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New festival beckons bluegrass lovers
Collier-Seminole State Park
17 miles south of Naples on U.S. 41 East, Naples, Fl
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The usual attractions of the Collier-Seminole State Park — Blackwater River canoeing, hiking trails and royal palm trees — will have to play second fiddle this weekend. Bluegrass music will be the feature attraction.
The Jammin’ in the Hammock Bluegrass Festival, the first of its kind at Collier-Seminole State Park, will be held Saturday and Sunday.
The festival runs from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday and 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., Sunday, at the park in Naples. With a covered concert area, the bands are expected to play rain or shine.
The festival features eight bands, a Sunday morning gospel jam and an open jam session.
Among the acts playing the two-day festival is The Doerfel Family — a 12-member band. The band’s core is made up of five teenage siblings who arrange music and play acoustic instruments.
Another band, The Fleas, is a local group that got their start playing at the Bonita Springs Flea Market.
Also appearing are The Carolina Rebels, Bluegrass Stagecoach Band, Stoney Brook, Flat Mountain String Band, Palms Bluegrass and Lazy B Pickers.
Park volunteer and festival organizer Rosemary Rengers said the festival would provide assistance for the elderly and activities for small children.
“It’s fun for the whole family and people of all ages,” she said.
But it won’t be just the music vying for attendees’ attention. Rengers bragged that the festival would offer truly delectable food, including pork chops-on-a-stick, fresh cut fries, funnel cakes and ice cream.
Entry for the entire festival is $22. Saturday only entry is $14; Sunday only is $12. Children 13 and under get in free, and parking is free after festival entry.
All proceeds from the festival, hosted by Friends of Collier-Seminole State Park, go to the park to fund programs and improve trails.
According to Rengers, Florida state parks are facing budget cuts, and fundraising is essential to keeping the parks programs going.
The park’s first-ever bluegrass festival is being held this year in lieu of the annual war reenactment previously held there. The reenactment was of the Third Seminole War, but according to Park Manager Chad Lach, attendance for the reenactment was declining in recent years.
“We felt the festival had had its run,” Lach said of the reenactment. “But there was such a large crowd for the music at those festivals. We thought, ‘Why not just have a bluegrass festival?’ ”
But transforming the state park into a two-day music venue was no easy task, said Lach. He credits the help of his park volunteers and the organization Friends of Collier-Seminole State park for bringing the festival together.
Most of the volunteers only live in Florida two or three months out of the year, but were still planning the festival months in advance.
“Volunteers were doing a lot from their homes,” said Lach. “For some, that’s Illinois, New York and Indiana.”
The volunteers were responsible for constructing the stage to be used by the musicians at the festival.
“It was an old trailer,” said Lach. “But we stripped it down and now it’s our stage. It’s a small little stage, but it’s sturdy and strong.”
Lach was optimistic about the turnout for the festival. He said he hopes 2,000 or 3,000 show up over the two-day run.
“It’s a chance to bring families together and listen to some good music,” said Lach. “And while they’re here, we can educate them on what we do here.”
Rengers admits she hopes the festival would boost the park’s regular attendance.
“We found that folks on Marco don’t even know where this state park is,” said Rengers. “One of our goals is to get folks to come to the park. We hope that they’ll come back in the near future.”
To get to Collier-Seminole State Park from Marco Island take County Road 92 (San Marco Road) north until it meets with U.S. Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail). Turn right on U.S. Highway 41 and go roughly a mile. For more information on Jammin’ in the Hammock Bluegrass Festival call (239) 394-3397.
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