Save the Date!

By Natalie Strom

This is one of those articles that you are going to want to cut out and post on your refrigerator. No, it is not one of those supposedly hilarious Cathy Comics that lonely housewives tack up on their fridge. It is, however, a guide to all the upcoming events that Goodland has to offer. Every year, our little town provides fun and excitement that people of all ages can participate in. As I said before, keep this on your refrigerator and you won’t miss a single bit of the action.

With the New Year in full swing, locals know that the Annual Mullet Festival at Stan’s Idle Hour is just around the corner. This weekend-long party will start Friday, January 28th at 6 p.m. and run through Sunday, January 30th. The mullet fish, in which the festival is named after was once the main source of fishing for locals in Goodland. The 27th annual event will include plenty of live

music, a fish cleaning contest and the Mullet Princess and Mullet Queen Pageants. Saturday afternoon hosts the fish cleaning contest at 3 p.m. followed by the Mullet Princess Pageant at 4. The Mullet Queen Pageant will be on Sunday at 4 in the afternoon. Women dress as buzzards and dance on stage to “The Buzzard Lope,” an homage to the birds that frequent Goodland. Audience applause decides the winner. Fried and smoked mullet will be served throughout the weekend.

The first Goodland pancake breakfast will be held on Saturday, January 29th from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Goodland Community Center located at 417 Mango Ave. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children. Come fill up on pancakes before heading down to the Mullet Festival! All proceeds benefit projects hosted by the Goodland Civic Association.

One such project is the annual Goodland Boat Parade. The event, in its 15th year, will be held on Saturday, February 19th at 2

p.m. The theme this year is “The Good Old Days.” Decorate your boat with whatever reminds you of life, music, movies, television shows or events from earlier decades. You may learn more about the event and register your boat online at www.mardigrasgoodland.com. You may also call Elaine Ritchie at 239-642-8356 with any questions. Prizes will be awarded in many categories and all proceeds are donated to Avow Hospice.  Judging will be held at the new Goodland Boat Park.

There will be a second pancake breakfast held on Saturday, March 5th. Same time, same location. The breakfast will kick off the yearly Goodland Garage Sale. The sale runs all day Saturday, March 5th and Sunday, March 6th. This is the time to find your little piece of Goodland gold!

These upcoming events are only a small taste of what Goodland has to offer throughout the year. Keep these dates in mind and continue to look for more of the island’s festivities here in your local Coastal Breeze!