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Good Weather, Good Time

LOIS KINDLE/Tampa Tribune photo.

Shrimp Shack, Robert Seabreeze offers a crawdad to a passerby.

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By LOIS KINDLE The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2007

Updated: 11/08/2007 09:55 pm

RUSKIN - With the help of Mother Nature, the 19th annual Ruskin Seafood Festival drew a record-breaking crowd of about 18,000 to E.G. Simmons Park last weekend.

"Judging by the feedback we've received, it looks like this one was possibly the best ever," said Melanie Morrison, festival chairwoman and executive director of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce. "It was a wonderful weekend for the visitors, vendors and everyone involved. We're already planning the next one."

This year's attendance was up 2,000 from the 2006 festival, which also set a record.

Filled with fresh seafood, the family-friendly, alcohol-free event also featured live entertainment, arts and crafts, interactive children's area, boat show and more. Eighteen nonprofit groups and 101 businesses and other vendors exhibited throughout the festival grounds.

"It was the most ever," Morrison said.

In the food court, Heidi DeLacey sold her blue crab burritos and fried grouper sandwiches for the fifth year in a row. The Fort Myers-based vendor travels as far as North Carolina to participate in similar events.

"I knew there were more people this year, because I sold out of the burritos Sunday afternoon," she said. "The entertainment was great, the weather was perfect and I thought the festival improved all the way around."
Apollo Beach resident Lori Deaton, who owns Ladyfish Charters, was impressed with the festival as well.

"It was an excellent event," she said. "The food couldn't have been better. I was so impressed I plan to set up a booth as a vendor next year. I've lived here eight years, and this is the first time I've been. I'll never miss it again."

Across the food court, Tim Lewis and his partner, Jena Saliceti, both of Ruskin, sat on the grass and shared a full plate of fried shrimp.

Also first-time visitors, they said they will be back.

"The food is excellent, the music's good and the crafts and vendor area are fun," Lewis said. "And the weather is awesome."

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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