About the 47th Annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts

Photo by Bill Kilborn

Presented by:
Cedar Key Arts Center

Artists: Attending artists should review and print the Exhibitor's Information page. Apply online using or download the 2010 PDF Application!

Sponsors: Take advantage of new advertising opportunities and support the arts in Cedar Key. See the Sponsorship Form for details and signup.

Old Florida Celebration of the Arts
By Sandra Buckingham

If plain old curiosity hasn't yet inspired you to visit the town selected by the USDA as Florida's Rural Community of the Year for 2009, then mark April 24th and 25th on your calendar for an excursion to the western terminus of State Route 24. That's when you'll have the added incentive of enjoying Cedar Key's annual Old Florida Celebration of the Arts.

Unlike many art festivals and most craft fairs, this one is juried to ensure original artistry and fine craftsmanship. Over a hundred artists chosen to participate this year will compete for $10,000 in prize money and another $10,000 in purchase awards. The charming and historic Second Street will become a pedestrian-only mall for this weekend event, both sides lined with booths displaying art and fine crafts in many different media - oils, acrylics, prints, jewellry, ceramics, photography, stained glass, woodwork, sculpture, fiber and textiles.

A few steps beyond the booths is the City Park, where children will have sidewalk chalk art, face painting, a playground and beach. You can listen to music in the park while lunching on seafood and desserts prepared and sold by local school, civic and church organizations. You won't soon forget the Garden Club's homemade-from-scratch lemonade or Tony's World Champion clam chowder.

If you have time for a leisurely visit, consider arriving a few days early or leaving a few days later. It will give you the chance to enjoy the quiet charm of Cedar Key, its waterways, its bird life, its museums, shops and restaurants. You can walk or cycle the entire town, photograph magnificent oaks and historic architecture, rent a kayak, charter a fishing trip, cast a line from the town dock, go birding, watch incredible sunsets, or stay up late stargazing. During the week you can join one of eight free yoga classes. Wander through the local art galleries or visit the Cedar Key Pottery Studio and see where their signature flat blue glaze originates. Or bring an easel and meet up with a group of plein air artists.

Cedar Key is made up of a chain of small barrier islands extending three miles out into the Gulf of Mexico; the currently inhabited keys are joined by short bridges (which also make popular fishing spots). Thirteen other islands make up one of the oldest National Wildlife Refuges in the country, providing habitat to vast numbers of migratory and shore birds. There are daily boat tours to the island of Atsena Otie, site of the original settlement and home to an Eberhard Faber pencil factory, but devastated by a hurricane at the end of the 19th century and never rebuilt.

The coastal waters and tidal marshes of the Cedar Keys are a fisherman's paradise and support an important clam farming industry. Depending on the season and the weather, your catch of the day on inshore waters may include red drum, black drum or trout.

The Old Florida Celebration of the Arts is easy to find. Take State Route 24 (Archer Road) out of Gainesville and drive southwest to the end of the road, about 60 miles. You can also pick up SR24 at Archer, Bronson or Otter Creek if you are coming from other directions. Aviation buffs can even fly here (www.airnav.com/airport/KCDK), as long as they can land and take off with about 2000 feet of runway.

The Cedar Key Arts Center, coordinating sponsor for the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts, would like to thank the following groups and businesses for generously providing the financial support needed to make this event happen: Drummond Community Bank, Palms Medical Group, Lions Club, CKAC, Rainbow RV Campground, Island Hotel, John T. Cook - Attorney, Philip Freedman, Capital City, Dog Island Blues Clam Co., Cedar Keyhole, Island Arts, Old Fish House Café, Old Fennimore Mill, and the Cedar Key Women's Club.

2010 OFCA Committee -

Pictured above (left to right): Chairman - Mandy Cassiano, Cindy Leiner, Janet Cook, Amy Gernhardt, Judy Duvall, Rose Cantwell, Linda Reynolds (not pictured)