The Seger Experience — Richey Suncoast Theatre. 7 p.m., doors at 6:15 p.m.
An eight-piece Bob Seger tribute band fronted by vocalist Dan Styer — the second tribute act to play this room in a ten-day stretch, which says something about what actually sells in a 400-some-seat theater.
Margaree’s and Sonny Oden’s Combined Jam — King of Kings Lutheran Church, 10337 US Hwy 19, Port Richey. 1 p.m. $4 donation at the door; musicians play free.
Country, bluegrass and gospel, run long enough to have a regular crowd that knows each other. If you play an instrument, it’s a genuinely welcoming sit-in; if you don’t, it’s a low-key way to spend an early Saturday afternoon before the rest of the weekend picks up.
Line dancing at The Stockyard, night two — Same address as Friday. $5 cover for 21-and-up on Saturdays. “Sink or Swim,” 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., $15 with well drinks and drafts included for anyone who wants to skip the lesson and commit straight to the dance floor.
Sunday, August 23
3rd Annual Tommy Awards — Richey Suncoast Theatre. 6 p.m., doors at 5:30 p.m. $11.75.
This is the one on the weekend that isn’t touring through — a New Port Richey talent and community awards night, now in its third year, with light bites from local eateries, a cash bar, and live performances pulled from the season. Doors a half hour before the ceremony is the actual draw: time to talk to the board, staff and volunteers who run the place.
Cornhole Tournament — Beef O’Brady’s (14136 7th St.) and Dade City Tap House & Spirits (37916 Pasco Ave.), Dade City. 1 to 4 p.m.
Dade City runs this every second and fourth Sunday, split across two spots a short walk apart in the historic downtown grid, cash prizes on the line at both. Neither venue publishes an exact entry fee online — check each bar’s Facebook page if you actually want to sign up rather than just watch.
Good to know
Three of this weekend’s eight things are at Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd, New Port Richey, phone (727) 842-6777 — a non-profit performing arts theater, which is part of why the tickets read the way they do. Buy direct rather than through resale sites.
For the rest of what’s on there this month, there’s the full rundown of Richey Suncoast’s August calendar, and for the Tampa side of the county line, nine events worth the drive from Pasco.
Showtimes, prices and covers are taken from each venue’s own listings and can change — confirm before you go.
Photo: Ebyabe, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.