Event Information
Join the fun for the 11th Annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival. This outdoor event is being held at 4628 119th Street West in Cortez Village on Saturday & Sunday, November 11 & 12, from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM both days. Music will continue into the evening at the Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar.
We will have plenty of fresh, local seafood, ice cold beverages, many talented music acts appearing and lots of stone crab. There will also be a Kid’s Zone and many local artists displaying their wares. A seating area with a large tent will be in place for protection from the sun, or in the event of rain.
Parking will be available at the FISH Preserve for $5 per car, guests are advised to enter at 116th Street.
2023 Music Lineup
10am – Mikey Silbaugh (of Concrete Edgar)
12pm – Mushroom Soup
2pm – Uncle John’s Band
4pm – Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones
11am – Ted Stevens
3pm – The Stockton Brothers Band
7pm – Tim Chandler
10am – Ted Stevens and the Doo Shots
12pm – Berry Oakley & Friends
2pm – Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio
4pm – Trevor Bystrom’s RX Feat. Zion Albert
11am – Taylor Opie
3pm – Billy Rice Trio
6pm – Steel Vibes
KidZone!
We are excited to announce a new and improved Kid Zone at the 10th Annual Cortez Stone Crab & Music Festival! Admission to the festival is free for children ages 12 and under. Children must be accompanied by parents.
Featured Vendors of the 2023 Stone Crab & Music Festival
Below are only a few examples of the many vendors attending from all over the state of Florida and beyond!
Flood Glass Studios
My work is inspired by our fragile ecosystem, particularly where land meets sea.
And SO MUCH MORE!
Fresh stone crab and seafood available all weekend long! Enjoy LOCAL house specials like smoked fish spread, peel & eat gulf shrimp, clam chowder, shrimp & grits and more!
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![Ocala Country Ventures]()
Ocala Country Ventures
Carol from Ocala Ventures has been making purses from the tops (shaft) of a cowboy boot and horse hair jewelry for over ten years! -
![Cajan Casey]()
Cajan Casey
Local craftsman, Cajun Casey, sells wood carving of Tikis, Fish, Mermaids, Pirates, Sea Creatures and other interesting coastal area related decorations. -
![Open Water Crafts]()
Open Water Crafts
My name is Jay Caldwell. I retired from the United States Air Force after 26 years of service. After retiring from the USAF; I worked as a biological sampler for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Cons… -
![Mama Brookes Hot Sauce]()
Mama Brookes Hot Sauce
We are a small batch, vegan friendly, Caribbean inspired, hot sauce manufacturer. All of our handcrafted gourmet sauces are FDA approved and made with love or flavors are spicy, mango, spicy musta… -
![Frumples & Sculptures]()
Frumples & Sculptures
Paula dreamt “The Frumples” on October 7,1998 started making them on October 8th and has been creating them ever since. Paula learned to upcycle/paper mache when she was only 5 years old and has t… -
![Amy’s Creations]()
Amy’s Creations
Amy’s love for the ocean, whether it be the west coast or the east coast, has given her the inspiration for her work. You will find Amy combing the beach for seashells at the full moon. … -
![Breezy Bakery]()
Breezy Bakery
Breezy Bakery is the Cortez sweet spot with everything 100% made from scratch! Selling homemade Florida Key Lime Pie FROZEN on a stick, dipped in chocolate! Beat the heat with this tart treat, al… -
![Barbara’s Kitchen]()
Barbara’s Kitchen
You don’t want to miss Sharon & Dwight (aka “The Dreaded Fisherman”), they are so fun and offer the best recipes and recommendations to pair with their delicious products! Launched in 2016 Bar… -
![Flood Glass Studios]()
Flood Glass Studios
My work is inspired by our fragile ecosystem, particularly where land meets sea. -
![Cortez Curse Rum Nuts]()
Cortez Curse Rum Nuts
Rum Coconuts pair perfectly with Stone Crab! Cortez Curse Rum Nuts have been serving their secret fisherman-famous recipe since 2012!
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2023
Cortez Stone Crabbing
The onset of winter in Florida not only brings wonderfully mild sunny weather but also the eagerly anticipated annual harvest of stone crab claws. Florida stone crabs are a local delicacy. Our crabs are as sweet as lobster and made up of firm yet flakey juicy meat. Best served cold with lemon and house-made mustard sauce. Stone crab season is October 15th – May 1st. Our crabs are harvested commercially by baited traps dropped and pulled by our very own crab boat, the Boss Lady. The captain of the Boss Lady is John’s oldest son, Cole Banyas. The Boss Lady’s crew harvests more than a TON of stone crab claws for the annual festival! Ten years ago the Stone Crab Festival came to be to celebrate and honor the hard working stone crabbers of Cortez. Cheers to TEN YEARS IN THE MAKING!
Meet the Owner
John Banyas is a fourth generation fisherman from Cortez, Florida. Boats, water, wind & fish have permeated his life. He grew up fishing and surfing and listening to his grandfather’s fishing stories and from high school on, he has never stopped fishing. After his grandfather, whom N.E. Taylor Boatworks Company is named after, passed away, John set out to catch bait, mullet and stone crab in earnest under the name Cortez Bait & Seafood. John has been fishing and working ever since. Later opening Swordfish Grill & Tiki to provide sustainable seafood in the oldest active fishing village in the state of Florida.
Cortez, FL Accommodations
Experience the historic fishing village of Cortez in style!
