Seafood festival to offer array of bounce houses
The upcoming Florida Seafood Festival, Nov. 3 through 5 at Apalachicola’s Battery Park, will have an array of bounce houses to keep kids from bouncing off the walls at home.
In a news release Thursday afternoon from the Florida Seafood Festival volunteer board, the festival reported that a year-long effort to secure kids’ entertainment for the festival had exhausted all leads. and been unable to land mechanical rides.
“As the economy has changed drastically in the past few years, it has become more and more difficult to attract an amusement company to come to the (festival),” read the release.
It said that both the North Florida Fair in Tallahassee and the Peanut Festival Fair, in Dothan, Alabama are the same weekend as the festival, have “created more challenges.”
The release said the festival board has contacted every licensed amusement ride company in the state using a list of over 30 companies provided by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regualtion.
“Many said that they just couldn’t afford to come to our two-day event with such large festivals within close proximity and going on at the same time,” read the release. “We have been working diligently as well to find an alternative. “
The board said that a recommendation from a local leader led to a Wednesday evening meeting with Good Times for Rent, a company out of Wakulla County. That led to Good Times committed to bringing 10-15 inflatables, including bounce houses and slides for the younger kids to be able to enjoy.
“Good Times for Rent was very excited about the opportunity and promised to bring his best for the children attending this year’s festival,” read the release. “The Festival Board strives to provide quality entertainment and vendors every year. Some things are just outside of our control.
“We hope to see you at the Florida Seafood Festival on Nov. 3 and 4 at Battery Park in Apalachicola to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our local seafood industry, community, and family,” it read.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.