Cracker Fair 2020

A Look Back at the 18th Annual CRACKER FAIR,
February 8, 2020

A Huge THANK YOU to all our Sponsors, Vendors and Participants.

On February 8, 2020, the 18th Annual Cracker Fair, a celebration of Old Florida, was held at  Dearborn Street Pioneer Plaza.

2020 18th Annual Cracker Fair Photos

The 2020 CRACKER FAIR was 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!
Paul Chantey
Paul Chantey. Paul grew up in New England, hanging out in seaport towns. He got a late start in music, not buying his first guitar until he was 35 years old. As a sailor, Paul was drawn to Sea Music and Chanteys. His interest in sea chanteys resulted in playing and singing in a Sea Chantey/Irish band for almost 20 years, and the naming of his boat “Chantey”. Paul moved to Florida in 2003, and started writing and singing his own songs, just for the fun of it. Like most things in his life, he tries not to take anything too seriously. Which may be why Paul, born Paul Elliott, calls himself Paul “Chantey.”
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.
Bucket List – The Acoustic Version. Rick Holt and Bill Lundgren have both been playing guitar for most of their adult lives. They also both share a love for classic and blues-based rock. They have been in several all-electric bands together since moving to Englewood. More recently, they have taken their favorite electric music and adapted it to acoustic guitar, which makes for a rather interesting acoustic repertoire.

Lemon Desert Baking Contest

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!”
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.
Organized by the Lemon Bay Historical Society, annual Cracker Fairs are our gift to the community. Admission is free. The Cracker Fair is the culmination of Lemon Bay Fest, a week of celebrating Englewood’s history produced by the 2 Englewood libraries. The Fair is also a fund-raiser for our community programs and our mission to preserve the fascinating history of the Lemon Bay area. 
Each year there are food vendors, live performers, crafts, demonstrations, authors, artists and activities for children. In past years attendees enjoyed lemon desserts, sampled swamp cabbage, watched the Bit of Hope Ranch give a whip-cracking demo, learned how to throw a cast net and interacted with animals brought by the Peace River Wildlife Center.
Become a Sponsor of the Fair to help celebrate our historic Englewood community!

2020 18th ANNUAL CRACKER FAIR SPONSORS
These great businesses and organizations help make the Cracker Fair possible.
Please visit them. Shop local!

Arts Alliance of Lemon Bay Inc.

Tony Babington Realtor Keller Williams

Bigfoot Cooling and Heating

Englewood Bank & Trust

Brian Faro Paradise Exclusive Real Estate

FPL

Ivy’s On Dearborn

Jeff Joyce A Sound Beginning

Key Agency, Inc.

Lasbury – Tracy Realty

Lemon Bay Garden Club

Michael J. Looney Electrical Contractor

Joe Maxx Coffee Company

Merrill’s Heating & Air Conditioning

Olde Village Publix

Pioneer Days Committee

Pope Insurance

Sarasota County Community Redevelopment Agency

Janet Shawen PA Paradise Exclusive Real Estate

Jonathan Varner Wampler Insurance & Financial Group

The Windsor of Venice

SAMPLE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:00am – Opening Announcements and Greeting

10:00am – 11:00am – Entries for Lemon Dessert Baking Contest accepted

10:15am – 10:45am (approx.) – Cracker Whip Demonstration by Bit of Hope Ranch.

10:45am – 11:30am (approx.) – Music by Paul Chantey

11:30am – 12noon – Demonstrations (Swamp Cabbage or Peace River Wildlife)

(11:00am – Judging for Lemon Dessert Baking Contest)

12 noon – Baking Contest Winners Announced

12:15pm – 1:00pm – Music by Bucket List – Acoustic

1:15pm – 2:00pm – Music by James Hawkins

2:00pm – 2:20pm – Demonstrations (Swamp Cabbage or Peace River Wildlife)

2:20pm – 3:00pm – Classic Country Music with John Tuff and Friends

3:00pm – 3:15pm – Announcements

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

ALL DAY – Crafts, food vendors, artists, music, and more… 

— 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 “Englewood Then & Now” and other local history books.

Located at Dearborn Street Pioneer Plaza, Englewood.

CRACKER FAIRS THROUGH THE YEARS

WHAT IS A CRACKER?

(CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW)

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)

 

CLICK TO SEE THE 2018 CRACKER FAIR HIGHLIGHT VIDEO