Crooked River Light House

Scrimshaw demonstration by Ken Horne.

 2010 Lantern Fest Theatre Cast.

Crooked River Lighthouse Lens.              

Keeper's House 2010 Lantern Fest

 2010 Lantern Fest Activities

 So many festivals, so little time, but don’t miss this special evening event that mixes maritime history, theater, music and awe!

 Lantern Fest at the Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle, Florida celebrates it’s 115th birthday this year. Since 1895 it’s beam has been a valuable aid to navigation for sailors traveling amidst our barrier islands. A lantern is lit for each year of the landmark’s age, some swinging from trees, others marking walkways, creating a totally enchanting atmosphere for hanging out at a lighthouse on a cool fall evening at the coast.   

 Shipwrecks start the night off with an intriguing presentation from Chuck Meide, an accomplished diver, anthropologist/archaeologist. Chuck and sonar technician, Brendan Burke will present their findings after surveying the already established locations of known wrecks around Dog Island. The area has not been re-surveyed in over ten years and Hurricane Dennis may have stirred up further evidence. Catch their program at 6pm. 

 Chester Reese of Natural World Charters generously provided his boat for the archaeologists. He will be at the festival booking hour long historic tours around Dog Island for Sunday Oct 31st at very reasonable rates.

 Around 7:45, the playground's 70 foot wooden pirate ship becomes a spectacular stage for the local actors group, the Panhandle Players, who perform original vignettes on maritime history.  Donnie Denig directs this year’s “Crime & Heroism on the High Seas” which tells of the early days of pirates and crew stealing, a humorous skit on collecting tariffs from foreign ships in colonial days, and the heroism of the life saving “surfmen.” Historic re-enactor Andrew Edell portrays an early lighthouse keeper and the short, lantern-lit play concludes with a salute to our U.S.Coast Guard.

 Our final offering is the marvelous Mark Russell, a very versatile virtuoso violinist who never fails to dazzle his audience, performing on our pirate ship stage from 9-10pm. We will, of course, be singing Happy 115th Birthday to the lighthouse!

 There’s plenty of in-between time to mingle with friends, climb the lighthouse tower and watch the beam casting it's light out over the gulf. Eat some delicious food prepared by the local Old Salt’s Cafe. Inside the Keeper's House, Ken Horne is displaying exquisite specimens of scrimshaw and explaining the ancient art of engraving images on the teeth and tusks of marine mammals. Author Jerry Biggs is signing and talking about his recent book: Refuge and Rescue: Florida; fascinating stories about the little-known heroes of the U.S. Lifesaving Service. 

  The Keeper’s House Museum displays the history of the lighthouse and has some new additions to our collection. The Keeper’s Gift Shop is stocked with many new nautical items: Florida shipwreck maps, Florida Lighthouse maps, deck prisms, books, jewelry and our brand new Crooked River Lighthouse T-shirt. Also new this year are a variety of beautiful handmade lanterns donated by local artisans to benefit the museum.

 So.... have a magical time AND support your local lighthouse! Tower climbing tickets are  $5./person and we are asking for a $2. donation to help us cover our expenses. Become a member of the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association or buy a commemorative brick as part of the walkway around the lighthouse. Weekend volunteers are needed too! See our web site www.crookedriverlighthouse.org and see all the fun things we are doing that you could be a part of too.

Crooked River Lighthouse Museum,Gift Shop & Park

1975 HWY 98 WEST

Carrabelle Beach, FL 32322

(850) 697- 2732

WOW!!!  Thanks so much for Dean Dugger's coverage of our 2010 Lantern Fest.

Dean Dugger Lantern Fest Photos.  Click on the Slideshow button.