Second Annual Mighty Mullet Maritime Festival Drew Large Crowd

{sidebar id=3} The second annual Mighty Mullet Maritime Festival was held on Saturday, November 10, 2007 at Woolley Park on beautiful Dickerson Bay in Panacea.  The event was sponsored by Florida Foresight, the non-profit organization that is heading up the Big Bend Maritime Center project.  According to festival coordinator and Florida Foresight Director Bill Lowrie, "We had a nice turnout this year, even though there were Veteran's Day events taking place in Crawfordville and Tallahassee.  The weather was absolutely perfect, and things went very well.  It looked like people were really enjoying themselves."

The primary objective of the festival was to honor the local maritime culture, and to educate the public about the culture, as well.  All proceeds from the event will go towards the creation of the Big Bend Maritime Center that is to be constructed in Panacea.  "We want to make the community and region aware of our plans for the museum so that they will understand it's purpose and what it represents," said Lowrie.

The Master of Ceremonies for the festival was Rex Hodge, national award-winning news anchor at ABC 27 News.  A "Fishy Fashion Show" kicked off at around 11:00 a.m., with models wearing fashions created entirely out of nautical materials by designer Joan Matey.  Creations included "Pearl of the Oyster", "Crab Belle", "Sea Vamp", "Sea Warrior", "Cabana Girl", "Fisherman’s Daughter", and Bride and Groom".  The Mighty Mullet Maritime Festival King and Queen, Joseph Nichols and wife Mary Evans Nichols, were crowned at the event, as well.

One of the most exciting events of the day was the raffling off of the Harley-Davidson Motorcycle, sponsored by Citizens for Humane Animal Treatment (C.H.A.T.) and the Wakulla County Sheriff's Office.  You could feel the tension in the air as the winning name was read out to the crowd.  The lucky winner was Jason Roberts of Crawfordville. 

The day also boasted several contests, including the "Mighty Mullet Cookoff", the "Best Booth" award, and a photo contest.  A total of seven teams entered the mullet cookoff (30 cooks in all who prepared 22 dinners!) and came up with some amazing recipes for the crowds to enjoy.  The booth decorations were pretty amazing, as well!  There were pirates, maidens, madames, mermaids, and even a viking!  Each team had to enter all three categories, inlcuding Appetizer, First Course, and Main Course, and all cooking had to be done on-site.  The entries were judged by a team of experts including Panacea's own Noey Posey along with Skyler Cognet, Rebecca Bobbitt, and Steve McCary.

The winners of the International Mullet Cook-Off were:

Appetizers

First Place:  No Bones (the crew from Hook Wreck Henry's Dockside Cafe) ($300)
Second Place:  Mullet Masters ($200)
Third Place:  Net Band  ($100)

First Course

First Place:  Live Bait  ($300)
Second Place:  Mama Crum's Seineyard  ($200)
Third Place:  No Bones  ($100)

Main Course

First Place:  No Bones  ($300)
Second Place:  Mullet Masters  ($200)
Third Place:  Live Bait ($100)

Best Decorations (overall booth appearance)

First Place:  No Bones ($300)
Second Place:  Mullet Madames and Maidens ($150)

Congratulations to all who entered the cookoff!  You helped make the festival the success it was. 

The photo contest included photos with maritime themes, including "Landscape/Nature", "Boats/Tools of the Trade", and "People/Portraits".  Awards  were given for “Best of Show” and 1st, 2nd, 3rd place for each category.  The photos had to be taken along coastal areas of Florida's Big Bend, from Cedar Key to Apalachicola.  This year's winners were:

Best of Show

Carlos Villa

Landscape/Nature

First Place:  Neil Hostnick
Second Place:  Carlos Villas
Third Place:  Christine Haddock

Boats/Tools of the Trade

First:  Christine Haddock
Second:  Carlos Villa
Third:  Christine Haddock

People/Portraits

First:  Jo Barksdale

Second and third were not awarded because there were very few entries in this category. 

In addition to the different contests, there were a large number of local artisans on hand to showcase and sell their wares to festival goers.  Vendors displayed everything from Apalachicola sponges to windchimes; there was something for everyone, and many visitors got an early start on their Christmas shopping.  Guest band "City Limits" was on hand throughout the day to entertain the crowd as they strolled about the park, shopping and eating seafood and other wonderful treats.

There were educational booths and exhibits to peruse as well, including Leon High School teacher Pete Cowdrey, who showed off a collection of 16th century navigational instruments and maps dating back to the 17th century.  Cowdrey even dressed in a sailor's costume indicative of the period.  There were several antique boats on display, and even a couple of old Evinrude motors.  Andy Edel from the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, dressed as a "Keeper" of the St. Marks Lighthouse, was on hand to teach visitors about the history of the lighthouse.  Another exhibit let festival goers try their hand at making rope, the old-fashioned way!

The event ended with the presentation of awards, and the raising of a new American flag on the new flag pole donated to Woolley Park by the Woodmen of the World Organization.  Jeese Goodson of Woodmen of the World was on hand to lead the dedication, and U.S. Marine Corp veterans Corporal Ken Ganey and Lance Corporal Tony Cartledge were there to help out with the flag raising ceremony.  Ganey noted that November 10 was the 232nd birthday of the United States Marine Corp.  Wakulla County Commissioner Howard Kessler, Wakulla County Parks and Rec Director Ray Gray, and Veterans Affairs Director Alfred Nelson also participated in the ceremony.  Anne Ahrendt performed America the Beautiful as the flag was raised high above the park.  A plaque will be added to the base of the flag pole at a later date.  

All in all, it was a wonderful day spent by the sea.  If you didn't make it out to this year's festival, you must put it on your calendar for next year!  It's one you really don't want to miss!

Please click here to enjoy several photo galleries of the day's festivities!  

This article originally published on November 20, 2007.

This article originally published on December 16, 2006.

Written by :

mkwestmark

 

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