We are officially in season, festivals and cultural events, concerts and other activities are in full swing all around South Florida, from Tampa to Sarasota to Fort Myers to Miami the choices are plentiful.

This past weekend, I headed to downtown Punta Gorda to check out the Farmers’ Market and Sullivan Street’s Arts and Crafts Festival; thankfully, they were within walking distance of each other. Unfortunately, I caught the tail end of the Farmers’ Market–but they’ll be back again Saturday morning; in addition, every Wednesday from 10 am-2 pm, beginning January 4 through March 28, 2012, the Worden Farms Green Market will be at Fishermen’s Village center court. So many choices!

While browsing around Sullivan Street’s Arts and Crafts Festival, I had the opportunity to talk with a few vendors–some local and some from as far out-of-town as Jacksonville, FL and Myrtle Beach, SC. It surprised me to learn how many of them participate in the various festivals and events held across the area, up and down the coast, southern states, etc., trying to introduce the products they either make or distribute, to as many people as possible. They sell during festivals and outdoor events, take orders for later shipping, or direct potential customers to their websites. They have all become aware that maintaining a web presence is a key component to their entrepreneurial efforts.

Mr Laszlo (pictured above), a local artist who is of Hungarian descent, loves to paint and is a great conversationalist, we had a nice talk and I enjoyed learning of the places he once called home such as Paris, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale to name a few–all big cities that he loved–but says that Punta Gorda is where he finds both beauty and peace, a hard to beat combination according to him. I agree.

Brenda Cooper, baker/owner of Annie Clydes Homemade Cakes brought her delicious assortment of goodies to the festival from Jacksonville, FL and was doing brisk business when I got to her booth. I sauntered over there because I had seen the crowds gathered there earlier, and because enough people were walking around–spoon-in-hand, eating cake; when asked about the taste they all said the same thing: Yummy!

Right next door were Terry and Premy of Unique Coconut (Myrtle Beach, SC) with their large display of handmade coconut palm trees and animals night lights; again, the display and the crowds drew me in. I loved seeing those night lights, and imagined them in our granddaughters’ rooms. Very cute!

Well this was a good weekend, and since it seems there is an unending supply of events planned for the many weeks ahead, you will be seeing more posts like this one. I love the arts, museums, music concerts, and every kind of cultural activity there is–especially if they are budget friendly–plus, they provide me with an excuse to go out and have fun, and give me lots of material to write about. Win-win I say, LOL

I receive no payment to promote any of these businesses, just thought I’d provide the web addresses as a service.

http://annieclydes.com/

http://uniquecoconut.vpweb.com/Home.html