To Bless A Fleet
History states the Blessing of the Fleet began as a part of Beach Day, which coincided with the Edison Pageant of Light. In earlier days there were shrimp docks on Estero Island. Several fires burned the docks and caused the shrimping industry to be relocated to San Carlos Island. It is also said that the blessing was altered and is now performed at the shrimp docks to accommodate the increasing price of oil and the high insurance rates of taking people out on the shrimp boats for the blessing.
Times have changed. This year’s Blessing of the Fleet ceremony for the American Seafood Industry-held Feb. 28, from noon to 5 p.m. at 1100 Shrimp Boat Lane on San Carlos Island- is expected to be a fun-filled, community festival.
But don’t forget! The actual blessing, which involves Bishop Dabney Smith walking the docks and blessing the hardworking shrimp boats so that they may have a bountiful harvest, is expected to begin at 3 p.m.
The Blessing of the Fleet ceremony has been a large part of the community’s yearly events since 1951. Though the Blessing is mainly for the shrimp boats, recent years have proven that any boat that shows up has been offered the blessing too.
“The Blessing of the Fleet is an annual celebration of our Local American Fishing Industry,” said Tracey Gore, one of the event coordinators “It’s a good old fashion hometown festival. Every year the shrimp boats are blessed by the Bishop for a bountiful harvest and to keep the men safe out at sea while they’re gone for three to four weeks at a time or longer. Shrimping is a hard and dangerous profession. These men have to have the skills to work the machinery used on the boats, the knowledge of the latest computer technology, the experience of knowing how to find and handle the shrimp, and the faith that their hard work will pay off.”
This year’s rain-or-shine event is a festivity of sorts including a kid’s bounce house, slide, mechanical bull, obstacle course, hay rides, raffles, prizes, variety of vendors, arts & crafts, shrimp boat tours as well as fresh local seafood, baked goods, snacks and drink.
The Kiwanis Kids from Beach Elementary School will direct drivers where to park their cars for a $1 or $2 donation, while the Chapel by the Sea Youth Group (fingernail & face painting); Beach School PTO (selling baked goods & snacks); Ostego Bay Foundation (displays); FMB fire fighters (fire trucks); C.E.R.T. volunteers (booth); Relay for Life (booth); and Junior Diabetes Research Foundation (booth selling sugar-free snacks) will be involved.
If you’re interested in joining in the fun, earn extra cash or are a member of a nonprofit group who would like to display material for your club or organization, vendor booths are $10 and can be obtained by calling Gore at 849-3603 or Chrissy Gala at 765-1828. A tentative cutoff date for booths is Thursday, Feb. 25, but Gore says there maybe room for late calls.
Gore also added that Beasley Broadcasting will be promoting this event on all five of their stations; B103.9, Sunny 106, 99X, 96K Rock and 770 ESPN.
Beach Seafood will be selling shrimp rolls for $5 apiece. If you’d like to order, call 463-8777. There will also be a shrimp eating contest for ages 6-12 and ages 13 and older. If interested, contact Vicki at 463-8788.
High School students in need of community service hours are encouraged to come help out. Music will be provided by “Left of Center.” Come hear Sundance Dave, Jo LIst and the gang.
According to Gore, a study done by the University of Florida shows that the commercial fishing industry is second only to tourism when it comes to the economic impact in our area.
“Our boats are local, our supplies are bought locally and we use local contractors to work on our boats,” she said. “And, when the boats come in the crews spend their money locally. The higher price of fuel along with the lower price being paid to the shrimpers for their shrimp due to the flood of inferior farm-raised foreign imported shrimp has made times tough for the hardworking shrimpers. Locals know and our visitors need to know to ask for local Gulf shrimp when ordering. Gulf shrimp on a menu doesn’t mean it’s local, it could be from the Gulf of India, or farm-raised. We need to ask our servers if the shrimp is from our local boats.”
Shrimp Festival Queen Pageant set with ten contestants
Ten princesses have officially signed on to compete in the Fort Myers Beach Lions 52nd annual Shrimp Festival Queen Pageant -Estero Island’s largest annual event. The 2010 Queen Pageant will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 13, at Lynn Hall Park.
The 2009 Queen and the 2010 Princesses will ride in the Shrimp Festival Parade which will proceed north on Estero Boulevard at 10 a.m. that day. (NOTE: The Matanzas Pass Bridge will be closed from 9:15 until noon on Saturday, March 13.)
The princesses with sponsors are Adrienne Castro Tommy Tire & Sons; Angela Assink Trico Shrimp; Kaitlin Conidaris Lani Kai Island Resort; Kassea Shrock Erickson and Jensen; Katelyn Sundin Rose Auction Group; Melanie Byrd Fort Myers Beach Observer; Samantha Simmons The Island Sandpaper;Virginia Halcomb Beach Seafood Market; Rachel Whitehead Semmer Electric; and Ashlee Neal – sponsored by Lahaina Realty.
Queen’s Ball is Saturday
The Queen’s Ball will be held Saturday, Feb. 27, at St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church located at 5601 Williams Dr. Entertainment will be provided by local artists DAZ. Tickets are $10 per person and the price includes entertainment and hors d’oeuvres. Call for advance tickets (Carolyn Van Duzer 463-9738.) Liquid refreshments will be available. Come join the fun and meet the Queen contestants and dance to the music of DAZ.
The Fort Myers Beach Lions Foundation is a 501c(3) not for profit corporation. The Shrimp Festival is the Beach Lions Club’s major fund raiser for the year and all proceeds go to Lions charities and local community projects.
Parade applications due March 10
Applications for the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival Parade are due on Wednesday, March 10. Everyone loves a parade!
The Beach Lions Shrimp Festival Parade begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 13. The parade route runs about one mile on Estero Boulevard from Wachovia Bank north to the foot of the Matanzas Pass Bridge.
All entrants are welcome. For information or your application please call Lion Diane Clifton, the parade chairman at 454-0043 (evenings) or email shrimpfestivalparade@fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com. Go to www.FortMyersBeachShrimpFestival.com to print the instructions and your application.
ATTENTION: The Matanzas Pass Bridge will be closed from 9:15 until noon on Saturday, March 13. This action is necessary due to the FMB Chamber of Commerce 5-kilometer race and the ensuing parade. Those drivers coming from the south end will be re-routed south at the mid-island yellow light near FMB Fire Station #31.