3rd Annual Cracker Fair
A unique experience will be on hand when James Hawkins performs songs about our rich local history.
“I am a singer/songwriter from Venice, Florida. For about 10 years I have knocked around the Florida Folk scene performing in many different venues from coffee houses to a couple of concert halls.
“Some folks have described my music as a mix of Woody Guthrie and Harry Chapin but I leave that judgment up to you. I have a new radio called “Acoustic Waves” on WSLR 96.5.” James’ major project is called “Turn Back Time” which deals with Florida History through stories and songs and brings traditional Folk music and stories to the classroom.
Gottfried Creek is Bob Kinsley and Bill Keehne who hail from Ohio and Michigan and bring to us an eclectic mix of folk, bluegrass and 60s and 70 rock. They have performed at the Englewood Farmers Market, Lemon Bay Park and the Englewood Museum.
The name Gottfried Creek comes from pioneer settlers Otto and Ferdinand Gottfried who arrived here from Milwaukee in 1893 and lived in a palmetto shack located where New Comfort Road now intersects S.R. 776. Nearby they planted two acres of pineapples, cabbages and potatoes. Other family members soon joined them and circa 1900 they built a fine 2-story house on the creek that today bears their name.
Get ready to lift your spirits and travel back to the good old days. John Tuff & Friends started out over ten years ago. They performed all over Southwest Florida in a variety of venues featuring classic country music: music of legends, such as Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, George Jones, Johnny Horton, and more, the kind of music many of us grew up with on the family radio.
We are pleased to have the wonderful talent of John Tuff and Friends return this year.
Established in 2020 Vinyl Recall is a three piece Eclectic Classic Rock band.
Paul Quinn has played guitar and sung for a number of years, and lives locally after having spent time in other states. Of necessity, he blends rhythm and lead playing, and tends to use his fingers, rather than a pick, for a different sound.
Jeff Dillon is a native Floridian and born in Venice. Jeff has been involved in the Performing Arts for 50 years. Drumming since his teens, he plays in a broad set of styles. He is pleased to be working with John, Paul, and Vinyl Recall.
John Munn has lived in Englewood since 2016. Love of music started early in this one in choirs and musical theatre. He picked up bass at age 13. He created Groovin’ In The Gallery open mic in 2018 at the Englewood Art Center that ran for a year and a half. Vinyl Recall is his first band and only band, so far.
Recall has played at Pop’s Sunset Grill, Tomahawk Tiki Bar @ CoolToday Park, Englewood Moose, Englewood Eagles Club, Englewood VFW, The Back Yard, Libby’s Sports Bar and Grill, Rumours Wine Bar, AllStar Bar and Grill, Salty Jim’s Bar and Grill. We are pleased to feature Vinyl Recall at this year’s CRACKER FAIR.
January’s guest speaker at the Historic Green Street Church will be Kate Borduas from the Venice Area Audubon Society.
She will be talking about pelicans, how and when they evolved and what role pelicans have played in various cultures. Kate will also examine threats to pelicans, past and present, and we will learn ways to keep these amazing creatures safe. The Brown Pelican is the largest native bird in Florida but is the smallest by far of the eight pelican species worldwide.
Ms. Borduas is a Florida Master Naturalist and National Certified Interpretive Guide.
The public is invited, Tuesday, January 24 at 7pm. Admission is free but donations are welcome.
ABOUT VAAS:
Founded in 1965, the Venice Area Audubon Society (VAAS), is a chapter of Audubon Florida and serves Venice, Nokomis, Osprey, North Port, and Englewood, Florida.
VAAS’ mission is to promote an understanding of and interest in wildlife and the environment that supports it, and to foster the cause of conservation with emphasis on birds and their habitats. VAAS fulfills its mission through birding field trips, educational presentations, programs for children in coordination with local schools, community science projects, and other activities.
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
Our guest speaker Crystal Diff will dive into the legend of the infamous pirate Gasparilla and the lasting impact it’s made on southwest Florida’s coast. While exploring the local origins of the legend, we’ll uncover the historical background of how a “big fish” story captured a railroad tycoon and made its mark on our coast forever.
Crystal Diff is the Executive Director for the Boca Grande Historical Society. She has spent over a decade working with cultural institutions across southwest Florida in history, art, archives, anthropology, and archaeology. Previously to BGHS, she provided public education programs and exhibits on local history for Charlotte County History Services.
About the Boca Grande Historical Society:
The Boca Grande Historical Society & History Center is committed to enhancing our understanding of the history of Gasparilla Island and its surrounding area. Their goal is to provide personally rewarding opportunities to learn about the remarkable people and events that shaped our past. Learn more…
Englewood’s own Rhoda Clovis will talk about her career as a model and water skier at Cypress Gardens during its heyday in the 1950s.
Rhoda has been a resident of Englewood for 54 years. She owned Rhoda’s Swimwear for 30 years.
We asked her how she became an Aquamaid:
”When I was 16, I was invited to spend a week at Beautiful Cypress Gardens to see if I was photogenic and had any Water skiing abilities (I had learned to ski on Lake Dora in Mt. Dora, Fl. Where I attended school.) I was asked to come back and work there after high school, but went on to the University of Florida. I eventually agreed to accept the position of water skier and model at Cypress Gardens.
“I married their head photographer, Trammell Pickett and moved to Sarasota and then Englewood.
“I have two wonderful sons who never left Englewood (Tram Pickett (co-owner of Berlin Sign Co) and Travis Pickett (Owner of Native Charters in Englewood). I have 4 grandchildren and 3 great grands.”
Rhoda appeared along with Esther Williams in the 1953 film “Easy To Love.”
Join us Tuesday, April 26 at 7pm at the Historic Green Street Church, 510 Indiana Ave., Englewood.
When Dick Pope Sr. opened his Cypress Gardens in 1936, the park in Winter Haven became Florida’s first large-scale tourist attraction. Pope turned marshland into a garden showplace for 8,000 varieties of plants and trees. By 1943, Cypress Gardens became known as the water ski capital of the world, attracting Hollywood stars and providing the setting for many movies. Cypress Gardens closed in 2009, becoming Legoland Florida Resort. Cypress Gardens remains as part of the attraction.