Dag Fest celebrates Dagmar Beavers, and a bit of her hippie lifestyle

Janet Zumfelde had quite the assortment of tie-dyed items in her Purses Just 4 U vendor booth at Dag Fest March 22 in Myakka City.

The festival was put together by Sharyn "Sparky" Baxley, Kay Rosaire and Nancy Nallin to honor the late Dagmar Beavers, who was a circus entertainer, a musician and somewhat of a "hippie." This year's event is the second annual on Beavers' Myakka City property.

"It's a good vibe here," Zumfelde said. "I was here last year because I am friends with Sparky and I used to go hear Dagmar play at O'Leary's. It is perfect here."

Rosaire, whose Big Cat Habitat benefits from proceeds from the event, didn't say the event was perfect but she called the second Dag Fest "bigger and better," and said it will continue to build over the years. Rosaire said she will add some circus acts to the festival next year.

Both Rosaire and Beavers, who were best friends, had circus ties.

Beavers gave her land to Rosaire and Nallin with the request that they preserve the land in its current state and they don't develop it. She also had wanted to host a music festival on her property before she died.

That didn't happen, but the three women wanted to fulfill her wishes with Dag Fest, which featured live music all day March 22, a petting zoo and pony rides for kids, and plenty of food and drink vendor booths.

"It's so beautiful here," Rosaire said as she looked over the festival on Beavers' land. "Dagmar was all about community, and there is no concrete here."