MEXICO BEACH — Prepare for the most aromatic day of the year when the smell of salt water will be replaced with spices.
The Mexico Beach special events committee will host the 17th annual Gumbo Cook-Off beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at Sunset Park next to the El Governor Motel on U.S. 98.
The gathering, which invites 25 chefs to compete for the title of Gumbo King, welcomes visiting families, winter residents and locals to sample gumbos, Brunswick stews and other treats.
“For the event to hit 17 years is such a milestone,” said Kimberly Shoaf, executive director of the Mexico Beach Community Development Council. “The cook-off is the second-longest running event in the city (after the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association Kingfish Tournament), and we’re expecting another promising year.
“It’s a large event and the gumbo goes fast.”
Shoaf has helped organize the cook-off for six years and said she’s amazed at how it’s grown in popularity.
“As Mexico Beach continues to grow and people discover the city, our residents, visitors and snowbirds all look forward to the event,” Shoaf said. “People really enjoy having something like this to do while they visit, and it’s a great event because it’s put on solely by volunteers who love Mexico Beach.”
This event is free to enter, and tickets can be purchased to sample the competing gumbos and Brunswick stews. Also available will be barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs and drinks, free Mardi Gras beads and live music from Stainless Steel from Panama City.
All proceeds will help fund the special events for Mexico Beach’s Best Blast on the Beach July Fourth fireworks celebration.
SEA Art Walk: Happening simultaneously with the cook-off on the opposite side of U.S. 98, will be the fourth annual Society of Expressive Artists (SEA) Art Walk. The art walk features of a strip of artists from along the Forgotten Coast who travel to Mexico Beach each year to showcase and sell their works.
Showcase artists work in a diverse array of mediums, from traditional watercolors, oils and acrylics to jewelry and ceramics, to the more obscure arts of encaustic beeswax painting and handmade stone tools known as flint knapping.
“We will have live music featuring local blues legend Slim Fatz, caricature artist Paulette Pearlman and more than 20 local artists,” said event coordinator Dolores King. “This is a juried event of art and fine crafts with several award-winning artists. The event has grown every year, and this one is sure to be the best so far.”
To help raise awareness and funds, the St. Joe Bay Humane Society will be on hand with animals for adoption and an art raffle.
SEA is a group of local artists that live in coastal communities along the Panhandle. Its goal is to provide a forum for local artists to promote their work, share ideas and opportunities, network with other artist organizations and identify and create art exhibit venues.
Want to go?
- What: 17th annual Gumbo Cook-off and SEA Art Walk
- When: Saturday, 10 a.m.
- Where: Sunset Park, U.S. 98 (next to El Governor Motel), Mexico Beach; art walk is across the street.
- Cost: Free to enter; tickets available to sample gumbo (prices not available)
- More info: http://tinyurl.com/k4docve