Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival facts for kids
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
- Martina McBride
- Dustin Lynch
- Neal McCoy
- Red Roots
- Crystal Yates
- Hunter Phelps
- Mustang Sally
- Blackjack Billy
- Big Water
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
- Billy Ray Cyrus
- Blake Shelton
- Chuck Wicks
- Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster
- Mustang Sally
2008 Performers
- Jason Aldean
- Sara Evans
- Rodney Atkins
- Sweetwater Jade
- Jeff Fiorello
2007 Performers
- Kenny Rogers
- Blake Shelton
- Gary Allan
- Keith Anderson
- The Grascals
- The BluesCrabs
2006 Performers
- Travis Tritt
- Lonestar
- Blake Shelton
- Trent Willmon
- The Grascals
- The Alley Cats
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
- Rick Springfield
- Rascal Flatts
- Tracy Lawrence
- Eric Heatherly
1990s
1999 Performers
- Lonestar
- Aaron Tippin
- Sherrie Austin
1998 Performers
- Dixie Chicks
- Rhett Akins
- Ricochet
- Exile
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
- Billy Ray Cyrus
- Daron Norwood
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