Cracker Fair 2020
A Huge THANK YOU to all our Sponsors, Vendors and Participants.
See You Next Year!
DOWNLOAD VENDOR APPLICATION FOR 2021
FREE Admission!
Cracker Whip Demonstration
Artists, Authors, Local Merchants, Crafts, Food Vendors
Live Music On Our Soundstage
Peace River Wildlife
Swamp Cabbage
Lemon Dessert Baking Contest
Located at Dearborn Street Plaza, Englewood, Florida.
18th Annual CRACKER FAIR PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
(times are approximate, there may be some late changes)
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.
(NOTE: the only Cracker whip demonstration will be at this time. Don’t miss it!)
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…
— There are plans for 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 Plaza, Englewood.
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
The 2020 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!
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
DOWNLOAD BAKING CONTEST ENTRY FORM 2020
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 LEMON BAY FEST BROCHURE
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.
To make the 2020 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
CRACKER FAIR PHOTO GALLERY
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)