CEDAR KEY, FL (352today.com) – Just weeks ago, much of Cedar Key was underwater after Hurricane Idalia struck the island tourist town. Despite the damage, though, the community is raring to reopen, and the 53rd annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival is still scheduled for this October.
On Wednesday, Sept. 13, the Cedar Key Welcome Center posted confirmation of the town’s post-storm reopening on its Facebook page.
The Facebook page is also continuously updating a list of what Cedar Key restaurants, stores and hotels are open/closed.
And while the City of Cedar Key is still cleaning up debris, the island town is ready to get back to business. The Cedar Key Lions Club is kicking it off with the 53rd Cedar Key Seafood Festival and Arts and Crafts Fair, scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 21 and 22.
On Aug. 15, Cedar Key Mayor Heath David proclaimed 2023 “The Year of the Clam” in preparation for the festival. At the time, no one knew those preparations would soon be interrupted by Hurricane Idalia. Despite this, the community is banding together to enjoy the festival anyway.
The event page says the 2023 “Year of the Clam” Seafood Festival has free admission and offers local seafood, shopping and live music. The beachside City Park will boast a smorgasbord of fresh seafood, and Second Street will be lined with 100 arts and crafts exhibitions, says the Lions Club. A real clam boat will be transformed into a stage for local musicians to honor Cedar Key’s aquaculture-rich history and status as a leading producer of clams. The Seafood Fantasy Festival parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 will also celebrate the importance of the town’s fishing culture. And, of course, Cedar Key’s close-knit community means the whole island will share in the festivities.
Food at City Park will be available starting at 10 a.m. both days, and it will continue until sold out. Arts and crafts booths will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 22.
This early on, it’s hard to say if all these beloved parts of the festival will continue this year, but the Lions Club is hoping for the best. They only decided to proceed with the festival as of Sept. 12.
“We are thrilled to host the 53rd Cedar Key Lions Seafood Festival and invite everyone to join us in celebrating The Year of the Clam” said Steve Rosenthal, President of the Cedar Key Lions Club. “This event embodies the rich cultural fishing heritage and vibrant spirit of Cedar Key, and we’re excited to share it with locals and visitors alike.”
This year’s festival has already seen great success. As of June 14, all the arts and crafts vendor spaces were sold out. The majority of the applicants are return vendors from the previous year, said the Lions Club.
The Seafood Festival isn’t the only event continuing despite the storm. This Saturday, Sept. 16 at 8 a.m., the Ocean Conservancy is running the 10th annual coastal cleanup in Cedar Key, and members from around the community gather to help. This year, there may be more debris than ever due to Idalia. Additionally, the Cedar Key Pirate Invasion weekend is still set for Nov. 3 through Nov. 5.
According to the Lions Club’s Rory Brennan, this isn’t the first time the event has persevered despite hurricane damage. In 2016, Hurricane Hermine left Cedar Key nine feet underwater. Just six weeks later, the 47th Seafood Festival took place anyway.