We Love Our Volunteers!

Someone recently asked me how we can put on so many great events with such a small group of people.  I answered, “Because we have awesome volunteers!”

Susan, Karen, Marcia and Chrissy set up registration for the Antique Boat and Car Show.

Truth is, our initial committee was much larger (twice the current size) but some folks were just there to get their event off the ground and have returned to their own busy schedules.

Karen and Mike man our booth at the Fine Arts Festival. 

But some of volunteers continue to show up at every event, providing moral support and logistical assistance to the organizers.  Some might say they’re crazy for spending so much time and expending so much energy to celebrate their city, but we can only say one thing:

Dancing in the Park

The 125th Birthday Committee, along with the Eustis Historical Society and Stephen D. Hutsenpiller Productions provided dancing in Ferran Park on Saturday, March 29, 2008.

 The dance floor, lights and soundsystem, provided by Hutsenpiller Productions, harkened back to the days when the Tourist Club in Ferran Park hosted dances in the early days of the city.

 Events started with a 30-minute dance lesson and continued with live music from several entertainers.

A bit of history about “Dancing in the Park”:

The historical eastside of Lake Eustis was the entertainment site for many early tourists and settlers.  The Pier, also known as the Boater’s Club, frequently held dances out over the lake.  As sand was pumped in to form Ferran Park, the Boater’s Club was moved inland to the south end of the newly formed park.  It became known as the Tourist Club, which brought in thousands of tourists each season to the Eustis area.  During the summer months in the 50’s, Eustis teenagers enjoyed Saturday dances and the cool lake breezes that flowed through the many tall old windows that bordered on each side of the building. 

The event was a wonderful success, so look for future Dancing in the Park dates as the summer unwinds!

Greenwood Cemetery Tours

(Costumer Bonnie and flapper Marcia with go-go girl Liz in the costume vault)

Volunteers from the 125th Birthday Committee and guests gathered at Greenwood Cemetery in Eustis for a walking tour of the graves of the founding citizens of Eustis.

Volunteers dressed in costumes borrowed from the Historic Bay Street Players, our local theatre. 

William, Tracy, Liz, George, Karen, Sharron, BettyAnn, Susan, Marcia, Tim

We visited the Ferrans, the Smiths, the Morins, the Cliffords, the Igous and many more.  Each tour, which lasted approximately 1 hour, was attended by 15 guests.

Another tour is scheduled for Saturday, April 26th at 4:30 pm.  To reserve a place on the tour, call Tim Totten at 321-287-0628.

Fine Arts Festival

The 7th Annual Fine Arts Festival was held last weekend.

And while Saturday started out windy, misty and cold, Mother Nature smiled down with a little sunshine later in the day and the crowds swelled.

Along with music in the gazebo, there was a 50/50 cash prize drawing, awards for the artists and food vendors selling everything from Philly cheesesteaks to fresh clam chowder!

Can’t Have a Show without Cars and Boats

We’ve thanked all the committee members who assisted with the Antique Boat and Car Show and we’ve acknowledged the excited crowds that arrived to check out the festivities, but we’ve saved the best group for last:  the boat and car owners!

It’s kinda hard to run a boat and car show without boats and cars.  So a BIG, HUGE THANKS to all the folks who turned out in the cold, foggy mist to set up Jersey Skiffs, antique canoes, Model T’s and Woody wagons.  The work you put into your boats and cars is only outshined by your kindness and generosity.

The Fire Department Cooks with Fire!

(l to r) Mrs. Carroll, Ms. Davis and Mrs. Winn serve visitors.

The Eustis Fire Department cooks some of the greatest hamburgers on planet Earth!  For the morning of the antique boat and car show, they sold coffee and cocoa.  Around 1:30 pm, they sold out of hamburgers and hotdogs.  Of course, sodas, water and coffee flowed until the last guest was served.

Even better, the Fire Department, which uses fundraisers to support fire-related charities, will be cooking their famous 1/2-pound burgers for GeorgeFest and during the 1st Annual Eustis Fire Muster in the Park.

Ketchup and Mustard in the Park

Marcia Arnold and Susan Trewyn both enjoyed the swing music provided by our DJ during the Antique Boat and Car Show.

Marcia and Susan are both city employees who have volunteered their time to help with the 125th celebrations.