October 23-25, the Paradise Coast will celebrate a pinch like no other when the sixth annual Naples’ Stonecrab Festival comes to the waterfront. As one of the nation’s most active stone crab fisheries, the Paradise Coast has long been the source of the nation’s love affair for the stone crab’s meaty crusher claws. To applaud not just a delicious seafood treat and the start of the 2015-16 stone crab season, but Southwest Florida as a whole, the Old Naples Waterfront Association is getting Naples Bay in the celebratory mood with three days of claw-cracking good times, with activities at Bayfront Naples, Port of Naples Marina, and Tin City.
The party begins on Friday, October 23 as Pincher’s Crab Shack hosts a kick-off party from 4 to 10 p.m. The ceremonial claw cracking with Mayor John Sorey takes place at 5:50 p.m., while live entertainment from Deb and the Dynamics takes the main stage from 6 to 9 p.m. Guest chef and MasterChef season six finalist, Derrick Peltz, will be on hand to ensure those crusty crabs are good eating. Stone crab and drink specials will be abound, and a VIP tent will offer a few bonus treats from the Gulf.
Stone Crab Season is Here
Stone crab season runs Ocotber 15 through May 15. Get the goods on this true Florida delicacy plus a few recipes to boot.
On Saturday and Sunday, the stone crab festival really heats up with Tin City hosting a two-day block party from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, October 25. The party will include live music, stone crab and drink specials, kid events and activities, ice cream eating contests, vendor booth, and boat tours. The music lineup is as follows:
Saturday, October 25:
- 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Good Bad Kids
- 2-5 p.m.: Ben Allen Band
- 6-9 p.m.: The U.S. Stones (Rolling Stones tribute act) will close the party.
- During the party, Freedom Waters Foundation will present the Kids Corner filled with kids activities and raffle opportunities.
Sunday, October 26:
- 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Wilder Sons
- 2-5 p.m.: Hatley Band
Concurrently, Bayfront Naples and the Bayfront Inn will be hosting its own foodie fest and block party from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, October 25. More than 20 local restaurants and vendors will be serving up stone crab specials, Gulf goodies, and drinks to keep the culinary craver satiated. For the kids, there will be an entire zone dedicated to tots, with face painting, balloon creations, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and games. The live entertainment schedule is as follows:
Saturday, October 25:
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: The Ramos Brothers
- 2-4 p.m.: Pyrate Voodoo
- 6-9 p.m. : Little Eddie & The Fat Fingers
Sunday, October 26:
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Dance Arts by Maria
- 2-5 p.m.: Ben Allen Band
See how stone crab helped shape the Paradise Coast with the Naples Trolley and the Heritage Trail Museum. On Saturday, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., the tour will celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the end of World War II. Guests can meet with WWII veterans, view photos and items from the war, and Florida’s role in WWII, as well as listen to Old Naples Historian, Lois A Bolin from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Tickets for the Naples Trolley Tours, Segway Tours, and Everglades are buy one, get one 50 percent off.
And though the three-day festival seems to be a celebration of all things delicious, local charities and non-profits will be on hand to spread awareness about the good they are doing in the community. Be sure to visit Charity Row and both Tin City and Bayfront Naples’ parties.
- Admission to this three-day party is free. Parking is $5.
- For more information about the 2014 Stone Crab Festival, visit stonecrabfestival.org.
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