I just love the Forgotten Coast lifestyle! There are so many fun and interesting things to do in the area. This is truly small-town living, celebrating the treasures of local life to the fullest, perhaps made just a little better with a brew in hand.It is important to note that 90% of Florida's oysters come from our Franklin County Apalachicola Bay, harvested right here along the coast. In fact, most of the USA's oysters come from our Apalachicola Bay. We are oyster country.
The OYSTER will be honored again, as it is annually, this October on nearby St. George Island at a festival for the entire family to highlight the county's proud seafood industry and beautiful beaches. Franklin County includes the beaches of the Island and Carrabelle, Eastpoint where there are many oyster harvesters, and Apalachicola. Ours is an exceptionally beautiful and unique coastal area without high density condos, wall-to-wall people or traffic jams.
What is an "oyster Spat"? It is a baby oyster! An oyster may spawn as either a male or a female, depending upon the salt content and temperature of the water when eggs, which look like a milky cloud, are normally released on an ebbing tide. An oyster sheds an average of one million eggs upon which small fish feed. The fertilized egg floats 7-18 days before settling, if they survive at all from being eaten by predators. Regardless of its miniscule size, each larva has a tiny shell complete with muscle and a foot. Once its swimming stage is over, the larva extends its foot, settles on any solid object it can find, and cements itself into place. At this stage it is known as an "oyster Spat". Once they are anchored into place, the oyster Spats grow their shells. (Science lesson over.)
The Festival is one of our area's big annual fundraisers with proceeds going to support the St. George Island Lighthouse and other local non-profits. The Festival kicks off Friday evening the 10th at 7pm with Tropical-Rock entertainer, Gene Mitchell & Band across from local watering hole, Harry A's Restaurant & Bar. (I've spent a few too many hours at Harry A's myself! Love that place and their nachos....but that's another story for another day.) The Franklin County Seafood Worker's Association will be selling local seafood all night long. I can tell you, there is nothing as good as a fresh oyster right out of the water, skillfully shucked and into your mouth! A little hot sauce, lemon, whoa!
Saturday is a 5k run, a fishing tournament (we are big in these parts on fishing tournaments), a parade (I know Pinki will be in it again with her decorated golf cart), festival non-profit food booths, an Island Treasure Hunt with clues located around local businesses, more Trop-Rock outdoor entertainment and a kayak race. The Sauce Boss Band kicking off Saturday night's outdoor entertainment followed by Sunny Jim & Band.
Sunday is more Trop-Rock entertainment with entertainer Brent Burns, and more festival food booths and people milling around everywhere.
Our locals know how to have a good time! The Island is beautiful, like Martha's Vineyard. The waters are warm. The beaches are white, clean, uncluttered, endless. The oysters are outrageous. All of this just across the 3rd longest bridge in Florida to the Island from Highway 98 in Eastpoint, just 20 minutes from Carrabelle. Life is GOOD.
Judy
