LEMON DESSERT CONTEST ENTRY FORM
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
(Times are approximate, there may be some last-minute changes.)
10:00 Welcome and overview of events, vendors and sponsors
10:00 to 11:00am Entries Accepted for Lemon Dessert Contest
10:15 James Hawkins (singer, songwriter, featuring songs about our local history)
11:00 Presentation by Peace River Wildlife Center
12 noon Lemon Dessert Contest Winners announced
12:30 Castnet Demonstration by Jaxton Desguin
1:00 John Tuff (classic country music)
2:00 Tanner Legz (Americana, folk, blues, country, bluegrass)
3:00 Vinyl Recall (a wide range of rock, pop, country, blues and R&B)
CRACKER FAIR UPDATE:
There will be about 30 vendors with crafts, art, jewelry, books, a prop up photo booth (it will be Valentine’s Day!), Friends of the Sarasota County History Center, the Native Plant Society, Spencer’s Sparkle, both Englewood Libraries and Leadership Englewood. There will be five different food vendors.
Unfortunately our friends from Bit of Hope Ranch who in past Cracker Fairs have done wonderful demonstrations of cracking the whip and talking about Cracker history will not be here this year because they are participating this weekend in a reenactment of the Florida Cracker Trail, a historic 120-mile cross-state route from Bradenton to Fort Pierce, commemorating the 19th-century cattle drives by “cracker” cowboys. The annual, 9-day horseback ride reenacts this journey, honoring Florida’s ranching heritage.
CRACKER FAIR HAS A NEW ADDITION
We have added a free event for adults and children – a mobile 9-hole mini golf course. You may try your luck at random holes, get a score card and play a full game in no particular order of holes or come and go as you please.
DOWNLOAD & PRINT BOOTH SPACE RESERVATION FORM HERE
WANT TO BE A SPONSOR OR VOLUNTEER? SCROLL DOWN FOR OUR CONTACT FORM
LEMON DESSERT BAKING CONTEST
Zesty Lemon Treats: Turn the Sour into Sweet!
SPONSORS
- Michael J. Looney Electrical Contractor
- Publix Super Markets
- Kimco Construction
- Babe’s Ace Hardware
- Tony Babington Paradise Exclusive
- CMSGT Phil Fessenden Veterans Foundation
- Jessica Close ESQ
- Key Agency
- Lasbury-Tracy Realty
- Merrill’s Heating & A/C
- Mike Douglass Plumbing
- Pope Insurance
- Rotonda West Woman’s Club
- Signs in One Day
- Southern Trailer & Mower
We are pleased to present the following line-up of live, local entertainment on the Dignam Family Stage at Pioneer Plaza:
Returning to our stage is James Hawkins. He is a singer & songwriter from Venice, Florida. For about 10 years he has knocked around the Florida Folk scene performing in many different venues from coffee houses to a couple of concert halls. Some folks have described his music as a mix of Woody Guthrie and Harry Chapin but we will leave that judgment up to you. James has performed on Sarasota radio WSLR 96.5. His major project is called “Turn Back Time” which deals with Florida History through stories and songs. His specialty is crafting and performing songs about our rich Lemon Bay Area history. A perfect fit for a Celebration of Old Florida!
We are pleased to welcome back John Tuff featuring good old-time country music, the kind many of us grew up with on the radio; music of legends, such as Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, George Jones, Johnny Horton, and more. Good music, good times and great fun! Get ready to lift your spirits and travel back to the good old days!
VINYL RECALL Band
Vinyl Recall is a Englewood based trio of bass, guitar and drums that plays an eclectic mix of classic rock, pop and unique selections.
John Munn arrived in Englewood in 2016. Love of music started early in this one in choirs and musical theatre. He picked up the bass at age 13. In Englewood, he created and hosted both Groovin’ In The Gallery (An Open Mic) in 2018 and Wednesdays@5 (Community Supported Weekly Concert Series) in 2023. The Vinyl Recall Band was his first band, which continues to book gigs. He also has a tribute band called Desperados: A Tribute To The Eagles which is booked in the Englewood/Venice area.
Silvano Stasolla is an Italian musician/singer-songwriter whose passion for music dates back to the late 60s. In 1977 he joined an international traveling band, touring Europe, playing drums and guitar and recording music for 22 years. In 1998 he moved to CT where he was a member of a gospel rock band for 8 years. In 2022 he came to FL and joined the music scene in Englewood with different groups like Desperados and Vinyl Recall. He also has a YouTube channel where he posts all his music videos.
Joe Licinski is an Englewood, Florida-based percussionist and educator with decades of experience performing across a wide range of musical genres including Broadway & Big Band, Blues, Jazz and Rock and Roll. Licinski founded Drums of Unity to bring the community together through rhythm and music therapy and features hands-on drum circles using authentic African djembe drums. He takes his program to local institutions like public libraries, senior living centers and community centers. He plays regularly at WEDNESDAYS@5, and with DESPERADOS and Vinyl Recall bands.
TANNER LEGZ Band
Craig Manning is a Massachusetts guitarist who winters in Englewood. He plays both electric and acoustic guitars in many styles, including finger-style, rock and jazz, smooth jazz, country, Gypsy, folk and bluegrass, and uses open tunings frequently. He began playing at the age of 12, listening to Chet Atkins, the Ventures, and Duane Eddy.
Jeff Cowherd is originally from N. Kentucky and began as a singer & guitar player in grade school, playing Top 40-ish tunes. At 21 his musical genres changed to Christian rock. Then 10 years later he joined a Bluegrass band that needed a mandolin player. He was shown a few chords and fell in love with the instrument, which led Jeff to eventually create the “JBovier” mandolin brand. Over the next 30 years he performed in the Greater Cincinnati area only on the mandolin “family” of instruments. After moving to Englewood in 2019, he continued playing mandolin & singing with many Englewood area musicians & bands. In 2022 he began as a soloist… back on guitar.
Renee Wold started on piano and guitar in the 3rd grade then focused on the cello in her junior and high school years in Fargo, ND. She played in Grand Forks ND, Itasca MN and Bemidji MN orchestras for more than 30 years, as well as string quartet and ensemble groups. Since moving to Englewood, FL in 2017 she has played cello in a variety of music genres: pop, rock, country, folk and blues, with groups such as Off The Cuff, Shark Sisters, Classy Notes and Green Street.
Renee plays an acoustic cello and an electric 5 string cello/bass.
WANT TO BE A CRACKER FAIR SPONSOR OR VOLUNTEER? CONTACT US HERE: