CORTEZ – The Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar at 4629 119th St. W. hosts its Sixth Annual Cortez Stone Crab Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The music will continue after that on the stages at Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar and the Cortez Kitchen next door.
Stone crab and Florida blue crab will be available as well as cold refreshments.
“With the weather turning cold, we think we’ll have a great harvest,” said Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar Manager Bob Slicker.
There will be music at three venues, the stage at the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar, the gazebo behind the grill, and the Cortez Kitchen. Performers include TC & Randy, TH & C, Jason Haram Group, The Kat Crosby Band, The Dr. Dave Band, Billy Rice Band, Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones, Alowicious, Berry Oakley’s Indigenous Suspects, Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio.
There will also be a kid’s zone and local arts and crafts vendors. A large tent will shade attendees while they dine.
This year’s festival will benefit the Manatee Chapter of Fishing for Freedom, a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the environment, economy and citizens’ rights through responsible scientific, ecological and biological management. The Manatee chapter spends much of its time fighting against net bans and other legislation that threatens commercial fishing. It also organizes and participates in rallies and coastal cleanup events in Manatee County.
Free parking will be available at the FISH Preserve. Guests should to enter at 116th Street. Island Beach Monkeys (Monkey Bus) and various volunteers also will run shuttles all day. For more information, contact the Swordfish Grill and Tiki at 941-798-2035.
