• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • Things to Do
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

The Crowley Museum and Nature Center brings frontier life to Sarasota with heritage festival

The 2021 Southwest Florida Heritage Festival celebrated frontier life on March 7.


  • By Harry Sayer
  • | 2:37 p.m. March 7, 2021
  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
  • Share

The Crowley Museum and Nature Center painted a vivid portrait of settler life with its annual Southwest Florida Heritage Festival on March 7. 

The annual event held at the museum grounds rebounded from a rainy first day with a lively festival that transported visitors to the old days of Florida, where settlers quilted, smithed, and created everyday items to live on the frontier. Volunteers and vendors dressed as settlers to put on fun shows, sell handmade items, and more.

Thomas Littrell, Rick Holgate and Paul Meador put on a show for guests.
Thomas Littrell, Rick Holgate and Paul Meador put on a show for guests.
Trez Cole smithed new shapes to an interested crowd.
Trez Cole smithed new shapes to an interested crowd.
Olivia Parrish and Crowley CEO Dixie Resnick
Olivia Parrish and Crowley CEO Dixie Resnick
Pat Wilson says she takes three to 10 hours weaving baskets.
Pat Wilson says she takes three to 10 hours weaving baskets.
David Sartwell went to work on splitting trees.
David Sartwell went to work on splitting trees.
Denise Miller-Olverson and Melanie Gebers embraced the old-time outfits.
Denise Miller-Olverson and Melanie Gebers embraced the old-time outfits.
Denise Miller-Olverson sold pottery.
Denise Miller-Olverson sold pottery.
Megan Frazier knitted a kimono
Megan Frazier knitted a kimono
Lara Rinehart had her gnomes on sale.
Lara Rinehart had her gnomes on sale.
Phil Pagano handled the popcorn.
Phil Pagano handled the popcorn.
Dayle Stevens, Andre Rischard and Eddie Rischard
Dayle Stevens, Andre Rischard and Eddie Rischard
Mark and Kristine Rudnick
Mark and Kristine Rudnick
Beth Kovach boiled cane water into syrup.
Beth Kovach boiled cane water into syrup.
Mike Heimsath was held up by Glen Yeater
Mike Heimsath was held up by Glen Yeater
Megan Frazier and Lauren Fritz knitted away.
Megan Frazier and Lauren Fritz knitted away.
Karl Rosebrock and Terry Evans
Karl Rosebrock and Terry Evans
Nathan Rakay and Francis Zamora
Nathan Rakay and Francis Zamora
Kinley and Bobby Judd
Kinley and Bobby Judd
David Brasgalla
David Brasgalla
Eric McGrath led people on tractor rides.
Eric McGrath led people on tractor rides.
Eric McGrath led people on tractor rides.
Eric McGrath led people on tractor rides.
Eva Bailey, Linda Coker and Eli Bailey
Eva Bailey, Linda Coker and Eli Bailey
Stacy Brown Jr. represented his Florida Skunk Ape Project
Stacy Brown Jr. represented his Florida Skunk Ape Project
Bonita Miller as Annie Oakley, Jan Bland as Calamity Jan and Sue Dannels as Bobby Sue Perrywinkle
Bonita Miller as Annie Oakley, Jan Bland as Calamity Jan and Sue Dannels as Bobby Sue Perrywinkle

 

Latest News

Parents have 3 days to excuse kids with new Sarasota Schools policy
  • January 25, 2026
Parents have 3 days to excuse kids with new Sarasota Schools policy
Ringling College names new president
  • January 24, 2026
Ringling College names new president
About $12,000 in small bills was seized as part of the investigation.
  • January 23, 2026
Investigators make cocaine-trafficking arrest near Sarasota park
Food truck regulations were a topic of discussion at the Tuesday, Jan. 20 Longboat Key Town Commission workshop meeting.
  • January 23, 2026
Are food trucks allowed on Longboat Key?

Sponsored Health Content

Sponsored Content

The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest in Neighbors

  • January 23, 2026
Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable
Brent Jephson and Chef Instructor Benjamin Burnside celebrate a job well done.
  • January 22, 2026
Academy at Glengary offers a bridge for those recovering from mental illnesses
Alaina Loyal and Gia Sammelman demonstrate concepts including push, pull, kinetic energy, friction.
  • January 22, 2026
STEAM education and circus arts combine with Marvelous, Miraculous Circus Machine
  • January 22, 2026
The Edge Sarasota: Created for a Select Few
  • January 22, 2026
Downtown’s first new luxury high-rise residences with three-day minimum rental freedom.
The new display highlights the history of the visual arts in Sarasota along about 200 feet of Orange Avenue, just off Main Street.
  • January 21, 2026
Michael Saunders & Co.'s new display highlights area's arts history

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2026 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now