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Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival facts for kids

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The Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival was a super fun annual event held in Niceville, Florida, United States. It took place every October from 1977 to 2019. This festival was a big celebration of music, delicious food (especially fried mullet fish!), exciting rides, and lots of cool arts and crafts.

The festival got its name from the mullet, a type of fish found in the local waters. It's a common mistake, but the festival was NOT named after the mullet haircut!

Walter Francis Spence Jr. started the festival in 1976. The very first Mullet Festival was on September 24, 1977. Soon, it grew into a three-day event, starting on the third Friday in October and ending on Sunday evening. Over the years, more than 40,000 people would visit the festival each weekend!

In 1989, a reporter named Chantal from ABC's "Good Morning America" even broadcast live from the festival. During her report, the festival's founder, Francis Spence, and a local man named James Campbell showed everyone how to catch and fry mullet fish.

The festival became quite famous! In 2009, a Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival T-shirt even appeared on the TV show "True Blood" (an HBO series). Another Mullet Festival T-shirt was seen on the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother" in 2008.

The year 2019 was the last time the festival was held. The next year, the COVID-19 pandemic happened. This, along with fewer people attending and less money coming in, sadly led to the festival ending.

Festival Fun: Who Played?

The Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival was known for its amazing music lineup! Many famous country music stars and other bands performed there over the years. Here are some of the artists who entertained the crowds:

2010s

2018 Performers

  • Montgomery Gentry
  • Tracy Byrd
  • Tyler Farr
  • The Chee-Weez
  • Doctor Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster
  • Sweet Tea Trio
  • The Mulligans
  • Parker Willingham & Friends
  • Dan Eubanks
  • Roger Strickland

2017 Performers

  • Tanya Tucker
  • Frankie Ballard
  • Chris Janson
  • The Molly Ringwalds
  • Troy Laz
  • Pelican212
  • Dan Eubanks
  • The Mulligans
  • Roger Strickland

2016 Performers

  • Justin Moore
  • Joe Diffie
  • Chase Bryant
  • Confederate Railroad
  • Farewell Angelina
  • Brassfield Aly
  • Troy Laz Band
  • The Springs
  • Dan Eubanks
  • NWFSC Soundsations
  • Tommy Morse Band

2015 Performers

  • Joe Nichols
  • Lonestar
  • Gloriana
  • Love and Theft
  • Dailey & Vincent
  • Mingo Fishtrap
  • Waylon Thibodeaux
  • Vince Vance & the Valiants
  • Big Water

2014 Performers

2013 Performers

  • Vince Gill
  • Justin Moore
  • Thompson Square
  • The Swon Brothers
  • Blackjack Billy
  • The Isaacs
  • Ben Portsmouth Ultimate Elvis Tribute
  • Parker Willingham
  • Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster
  • Tayo Reed Explosion
  • Big Water
  • NWFSC Soundsations

2012 Performers

  • Kellie Pickler
  • Jake Owen
  • Colt Ford
  • Florida Georgia Line
  • Due West
  • The Molly Ringwalds
  • Compozitionz
  • Brandon Bennett

2011 Performers

  • Trace Adkins
  • Jake Owen
  • Brantley Gilbert
  • Sleepy Man Banjo Boys
  • Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster
  • The Alabama Blues Brothers
  • Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters

2010 Performers

  • Josh Turner
  • Joe Nichols
  • Brantley Gilbert
  • Jerrod Niemann
  • Ronnie McDowell
  • Damon Smith
  • Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster
  • The Tip Tops
  • The BluesCrabs
  • Bo Porter
  • Barry Fish Band

2000s

2009 Performers

2008 Performers

2007 Performers

2006 Performers

2005 Performers

  • The Charlie Daniels Band
  • Terri Clark
  • Hot Apple Pie
  • Rockapella
  • The Fish Tank Band
  • Dread Clampitt

2004 Performers

  • David Lee Murphy
  • Restless Heart
  • Craig Morgan
  • Little Texas
  • Isis
  • The Alley Cats
  • Chandler Mason

2003 Performers

  • The Charlie Daniels Band
  • Dierks Bentley
  • Montgomery Gentry
  • The Alley Cats
  • Air Force Jazz Ensemble

2002 Performers

  • Ricky Skaggs
  • Trick Pony
  • Emerson Drive
  • Daron Norwood
  • Mountain Heart
  • Little Big Town

2001 Performers

  • Diamond Rio
  • Little River Band
  • Trick Pony
  • Isis
  • Sons of the Desert
  • The Clarke Family
  • The Alley Cats

2000 Performers

1990s

1999 Performers

  • Lonestar
  • Aaron Tippin
  • Sherrie Austin

1998 Performers

1997 Performers

  • Neal McCoy
  • Exile

1996 Performers

  • Lonestar
  • Ty Herndon
  • Mark Wills

1995 Performers

  • Ty England
  • Ken Mellons

1994 Performers

  • Daron Norwood

1993 Performers

  • Mark Wills
  • Daron Norwood

1992 Performers

1991 Performers

1990 Performers

  • The Drifters
  • The Platters

1980s

1989 Performers

  • New Grass Revival

1988 Performers

  • New Grass Revival
  • The Tams

See also

  • List of Florida food festivals
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Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.