Fort Myers Beach annual Shrimp Festival
Fort myers beach annual shrimp festival
For more than half a century, Fort Myers Beach has held its annual “Mardi Gras” in the middle of March in celebration of its $100 million dollar shrimping industry.
Set your calendar for March 12-13. Estero Island’s largest annual event is back.
The 53rd annual Fort Myers Beach Lions Shrimp Festival will entertain with an action-packed weekend featuring a parade, the crowning of the 2011 Shrimp Queen, a grand expo and a fleet blessing during the course of Saturday and Sunday.
Get your beads. It’s time to hang loose, party and eat local Gulf Shrimp.
“The Beach Lions thank and salute Captains Charles Livingston and Linda Lamb and the crew of the Beach Shrimp Boat “BABE” for bringing in the fresh, locally caught shrimp for this year’s festival,” said Lion President Pete McCagg via an email.
The Beach Lions Shrimp Festival, Fort Myers is a local tradition that dates back to a weeklong celebration from March 2-8, 1959. Called “Island Shrimp Festival” and sponsored by Beach Lions Club, the event was billed “A Carnival Atmosphere Beneath a Southern Sun,” according to a Feb. 26, 1959 ad in the Beach Bulletin -the island newspaper of record at the time. Miss Jeannie Spencer was crowned the first Shrimp Festival Queen.
This weekend, twelve sponsored princesses and 2010 Shrimp Queen Kaitlin Conidaris, will be escorted in convertibles down Estero Boulevard during the parade. With a 10 a.m. start, the procession of floats, vehicles and bands moves from the Beach Elementary School area to the festival grounds at Lynn Hall Park.
Once at the county-owned park, festival goers can enjoy the Food Fun & Crafts Expo, where more than 100 vendors are happy to serve from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Among the vendor choices, one can purchase official festival t-shirts, tank tops and hats as well as the “World Famous Lions Shrimp Dinners.”
The 53rd Shrimp Festival Queen Pageant, Fort Myers Beach will take place at the park’s pavilion at 1 p.m. Saturday. Come see the crowning of the 2011 Shrimp Queen.
On Sunday, while the expo continues, Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith, the Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida and representing Historic St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church, will perform the Blessing of the Fleet ceremony at Lynn Hall Park. The 59-year-old Beach tradition will feature a service with prayers, songs and a blessing from the Bishop for all vessels that call Fort Myers Beach their home. This includes commercial shrimp, crabbing, and fishing boats, sport fishing boats and any personal craft that would like to receive the Blessing.
This past weekend, the festival kicked off with the Princess Ball and Shrimp Run.
While the Princess Ball was successful for the 12 contestants to meet the public, the Shrimp Run saw great participation from the youngsters in their beachfront races.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals for boy and girl winners were awarded in each grade and ribbons were given to all other runners.
Keep in mind that Matanzas Pass Bridge will be officially closed from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday to clear a path for the parade. So come early, pick your spot for the parade, cheer on the princesses and eat plenty of local Fresh Gulf Pinks.
The shrimp and shrimpers are the reason we hold such a tribute.
