FELLSMERE — The City of Fellsmere will swell to capacity – and then some – over this next weekend as it hosts their signature annual festival – the 4-day Frog Leg Festival.
“We’re in the throes of it,” Frog Leg Festival board member and Fellsmere Mayor Susan Adams said of finalizing the event, which will be held Jan. 16 through 19. “Everything is getting lined up.”
Frog Leg Festival Board President Bert Ruege said the preparations are right on schedule, down to the delivery of the 4,000 pounds of frog legs and 2,000 pounds of gator tail that are to be delivered this week.
“We’re hoping for good weather and that we’ll sell it all,” Ruege said.
The festival is known for drawing tens of thousands of people from around the nation every year – those seeking frog legs are encouraged to come early lest they risk finding the delicacy sold out on the last day.
Ruege was board president several years ago when the Frog Leg Festival was held at MESA Park on the east end of town near Interstate 95. He said he’s happy to see that the festival has returned to the Old Fellsmere School grounds in downtown Fellsmere.
“It belongs there, in the heart of Fellsmere,” Ruege said.
MESA Park was a good site, due to its size and ample parking, Ruege said, and it’s that ample parking that the Frog Leg Festival will continue to utilize.
Festivalgoers can opt to park at MESA and take a free shuttle to the festival. Parking is also available in the municipal parking lot north of County Road 512 near the Old Fellsmere School, along CR 512 and Broadway and other side streets, and in a few private parking lots – though there may be a fee to park there.
Co-owner of Marsh Landing Restaurant, Adams said the Frog Leg Festival serves the local businesses – bringing in customers who might not otherwise have found Fellsmere on their own.
“Frog Leg Festival – it’s the thing that helped put Fellsmere on the map,” Adams said. “We’re proud of it as a city.”
Adams said she notices a marked increase in customers during that four-day event, explaining that many of those who come to dine are the vendors and carnival workers and those who have traveled from outside the area to come to the festival.
“It’s always a much busier weekend than the norm,” Adams said.
And the traffic doesn’t die off completely after the festival is over, according to Adams. Instead, a handful of first-time customers usually become regulars.
As for the festival itself, Ruege expects great entertainment to hold the crowds between carnival rides and eating.
Live entertainment will include bands of various music styles, a belly dance troupe, a performance from Sebastian Has Hip Hop, the Indian River County 4-H Line Dancers, the Zamarripa Hula Hoopers, and a Zumba Fitness demonstration.
Sophia Liano, who won Most Entertaining – Youth Division in the 2013 Treasure Coast’s Got Talent Competition, will be performing and there will be an appearance by Dancing with Vero’s Stars Tom & Cheryl Isola, the 2012 & 2013 Champion Instructors, among many others.
Ruege said the Frog Leg Festival could not happen year after year without the support of thousands of volunteers from dozens upon dozens of organizations.
“Everybody makes it easy,” Ruege said. “Everyone’s so anxious to help.”
Proceeds from the annual Frog Leg Festival are donated to the City of Fellsmere to cover recreational needs. Last year’s festival helped cover the cost of a new sound system for the auditorium in the Old Fellsmere School, resurface the basketball courts, a new marquee at the Little League Baseball Field and fix up the concession stand at the field.