The Big Calusa festival to showcase SWFL’s water

Calusa Waterkeeper shines positive light on region’s top asset with a week-long celebration and clean-up of our waterways

Southwest Florida’s water is worth fighting for — and celebrating. So, leading non-profit clean water advocacy group, Calusa Waterkeeper, has created The Big Calusa, a family-friendly, recreational, educational and cultural week-long festival and clean-up to reconnect our community in a positive way with all we love about our waterways.

“All year long, we at Calusa Waterkeeper find ourselves talking about the catastrophic harm we have suffered due to red tide and blue-green algae: fish and marine life dying by the millions, citizens at higher risk of illness, significant economic damage and on and on,” Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani said. “Now it’s time to remind everyone why our water is so special.”

The brilliant history of Southwest Florida’s water takes center stage on Wednesday, April 24 for the Calusa Culture Night, which brings together storytellers, historians, artists and musicians at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event starts at 6:30 p.m. Speakers include Woody Hanson, Ralph Woodring, Seminole Tribe Member Brian Zepeda, Cindy Bear from the Randell Research Center, Amy Bennett Williams, Bill Hammond and “Calusa Waterkeeper” John Cassani. As a backdrop for the speakers, there will be a Seminole dugout canoe on display along with water-themed works of art by prominent Naples-based painter, Paul Arsenault, and noted Sanibel artist, Myra Roberts. Music will be provided by electric acoustic duo, Roots 2 Vine, who will premiere a song written for the occasion called “The Big Calusa.” Tickets are available at the box office at (239) 333-1933 or at www.sbdac.com.

Then, on Saturday, April 27, Calusa Waterkeeper plans a full day of recreation called Big Calusa Day with ACA-sanctioned kayak and paddleboard races starting at 8:30 a.m., then open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. featuring sailboat rides, fossil hunting, mermaid tales and “The Little Toot” Magic Tugboat for kids, along with fishing and boating safety workshops, master naturalist ecotours, and more at North Shore Park along the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers.

The week-long events culminate with the Big Calusa Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 28 from 4:30-6:30 p.m., where Calusa clean-up champions, race-winners and local clean water heroes will be honored at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Newly appointed South Florida Water Management District Chairman and Sanibel favorite son, Chauncey Goss, will give the remarks at the awards ceremony.

“The Big Calusa was created to remind our community why it is important to protect and preserve our waterways,” said K.C. Schulberg, Executive Director of Calusa Waterkeeper and creator of The Big Calusa. “These precious natural resources, including our palm-lined beaches, exotic mangrove islands, unique ecosystems of marshes, tributaries, rivers and estuaries, not only provide boundless recreational opportunities, they serve as the underpinning of our economy, our livelihood and our enjoyment of SWFL. We need to cherish and preserve these resources for future generations.”

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Email Schulberg at [email protected] to find out how to get involved. For the latest on The Big Calusa, go to www.calusawaterkeeper.org/bigcalusa or follow Calusa Waterkeeper on Facebook at facebook.com/calusawaterkeeper.

Big Calusa sponsors already include “Golden Sawfish” sponsors: Pinchers Marina at Edison Ford and Severus Foundation; “Silver Manatee” sponsors: Manatee Eco & River Tours, and CONRIC PR & Marketing; “Roseate Spoonbill” sponsors, Millennial Brewing, Captains for Clean Water, Kayak DIY, Three Fishermen Restaurant, Edison Sailing Center, Pure Florida, Metro Blinds, Keep Lee County Beautiful, Jensen’s Cottages and Marina, and Sydney & Berne Davis Arts Center; “Blue Heron” Sponsors: Edison & Ford Winter Estates, GAEA Guides, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, Lee County Parks & Recreation Conservation 20/20, LightHawk Environmental Flights, CCRC; and Official Hotel Sponsor: Best Western Waterfront Hotel.

Volunteers are welcome to participate throughout the week. Fill out a volunteer form at https://calusawaterkeeper.org/events/big-calusa/ or contact [email protected] for volunteer opportunities.