JOHN’S PASS CELEBRATES 30TH ANNUAL SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
For 30 years, John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk has offered festivities for the whole family at the annual Seafood Festival. This year’s event will take place on Friday, October 28 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, October 30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the event is free.
New this year, the festival will open at 4pm on Friday, with food vendors, artists and crafters. At 6pm festival organizers will unveil the base for the long awaited Florida Fishermen Lost at Sea Memorial and Church by the Seas’ Reverend Weller will do a blessing of the fleet at the bell tower next to the boardwalk entrance. Artist, Rob Epstein will be working on the “Hand of Fate Memorial” sculpture throughout the weekend event in his temporary studio on John’s Way. A free concert & street dance will top off the evening with The New Tropics playing from 7-9pm, also at the bell tower.
Another first for the 30 year old festival is that when the festival powers up, it will rely on alternative energy. The entire food court area will be powered by two Solar Powered Generators. Each 10-kilowatt unit has the capacity to power a 1,200-square-foot house for at least 19 hours a day and potentially 24 hours with more conservative use. The portable solar units, two compact systems of 10 solar panels and a battery on a 22-foot hitch trailer, will replace multiple gas generators that have been used in the past, at a lower cost.
The many features of the event include an Art & Craft Show with 60 local and regional artists, tons of fresh local seafood, a Blessing of the fleet, an Environmental Area, more than 150 unique shops, live music throughout the village, a street dance, fiddler crab races and a children’s area. A children’s Halloween costume contest will take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Windworks and trick or treating will take place throughout the hours of the event. All children’s costume contest participants will receive a prize. Also on hand is EA Sports MMA Videogame Announcer and Hollywood Reporter also known as “Mr. Hollywood” Shannon Rose, who will be signing autographs and Emcee for the event.
Parking for the festival is available both in John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk and off-site. Parking within John’s Pass Village is accessible from the 129th and 131st Avenue entrances to the Village. Free additional parking is available at Madeira Beach Middle School with free shuttle service to and from John’s Pass Village sponsored by www.FreeBeachRide.com. Relax and Ride with ease, “Free Beach Ride” is designed to give back to the community. 100% FREE. The drivers work solely for tips, and can pick up guests at their homes, accommodations, restaurants, shopping centers, and anywhere else. The carts themselves are 100% electric, environmentally friendly with zero emissions.
The Seafood Festival is organized by the John’s Pass Village Association. Sponsors include City of Madeira Beach, John’s Pass Village Association, St. Petersburg Times, Bright House Networks, Cox Media, Travel Resort Services, Windworks, Vino Florida, Friendly Fisherman Restaurant, Hubbard Properties, www.FreeBeachRide.com and Budweiser.
For more information, please contact Suzanne King at 727-322-5217 or SuzFest@gmail.com, or visit our website at www.JohnsPassFestivals.com.
