Seafood lovers mark their calendars for the annual Everglades Seafood Festival, scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 8, 9 and 10, 2013, in Everglades City, gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands.
This free event packs ‘em in for fresh seafood, country music, carnival rides, crafts booths — with an estimated 50,000 people expected to attend to pack this small town (population 500) the three-day event.
Everglades City, Florida’s “stone crab capital,” is an off-the-beaten-track pocket of Old Florida with many original buildings and a rich history steeped in the lore of pirates and smugglers, murder and mayhem, and some of the best fishing and freshest seafood anywhere in the state of Florida.
The old-fashioned neo-classical City Hall once served as Collier County’s main courthouse until the county’s population shifted north to nouveau Naples, 40 miles away. Everglades City, settled in the 1880s, has retained its small-town charm, if not it’s legendary character and characters.
The town’s first Seafood Festival was held in 1970 to raise money for playground equipment, and that charitable tradition is still alive and well with proceeds from the festival going to local causes and college scholarships for local students.
In addition to shiploads of fresh seafood served up by local fishermen and restaurants, this year’s festival will feature 100 arts and crafts booths, a carnival and continuous country music and bluegrass throughout the weekend.
Festival Hours:
Friday — 5:30 to 10 p.m.
Saturday — 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
And there’s music — lots of it!
Friday night: Houston Brown, “Let’s Hang On,” 9:20 p.m. The Gladezmen
Saturday:
- 11 a.m. The Dance Company (from LaBelle)
- 12:30 p.m. The Tim Charron Band
- 1:50 p.m. Bobby Luster & the Murky Water Band
- 3:15 p.m. Lakoda Rayne
- 4.40 p.m. Jason Thomas
- 6 p.m. Lostmans 5
- 7:20 p.m. The Gladezmen
- 8:30 p.m. One Night Rodeo
Sunday:
- Noon – Them Hamilton Boys
- 1:30 p.m. Tim Elliott & CCB
- 3 p.m. Jimmy Van Zant
- 5 p.m. Nashville artist Jerrod Niemann. who has recorded two independent albums. In 2006, he signed to Category 5 Records and charted with the single “I Love Women.”
Getting there
Traffic can be tricky, so arrive early and bring your patience. (Many avoid that problem by arriving on motorcycle. This is a favorite group outing for motorcycle clubs from Miami and Fort Lauderdale.) Parking is provided by local charities within walking distance of the festival.
A few tips: No pets, no coolers and be prepared to walk.
The Tamiami Trail makes a scenic route to Everglades City — here’s our guide to that road. But be aware that Everglades restoration is causing frequent traffic delays in winter 2013 as new bridges are built.
From the north, you can also take I-75 south to Collier Boulevard (County Road 951), south to U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail), then east to State Road 29, which will take you south into Everglades City.
From the Atlantic Coast, take Alligator Alley (I-75) west to SR 29, then straight south to Everglades City.
To help plan your trip:
- Everglades Seafood Festival website
- Guide to Tamiami Trail
- Eating stone crabs in Everglades City
- Shark Valley entrance to Everglades National Park
- Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery
- Ochopee Post Office
- Joanie’s Blue Crab Cafe
- Big Cypress National Preserve
- Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk
- Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
Nearby RV and/or tent camping:
- Collier Seminole State Park
- Glades Haven
- Chokoloskee Island Park
- Outdoor Resorts of Chokoluskee Island
- Big Cypress Preserve — 6 campgrounds
Find a room:
The Ivey House and Everglades Rod and Gun Club are historic lodges in Everglades City that are popular with visitors. Check availability of rooms at these and other hotels on Hotels.com: Find a room in Everglades City
Other Florida seafood festivals:
we are coming from Ft lauderdale,can you give us the easiest directions.thank you
We went for three years and took a bunch of friends each year. Last year the seafood was twice the price and the food quality was not as good. It was still fun but our friends were very disappointed. I wrote it off to the trouble in the Gulf last year. This could be a pivotal year for our group and several others we talked with. C’mon Everglades City, we want your event to succeed!
havent miss this… been going since i was 13 or younger.. im 25 now, and i look forword is this every year… thanx everglades city for putting on an icredible event…
Looking forward to kicking off my 2012 tour at the Everglades Seafood Festival. My debut album on Nashville based Dixie Roads Records,In.c can be heard and purchased at http://www.warrensilvers.com
I will be signing autographs after the show at a booth and selling merchandise so come up and say hello.
I grew up in South Florida and have not been back since I moved to Nashville TN so I am excited to come back for my first show of my tour.
this is a dont miss.have not missed this for 25 years.i live here in everglades city.good or bad/IDONT KNOW
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