4th Annual Naples Stone Crab Festival Coming Soon!

The 2013 stone crab season is just around the corner, opening on October 15th, and the 4th Annual Naples Stone Crab Festival will be right on its heels. A weekend of food and fun starring of course, the stone crab, the 4th Annual Naples Stone Crab Festival is also a chance to explore the beautiful Naples waterfront with activities on land and by water in and around Bayfront, Naples Bay Resort, Port O'Call, Tin City and Naples Transportation and Tours General Store/Heritage Museum.

The 4th Annual Naples Stone Crab Festival will run October 25th through the 27th from with activities taking place at Tin City, Old Naples Waterfront, Bayfront, Naples Bay Resort and neighboring areas. Activities will kickoff on Friday at 5:45 p.m. when Mayor John Sorey III and other dignitaries open the event with the annual "Cracking of the Claw."

There will be live entertainment daily (including a Beatles tribute band) at Tin City and Bayfront Naples along with activities at Port O'Call Marina. For full schedule and details, visit the event website.

All weekend attendees will enjoy a block party with live music, Tin City vendor discounts, kids activities, shopping and restaurant vendors and more! The event is free and will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, October 25th, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 26th and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 27th.

Along with more than 30 restaurant and market vendors, Bayfront Naples will feature an all new children's area called "Pirate's Cove." There will be a wide variety of child-friendly activities including games, music, your favorite costumed maritime characters and lots more pirate treasure to discover!

Facilitated for the first time by Hodges University, parking will be $5 and benefit their veterans program. According to program representative Joe Turner, Hodges University is now home to the national charter of American Legion Post 397, located on both the Naples and Fort Myers campuses. It is the first American Legion Post to be located on a college campus in the State of Florida and only the second in the country. Hodges University has also been formally designated as a Veteran Friendly institution for 2014 by Victory Media, demonstrating the institution's continued commitment to providing a supportive environment for military students. Hodges University currently has nearly 300 veterans among its student body.

Another addition, attendees will also be able to visit "Charity Row" on their way between Tin City and Bayfront. The Old Naples Waterfront Association is showcasing community collaborators on Charity Row, the site of the upcoming Gordon River Pedestrian Art Walkway between Tin City and Bayfront. Participating charities include: American Cancer Society, Collier County Honor Flight, Collier County Veterans History Project, Freedom Memorial, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Naples Spirit of 45.

ABOUT THE OLD NAPLES WATERFRONT ASSOCIATION
The Old Naples Waterfront Association (ONWA) was formed to educate residents and tourist on the people and industry of a historic and cultural destination that once served as the first economic center of the City of Naples in the 1920s. The ONWA's mission's is to promote the history on and around the waterfront as a "place" or destination with a diversity of activities, good and services. For more information, visit http://www.stonecrabfestival.org/about.php.

ABOUT THE 4th ANNUAL NAPLES STONE CRAB FESTIVAL
The Old Naples Waterfront Association presents the 4th Annual Naples Stone Crab Festival in collaboration with the Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau and Pinchers Crab Shack, the second largest purveyor of stone crab claws in the country. For band news, weather updates, stone crab claw deliveries and more news, attendees are also encouraged to join the Stone Crab Festival text club by texting "STONES" to 71441 or by following "@StoneCrabFest" on Twitter. For more information on Stone Crab Fest 2013, please visit: http://www.stonecrabfestival.org.

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