CORTEZ – If you’ve ever wanted to be a part of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival, now is your chance.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs associated with the annual celebration, which is scheduled in the village on Saturday, Feb. 19 and Sunday, Feb. 20.
“We still need 25 to 30 more volunteers,” said FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann. “If you’d like to volunteer, we need help with gate entry, tickets and maybe T-shirt sales.”
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) board held a special meeting last week to go over some last-minute issues for the popular festival, which draws thousands of visitors annually to the small fishing village.
Details ironed out in the meeting include parking issues, placing of signage and dealing with an increase in cost for just about everything. The same supply chain issues that are driving up prices in the grocery store and at the gas pump are also having an effect on events such as this. Even though costs have risen, the price for this year’s festival will remain at $5, after having been increased from $4 three years ago. The festival is asking for a $5 donation to the local Boy Scouts for parking.
The Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival is held to celebrate the heritage of commercial fishing in Cortez, Florida’s oldest fishing village. This year’s theme is “Gearing Up,” a reference made by fishermen when getting their gear ready to go out on the water. Plenty of live music, great food, wine and beer, arts and crafts and education will be on hand for the 40th edition of the festival. There was no festival last year due to COVID-19.
If you would like to volunteer, please email Angela Collins or call 941-301-4000.
