A Rowdy Good Time
The coast goes country for a seaworthy celebration
On Sanibel, it’s more likely for someone to get suntan than a lesson in line dancing. But, that’s just one of the activities offered during the 6th Annual Cracker Fest to benefit the Sanibel Captiva Chapter of START ( Solutions to Avoid Red Tide).
On November 14, island guests are welcome to trade in their sandals for cowboy boots and join together at The Bait Box lot on Periwinkle Way for a night celebrating Old Florida culture.
Florida- based band Uproot Hootenanny will strum twangy tunes throughout the evening, and line dancers from the offisland bar Dixie Roadhouse will teach guests how to move their feet to bluegrass melodies.
There will be plenty of food to go around once all that dancing works up an appetite. Bailey’s General Store will cater Southern favorites like fried mullet, whole hog barbecue, and shrimp and grits. Beverages will also be available at two separate bars.
The Cracker Fest begins at 6 p. m., but the themed celebration lasts well into the weekend. The following morning, visitors can return with the kids for The Bait Box’s 21st annual Esperanza Woodring Memorial Castnet Rodeo.
Guests of all ages are invited to celebrate the life of Esperanza Woodring and family, who together served as the first full- time residents on Sanibel. Her son, Ralph Woodring, owns the iconic island fishing store where the festival is held.
Children under the age of 16 can enter a net- tossing tournament and pay homage to the Woodrings’ history of commercial cast net fishing. In addition to the contest winners, all attendees can walk away with a prize.
“We will have goodie bags for everyone with fishing tackle and youth- oriented fishing supplies,” says Ron Taverna, The Bait Box store manager.
CRACKER FEST 2014 IS POISED TO BE AN EVENING OF GREAT CHEER, GENEROSITY AND SUPPORT. WE INVITE YOU TO PLAY A ROLE IN OUR ENVIRONMENTALLY SIGNIFICANT, IMPACTING AND FAR- REACHING 2014- 2015 MISSION.”
— BRUCE NEILL, PH. D., SANCAP START CHAIRMAN AND BOARD PRESIDENT; SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL CO- FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
GUESTS OF ALL AGES ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF ESPERANZA WOODRING AND FAMILY, WHO TOGETHER SERVED AS THE FIRST FULL- TIME RESIDENTS ON SANIBEL. HER SON, RALPH WOODRING, OWNS THE ICONIC ISLAND FISHING STORE WHERE THE FESTIVAL IS HELD.
The entire weekend may center on classic Florida heritage, but it will also be a chance to raise awareness for another integral part of the area— its surrounding waters and marine life.
“One of the big reasons to host this event is really to raise awareness for the concerns of red tide and algal blooms,” says Madison Durley, event organizer and Seafood Savvy program coordinator at Sanibel Sea School, a nonprofit institution that has teamed up with START.
Proceeds from the entire weekend’s events will fund research related to sustainable seafood alternatives and water quality concerns. “The major thing to do is start the conversation,” Durley says. “If enough people start doing the same thing we try to do, hopefully enough people will become aware.”
For more information, visit sanibelseaschool.org, start1.org, or call 239- 472- 8585.