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Deanna Osenieks, 38, of New Smyrna Beach, |
Deanna Osenieks sat on the curb with 2 year-old Evan to her left and 6-month-old Blake as she and the toddler shared a shrimp plate sampler as did a couple thousand other people who enjoyed Thursday night's first-ever Shrimp Festival on Flagler Avenue.
While Osenieks enjoyed the spicy sampler, elder son Evan was thrilled to neutralize the hot flavor with his zippy cup of juice.
The threat of rain that had poured earlier in the day never materialized during the 5 to 9 p.m. event and even a rainbow appeared in the sky, parallel with the ocean.
"I was kind of glad it wasn't all sunny and steamy," Osenieks said. "The heat affects them much more than adults."
Osenieks was impressed by the sheer numbers of people and said wholesome events like this encourage families to participate and make New Smyrna Beach such a special place.
"It brings the community together," the 38-year-old married woman said. "You see a lot of people you know and you meet new people, too. This is very good. We moved here from Orlando and we wouldn't come to something like this living there."
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Tiano Vittorio, head chef at the Dolce Vita Italian Restaurant on |
The festival was hosted by the Merchants of Flagler Avenue Hospitality Group.
Vehicular traffic was detoured away from the heart of Flagler Avenue to make way for makeshift tents and stands by more than 30 restaurants from Southeast Volusia as well as other parts of East Volusia, including Bubba Gump Shrimp of Daytona Beach.
There was also live entertainment, both on the Flagler Avenue’s central outdoor stage and at eight locations on Flagler Avenue along with local artisans, beer gardens, crafts, boating companies and more.
The top restaurants from throughout New Smyrna Beach and the surrounding area competed for New Smyrna Beach's “Best on the Beach” Awards during the event in four categories: “Best on the Beach” Shrimp, Seafood, Fish and Specialty Seafood.
All food plate specials sold for $3 to $5 apiece and with such a large gathering, most of the vendors were completely out of food with nearly an hour to go. Eateries and night clubs already there took up the slack.
The event was peaceful and orderly, too, reported New Smyrna Beach police Sgt. Eugene Griffith, who was accompanied by several police officers. Those consuming alcoholic beverages were restricted behind cordoned-off areas.
"Everyone seems to be having a great time -- no problems," Griffith said, while moving around on a Segway electric single-axle scooter, one of several loaned to the police as a courtesy by Volusia Segway for the event.
Seemingly everywhere Griffith rode, young and old alike -- children, parents and grandparents -- and quite a few leashed dogs, milled around with plate and plastic fork in hand. Some children were treated to face painting and one vendor hawked "Shark Bite" T-shirts.
Vincenzo Capuano, an owner of the Dolce Vita Italian restaurant on North Dixie Freeway, and his head chef, Tiano Vittorio, were busy with patrons trying to make up their mind between a sampler of pasta with lobster sauce or fettuccine with shrimp and Alfredo sauce.
"There are a lot of people here," the 26-year-old chef said, barking orders for pizza slices as well from the other help. The food went fast."
Up the block, Thea Bense of Ormond Beach did quite well for herself with her beautiful handmade trinkets from her store, Shellflowers by Thea."
"This is great," she said of the crowd and the festive atmosphere.
Sandy Ryan, treasurer of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, was ecstatic with the turnout and the plesantry of the event.
"Look at that rainbow -- this is the best little place on earth," she said. "It's awesome."
Jay Crocker, an assistant public defender and beachside resident, who was here with his son, said he was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and said it was a testament to the hospitality's hard work."
Elaine Stathakis, an owner of the Om Bar on Flagler, said the event was pushed by her business as well as Peanuts, Flagler Avenue and Traders, to help drum up community spirit and showcase New Smyrna Beach's core entity -- its families.
"Everything was priced between $3 to $5 so it could be affordable for families with children," she said. "This is something that is good for everyone."
Elizabeth Prieto, 37, of New Smyrna Beach, agreed, saying events like this prove New Smyrna Beach is a thriving seaside community for emerging families as well as retirees.
"I love it," she said, adoring the animal face paintings of her children, Matthew, 11, and Kimberly, 9. "They have been having more activities and it's great. This is also good for the commercial development of the city, too. The way the economy is, this kind of festival attracts more people."
Her husband, Roger Pietro, owner of Smilemaker's Dentist in Edgewater, said events like this certainly present the "opportunity" for Flagler Avenue merchants to attract future customers at family festivals like this.
Bob Garrigues, former president of the Southeast Volusia chapters of the Kiwanis Club and Chamber of Commerce was concise on his view of the night's success: "It's fantastic. It's been great -- absolutely great. A big crowd. They're eating a bunch."
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