CORTEZ – The 38th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival was filled with fun last weekend, from live music to pony rides to seafood any way you like it.
Warm, sunny weather attracted a large crowd that packed dining tables like sardines, enjoying shellfish, shrimp, mullet, oysters and other seafood, as well as Greek gyros, Southern barbecue, Polish sausage and other landlubber fare.
This year’s arts and crafts show suggested a trend toward environmentally-friendly jewelry and wall art, especially pieces made from parts of palm trees, including trunks (sailboat wall art), seeds (bracelets) and fronds (coconut fish tails).
And a new feature debuted – NOAA’s Voices from the Fisheries, an interactive display featuring recorded interviews with Cortez fishermen talking about a way of life that’s fading from the Florida landscape.
Wanda Jones Fulford, the widow of Blue Fulford, one of the fishermen featured in the recordings, was honored with the Pioneer Award. The Cortez native attended grade school in what is now the Florida Maritime Museum on 119th Street West at the east end of the historic fishing village. She worked at Tropicana Products sorting citrus fruit, said Jane von Hahmann, one of the organizers of the festival, which is sponsored by FISH, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage.
Wanda made smoked mullet spread famous decades ago, von Hahmann said, congratulating her for a “simple life well lived.”
“I sure am enjoying this today,” Fulford said to applause, adding that she doesn’t get out much at her age. “I enjoy all you people out here.”
Von Hahmann presented the FISH Community Service award to volunteer John MacDonald, another Cortez native, who said he helps out in the village because it’s important to record history.
Once it’s gone, “We can’t get it back,” von Hahmann said.
The Business Community Service Award went to Karen Bell of Star Fish Co., which provides food for several Cortez events, including the annual Cortez Natives Picnic, which is open to the public, von Hahmann said.
Bayshore High School student Matthew Kurutz and Boy Scout Troop 76 were recognized for their work building foot bridges in the FISH Preserve, which is funded by festival proceeds.
Once it’s gone, “We can’t get it back,” von Hahmann said.
Von Hahmann presented the FISH Community Service award to volunteer John MacDonald, another Cortez native, who said he helps out in the village because it’s important to record history.
The Business Community Service Award went to Karen Bell of Star Fish Co., which provides food for several Cortez events, including the annual Cortez Natives Picnic, which is open to the public, von Hahmann said.
Bayshore High School student Matthew Kurutz and Boy Scout Troop 76 were recognized for their work building footbridges in the FISH Preserve, which is funded by festival proceeds.
The Cortez Shanty Singers kick off the festival with harmony and humor. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The food court at the festival features seafood, lamb, Polish sausage and a variety of other meals. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Viewers get a close look at marine life at a touch tank at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
White pelicans, true snowbirds from Canada, flock to the festival in Sarasota Bay off Cortez. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Angela Collins of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) in Palmetto identifies stone crabs, blue crabs and other species for festival-goers. - Cindy Lane | Sun
The festival features shrimp, clams and other fresh seafood prepared in a variety of ways. - Cindy Lane | Sun
NOAA’s Voices from the Fisheries, part of the federal agency’s Vanishing Culture Project, is an interactive display featuring recorded interviews with Cortez fishermen talking about a way of life fading from the Florida landscape. - Cindy Lane | Sun
A screech owl is one of the rescued animals on display at the festival from Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation in Bradenton Beach. - Cindy Lane | Sun
A kids’ activity zone includes a chance to ‘fly’ into the sky. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Face painting, pony rides and a bounce house are among the activities for kids at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Karan Newman of Coconut Fish displays one of her fish friends at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
A handmade wooden kayak is being raffled off at the festival. The boat was donated in an unfinished condition in 2010 and finished by the volunteers at the FISH Boatworks, particularly Joe Egolf, Bill Curto and Charlie Bailey. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Festival-goers flock to the Cortez Village Historical Society strawberry shortcake booth for a homemade treat. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Jessica Ann Hessing of JA Art paints a fish at the festival on Saturday. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Bracelets made of dyed palm tree nuts are among the new offerings at the festival’s arts and crafts show. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Mike and Judy Farley of Dry Dock Art feature their sailboats made from parts of palm trees in the festival’s arts and crafts show. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Ray Holmes and Kathy Cocciolone of 2 Fish 2 Fun display hand-painted fish at the festival’s arts and crafts show. - Cindy Lane | Sun
FISH volunteer John MacDonald won the Community Service award from the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, presented by one of the festival organizers, Jane von Hahmann. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Wanda Jones Fulford received the Pioneer of the Year award from the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH). - Cindy Lane | Sun
Doug Deming and Jewel Tones are among the bands performing at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
Oysters are on the menu at the 38th Annual Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun
