Most Viewed Stories
Most Commented Stories
Seafood Festival to liven up weekend
Put aside the frustrations of economic hard times.
Have the FDA take a chill pill for their heavy-handed plan to over-regulate the seafood industry.
Let worries and cares slide off your back like a fresh oyster newly shucked on the half-shell.
It’s Florida Seafood Festival time, the oldest maritime event in the entire state, and the 46th annual affair gets underway Friday in Battery Park with what promises to be the best ever to date.
“The reason why we have a Seafood Festival is to promote our local seafood industry and invite others to come celebrate this way of life with us,” said Miss Florida Seafood Isabel Pateritsas, a Franklin County High School junior who comes from a long line of Greek immigrants who helped shape the county’s venerable seafood industry.
Many people in Franklin County for a great number of years have, and still do, depend on the seafood industry to support their families,” said the raven-haired, green-eyed beauty. “Our famous Apalachicola oysters are sold all over the world. We are so lucky to live in area that has such a plentiful supply of fresh seafood provided by our waters. The Seafood Festival is a fun way to celebrate the bounty of our bay!”
Pateritsas, daughter of Franklin County High School English teacher Callie Nichols and Mario Pateritsas, of Greece, has roots in the local seafood industry that reach back more than a century, to 1903 when her great-grandparents, John and Garaphylia Nichols, moved to Apalachicola from Trekiri, Greece.
The family’s joy is mixed with the memories of Callie’s sister, Rosalie, who was selected Miss Florida Seafood at the 1974 pageant. Ten years ago, she and her young son Matthew died in an automobile accident.
“This event is important to me because I had family members in the past who made a living off of the seafood industry, as many locals do, and I love seafood,” said Pateritsas. “This time of year is always exciting to me because I love to tell others about Apalachicola. I would like to encourage everyone to come out this weekend to learn more about our area and the Apalachicola Bay.
“I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to represent the seafood industry and take part in all of the upcoming events,” said Pateritsas, an honor student who is dual enrolled at Gulf Coast Community College and plans to attend college, possibly at Florida State, and study either childhood education or criminology
“I hope that everyone will enjoy the festival just as much as I always have,” she said. “It will be a great time with food, musical entertainment, arts, crafts, and more!”
Pateritsas has worked busing tables for the past two years at Apalachicola’s Papa Joe's restaurant, and she chose the restaurant’s owner, Stan Nor red, to be her King Retsyo.
Norred’s grandfather, Willie Norred traveled to Apalachicola in 1928 to work as a foreman for the Shipes Lumber Company, and later married wife Evena.
Stan’s parents were Joe and Dorothy Norred. Joe was raised in Apalachicola and joined the military in 1945 to fight in World War II. Stan was also raised here in Apalachicola, and graduated from Chapman High School. During his high school years and for a short time after, Stan worked for Wefing’s Marina, and then for the Sheriff’s Department as a deputy.
Stan and his wife Sandee, parents of three children, opened the Breakaway Lodge, a local seafood restaurant, in 1990 and kept the business for the next seven years. Stan worked as a court reporter for the next four years before opening Papa Joe’s Oyster Bar and Grill. The restaurant has been in business for the last eight years serving a variety of local seafood from our area, including oysters, one of Stan’s favorite foods. Many people who visit Apalachicola and also many locals come to enjoy the natural taste supplied by Papa Joe’s.
“I am proud to support the seafood industry and plan to spend the rest of my life here,” said the new King Retsyo. “I am honored to be chosen to represent his hometown’s culture and lifestyle.”
Pateritsas and Norred will open the 46th annual Florida Seafood Festival in Apalachicola with the Blessing of the Fleet at 4 p.m. at the city docks. Local clergy from the city’s largest churches will offer their blessings to a long queue of boats passing in front along the Apalachicola River.
All day Friday there is no entrance fee, with local musical entertainment continuing until 10 p.m., with plenty of great rides and food.
On Saturday there will be a $5 fee and kids 12 and under get in free.
Saturday morning begins with the Red Fish Run starting with registration at the Gibson Inn starting at 7 a.m. followed by the parade down Highway 98 at 10 a.m.
Blue Crab races at the top of each hour, for kids under 12, run from 1 to 5 p.m. The oyster shucking contest is at 1 p.m., with the oyster eating contest at 2 p.m.
The cooking contest rules are no professional chefs and recipe must contain local seafood. The contest begins at 3 p.m. but all entries need to be at the designated area by 2:45 p.m.
The contest is free to all contestants. Prizes include cookware donated by Badcock and free dinner for two at local restaurants. Anyone interested can contact Tress or John at the Seafood festival website or call 653- 5696.
The headline entertainment, country star Tracy Lawrence, gets underway at 8 p.m. There is no additional charge.
The park closes at 11 p.m.
