Cracker Fair
Why is it called “Cracker” Fair? (click here)
DOWNLOAD BAKING CONTEST ENTRY FORM 2018
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
ALL DAY (10am – 4pm) – Festivities for the whole family:
KIDZ ZONE: Free arts & crafts tent for kids of all ages
Food Vendors, Artists, Authors, Local Merchants, Music, and more (Scroll Down for Complete List)
Located in Pioneer Plaza, Dearborn Street, Englewood, Florida.
10:00am – Opening Announcements and Greeting
10 – 11am – Entries for Lemon Dessert Baking Contest accepted
10:15am – Bit of Hope Ranch will give a demonstration of whip cracking used by Crackers to round up the cattle. NOTE: the only whip demonstration will be at this time. Don’t miss it!
10:30 – 11:30am – Classic Country Music with John Tuff and Friends (time approx.)
11:00am – Judging for Lemon Dessert Baking Contest
12 noon – Baking Contest Winners Announced
12:30 – 1:30pm – Classic Country Music with John Tuff and Friends

The Fiddle Crabs will be back with heart songs, country blues, tin pan alley and traditional bluegrass
2 – 4pm – Music by the Fiddle Crabs with heart songs, country blues, tin pan alley and traditional bluegrass (time approx.)
— There are plans for a cast-net-throwing demonstration and a visit by a great-horned OR an albino screech owl from the Peace River Wildlife Center.
— Want to eat a tree? Charlotte Co. Museum Society will be cooking swamp cabbage, the heart of the cabbage palm.
— “Englewood: the First 100 Years” will be on sale at the Historical Society tent along with “Save the Church” T-Shirts!
We are proud to list, in no particular order, the vendors, artists, merchants and organizations who will be at the 16th Annual Cracker Fair: Variety, Food, Fun and new discoveries. Enjoy.
Pioneer Days Committee: Kids’ Free Arts & Crafts Tent
Catharina Bearse: pastel paintings
Angler Pocket Guides
FurBaby Beds
S&K’s Nice Stuff
Les Caraher, mountain music
John Tuff and Friends, classical Western music
Hazy’s What Knots
Shabby Chic Boutique
RJ Coons: Southwest Florida mysteries Blaine Sterling novels
D.L. Havlin: Florida action mysteries, historical fiction, thrillers
Brenda Spalding: adult mystery novels
Southern Yankee Foods
Jane Deutsch: painted visors, jewelry
Young Living Essential Oils
Artist Karen Dukes, LMC Outdoors
Uniqpottery
Glassy Lady Jewelry
925 Fabulous Jewelry
Mermaid Jewelry
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Trinkets & Treasures
Blasé Van Thomme: pens, key chains
Pat Vettese
Eden East
Wagon Wheel Décor
Pretty Girl Cosmetics
Morgan’s Goat Soap
Punta Gorda Historical Society: swamp cabbage
Peace River Wildlife Center: birds of prey
Susan Klaus: fantasies & thrillers; part owner of a thoroughbred horse farm
and cattle ranch
Clarissa Thomasson, Salt Marsh Publications: Florida historical fiction
Bob Fuqua: books, fossils, sharks teeth
Sarasota County Mosquito Management
Elsie Quirk and Charlotte Libraries
S.H.O.R.E.: fresh lemonade
Sarasota County Englewood Community Redevelopment Agency
Designs by Patrice
Sweet Leaf Relief (wellness foods)
Englewood Masonic Lodge 360
N&G Cornhole
Paradise Hot Dogs
G & E Concessions: funnel cakes, fresh fruit smoothies
We thank our Cracker Fair Sponsors! Please support them:
To make the 2018 CRACKER FAIR a very special community event
we are looking for volunteers from all around town to join our committees.
Interested? Email us at info@lemonbayhistory.com
OR
Download and fill out the form below, Scan or Photo it and Email to us
DOWNLOAD VOLUNTEER FORM 2018
VENDOR BOOTH SPACE ONLY $35. APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEB. 5
DOWNLOAD VENDOR APPLICATION 2018
DOWNLOAD Lemon Bay Festival Schedule 2018

A great crowd on a great day at last year’s Fair watching a whip cracking demonstration by Isabella Park from the Bit of Hope Ranch. (See video below.)
Why lemons? They played a role in Englewood since 1894 when the Nichols brothers purchased 2000 acres of property to develop a town with surrounding lemon groves. The land sold for $30 an acre. If you were interested in a 1-acre city lot, you must also purchase a 10-acre grove lot. Unfortunately, 2 hard freezes in 2 consecutive years doomed the lemon crops.
The 16th annual Lemon Bay Fest: Englewood History with Zest! A week-long series of events for the entire family aimed at highlighting the area’s rich history and natural beauty. Lemon Bay Fest will run from Feb. 3-10, 2018 at multiple locations. Spread throughout South Sarasota County and Charlotte County, Lemon Bay Fest combined, tours, lectures and fun activities to celebrate not only Englewood’s past, but the unique history of Florida.
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