The original Placida Seafood Festival began in the early 1980’s, over 20 years ago. It was run by local (Placida) commercial fishermen/fisherwomen and their families. They all partnered together with the Organized Fisherman of Florida (O.F.F), to use the event as a way to raise money to help members during times of need and to create scholarships to aid in sending their children to college and trade schools. The community of Placida opened its grounds for the fun 2-day event each spring. It was a huge success, when it began. It was a joint effort with everyone volunteering to help. The original events included catching thousands of pounds of local fresh mullet, which were cleaned & cooked on site. All involved, loved the Placida Seafood Festival.

Ten years later, the state’s commercial fishing “net ban” took effect the original fisherman organizers decided it wasn’t feasible to continue the festival. Then, the Englewood Rotary Club joined the Placida community and the Fishery Restaurant to help continue this fun, traditional, community event. In 1998, the newly formed Placida Rotary Club stepped up and partnered with the Fishery Restaurant to make it an annual “Spring” community, team effort. The Rotary Club members volunteer efforts have enabled the Placida Seafood Festival, which was so popular over the previous 10 years, to continue; and even expand, with great live music, and carry forward many of the traditions established by the original O.F.F. organization of fisherman of Placida. Now, after more than 20 years, the entire Placida community looks forward attending the Placida Seafood Festival, as the premier event to announce the arrival of “Spring,” great weather, and superb seafood: It is that special weekend for all to celebrate outdoors, with friends & family, in the old Florida style of the Fishery Restaurant, on the water’s edge of scenic Charlotte Harbor.

As a continuing tradition, the money raised is put to use in the local Cape Haze-Englewood community, benefiting many students with scholarships for continuing education: like the CNA programs with the Englewood Hospital, as well as youth programs like the YMCA and Big Brothers-Big Sisters, aid for needy families, and for specific projects such as EMS donated child safety car seats. In the last few years the Seafood Festival has donated more than $100,000 to the Rotary Club of Placida. In turn, those festival attendance donations have all been reinvested by the Rotary Club back into the local community, as an investment in needy and deserving people.