The third annual Acoustical Afternoon for the Arts, a fundraiser for the Cedar Key April Art Festival, was held on Sunday, January 27th from 3-5 at the Island Room in Cedar Key. The standing-room-only crowd was entertained with stories by three performers: Folk Musician Joe Peters, "Cracker" Storyteller Bill Roberts, and Historian Toni Collins. Each performer delighted the audience with their own brand of storytelling, but 80 year old Bill Roberts captured the crowd`s heart.
As a local fishing guide and renowned painter, Bill is beloved in the Cedar Key area. But his original profession began at 13 when he aspired to become a "cracker" cowboy, rounding up wild cattle. His father agreed to let him try it, hoping it would cure his hankering, but all it did was seal Bill`s commitment to cowboying for the next 35 years. He is now writing those stories into a manuscript that he hopes to soon publish. 
Bill Roberts and Russ Weaver
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Toni Collins, a devoted historian of Levy County and Cedar Key, presented her extensive research on the Seahorse Lighthouse and the LADY OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, Catherine Hobday. Dressed in period costume, Toni wowed the crowd with a historical perspective few people have known.
Folk Musician Joe Peters was the anchor of the afternoon, sharing his smooth blend of music, laced with stories. He hails from Indiana and travels widely to perform, but he has happily come to Cedar Key to help the Arts Festival Fundraiser for three years at the request of his cousin, Bev Ringenberg, an art festival committee member.
In addition to entertainment, there was also a heated silent art auction in progress over the afternoon, with fine art donated by the 2012 Cedar Key Art Festival winners. The most hotly contested was the mosaic of "Shellmound" by Valerie Bretl, which is also the design motif for the 2013 festival. 
Toni Collins as CATHERINE HOBDAY
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The magnificently beautiful day was accompanied by delicious appetizers donated by Peter and Gina Stefani of the Island Room, and a door prize awarded by Palms Medical Group, "your medical home for health, wellness, life", who is the OFCA 2013 ART FESTIVAL Title sponsor for the 4th consecutive year. And throughout the afternoon, artist Russ Weaver secretly sketched portraits of the performers and participants, which were displayed on the windows of the Island Room and available for purchase, to benefit the art festival.
With amazing support from the community, all proceeds from the fundraiser go directly to the production costs of the festival, which brings 22,000 visitors to Cedar Key to enjoy Art, Local Food by our Non-Profit Organizations, Restaurants and Lodging. The Old Florida Celebration of the Arts Committee thanks everyone, from the bottom of our hearts. 
Musician Joe Peters
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Old Florida Celebration of the Arts Committee
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Standing Room Only Crowd
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Delicious Island Room Appetizers
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