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About the Festival...
Continued
In those days, local fisherman
poled flat-bottomed skiffs out
into the bay at night, listened
for the jumping mullet and cast
their nets. They salted and
preserved the fish in barrels,
sold what they could, traded
some to farmers from the
Panhandle area and Alabama (35
miles north) for vegetables, and
ate the rest. The fishing
industry, relying substantially
on mullet, kept Boggy Bayou
alive.
Times have changed but not the
special affinity held by
residents for their ever-present
mullet.
The annual festival honoring the
mullet began in 1976 as a small
event unheard of outside of
Niceville. Today, the Mullet
Festival is one of the South's
most celebrated festivals and in
2011 was named one of the top 12
food festivals in the nation.
For many folks living in and
around Niceville, the Mullet
Festival is a reunion of sorts.
It's an event that brings the
townsfolk together at the same
time and place every year,
allowing them to renew old
friendships and celebrate with
their neighbors.
For others, it's an opportunity
to have some family fun with the
kids. The festival caters to
families and always keeps the
youngsters entertained with such
things as clowns, pony rides and
other fun attractions.
The Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival
has become one of the South's
best known country music events.
In recent years the Festival has
featured nationally known
country acts in a small,
festival atmosphere.
Of course everyone who comes to
the Mullet Festival has
something to eat! With an
incredible variety of menu
selections from dozens of
concessions, everyone is sure to
find a tempting treat to try.
Seafood, international foods,
Cajun and country cooking, and
other festival fare will be
available in great variety and
abundance! |
