FELLSMERE — The City of Fellsmere will be jumping with Frog Leg Festival visitors for the next four days, during which an estimated 80,000 people are expected to attend. On the menu will be more than 7,000 pounds of frog legs and gator tails that will be whipped up into an estimated 12,000 meals.
The festival kicks off Thursday at 4 p.m. and goes until 11 p.m. and runs through Sunday. Visitors can expect large crowds, carnival rides and basket after basket of frog legs and gator tail to eat.
Along with the fare, the fair will boast 100 crafters, live entertainment, and plenty of midway rides and carnival games.
Live entertainment will be on the main stage throughout the four-day event and includes performances from the Dixie Wranglers, Pyre, Jackie Steil, The Rebel Rouser Band, Ben Prestage, Sebastian Has Hip Hop, the Boys & Girls Club Talent Show winners, the Adelphi Tribal Belly Dance Troupe, Wild Rose’s Dance Team, The Devil’s Cut Band, and many more.
The Frog Leg Fest serves as a community fund-raiser to benefit recreation opportunities within the city for children. To date, the festival has collected and gifted back to the community well over $500,000.
The festival is free to attend, though food, rides and items at vendors’ booths will have a cost.
Thursday, festivalgoers can purchase wristbands to ride the rides at the midway. The remaining nights, riders can purchase individual tickets.
There is free parking in Downtown Fellsmere and at MESA Park, with free shuttle service to the festival on Saturday and Sunday.
There will also be food tickets that visitors can purchase at ticket booths to redeem. ATMs will be onsite.
The Frog Leg Festival got its start in 1990 and its inaugural event dished out 400 dinners before the frog legs ran out.