Florida Tourism

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — ESPN and Walt Disney World Resort will again offer fans the opportunity to see and hear ESPN personalities and a host of current and legendary athletes during ESPN The Weekend presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, a special event scheduled for Feb. 29-March 2, 2008, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park.

More than 60 sports celebrities are expected to appear at the annual sports fan-fest. The event features Hollywood-style motorcades with athletes, talk shows, sports star conversations, live ESPN telecasts and interactive fun in the ESPN Sports Zone.

Some of the athletes scheduled to take part in the “three-day weekend” event include New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and wide receiver Amani Toomer, Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, baseball legend Cal Ripken, Orlando Magic All Star Dwight Howard, MLB Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench and the famous Harlem Globetrotters. ESPN personalities scheduled to be part of the lineup include Jay Crawford, Peter Gammons, Mike Greenberg, Orestes Destrade, Mike Tirico, Colin Cowherd, Mike Golic, Linda Cohn, John Kruk, Karl Ravech, Jemele Hill and Trey Wingo.

The roster of participating ESPN personalities and sports celebrities will be continually updated at www.espntheweekend.com. Guests also may visit espntheweekend.com to make reservations, buy tickets and book Disney accommodations for the event.

ESPN The Weekend will feature on-site ESPN telecasts of popular programs, including “Baseball Tonight,” “First Take,” “Mike and Mike in the Morning,” “NFL Live” and interview segments on “SportsCenter.”

In its short history, ESPN The Weekend has become a popular event for fans as well as the athletes who attend each year.

“I am really looking forward to seeing all the fans at ESPN The Weekend,” said Donovan McNabb, a five-time NFL Pro Bowler who will be attending his first ESPN The Weekend. “I’ve heard from teammates and other athletes what a super event it is and I am looking forward to experiencing it for myself and my family.”

Guests also will be able to enjoy all the popular shows and attractions at the theme park during Disney’s “Year of a Million Dreams” celebration. Event activities are included in regular admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Key West, Florida Keys — Nature lovers can enjoy an exhibition and sale of rare plants, tour the lush and lovely gardens surrounding five private Key West homes, explore Key West’s two premier public gardens and expand their horticultural knowledge at educational workshops during Gardenfest Key West, scheduled Friday through Sunday, Feb. 22-24.

The festivities are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, with a wine tasting and plant preview at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden, 5210 College Road, the only frost-free tropical moist forest garden in the continental United States. Visitors who join either the club or the society are admitted free, and members receive a 10 percent discount on their Friday night plant purchases.

Gardenfest is presented jointly by the Key West Garden Club and the Key West Botanical Garden Society.

All day Saturday and Sunday, visitors to the Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden can view and purchase native plants, fruit trees, exotic palms, orchids, bromeliads, flowering plants and more, as well as nature-themed art and crafts.

Private garden tours are scheduled 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The $20 per person price includes complimentary shuttle service to all five private gardens from the Key West Garden Club headquarters at West Martello Tower, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at 1100 Atlantic Blvd., as well as shuttle service to the Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden.

Tickets for the garden tours are available at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden and the Key West Garden Club headquarters, or by calling the organizations at (305) 296-1504 or (305) 294-3210. Credit cards are accepted.

Visitors also can explore the forest and garden, a rich and diverse environment whose attractions include tropical fruit trees, native fragrant plants, native palms, tropical spices and local herbs, champion trees, butterflies and birds.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days a series of free educational workshops on horticultural subjects is to be presented.

For more information, visit www.keywestbotanicalgarden.org or www.keywestgardenclub.com.