Englewood’s annual local history celebration, Lemon Bay Fest, runs Saturday, February 1 through Saturday, February 8 so take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about Englewood’s history, arts, and culture at free programs offered during the week-long celebration.
Programs are held at the Elsie Quirk Library, 100 W. Dearborn Street, or the Englewood Charlotte Library, 3450 N. Access Road. The Cracker Fair takes place at Pioneer Plaza, 325 W. Dearborn Street. See each library’s program line-up by clicking on the calendar at SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com and CharlotteCountyFL.libcal.com. Program brochures will be available at each library. Learn more about the Cracker Fair by visiting LemonBayHistory.org.
What is Lemon Bay Fest?
Lemon Bay Fest was founded in 2002 to celebrate the arts, culture and history of the Lemon Bay area. Every year, the Elsie Quirk Library and the Englewood Charlotte Public Library partner to create a week of programs and activities. Lemon Bay Fest programs are sponsored by the Friends of
Elsie Quirk Library and the Friends of Englewood Charlotte Library. The Cracker Fair is hosted by the Lemon Bay Historical Society, LemonBayHistory.com.
Saturday, February 1
Museum Open House
The Englewood Museum, housed in the historic Lampp House at 604 W. Perry Street, will be open from 1 to 4pm. Tour this home that was built in 1928 by one of Englewood’s pioneers, Jesse “Pat” Lampp. View displays and cultural artifacts from Englewood’s early history.
Seashells 101
Members of the Englewood Shell Club will share their enthusiasm for shells and the local environment from 2 to 3pm at the Elsie Quirk Library. Shells from the Club’s collection will be on display as members share an overview of local shells and best conservation practices on the beach. Seating is limited. First come, first seated.
The Beatles in 1964 Florida
Through dozens of primary interviews, letters, photographs, and court transcripts, Bob Kealing chronicles the Beatles’ travels in “Good Day Sunshine State: The Beatles in 1964 Florida”. This presentation through the “potboiler” that was 1964 Florida starts at 2pm at the Englewood Charlotte Library.
Monday, February 3
LB Woman’s Club Open House
Stop by from 9:30am to noon to learn about the role this club played in early Englewood history. At 10am, Jennifer Zoebelein, historian from Charlotte County Libraries & History will speak about the history of SW Florida. The club was founded in 1918 as the Lemon Bay Mother’s Club. The current clubhouse was built in 1926 at 51 N. Maple Street.
American Roots Music Roadshow
Lisa Brande and Mark Trichka of Vermont’s Easy Street will present an upbeat jaunt through American history in story and song featuring Bluegrass, Swing, Country, Cajun and Zydeco and some early Rock & Roll music. Join them from 2 to 3pm at the Elsie Quirk Library.
Tuesday, February 4
Telling Florida Food Stories
Journalist and author Dalia Colón of WUSF’s “The Zest” podcast explores Florida’s history through the lens of food from indigenous food to the rise and fall of the citrus industry, to modern sustainability efforts from 10:30 to 11:30am at the Elsie Quirk Library.
Breaking Down the Myth of the “Pirate” Jose Gaspar
Join Charlotte County History Librarian Neil Durrant for a discussion about the myth of Jose Gaspar, the fictional Spanish pirate who terrorized the Gulf of Mexico from his base in southwest Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This program will be 2 to 3pm at the Englewood Charlotte Library.
Wednesday, February 5
Artistic Shell Design
Join local artist Carolyn Robinette to decorate shells collected from local beaches using vibrant napkins and Mod Podge, transforming them into stunning keepsakes. This class meets at the Elsie Quirk Library from 10:30am to 12:30pm and registration is required at SCGovLibrary.LibraryMarket.com (limited to 15 adults. One name per registration please).
Englewood Museum Open House
The Englewood Museum, housed in the historic Lampp House at 604 W. Perry Street, will be open from 11am to 2pm. Tour this home that was built in 1928 by one of Englewood’s pioneers, Jesse “Pat” Lampp. View displays and cultural artifacts from Englewood’s early history.
Englewood: Charlotte’s Red-Headed Step Kid
Join Author James Abraham at 2pm at the Englewood Charlotte Library for a presentation about how ill-fated Englewood never really recovered from the Great Depression and the diverting of U.S. 41.
Lemon Lab
Join the children’s librarian to conduct some experiments and learn all about acidity at the Elsie Quirk Library from 3:45 to 4:30pm. Recommended for ages 5 to 8.
Thursday, February 6
A History of Indian Mound Park
Join Sarasota County Archaeologist Clay Bush for an exploration of the history of the site at Indian Mound Park, plus how archaeologists identify, interpret and protect significant coastal sites like it. This local history presentation will be held at 10:30am at the Elsie Quirk Library.
Little Adventures – Lemon Bay Fest Edition
Join Elsie Quirk Library staff at 10:30am for story time filled with a variety of early literacy activities that include music, stories, movement, crafts and school readiness- all about lemons. Recommended for ages 2 to 5.
The Industrial Development of Charlotte County
Join Historian Dr. Jennifer Zoebelein for a discussion of how the railroads and phosphate contributed to the industrial development of Charlotte County at 2pm at the Englewood Charlotte Library.
Friday, February 7
Cookie House Tours
Join Charlotte County Libraries & History staff for a tour of the historic ‘Cookie House’ at the Cedar Point Environmental Park, 2300 Placida Road. The Cookie House will be open 10:30am to 2:30pm.
Florida’s Most Famous Lighthouses
Join author Liz Coursen as she discusses the little-known but vital role that lighthouses played in Florida’s history, when you attend “Guiding Lights: An Illustrated History of Florida’s Most Famous Lighthouses”. This program at the Elsie Quirk Library, starts at 10:30am and uses colorful vintage postcards and contemporaneous ephemera, in a lively and fast-paced lecture.
Their Books Changed the World
Join author Betty Jean Steinshouer for a presentation celebrating the women who started the environmental movement, with Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ “The Everglades: River of Grass” in 1947 and Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in 1964. Without them, much of Florida’s beautiful flora and fauna would have been lost. This interesting program will start at 3pm at the Englewood Charlotte Library.
Saturday, February 8
Cracker Fair
Come on down to Pioneer Plaza on Dearborn Street, 325 W. Dearborn Street, for the Cracker Fair sponsored by the Lemon Bay Historical Society. From 10am to 4pm, there will be music and fun for the whole family with kid’s games, crafts, historical presentations, food vendors, artists, a lemon dessert contest and more. Learn more at LemonBayHistory.com.
Florida History-Themed Movies
Join Elsie Quirk Library to wrap up Lemon Bay Fest with a double movie feature and light refreshments. “Patrick Smith’s Florida”, which highlights the importance of preserving Florida’s unique past, will be shown at 1:30pm. Following a short intermission at 2:30pm, “Cracker” starts at 2:45pm, a film that showcases the lives of those who embody its “Florida Cracker” heritage.
Cracker Chidlings
At 10:30am at the Englewood Charlotte Library, join author Betty Jean Steinshouer for a discussion about Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings and Zora Neale Hurston, from Seraph on the Suwanee to The Secret River, examining the Jim Crow-era friendship between two of Florida’s most celebrated authors.
Frank Desquin will demonstrate and serve swamp cabbage.
Cracker Fair Schedule of Events
Saturday, February 8, – 10am to 4pm
10:00am Fair opens with a short welcome and overview of events.
10-11am Entries accepted for the Lemon Dessert Contest at the big tent.
10:15am Bit of Hope Ranch Cracker Whip Demonstration
11:00am James Hawkins (Local singer and songwriter featuring songs about Englewood history).
Noon Lemon dessert contest winners announced.
12:45pm Swamp Cabbage Demonstration by Frank Desquin.
1:45pm Vinyl Recall (a wide range of rock, pop, soul, country, blues and R&B).
2:45pm Kindred Band on the stage (folk, blues, country, bluegrass and Americana).
All Day Photo booth, crafts, food vendors, artists, authors, music and more. New editions of Englewood history books will be on sale at the Lemon Bay Historical Society tent.
Lemon Dessert Contest
In keeping with the theme of lemons for Lemon Bay Fest, The GFWC Rotonda West Woman’s Club is hosting one of the Cracker Fair’s long-time contests: the Lemon Dessert Contest. Whip up your favorite dessert or beverage that uses lemon as the main ingredient and compete for prizes during the contest held on Saturday, February 8th during the Cracker Fair at Pioneer Plaza, 325 W. Dearborn Street.
There are eight categories: cakes, cupcakes, pies, cookies, bars, lemon cheesecake, lemon beverage, and other (anything lemony) treats. Bring your creation along with a copy of the recipe to the big tent between 10 and 11 am to be entered to win bragging rights and gift cards from local restaurants. Kids are welcome to bring their lemon creations, too, and will be judged separately with their own prizes. Winners will be announced at noon.
Entry forms may be downloaded at LemonBayHistory.com. No cost to enter.