2023 is proving to be a challenging year!

As ENGLEWOOD recovers from Hurricane Ian many things have changed.

Our town doesn't look the same and it will take time to get back to where we were before Ian and a pandemic. Unfortunately one of the biggest issues we are having is INSURANCE. We all know the problems with covering our homes and businesses, and it's even harder to get coverage for an event. We are still working with several insurance companies and underwriters to secure coverage. Without it, we can not apply for a permit which is necessary to close the road for a Parade, or use any county owned property for a festival.  Last year, we we able to secure a policy that unlike in past years only covered our events for late August and early September. Previous to the pandemic, we had an annual policy so if we wanted to participate in other events, like Cracker Fair, we were covered. The insurance industry is now in control and is dictating the terms and length of coverage. Parades are now considered a risk due to major incidents that have happened in places around the country. Large crowds are also considered a risk so the underwriters are looking very hard at each and every event they write a policy to cover.  We have contacted everyone, this starts in January each year and here we are in July without coverage.  The pageant and cardboard boat races were not on the agenda for this year, only a 2 day festival and parade. It breaks are hearts that we do not have an answer for everyone. We should be planning for a festival,  building floats, and securing vendors but instead we wait. Something will need to change with the direction of how insurance companies are controlling so many aspects of our lives. If we can not secure insurance by August 1st, we will need to cancel this years events. Maybe as things return to the NEW NORMAL, we can look ahead and hope that 2024 will bring better news and opportunities for everyone to celebrate and hold events, gather people together and be grateful!

thank you goes out to everyone for their patience and understanding.

~ Englewood Pioneer Days BOD

Englewood Pioneer Days: Bad News, Good News

2022


Englewood, FL – What is it people say? “Hit me with the bad news first”? Here it is, Englewood: our beloved parade - along with the festival and car show - has been canceled. Now, the good news: while the Englewood Pioneer Days Committee looks at a possible later date for the parade and festival; the Cardboard Boat Races and Chalkfest are set to go on as planned.

On Saturday, August 27, families can come out to Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool on San Casa in Englewood to cheer along the captains of cardboard boats. This event begins bright and early – registration at the Pool begins at 8:30 am and the races get underway at 10 am. It’s free for the Prams, kids 12 & under thanks to Kendra Porter and Leslie Edwards; and the Sunfish, Sailors 13-15 are $15. per boat; World Cup, 16 and over are $15 per person. Anyone in a boat must wear a life jacket - which are available at the pool thanks to our event host, the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla #87, if necessary. Awards will be given to the winners.

The always-popular Chalkfest returns as well. This event has been moved a few times over the years, so, please be advised of this year’s location: Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park (6791 San Casa). Registration is free and begins at 9 am and we will chalk till 1pm. FREE Chalk will be provided; however, feel free to bring your own. There are several categories in which Chalk-artists can win awards and prizes. It’s a fun family day, make sure to bring water!

Stay tuned for the announcement for the WINNER of our Mayor for a Day contest which will be made on Friday September 2. A special location will be revealed next week.  We hope everyone can join us for this fun event and celebrate our new Mayor and all the charities that will benefit from this great contest.

Don’t forget about the Diaper Derby, hosted annually by the Lemon Bay Woman’s Club, located at 51 N. Maple St. on Sunday September 4, at 2pm. Registration is at the Clubhouse only, and the babies have to be crawlers. We encourage the whole family and others to come watch this funny event. It’s FREE and the Derby dates back more than 70 years!!

We look forward to keeping the Englewood Pioneer Days Parade and Festival part of the history of Englewood for years to come. Since its beginning, Jo Cortez hoped to bring our community together with lots of fun activities for families as well as helping the businesses in our community make it through the hot days of summer.


The Englewood Pioneer Days website is currently being updated.

Check us out on Facebook, facebook.com/englewoodpioneerdays.

~COMING IN 2024~

ENGLEWOOD PIONEER DAYS WILL BE CELEBRATING

68 YEARS OF OUR GREAT TOWN!

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS YEAR (2023)

BUT NEXT YEAR WILL BE AWESOME.

WE WILL HAVE ALL OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS RETURNING IN 2024

*LITTLE MISS &MR. ENGLEWOOD PAGEANT WITH A NEW DIRECTOR*

*CHALKFEST  A NEW TWIST TO ART*

*CARDBOARD BOAT RACES WILL BE BACK AND EVEN BETTER*

THE CONTESTS THAT WERE STARTED BY EPD WILL ALSO BE BACK

*MAYOR FOR A DAY*

(WHICH IS ON LOAN FROM ANOTHER AREA NON PROFIT THAT HAS ASKED OUR ORG TO CONTINUE THE CONTEST)

*PIE AND WATERMELON EATING*

*PHOTO CONTEST* &  *THE BEARD CONTEST*

THE FESTIVAL WILL BE BIGGER THAN EVER

WITH THE LARGEST PARADE FLORIDA HAS EVER SEEN,

BEING THE OLDEST PARADE IN THE STATE WE NEED TO DO IT RIGHT!

WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE NEW DATES SOON.

BTW, THE FIRST PIONEER DAYS WAS NOT ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND!

ANNOUNCING OUR

NEW MAYOR FOR A DAY 2022!!

JANET SHAWEN

Representing

The Boys and Girls Club of Charlotte County

$ 25,455.00

HERE ARE ALL THE CANDIDATES ALONG WITH THEIR CHARITIES AND MONEY RAISED FOR 2022!

Debbie Maki  ~ Peace River K-9 Search and Rescue ~ $ 22055.00

Alfred Current ~ Josh the Otter ~ Rotary International  ~  $ 4531.00

Helen Anderson ~ Tidewell Hospice  ~  $ 2315.00

A BIG THANK YOU to the following team and local restaurants and merchants for their support!

Jeannie Joyce, Kendra Porter, Amy Gonzales, Cathy Redman

Libee's Sports Bar, Vino Loco, Ann's Flowers, LaStanza

To all,

I’m sorry for the delay on the update; it’s been a very busy week.

Pioneer Days will unfortunately be canceled for 2023, for several reasons.

We apologize for not being quicker with the information, we were hoping for a better, quicker outcome.

Insurance has been an issue for events even before last year’s Pioneer Days. The delay this year however has created a different situation.

This morning we received word we could obtain insurance and The County could have the Permits approved in time.

While we could push forward, challenging as the time crunch would be, just learning so many Parade Participants, Vendors and Organizations have been contacted, the Committee felt our continuing this year would be simply putting these people, “on the spot” and forcing them to “pick a side”.

Pioneer Days isn’t about dividing this community. To the contrary; living here, we knew that the only way you could hope to involve as many of the businesses, clubs and Organizations in Pioneer Days was to not show favorites and then involve everyone on both sides of the County Line. To that end there is no sponsoring or advertising. (Groups can run an event and promote it but it’s a Pioneer Days event for the overall marketing. If they help us out we thank them every way we can.)  

We also knew there were and are struggling families. We lowered all the prices to parade participants and vendors and created free events for kids (giving their parents a night off) and families (free entertainment). A great Church group did an excellent free kids area at the festival. The goal is to involve all of the community.

And its’ all run at cost. No Donations. We know the same people and businesses, our neighbors, are always hit up for donations and have never wanted to be that burden. And there’s been no reason to.

The reason we’ve done all this is because we live here as well and we want to keep it The Englewood Pioneer Days Parade and not risk it becoming The Home Depot Pioneer Days Parade or The 7/11 Pioneer Days Parade.

We don’t think 7/11 would operate at no profit.

Pioneer Days is a Community run organization. Everyone’s welcome. If what you’ve read about is interesting and you’d like to participate as a volunteer, help organize, put on an event or be a Director in 2024 and beyond or simply have questions, email us (info@englewoodpioneerdays.com)and we’ll keep you in the loop and notify you when meetings come.

See ya in ‘24

The Englewood Pioneer Days Parade and Festival Committee, Inc.    A 501c4 nonprofit Corporation

info@EnglewoodPioneerDays.com                                                                            9:20pm 08.4.2023

Englewood Pioneer Days Parade and Festival Inc.

A BANNER YEAR!!

MOST RAISED THAN ANY YEAR!!

>>>>>2022<<<<<

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE CANDIDATES

WHO RAISED A TOTAL OF

$54,356.00

FOR LOCAL CHARITIES!