Mark your calendars - Old Florida Celebration of the Arts committee has announced the 48th annual event to be held on April 28 & 29, 2012. There are a number of reasons the Art Festival gets moved around each year in April (unlike the seafood festival, which is always the 3rd weekend of October). According to the event coordinator, Mandy Cassiano, conflicting events are considered that include Easter, Palm Sunday, Spring Break, and similar fine arts festivals in North Florida that typically draw crowds and artists away from Cedar Key.
"This year we had the rare opportunity to try it on the first weekend of April (April 2 & 3) which was earlier than ever before," said Mandy Cassiano. "We were optimistic that the weather and crowds would be better." By most accounts it was extremely successful and the weather was beautiful. Using Department of Transportation data, approximately 17,000 day visitors came onto the island over the weekend and an additional 6,800 visitors stayed throughout the entire weekend. A call to the Chamber`s Welcome Center revealed all but three rooms in town were filled, and restaurants reported steady business.
Committee member, Chris Ford, reported food vendors were pleased with the turnout and several reported record sales along with running out of food both days.
Another announcement made this week was that Event Coordinator Mandy Cassiano has signed on to do next year`s event. Although she moved to Apollo Beach with her family six months ago, the festival committee and Cedar Key Arts Center Board felt she did a terrific job and is confident she will do so again next year. The Old Florida Celebration of the Arts is a juried art show entailing the services of an event coordinator, who oversees everything from applying for grants, soliciting top quality fine artists, finding sponsors, promoting the event, and organizing all aspects of the annual show. New Arts Center President, Peter Klocksien, says "We are very happy with the job Mandy is doing and the dedication she puts into the festival each year." | 