Thousands Come to Everglades Seafood Festival

It’s that time of year again! The 53rd Everglades Seafood Festival took place in Everglades City, Friday through Sunday, February 17th through 19th, 2023 more than 50,000 visitors for the three-day event.

For over 50 years the Everglades Seafood Festival has been a Southwest Florida destination event and this year was no different. People came from everywhere to hear great live music, see unique art and jewelry, eat delicious seafood, and browse among the craft booths while the kids enjoyed the carnival rides.

Many people in Everglades City are still reeling in the wake of Hurricane Ian. The Everglades Seafood Festival is a family-friendly charity event that benefits the Everglades City community.

Organized by Florida Stone Crabbers Association, the festival is sponsored by Everglades Isle, Tacos and Tequila Cantina, and Suncoast Beverage Sales.

The festival also witnessed some special moments. The Marshall Tucker Band celebrated their 50th year anniversary on the stage with their fans. Festival goers sang ‘’Can’t You See’’ with the band and the requested ‘’Fire on the Mountain’’ for another unforgettable moment. “Thank you everyone for keeping The Marshall Tucker Band for 50 years,” said Doug Gray, lead singer of the band.

Another special moment came from local singer Charlie Pace. At 19 years old, Pace has participated at these festivals for 10 years in a row. Charlie began writing her own songs at the tender age of 11.

Other musicians appearing at the festival included The Winters Brothers Band, Ward Davis, Florida Straits, Jon Prestage, Lee Brovitz, The Lost Rodeo, Roxx Revolt and The Velvets, Whey Jennings, Wes Shipp, Sam Lowe, Jordan Guess, and Radio Road Band. Emcee Gator Nate often threw gifts from the stage to the audience and when Rock Republic was on the stage it was time to jump!

Carrie Doxsee, Holly Levingston Dudley and Kelly Kirk are the three women from Florida Stone Crabbers Association who were behind the event. When Gator Nate invited them to the stage, they were warmly received by the audience.

 “We are wives, daughters of commercial stone crabbers and we know first-hand what it takes to be successful in this industry,” said Doxsee. “Believe me it’s not easy. It’s probably the toughest work you will ever do if you have hands in this industry. The three of us have been working all year long to make this festival enjoyable for everybody. We also want to say a huge thank you to our sponsors, because you all wouldn’t be standing here tonight, because this festival is not cheap, so thank you to our sponsors. We love you guys. I want everyone to have a good time tonight. We are crowded. We are going to have a great time. We are going to enjoy each other. Thank you all for coming!’’

Visitors also had a chance to see the Museum of the Everglades. “The motorcycle is a 1929 Harley Davidson JD Police Model, and it was just purchased for the Museum as a gift by the friends of Museum of the Everglades,” said Thomas Lockyear II, Manager of the Museum of the Everglades. “When the Tamiami Trail opened to automobile traffic in April of 1928, it spanned over 100 miles of desolate sawgrass prairie and swampland. In order to protect tourists and other travelers crossing the Everglades by car, county founder Barron Collier established a small force of motorcycle police stationed at intervals across the length of Trail. The Southwest Mounted Patrol was not only the precursor to the Collier County Sheriff’s Department, but also predated the Florida Highway Patrol by more than 10 years. This exhibit, featuring a vintage 1929 Harley-Davidson JD as its centerpiece, celebrates Collier County’s ground-breaking contribution to law enforcement history and the role of the motorcycle in taming Florida’s last frontier.”