Liz Eilf

Lehigh Spring Festival organizers are hoping for one the biggest crowds ever to attend the upcoming annual festival which begins next month.

Liz Eilf, who handles publicity, said the Festival will run between March 19 and 27 at Veterans Park on Homestead Rd. South.

Eilf said even though the Festival begins with opening ceremonies on Friday night, the big star event will be Saturday night at 8 p.m. and will feature Stayin Alive, a BeeGees band that was very popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

Eilf says they will put you in the mood of the disco era. The group, from Tampa, will perform on the outside stage at the park. Bleacher seatings will be available but Eilf suggests that you bring your own lawn chairs and blankets if it’s cool.

Eilf said the concert is free; however, a small donation will be taken per carload at both entrances of the park. There will be ample parking. The proceeds are divided between the Lehigh Acres Soccer Association and the Spring Festival.

Before the big event featuring Stayin Alive, Eilf said at 7 p.m. the Fred Astaire Dance Group from Fort Myers will feature disco dancing on the outside stage.

“We’re really looking forward to the Fred Astaire dance group. This will be the first time that they have performed at the festival.

“If people want to get up and disco, this will remind them of what it was like 30 years ago,” Eilf laughed.

She said on opening night, Kayle Coyle of Lehigh will sing The National Anthem. VIPs, guests, and sponsors will be introduced. A large sign near the stage will carry the names of businesses and friends in Lehigh who have contributed financially to make the Festival a success.

Performing after the official ceremonies opening the Festival will be the Live and Learn Trio which will perform on the stage.

It’s also the first night of the Spring Festival Idol Contest, both Junior and Senior. It will continue throughout the week with the audience choosing the winners.

The Festival will run for nine days ending with a gala parade on Saturday. This year’s parade theme is “disco” and those entering are encouraged to dress up as they did when disco was a rage, Eilf said.

Friday night also marks the opening of the Midway with rides and food vendors which will continue each night until the last day and night.

Eilf said that during the weekend there will be the annual Miss Spring Festival Contest, Junior Miss, and Baby Toddler Contest.

During the week, we will have our cakes, chili, plants, crafts and arts contest.

“We looking for a big turnout for the best chili in Lehigh,” she said. That event will be held in large tent to the left of the giant stage. The popular bubble blowing contest and the pets contest will be held on Sunday. The pet contest will in the pavilion in the rear of the park near the lake.

If you want to enter any of the competitions, you can get an entry blank off the Festival’s website.

William Hoppe, a member of the Festival Committee, designed the official logo and it is featured on the group’s website at lehighacresspringfestival.com, where more information can be found.

During the week, the Festival opens at 6 p.m. nightly and there will be featured local entertainment. A full schedule of events will be published in The Citizen prior to the event.

Entertainment appearing at the Festival will be the E. L. Smith Trio, the Golden Road Quartet, the Cornbread Brothers, the Still Kickin Group, and the Live and Learn Trio, Ted and Katie, and Michael T., a Roy Orbinson impersonator and more.

The parade will commence at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 27 near the intersection of Beth Stacey Blvd. and Homestead Rd.

A lot of parade watchers mark out their “sitting areas” the night before. The parade will wind its way for a mile to an area near Authur Ave.

There will be fire trucks, clowns, the Araba Temple from Fort Myers, kids’ sports teams walking and riding on the back of trucks and floats. The winners of the pageant will ride in the parade as will county and state officials.

After the parade, thousands are expected to drive to Veterans Park for the rides and more entertainment.

The Committee has been planning the Festival for several months. Ernie Hartman is president of the Spring Festival Committee.

Other members of the committee include Vicki Culver, Spring Idol Contest; Judy Carter, festival pageants; Patty Herb, Festival contests; Liz Eilf, publicity and promotion; William Hoppe, design and fairgrounds layout; Terry Boone, advance carnival ride tickets; Andy Reisinger, parade chairman, Danny Stephenson, emcee and entertainment; and Festival Mayor, Jim Phebus.

The Spring Festival Idol Contest is dedicated to the memory of Eddie Braun, Lehigh’s “aka Rod Stewart” for his performance in the Spring Idol Contest. Braun was a retired mail carrier and did a lot of volunteer work in Lehigh.

The winner of the honorary mayor’s race will be announced on the last Friday night of the festival with most of the proceeds raised going to Lehigh Community Services.

The Lehigh Spring Festival has become a tradition in Lehigh. It began three decades ago as a tribute to the snowbirds who left to return to their homes up north after the festival was over.