Organizers of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival say this year’s event will place increased emphasis on serving domestic and locally harvested seafood.
The effort is aimed at spotlighting the working waterfront and commercial fishing fleet that have sustained the Cortez community for generations.
Now in its 44th year, the festival will return Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 14-15, along Sarasota Bay in the historic fishing village. The event will run 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days at Star Fish and A.P. Bell Fish companies, between 123rd and 124th streets west.
Admission is $5, with children 12 and younger admitted free.
Organized by the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, the festival celebrates Cortez’s roots, dating to the late 1800s, when fishing families migrated south from coastal North Carolina, primarily from Hyde County and communities around Roanoke Island. Drawn by the wealth of abundant marine life, the families settled in the coastal hammocks of Cortez along Sarasota Bay, where the surrounding waters became known as “The Kitchen” for their productivity.
Built around mullet, fish houses and family-owned boats, Cortez remains one of Florida’s last communities where commercial fishing continues across generations.
While many traditional fishing villages in the state have disappeared, Cortez has remained an active working waterfront for mullet, grouper, snapper, stone crab, blue crab, Gulf and bay shrimp, baitfish and other locally harvested species.
Festival organizers said the focus on domestic seafood is intended to connect the public more directly with the local fishing fleet and the seafood that moves from those boats to regional markets, while reinforcing the economic and cultural value of maintaining the waterfront.
Live entertainment also is scheduled throughout the weekend.
On Feb. 14, performances begin with Shanty Singers 10-11 a.m., followed by Doug Demming and the Jewel Tones 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Introductions and awards, New College singers and a fisher’s fashion show are scheduled 1-2 p.m., followed by The Co-Pilots 2-4 p.m. and Jason Harum 4:30-6 p.m.
There will be a program on Ron Floethe’s book, “The Fisherman and His Boat,” Dock Talks presented by Florida Sea Grant, Tales of Cortez with Allen Garner at the Fulford Fish House and Miller’s Dock and a photo contest display at A.P. Bell.
On Feb. 15, entertainment begins with Sycamore Shade 10 -11:30 a.m., followed by Soul-R-Coaster noon -1:30 p.m. A crab-eating contest is scheduled at 1:30 p.m., then Eric Von Band performs 2:30-4:30 p.m. MOB will close out the festival 5-6 p.m.
Dock Talks, Tales of Cortez and the photo display will continue throughout the day.
Additionally, the festival will feature arts and crafts, marine education exhibits and a strawberry shortcake booth that has become a longtime event staple.
Visitors can also explore the Florida Maritime Museum grounds and Cortez Cultural Center and meet fishers at the Organized Fishermen of Florida booth.
Proceeds from the festival support conservation and restoration of the FISH Preserve, a 95-acre coastal habitat bordering the village and representing the last undeveloped stretch of waterfront on Sarasota Bay.
Where to park
Multiple parking and shuttle options will be available.
Prime parking will be offered for a $5 donation at the FISH Preserve, 4404 116th St. W., located a block east of the village, with shuttle service and golf-cart transport to the festival entrance near 123rd Street Court West.
Free off-site parking will be available at Cortez Road Baptist Church, 4411 100th St. W., where shuttle service, including the Monkey Bus, will operate.
Additional park-and-ride options will be available via Manatee County Area Transit bus service from Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and GT Bray Park in Bradenton.
Get involved
As preparations continued, organizers said Feb. 2 they were seeking volunteers, particularly for an afternoon shift Feb. 15, with additional help needed for gate operations and cash collection.
Volunteers can sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4FAFAB23A1FB6-61019262-2026
For more information
More information is available through the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival’s Facebook page.