Florida's Most Fun Weekend - Southern Rock Music, BBQ & Family Fun!

May 14, 2012

DAY ONE – Boots were made for dancin' and Southern rock's the music you'll hear at the Bradford County Fairgrounds Friday, May 18. Come on out and hear some new sounds on the Southern rock scene plus the legendary Molly Hatchet Band which has been raising the roof since the seventies.

The doors for this rockin' event open 5 p.m. on Day One of this year's SF Boots 'n BBQ. The music starts at 6 p.m. with opening band Down the Hatch.

Next onstage is the Tobacco Rd. Band. This four-man band from Tallahassee was formed by CMT touring artist Eric Durrance. Durrance co-wrote the Top 10 hit "Eight-Second Ride" recorded by country singer Jake Owen. Sample their music at tobaccordband.com with links to YouTube.

Next on the bill is Mustang Sally. This dynamic and energetic group of five young women (Tobi, Sarah, Lisa, Brenda and Rachel) backs up their singing with guitar and fiddle playing talents. Besides a heavy U.S. tour schedule, for the past few years the band has played at a country music festival in Zurich, Switzerland. Visit mustangsallyband.com to hear their music and link to YouTube.

Headlining the night of great music is Molly Hatchet, the ultimate Southern rock band that calls Jacksonville, Fla. home. They've been performance icons since their early days when they toured with Aerosmith, Bob Seger, The Rolling Stones and others.

Although its members have evolved, Molly Hatchet has recorded albums and toured the U.S. and the world almost without interruption since its founding. Some of its famous titles are "Beatin' the Odds", "Take No Prisoners", and "Flirtin' With Disaster". See and hear more at mollyhatchet.com.

Be sure to bring your appetite Friday because there's great food as well as great music. Plenty of hot fresh BBQ is guaranteed, plus fried gator, funnel cakes, kettle corn, homemade cake by the slice, and more.

DAY TWO – Bring the family Saturday, May 19, for Day Two of this year's SF Boots 'n BBQ. The gates open 9 a.m. with something for everyone: kiddie arcade, arts and crafts, professional face painting - a whole day's fun in one spot, with all the bbq and Southern cookin' you can eat, a professional and backyard bbq competition, and great Southern rock music headlined by Bradford County's own Steel Rockin' Band.

There's a new fun activity just for kids at this year's festival - a book fair designed to excite and intrigue youngsters into wholesome new reading adventures. The books have a common thread among their stories; each stars a kid with a physical difference. All were published by Gainesville's Wild Onion Press.

"We started Wild Onion Press to fill a need for books about children with physical differences - no one was doing it," said Mickle, CEO of the company. "All our authors have a physical difference."

The book fair will feature book and game giveaways. Partial funding provided by a State of Florida Cultural Affairs grant.

Another brand-new kid-friendly attraction is the classic car exhibit. Although grownups enjoy seeing these antique vehicles as much as children, kids tend to find these cars awesome and kind of unbelievable.

"We love to see how excited kids get when they have a chance to look at these cars," said Dave Ferro, co-founder of Hotrodding for Heroes, the group that plans to exhibit 15 cars. The oldest is a 1931 Model A and the youngest not newer than the late 70s.

Festival hours are 5-10 p.m. Friday, May 18 and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 19 rain or shine. Friday admission is $15. Saturday admission is $5 and children under 12 accompanied by an adult are free. Weekend camping is available. Admission tickets and camping tickets can be bought in advance at bootsnbbq.com. The Bradford County Fairgrounds are located at 2300 North Temple Avenue, Starke.

All proceeds go to student scholarships at Santa Fe College. Visit bootsnbbq.com for travel directions, up-to-date information and images. Or contact Kathryn Lehman, festival coordinator: cell 352-214-8178, office 352-395-5355 or 904-964-5382 ext. 5355, or email kathryn.lehman@sfcollege.edu.

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