A Legacy of Giving...
Chasco Fiesta™ is an eleven day event which began as a fundraiser for the local library in 1922. It has been held continuously since 1947 making the 2006 event the 60th continuous. The boat parade is said to be the oldest in the state with the first being in 1922.
Chasco Fiesta™ is a committee of the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Inc. which is a 501c(6) non profit organization. Since 1995, Chasco Fiesta™ has been produced by a steering committee of 10-14 individuals. Chasco has its own bank accounts and employees and is housed in the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce building and pays its own expenses. Chasco Fiesta™ provides the venue for local not for profits to raise funds. With more than thirty not for profits benefiting in one way or another Chasco is not designed as a fundraiser for the chamber. The chamber hosts the golf tournament and pays the fees to Chasco just like other not for profits and staffs the events. Those not for profits that participate do so in two or three different ways. They include: Vending in Sims Park which requires an eleven day committment from staff and volunteers, some host events such as the Alzheimer's Family Organization which does the runs & bicycle tours, and then we have service clubs who host events to raise money for other not for profits.
Chasco Fiesta™ also has a Native American Festival and Pow Wow for the full eleven days. The first Friday through Sunday is the Pow Wow portion which entails dance competition with more than $9,000 in prize money. The second week is the festival portion and includes scheduling school groups in during the day to listen to a special Native American education program. In the evening’s dancers from all over this country, Canada and Mexico entertain and educate along with a reptile and birds of prey exhibit. We also have Native American Arts & Crafts vendors who participate and do demonstrations of their crafts.
Chasco Fiesta™ is loosely based on a story written by the local postmaster in 1922. It is a legend and not a true story.
