Skip to main content

Tag: Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival

Stone Crab Festival a cracking good time

Stone Crab Festival a cracking good time

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Entertainment, Events.

CORTEZ – The stone crab harvest is being celebrated in a big way at an annual festival in the historic fishing village.

The 11th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival will be held at the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar parking lot the weekend of Nov. 11- 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring music, local seafood, crafts and of course, lots of stone crab.

“The festival celebrates the heritage of Cortez and the kickoff to stone crab season,” Swordfish Grill General Manager Adam Sears said.

Stone Crab Festival a cracking good time
The theme of the 11th annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival is “Crack a Cold One.” – Submitted

The festival was the brainchild of John Banyas, a fourth-generation fisherman from Cortez and owner of Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar, Cortez Bait and Seafood Inc. and N.E. Taylor Boatworks, named for his grandfather.

Sears said the festival attracts upwards of 5,000 attendees and more than 2,000 pounds of stone crab is sold.

This year’s theme is “Crack a Cold One,” since stone crab is best served cracked and cold.

Stone crab season runs from Oct. 15 to May 1. Stone crabs are harvested for their claws and then returned to the water, where the claws will regenerate.

In addition to stone crab, many other local seafood favorites will be available. The festival also will feature a Kid Zone with face painting and other kid-friendly activities. Vendors from throughout Florida will be selling arts and crafts, including marine and beach-inspired art. Live music is scheduled both days on two stages.

The festival has a charitable component. All proceeds from draft beer sales will benefit the non-profit Bradenton-base Blessing Bags Project, dedicated to providing basic critical needs to the homeless and less fortunate.

“Big Storm Brewery is graciously donating the beer trailer,” Sears said.

The festival will be held rain or shine at 4628 119th St. W., Cortez., and a large, covered seating area will be available. Festival admission is $5, with kids under 12 free.

Parking is available at the FISH Preserve, next to the festival, at a cost of $5 per vehicle. Parking proceeds will benefit the non-profit Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH).

 

SATURDAY’S MUSIC

 

Festival main stage

10 a.m. – Mikey Silbaugh of Concrete Edgar

Noon – Mushroom Soup

2 p.m. – Uncle John’s Band

4 p.m. – Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones

 

Swordfish Grill Tiki Deck stage

11 a.m. – Ted Stevens

3 p.m. – Stockton Brothers

7 p.m. – Tim Chandler

 

SUNDAY’S MUSIC

 

Festival main stage

10 a.m. – Ted Stevens and the Doo Shots

Noon – Berry Oakley and Friends

2 p.m. – Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio

4 p.m. – Trevor Bystrom’s RX featuring Zion Albert

 

Swordfish Grill Tiki Deck stage

11 a.m. – Taylor Opie

3 p.m. – Billy Rice Trio

6 p.m. – Steel Vibes

Cortez celebrates stone crabs

Cortez celebrates stone crabs

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Festivals.

CORTEZ – It’s a feast for all the senses with the sweet smell of stone crab and other delicious food offerings, the sound of live music, vendors offering beautiful arts and crafts and the hands-on experience of eating one of the ocean’s finest delicacies.

The Ninth Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival is a hit with the thousands of people attending the event outside the Swordfish Grill.

“I had never heard of Cortez, but some people in the condo next to us were coming over here to check it out so we shared a ride and came with them, and I’m glad we did,” said Duane Farley. “I don’t like much seafood, but there is plenty of other stuff to eat, and more than enough drink options. My wife has probably spent a hundred bucks on stone crab claws, I think she may have developed an addiction.”

The Farleys also remarked on how impressed they were with the live music, and how pleased they were that the arts and crafts vendors were selling authentic local merchandise.

“So many times you go to one of these things and it’s a bunch of junk these guys just haul from event to event and it looks like they bought it from China,” said Melissa Farley, Duane’s wife. “This is quality art and we will be picking up a few things to take back to Michigan.”

There are dozens of vendors on hand selling a little bit of everything. Food ranges from stone crab to shrimp and grits, burgers, chicken and more. There is no shortage of cold beer to help move the hips to the 11 bands taking to three stages. 

The event continues until 6 p.m. tonight.

Stone crabs here; festival coming

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Entertainment, Festivals.

CORTEZ – They’ve been bringing in stone crab claws to the Cortez docks since the season began on Oct. 15, and now, the historic fishing village is inviting everyone to celebrate the harvest.

Stone crab claws are the featured attraction at the free 8th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Also on the bill of fare is fresh seafood and beer, local art displays and a kid’s play area.

If you go

Who: You, stone crabs

What: The 8th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival, featuring fresh seafood, beer, live music, local art and a kid’s play area

When: Saturday, Nov. 9 and Sunday, Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar, 4628 119th St. W., Cortez; Marker 49 by boat.

How much: Free

Live music begins at 10 a.m. both days on three stages at the east end of the fishing village, 4628 119th St. W., or Marker 49 by boat.

 

 

 

 

Saturday, Nov. 9

Main Stage

10 a.m. – Terry Helm

Noon – Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones

2 p.m. – Donadi, Yoder, Moore & The Strange

4 p.m. – The Chris Anderson Band

Swordfish Stage

Noon – Tim Chandler

6 p.m. – Jason Haram

Cortez Kitchen Stage

6 p.m. – Buzz Factor

Sunday, Nov. 10

Main Stage

10 a.m. – Poppa Grump

Noon – Eric Von Band

2 p.m. Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio

4 p.m. – RJ Howson/Mike Kach & Friends

Swordfish Stage

1 p.m. – Stockton Bros.

5 p.m. – TC & The Troublemakers

Cortez Kitchen Stage

3 p.m. – Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones

Cortez crab traps - Cindy Lane | Sun
Cortez crab traps – Cindy Lane | Sun

Festival provides hurricane, red tide assistance

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Entertainment, Festivals.

CORTEZ – This year’s 7th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival is about more than good food, good music and good times – this year, it’s also about good will.

Blessing Bags is accepting toy donations at the admissions gate to benefit the children of Port St. Joe, hit hard by Hurricane Michael last month, while the Florida Restaurant Employee Red Tide Relief Fund and Service Industry Relief Festivities (SIRF) are accepting cash donations to help local workers hit hard by red tide.

The free festival continues this afternoon, Saturday, Nov. 10, and tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 11, from 10 am. to 6 p.m., at 4628 119th St. W. in Cortez; Marker 49 by boat. The festival features stone crabs, blue crabs, shrimp and grits and other fresh seafood dishes, back-to-back live music on three stages, continuing into the evening on stages at Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar and The Cortez Kitchen, a kids’ zone with a bounce house slide and pony rides, and local artists displaying their nautical creations.

The SIRF fundraising effort began in August, when red tide hit local waters, and will continue regardless of when the red tide lifts, said Robert DeMino, director of the Florida Restaurant Employee Red Tide Relief Fund.

The festival also is a benefit for Fishing for Freedom, an organization of volunteers dedicated to preserving the federal and state constitutions, the environment, the economy and citizens’ rights through responsible scientific, ecological and biological management. The Manatee chapter actively opposes legislation, such as the gill net ban, that makes it difficult for commercial fisherman to make a living. They also organize and participate in rallies and coastal cleanup events in Manatee County.

“We’re hoping for a tremendous outpouring from the festival,” said festival organizer Bob Slicker, of the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar, adding that local restaurants continue to serve fresh, healthy, sustainable seafood despite red tide.

The stone crab season got off to a slow start on Oct. 15, but has picked up, Slicker said, and plenty of claws wait for crab lovers at the festival.

John Banyas, a fourth-generation fisherman and the owner of Cortez Bait & Seafood, started the festival as a party for fishermen to kick off stone crab season, which is followed quickly by mullet season. Last year’s attendance was close to 20,000.

Saturday, Nov. 10

4 p.m. – Berry Oakley’s Jive Ass Review – main stage
6 p.m. – IPA – Cortez Kitchen stage
6 p.m. – The Kat Crosby Band – Swordfish Tiki stage

Sunday, Nov. 11

10 a.m. – Terry Helm – main stage
Noon – Memphis Rub – main stage
Noon – TC & Randy – Swordfish Tiki stage
2 p.m. – Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio – main stage
3 p.m. – Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones – Cortez Kitchen stage
4 p.m. – Damon Fowler – main stage
5 p.m. – Dr. Dave Band – Swordfish Tiki stage
Blessing Bags is collecting toy donations for kids in Port St. Joe, hit hard by Hurricane Michael. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Blessing Bags is collecting toy donations for kids in Port St. Joe, hit hard by Hurricane Michael. - Cindy Lane | Sun

A red grouper by metal sculptor Shaina. - Cindy Lane | Sun

A red grouper by metal sculptor Shaina. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The bounce house slide draws daring young boys and girls at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The bounce house slide draws daring young boys and girls at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Bradenton artist Mike Parrott painted these bright sealife creations on wood planks. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Bradenton artist Mike Parrott painted these bright sealife creations on wood planks. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Raelynn, left, celebrated her fourth birthday at the 7th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival, sharing ice cream with her sister, Lila, 2. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Raelynn, left, celebrated her fourth birthday at the 7th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival, sharing ice cream with her sister, Lila, 2. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Food tents are busy at the 7th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Food tents are busy at the 7th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Stone crabs come pre-cracked at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Stone crabs come pre-cracked at the festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Fresh coconuts serve as environmentally-friendly containers for rum drinks. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Fresh coconuts serve as environmentally-friendly containers for rum drinks. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The Stone Crab festival also features other seafood fare, like shrimp and grits. - Cindy Lane | Sun

The Stone Crab festival also features other seafood fare, like shrimp and grits. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones are among the many local bands entertaining at the Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones are among the many local bands entertaining at the Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Stone Crab Festival coming Nov. 10-11

Written by Cindy Lane on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured, Festivals.

CORTEZ – Get ready to snap up some crabs at the 7th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival in the historic fishing village of Cortez.

The free festival, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10-11, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring stone crabs, stone crabs and more stone crabs – plus live blue crabs – to benefit Fishing for Freedom’s Manatee chapter and the children of Port St. Joe, the sister city of Cortez.

Festival proceeds will help make up for some lost wages for Cortez commercial fishermen affected by red tide, said festival organizer Bob Slicker, of the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar.

This year’s festival also is a hurricane relief toy drive for families hit hard by Hurricane Michael last month, said Slicker, who helped get two trailers loaded with hurricane supplies to the Panhandle.

https://amisun.com/2018/10/15/hurricane-relief-drive-taking-place-in-cortez/

“We’re hoping for a tremendous outpouring from the festival,” Slicker said. “Blessing Bags has paired up with us and will be there with SIRF.” Service Industry Relief Festivities helps workers in the service industry, like wait staff and cooks, when business is down due to natural disasters like red tide and hurricanes.

Local restaurants are still serving fresh, healthy, sustainable seafood, and diners sit inside air conditioning, where they are not affected by red tide, Slicker said.

“We do not serve things affected by red tide,” he said. “We don’t serve anything we don’t eat ourselves.”

With the slogan, “Our stone crab never travel by land,” festival-goers can be sure of fresh seafood supplied by local fishermen.

The stone crab season got off to a slow start on Oct. 15, but has picked up, and 1,200 pounds of stone crab and counting are ready for the festival, including jumbos and colossals, Slicker said.Stone crab season typically heats up after the first cold front of the season, which is approaching today.

The festival features back-to-back live music on three stages both days, including a Saturday performance by Berry Duane Oakley, son of original Allman Brothers Band bassist Berry Oakley. Local favorites include the Dr. Dave Band and Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones.

In between sets and stone crabs, visit the kids’ zone and local artists’ displays.

The festival is at Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar, 4628 119th St. W. in Cortez, Marker 49 by boat. Parking is available at the FISH Preserve at 116th Street West, with shuttles to the festival.

Saturday, Nov. 10

10 a.m. – TH & C – main stage
Noon – Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones – main stage
Noon – TC & Randy – Swordfish Tiki stage
2 p.m. – Alowicious – main stage
4 p.m. – Berry Oakley’s Jive Ass Review – main stage
6 p.m. – IPA – Cortez Kitchen stage
6 p.m. – The Kat Crosby Band – Swordfish Tiki stage

Sunday, Nov. 11

10 a.m. – Terry Helm – main stage
Noon – Memphis Rub – main stage
Noon – TC & Randy – Swordfish Tiki stage
2 p.m. – Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio – main stage
3 p.m. – Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones – Cortez Kitchen stage
4 p.m. – Damon Fowler – main stage
5 p.m. Dr. Dave Band – Swordfish Tiki stage