Carrabelle twirls along the river

Franklin County third grader Itzel Martinez, front right, creates glitter art at a booth for the Lanark Community Church Ladies’ Crafting for Christ, represented by Cathy Scaringe, left, and Barbara Hutto. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

These youngsters had a great day getting their faces painted and riding the mini-train. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

The Salty Seahawks cheer and dance competition team was well-represented at the Carrabelle Riverfront Festival, under the direction of Samantha Perry, as they sold raffle tickets for their upcoming Mother’s Day competition in Orlando. Pictured from left are Franklin County fourth grader Delilah Riker, and third grader Freya Perry and her younger sister, second grader Cordillia. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

Terry Brannan, president of the non-profit Franklin Foods of Florida, Inc, left, works on smoking chickens with board member Joe Ross, center at back, and secretary Dennis Roth, right. Together with treasurer Kim Brannan, the booth was raising funds for the all-volunteer effort. The group gets free food from Farm Share, and distributes it free every Wednesday, at Vrooman Park in Eastpoint and the fire station in Carrabelle. The distribution day May 8 has been moved to Friday, May 10, where the group will be at Kendrick Park all day for a distribution countywide. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

Oil painter Charles Cunningham, from Lanark Village, seated at left, and Kathryn Beaty, from Alligator Point, who works mainly in pastels, oil and acrylics, helped man the booth for the Carrabelle Artists Association. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

Marty Butler, left, holds up the old-fashioned stone ground grits, and kettle-cooked cane syrup that he and his wife Tracy, seated, offered at their booth. Their farm is in Metcalfe, Georgia, just north of Thomasville. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

Jasmine Shah, left and John Bullock, from Carrabelle, had a booth showcasing their newly-created custom laser etching company, which shapes the look of everything from jewelry to puzzles. Their work can be seen on their Facebook page Forgotten Jewelry. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

Delaney Schanz performs on the aerial hoops as part of a quintet of young Tallahassee acrobats who performed at the festival. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

It was as if the stars of the show got pulled away at the last minute, and the understudies had to perform, and they ended up doing a pretty fine job.

The Adventure Family Circus, an internationally touring small family circus show slated to perform at Saturday’s 2024 Carrabelle Riverfront Festival, canceled a few days prior, and instead turned to a quintet of Tallahassee- based acrobats to perform.

Their act wasn’t as varied as the circus, there were no high flying aerial acts or mini-trampoline, but the found young ladies, in their 20s and 30s, who have worked to sharpen their skills at Aerial Arts classes, delighted the audience with their performances on the aerial rope, silks and lyra hoops at the Marine Street pavilion.

Their costumes and props evoked the pirate theme and whether they worked separately or in tandem, the audience enjoyed watching these acrobats, who put their show together in just three days.

Hats off to Ashley Niro, Flavia Altimeyer, Carissa Oritz, Delaney Schanz and Makena Lang.

No doubt helped by the glorious weather, attendance was strong at the festival, sponsored by the Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce. Families enjoyed the Redemptive Love Farm and Rescue’s petting zoo and feeding station. Activities for the kids include mini-train rides and a bouncy house. Performers also included John Jeremiah, Kevin Andrew and the Rockulla Performers, and DJ Beanie Baby, as well as the Tallahassee Community College Dancers and the Forgotten Coast Dancing Witches. 

The Exhibitor Expo on Avenue B, hosted by the Carrabelle History Museum, was alive with cultural and historical exhibits, including wild animal ambassador Moonlight, the great horned owl.

And given the robust crowd, the vendors and exhibitors all along Marine Street reported having a good day.