SUWANNEE RIVER CATFISH FESTIVAL
Suwannee River Catfish Festival
By Hayli Zuccola
The Sweetest Event of the Summer
After a two-year hiatus in the wake of Covid , the Suwannee River Catfish Festival made its grand return on April 9 at the Greenway Park in Branford . Featuring live music ; games ; arts and crafts ; and of course , mouthwatering catfish dinners , the spring celebration has become a local favorite that offers no shortage of entertainment while benefiting two great causes .
The 2022 festivities began at 9 a . m . and ran until 4 p . m . with live music filling the airwaves throughout the day provided by local and regional acts like Blind Luck , County Road 400 , Black River Harvesters , Social Club , Kentucky Sleepy Hollow , Bluegrass Band and more . Food vendors and arts and craft booths lined the Greenway while hungry guests eagerly waited for 11:30 a . m . to arrive so they could purchase a $ 7 catfish dinner paired with hushpuppies , baked beans , coleslaw and a bottle of water . Though the Festival ’ s history is short in comparison to other seasonal staples like Branford ’ s 4th of July Celebration , which dates back over 40 years , it has quickly become a yearly attraction that serves as a fundraiser for two distinct purposes .
Founded in 2015 , proceeds from the Suwannee River Catfish Festival are split between the Gainesville Fisher House Foundation , which supports veterans and their families , and two educational scholarships awarded to two Suwannee High School seniors who submit an essay for consideration and chosen by the Suwannee River Catfish Festival Board of Directors . First and second-place winners of the contest are awarded a $ 1,000 and $ 500 scholarship , respectively , and also have their name and year of graduation inscribed on the Suwannee River Catfish Festival monument
102 SUWANNEE CHAMBER IMPACT | 2022-2023