Cracker Fair 2019

We thank all our fine sponsors for helping make this year’s Cracker Fair a great success and a great gift to the community.
Please visit them. Shop local!

FREE Admission!

Food Vendors, Artists, Authors, Local Merchants, Crafts, Music, and more

Kids Zone

Lemon Dessert Baking Contest

Located in Pioneer Plaza, Dearborn Street, Englewood, Florida.

SCHEDULE OF CRACKER FAIR EVENTS:

10:00am – Opening Announcements and Greeting

10:00am – 11:00am – 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!

10:30am – 11:30am – Music by Doug Burns (time approx.)

11:00am – Judging for Lemon Dessert Baking Contest

11:30am – Peace River Wildlife Demonstration

12 noon – Baking Contest Winners Announced

12:30pm – 1:30pm – Music by James Hawkins (time approx.)

1:30pm – Swamp Cabbage Demonstration with Frank Desguin

3:00pm – 3:00pm – Classic Country Music with John Tuff and Friends (time approx.)

3:00pm – Cast Net Throwing Demonstration

3:15pm – 4:00pm – Classic Country Music with John Tuff and Friends

ALL DAY:

— Pioneer Days Committee present Kids’ Zone: Free Arts & Crafts Tent

— 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 as well as other local history books

— Vendors, Artists, Authors, Merchants and Community Organizations: Food, Fun and New Discoveries for All!

Delicious lemon desserts in the Baking Contest served by the Lemon Bay Garden Club

The CRACKER FAIR is the culmination of an entire week of events and activities organized by the Englewood libraries and called the “Lemon Bay Fest: Englewood History with a Little Zest!”

DOWNLOAD SCHEDULE FOR EVENTS ALL WEEK (from February 2 – 9)

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 home lot, you had to also purchase a 10-acre grove lot. Unfortunately, 2 hard freezes in 2 consecutive years doomed the lemon crops.

DOWNLOAD BAKING CONTEST ENTRY FORM 2019

To make the 2019 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

The 2019 CRACKER FAIR is pleased to present the following musical artists:

We are pleased to have John Tuff and Friends return again this year. Enjoy the very best in Classic Country Music!

New to the CRACKER FAIR is singer-song writer DOUG BURNS. He’ll be doing Americana and Alt-Country styles of music with inspiration from the likes of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Social Distortion, Guy Clark (and so many more). His sound is unique and fresh with one foot in the past and one in the future.

A unique experience will be on hand when James Hawkins performs on our sound stage. James specializes in crafting and performing songs about our rich local history. A perfect fit for the CRACKER FAIR.

We are pleased to list, in no particular order, the vendors, artists, merchants and organizations who will be at the 17th Annual Cracker Fair: Variety, Food, Fun and new discoveries.

Pioneer Days Committee: Kids’ Free Arts & Crafts Tent
Englewood Museum at the Historic Lampp House
Diana Betts Quilts
Fishing guide books
Wind Chimes by Chime Tyme Studio
Bi-Planes
Southern Yankee Canned Goods
Painted Glass, Cards
Moose raffle for Veterans
Essential Oils
Real Estate
Coastal Boutique
Fused Glass Jewelry
Wood Crafter
Bath and Shower Remodeling
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Crafts and Jewelry
Jewelry & Lawn Décor
Peace River Wildlife Animals
Books and Pen and Ink
Towels and Bear bags
Men’s, Women’s, Children’s clothing
Health and Wellness
Botanical Jewlery
Face Painting
Pewter Pins and Badges
Health and Wellness
Hand-painted Signs, Jams and Jellies
Wood Wall Hangings
Drift Wood Art
Jewelry by Lauren Roberts
Florida Folk Art
Aprons, Handbags
Cees Confections
Self published books by Brenda Spaulding
Handmade Candles
Pendants and Key Chains, Acrylic
Shannon’s 100% Handcrafted Soaps
Clarissa Thomasson: Historic Novels & Children’s Books
Kids Educational Material
Hand-made Greeting Cards
Blasé Van Thomme: pens, key chains
Recycled palm art
Handmade pies and fillings
Food booths

WHAT IS A CRACKER?

(CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW)

CLICK TO SEE THE 2018 CRACKER FAIR HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

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.)

Cracker whip demonstration by Isabella Park of Englewood’s Bit of Hope Ranch

John Tuff and Friends will be back with great county music. (Video below)