In the 1930s, the reach of the Great Depression extended far beyond the big cities into small communities everywhere, including our very own St. Pete Beach. The Sunshine School, which had opened in Pass-A-Grille in 1915, was facing closure, as there was not enough money to pay the teachers’ salaries. The locals knew how vital it was to their community for those school doors to remain open and took it upon themselves to ensure that they would. Capt. and Mrs. Kenneth B. Merry knew just what to do. They threw a party.
A lifelong fisherman, Capt. Merry knew he could use his talent to help the community. He brought in loads of fish, cut down trees for firewood, dug a pit and laid some bedsprings on top. He cooked up the delicious fish dinners on the spot, while his wife and children sold tickets, prepared sides and helped serve. That was the birth of the first Fish Broil and Mullet Festival. The event was a huge success. The Sunshine School remained open and a new community tradition was born.
This year marks the 85th Anniversary of that first Broil. Because of the great growth of both the Fish Broil and the St Pete Beach school community, The Historic Fish Broil & Mullet Festival is now incorporated as a 501c3, governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors comprised of members from the community, and with one simple mission: to support local schools and to bring the community together in a spirit of solidarity and fun while doing so. The move was done to ensure that the communal nature of this great event is preserved, that all schools that have a history with the Broil can benefit from its success, and ultimately, that all schools in St. Pete Beach can be involved with and benefit from the Fish Broil.
The event’s inception and purpose truly are a tribute to the character of this city and its inhabitants. True to form, local residents and businesses make this event happen each year, whether it’s through countless volunteer hours organizing the festival, the generous donations and sponsorships from the community or those who show up the day of. Every year, Madeira Beach Seafood Company donates the fish, Silas Dent’s Steak House donates the delicious fish marinade, the Hurricane donates their delicious cole slaw, and the Mullet Men (a group of volunteers) spend 2 days cleaning and prepping the fish. Last year, they prepped 880 pounds of mullet, which sold out by 6 pm! And those are just a few examples of the generosity of the community.
This year’s event will take place on Sunday, November 8th from 1-6 pm in Horan Park. There will be live music, beer and wine, local food vendors, a silent auction, a fishing tournament for the kids, a corn hole tournament for the adults, inflatable games and activities galore. And, of course, delicious fish dinners cooked on bedsprings over hot coals. All proceeds go to area schools involved in organizing the event, and to community organizations such as the St Pete Beach Library, the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum, and Support Our Troops.
Visit our website at www.fishbroil.com, and like our page on Facebook (The Historical Fish Broil and Mullet Festival) to stay up to date on all that’s happening with this year’s event. For all sponsorship opportunities or questions about the Broil, contact annualfishbroil@gmail.com.
Can’t wait to see you there!
Story by By Rosemary Mendiola