Chamber expands Island Fest Mullet Toss activities
Annual event set for Saturday at Winn-Dixie plaza
The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting the next Island Fest Mullet Toss on Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Winn-Dixie Plaza.
According to GPICC member Cynthia Welch, the chamber is very excited to have moved the event to the Winn-Dixie Plaza, she said, because it will allow for more available parking.
“This makes it easier to run the festival,” Welch said.
In addition to the ability to accommodate more guests, she said, there have been children’s activities added. Although, she explained, it’s always a crowd-pleaser to watch kids toss the mullet, now Pine Island non-profit organizations have become involved by volunteering for things such as face-painting and fish-in-a-bucket-type activities.
“Also, we are very excited to have Adam’s Wildlife Encounters there. He lives here in Bokeelia. He rescues alligators, iguanas and snakes and also does educational programs for the kids. He will be there all day, so we have a whole area — if you’re not throwing fish, there are other things of interest to do for kids of all ages,” Welch said.
The fishing seminars have also been expanded, Welch explained. While there have always been seminars she said, this year, Doug from D&D Bait and Tackle and other local captains will be teaching fishing sessions throughout the day, on how best to fish on Pine Island Sound, and such things as throwing cast nets.
There will be plenty to do for kids of all ages she said.
“There will be a lot of food trucks and things furnished to make everyone happy and keep us all entertained. This year, we are introducing our best mullet dip contest — like we do with Mango Mania — only this time, we have just one category — best mullet dip. They can turn that in on the day where we have our merchandise — where we sell our Island Fest Mullet Toss T-shirts. This should be a fun, family activity day,” Welch said.
According to the Adams Animal Encounters website, Adam is welcoming any and all reptilian rescuers, admirers, fans and fanatics. He said he is proud to keep up with the latest and greatest science and deliver reputable reptile information on alligators, crocodiles, snakes (pythons, boas, etc), lizards (tegu, iguana, monitor, gecko), turtles, tortoises and any critters with scutes and/or scales.
They offer mobile exhibits for schools, camps, Pre-K, preschool, events and more for all of Florida! Southwest Floridians on Pine Island in St. James City and Bokeelia get neighbor discounts. Local Southwest Florida areas that have little or no travel fees include Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Lehigh Acres, North Fort Myers and Estero.
It also offers small, private animal tours at its facility by appointment. The facility does not have regularly scheduled hours like a zoo or nature center.
For additional information, please visit Adamsani-malencounters.com
For more about the Island Fest Mullet Toss, visit the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce website at https://www.pineislandchamber.org/.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email