The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Stone Crab Festival, Sunday, Nov. 12, at Calusa Cay Publix Plaza from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

According to chamber board member Cynthia Welch, this event will be a fun-filled day with food, live music, stone crabs, island businesses, crafters, local seafood and adult beverages. There will be live music all day, she said, starting with Jumping Fences at 11 a.m. Matt Lee Crew follows around 1 p.m. with Brother Love coming on stage at approximately 3 p.m.

Headliner band Deb & the Dynamics will hit the stage at 5 p.m.

“This is our second year holding it, since the hurricane came along and we couldn’t do it last year. It is bigger and better than the first one, which was a great event in 2021. This one is on a Sunday and it goes later–until after dark,” Welch said.

Over 70 island businesses and organizations will be represented at the festival with a great range of crafts, arts and business information, she said. There will be plenty of food for everyone — of course, stone crabs are the main feature on the menu, with fresh claws, crab chowder, crab cakes, crab rangoons and crab rolls, just to name a few. 

It wouldn’t be a Pine Island festival without mullet dips, pulled pork, ribs and pizza. Busch Light and Modelo beers, rum punch, lemonade and ice cream will also be available.

“We ask for a donation at the gate and part of the proceeds benefit Pine Island businesses, and we are also supporting the Food Pantry, as well as F.I.S.H (Fellow Islanders Sending Help), so part of the donations will go to them and the other part will help to promote our members through the Chamber of Commerce,” Welch said.

After a particularly rough summer, the most important thing about the event, she explained, is getting island businesses some exposure, so folks from all around know the island is open and our businesses are functioning and welcoming people to come out.

“There’s something for everyone — there will be a lot of stone crab, but a lot of other food, too, and music all day. Bring your chair, come and sit and relax and spend the day with us,” Welch said.

Calusa Cay Shoppes Publix Plaza is at 5100 Pine Island Road, Bokeelia.

For more information, contact the island chamber at 239-283-0888.