Spirits soar, attendance sags, at Seafood Festival

            A weakening economy took its toll on last weekend's Florida Seafood Festival, as attendance numbers fell below last year's near-record year.

            But some fresh innovations this year, including two concerts and a new cooking contest, delighted festivalgoers as they came out in droves for the 45^th annual festival.

John Solomon, president of the board that oversees the festival, estimated that attendance on Saturday was down about 2,000 people from last year. In 2007 the festival drew close to 11,000 paid adults on Saturday, with another 7,000 people given tickets or admitted free.

            "Attendance numbers were down just a little bit," said Solomon. "We did a little better Friday than in year's past, since more people came on the free day.

            "I think it went very well," he said. "I think it was a very wonderful festival. The numbers were down, but it was just purely because of the economy. A lot of people weren't traveling."

            Solomon said he has heard good things from people about the festival, which was free of mishaps, accidents or major snafus, and blossomed under sunny skies.

            "People said how great it was, how much they enjoyed it," he said. "All the non-profit food vendors were completely thrilled." He noted that at least one had eclipsed the $6,000 mark in revenue for their organization.

            Eight nonprofits took part with food booths alongside the commercial food vendors. Working at the festival food booths were volunteers from Eastpoint Church of God, Carrabelle Church of God, the Franklin County Schools' fourth graders and junior class. The Franklin County Seahawks Booster Club, the Carrabelle Shriners, and the Franklin County Seafood Workers Association.

            "We sold more food than last year," said Solomon. "Sales went up tremendously on food row."

            The Apalachicola and Carrabelle Masonic Lodges handled the gates, while the Apalachicola Bay Charter School handled T-shirt sales.

            The arts and crafts booths numbered almost 85, 10 more than last year, while there was the same number of for-profit food vendors. Plus there were 10 more campers than last year who paid the $15 daily fee to stay on the festival grounds.

            "Everything was more except the attendance," Solomon said, noting that the parade was much larger than usual, in part due to the intensity of the political campaigns.

Prayers for the lifeblood of the county's wellbeing

            The festival got underway promptly on Friday afternoon with the Blessing of the Fleet, led by the Rev. Dr. John Sink, a retired United Methodist pastor and retired Navy captain; Father Roger Latosynski, pastor of St. Patrick's Catholic Church; Sister Jeanne Drea, a Sinsinawa Dominican nun; the Rev. Themo Patriotis, past of First United Methodist Church in Apalachicola; the Rev. Kay Wheeler, retired deacon from Trinity Episcopal Church, the Rev. Casey Smith, pastor of Eastpoint Church of God.

            Bagpiper Chris Clark lent accompaniment as the clergy offered blessings of watercraft passing in front of the Apalachicola docks. "This event reminds us of our dependency on the Creator of us all as well as on the diversity of creation from the waters that are the lifeblood of Franklin County's economic wellbeing," said Sink.

            Following the arrival of 2008 Miss Florida Seafood Sara Ward, and her father Tommy Ward as King Retyso, the festival got underway with remarks by Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson.

            "As we enjoy our hospitality and partake of the wonderful bounty from our seas, please remember the seafood workers that made this day possible. It is by their labor and love for the industry that keep the economic engine of Apalachicola and Franklin County going," Johnson said.

            Johnson praised the contribution of the Ward family to the seafood industry - from Tommy Ward, who owns 13 Mile Oyster Company, to his late father, Buddy Ward, a giant of the seafood industry; and to his mother, Martha Pearl Ward, who served on the city's planning and zoning board and "fought to keep the historic appeal of Apalachicola out of the hand of developers." Martha Pearl rode in the parade as well, waving to the crowd.

            "I don't think that we could have found a better representation or image for the 2008 Florida Seafood festival than we have found within the offspring of two of Franklin County's greatest citizens," Johnson said.

            Following the Saturday morning Redfish Run and parade (see related stories and photos), the festival hit its stride with the annual oyster shucking and oyster eating contests in the afternoon.

 Repeat winners in the oyster eating contest

             Five guys competed in the shucking contest, each vying for an all-expense paid chance to compete in the nationals.

            Sara Ward's brother, T.J., represented 13-Mile in the competition, while Brandon Patrick represented the Indian Pass Raw Bar. Scotty O'Lear, Mike Martin and Robert Daffin all represented Dusty's in Panama City.

            Patrick emerged triumphant, while Martin and O'Lear, both previous champs, took second and third respectively.

            Nine energetic seafood lovers took part in the oyster eating contest, which looks to see how many oysters can be eaten in 15 minutes.

            The participants were competing to see whether they could best the record set by Robbie Roberts, of Marietta, GA in 1975, when he ate 33 dozen and three oysters in the allotted time. Roberts is a four-time champ from the mid ‘70s, with top honors going to Eastpoint's Mick Thompson, who was a five-time champ. Heidi Harrelson ate 19 dozen in 1980 to emerge as the best-ever female finisher.

            This year saw Angie Harnage, from Jackson, GA, repeat as female champ, devouring 10 dozen and three. Runner-up was Panama City's Mickey Barnes, who ate eight dozen and 11, with Caycee Gilbert, from Tallahassee coming in third after eating eight dozen and two.

            Also repeating from last year was Ernest Hare, from Seffner, who bested his last year's winning total by seven oysters, downing 25 dozen and one this year.

            In second place was former King Retsyo Jerome Brown, from Apalachicola, who ate 16 dozen and three. In third place came Carrabelle's Charlie Carney, who ate 15 dozen and 11.

            In fourth place was Bill Rogers, from Quitman, GA, who ate 15 dozen and three. Honorable Mention went to Crawfordville's Les Adams, with about 15 dozen. Also competing was Hyer Dement, from St. Joe Beach.

            Following these traditional contests was a newly introduced cooking contest, featuring recipes made from Franklin County seafood. Judges were Chef Eddie Cass, from the Magnolia Grille, Billy Reed from the Culinary Arts Institute and Sara Ward

            Taking first prize was Pam May for her "Apalachicola Shrimp Balls," which netted a stainless steel cooking set from Badcock, and two gift certificates from the Owl Café.

            Second place went to Maxine Creamer, for her "Oyster Rice Dressing with Crab Cream Sauce," and she won a stainless steel stock pot and dinner for two at That Place in Apalach.

            Third place was awarded Bill Bassett, for his "Oysters Scallops Shrimp Linguini" and for that he won a stainless steel utensil set and dinner for two at The Hut Restaurant.

Board looks for fresh ideas for next year

             The rest of the festival featured an afternoon concert by Daryle Singletary, with an even bigger crowd enjoying Little Texas in the evening, more than took in Sammy Kershaw last year.

            "We wanted to get a little of something else," said Solomon. "It was a try to give the crowd something more."

            The crab races were once again extremely popular, with all the contestants signed up for an afternoon full of races by the 1 p.m. start of the first race.

            In addition to those who attended and those who took part, Solomon extended his greatest thanks to his fellow board members. The only change in their ranks is the departure of Butch Baker, who has been replaced as secretary by Andrea Register.

            Coming back for his 42nd year will be board member Ted Mosteller, who first began with the festival in 1967.

            "Every one of the board worked beaucoups of hours to get this done," Solomon said. "I really appreciated them. Without their many hours donated, this thing wouldn't have happened. You have really got to love the volunteers on this board; they live and breath this thing."

            Solomon said preliminary financial numbers indicate that with a boost in sponsors, and an increase in the numbers of arts and crafts and commercial booths, the festival will end up with nearly the same revenue as last year.

            "We expect the festival to be as great next year. and are looking for some new things to go on as well," he said. "Someone suggested maybe a photo contest so already the wheels are churning."