The 33rd Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival
By Dresden Cruz
If there’s one thing the Gulf Coast has been known for these last few months, it’s the oil spill. The multi-million dollar accident has quite literally flooded the airways.
But fear not, fellow foodies! Fiesta of Five Flags is proud to announce the 33rd Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival coming to Downtown Pensacola’s Seville Square in all its fishy glory.
“Pensacola has always taken a deep pride in our environment and especially in our seafood,” says Paul Remke, 2010 Pensacola Seafood Festival chair. “This year’s Pensacola Seafood Festival will be no different. While the oil leak recently threatened our beloved community, we hope that this year’s festival shows the world how great our area is and how resilient our community continues to be.”
Eighteen carefully selected vendors will border the park, offering everything from grilled conch and oyster croquettes to seafood gumbo and coconut shrimp.
“Anything grilled or fried,” says Fiesta’s public relations/marketing coordinator, Whitney Vaughan Fike. “Shrimp, gumbo—it’s pretty much all over the place.”
For a little entertainment during lunch, there will be live music from over a dozen local and regional acts at nearby Fountain Park.
“We’ve received $50,000 from the Escambia County Tourism Council for name acts,” says Fike. “And, of course, the music is free so we’re rearranging the stage area to give more room for those who want to come. We’re really excited. It’s something to bring back to the community.”
A person doesn’t have to sit still and listen, either. Over 180 arts and crafts vendors from across the country will bring their favorite pieces of pottery, paintings, jewelry, weavings, mixed media pieces, and much more. Also, special congrats to local artist Jan Kurtz, designer of the artwork for the Festival. Event posters will be on sale for $25 at the official merchandise booth and Ms. Kurtz will be available to sign posters at the gazebo in Seville Square on Friday, 5-7 pm, Saturday, 11 am-1 pm and 4-7 pm, and Sunday, 12-2 pm.
Circle back around the park and The Fiesta Seafood Grill may teach even the most experienced seafood cook a little something. Energy Services of Pensacola has asked local chefs and restaurants, such as Chef Curtis Flower and the well-known Jerry’s Cajun Café, to showcase their personal favorites.
Of course, at this point, a body might need a little break to let the delicious food settle. Pensacola Seafood Festival offers a 5K Run/Walk at Bartram Park, for those with the little itch in their legs. But don’t push too hard! There’s still the Splash Dogs Competition where highly trained dogs (and handlers) compete. The power-house puppy that jumps the farthest off the dock into the 25 foot pool wins the prize and anyone can enter for the Saturday and Sunday events.
There’s also a funds-friendly children’s area in Bartram Park. Hosted by Babin’s House of Party, this spiffy children’s area offers hands-on crafts, like sand art and mullet painting, and group activities like a giant parachute and a bubble tower. Oh, and don’t forget about the Candy Cannon.
“The cannon just shoots candy out and all the kids run under it,” says Fike with a laugh. “That will be Saturday and Sunday.”
All this fun makes for exciting, if somewhat long, days. But don’t worry about having some place to crash. BP has given the Escambia County Tourist Development Council funds to launch a hotel voucher program.
“Basically, you stay in a hotel, then you take your receipt and get a $100 gift card,” says Fike.
More information on where to take receipts and other voucher tidbits will be posted on their website, www.fiestaoffiveflags.org, as soon as details have been finalized. Also check information on vendors, bands, performance times, and applications to compete or sell, as this festival promises to be well worth the look.
“We have absolutely no reason to believe that this year’s Pensacola Seafood Festival will be nothing other than one of the best we’ve ever had,” says Jon Green, Fiesta of Five Flags president. “With the challenges surrounding us, namely the economy; our community needs something positive to look forward to and the Pensacola Seafood Festival can and will be just that.”