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Full Moon Climbs

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THURSDAY, APRIL 6, from 8 - 10 p.m.

Full Moon Climb with music by The Bog Lilies!

The Crooked River Lighthouse will be hosting a Full Moon Lighthouse Climb on Thursday, April 6, 2023 from 8:00-10:00 pm in Carrabelle, FL. Visitors can enjoy this opportunity to see the gorgeous natural surroundings of the St. George Sound and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the rising Wolf Moon. If the night skies are clear enough, guest might be able to spot Dog Island.

Gifted musical group, The Bog Lilies, who focus on vocal harmonies mixed a unique blend of instruments including banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and cajone (a wood percussion instrument). They cover songs in folk, bluegrass, country, and southern rock genres.  Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids.

 

FRIDAY, MAY 5, from 8 - 10 p.m.

Full Moon Climb

The Crooked River Lighthouse will be hosting a Full Moon Lighthouse Climb on Friday, May 5 from 8:00-10:00 pm in Carrabelle, FL. Visitors can enjoy this opportunity to see the gorgeous natural surroundings of the St. George Sound and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the rising Wolf Moon. If the night skies are clear enough, guest might be able to spot Dog Island.

Cost is $8 for adults and $3 for kids.

 

ABOUT FULL MOON EVENING EVENTS

Enjoy this opportunity to see the gorgeous natural surroundings of the St. George Sound and Carrabelle Beach under the glow of the rising full moon. Visit the free Keeper's House Museum and browse inside the Lighthouse Gift Shop for unique nautical gifts and souvenirs.  Bring a chair and enjoy the evening with us.

The climb to the top of the tallest Forgotten Coast lighthouse rewards bold climbers with breathtaking views of the bay. All climbers must be at least 44 inches tall. Advance reservations are required for those who wish to climb the lighthouse tower during this event by calling the Lighthouse gift shop,  850-697-2732.  A limited number of climbers (max of 7) are allowed at one time. There will be a time limit for viewing from the top. Guests who would like a more leisurely climbing experience are welcome to enjoy one of the daytime climbs available every Wednesday through Sunday. Masks are welcome but not required. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. 

Country Markets

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Country Market Flyer

FIRST, THIRD & FIFTH SATURDAYS 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Our Country Farmer’s Market features local vendors selling gifts and goodies, like fresh roasted coffee, delicious baked goods, farm fresh produce, grass fed beef, gorgeous local art and photography, handcrafted balms and soaps, handmade goods and craft items. Admission to the park for the Country Market is free to the public. 

Guests can also visit the free Museum and browse inside the Lighthouse Gift Shop for unique nautical gifts. In addition, visitors have the unique opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse for a breathtaking view of the Bay.

Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. 

 

BE A MARKET VENDOR!

The Market is growing steadily and is encouraging vendors to join and may sign up at any time. The cost to be a vendor is $10 a market. Vendors are asked to bring all supplies needed with them (enough cash / change for the day, table, chairs, signage, etc.). If you are interested or have questions, please contact the lighthouse at 850-697-2732 or carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com.

 

COUNTRY MARKET & EASTER EGG HUNT IN CARRABELLE

The Crooked River Lighthouse is hosting its outdoor Country Market on Saturday, April 1 from 9:00 am-1:00 pm at 1975 Hwy 98 West, Carrabelle, FL at the foot of Carrabelle’s lighthouse. Special for this Saturday’s coastal market, an Easter Egg Hunt will start at 11:00 am.

The open-air Country Market will, as always, feature local vendors with gifts and goodies like farm fresh produce, grass fed beef, delicious baked goods including cinnamon rolls, artisan breads, and cookies, plus batch roasted coffee, gorgeous art, handcrafted balms and soaps, and handmade goods and craft items. The Country Markets are held in Crooked River Lighthouse Park every 1st, 3rd and 5th Saturdays.

Guests can also visit the free Keeper’s House Museum to see the brand new exhibit featuring the historic Fresnel lens and browse inside the Lighthouse Gift Shop for unique, nautical-themed holiday gifts. In addition, visitors have the unique opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse for a breathtaking view of the Bay for a small fee.

The Market is actively recruiting new and returning vendors. Vendors may sign up at any time. The cost to be a vendor is $10 a market. For more information, contact 850-697-2732, carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com or www.crookedriverlighthouse.com. Funded in part by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

Museum Day

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Museum Day

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Honoring Our Military 

Back by popular demand all three of Carrabelle’s wonderful museums will open their doors on Saturday, May 1, 2021 as part of a special rescheduled Museum Day. In salute to this day, Carrabelle History Museum, Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum, and Crooked River Lighthouse Museum will have special activities and displays.

This year, the Carrabelle museums will use Museum Day to pay tribute to the members of our country’s Armed Forces past and present as part of National Military Appreciation Month. Military Appreciation Month was officially designated by Congress in 1999. Every year, the president issues a proclamation reminding Americans to celebrate this patriotic month by honoring those who have served in all branches of service. May was chosen because it has many individual days marked to note our military's achievements, including Memorial Day, Loyalty Day (established in 1921), Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemorating the end of WWII in Europe in 1945, Children of Fallen Patriots Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Armed Forces Day.

The Crooked River Lighthouse will be paying tribute to veterans and heroes of the U. S. Lighthouse Service and U. S. Coast Guard and featuring the service of Carrabelle's Lighthouse Keepers including a story of local heroism. We will also be honoring the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard HU-16E Airplane who died in a crash at sea just off of Carrabelle during a search and rescue mission in the 1960s. In addition, all active-duty military and veterans can also climb the lighthouse tower for free on Saturday. Join us Saturday, May 1 from 9 am - 5 pm for Museum Day.

Crab Cook-off Benefits ‘Carrabella’

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By Laurel Newman Special to the Times (apalachtimes.com article link)

The fourth annual Crab Cake Cook-off, sponsored by the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association (CLA) and the good folk at Harry’s Bar/Marine Street Grill, once again brought seafood lovers out for a warm evening of food, music, and silent auction fun.

The annual event is a fundraiser for the Crooked River Lighthouse Park’s replacement efforts for the “Carrabella,” a 60-foot “pirate ship” playground structure. The popular play platform, a visitor magnet that children of all ages enjoyed daily, was destroyed by arson on May 11, 2015.

Lighthouse society members and volunteers held brainstorming sessions, and volunteer Kathleen Oman came up with the Crab Cake Cook off. Over the years, the event has grown, and Oman, with the help of lighthouse people and community members, has continued to make it a popular event, drawing supporters from as far away as Pensacola, Tallahassee, Bainbridge and other areas.

This year’s event featured six local chefs vying for the coveted title: Jamie Messer, Renee Boudrey, Sean O’Shea, Selena Winchester, Jon Johnson and Brian Genard. Each chef prepared 150 bite-sized crab cakes, plus a few for the judges. Each of the ticket holders received a plate of six crab cakes, each with a numbered bamboo forklet, to be used to cast votes for their favorites.

While the visitors were enjoying their treats and determining their favorites, they had the opportunity to inspect and place bids on the items, donated by local merchants and artists, offered in the silent auction. Meanwhile, CLA’s curator and event specialist Joan Matey, appropriately garbed in one of her “Fishy Fashion” ensembles, updated everyone on the progress of the new “Carrabella” project, now in its first phase of site preparation.

Once the popular votes were tallied, the winners were announced. The Judges’ Choice Award went to Johnson, a local wildlife photographer, and the People’s Choice to O’Shea, of the Marine Street Grill.

The evening was further enhanced by the incredible vocals and guitar music from Cat Braaten, a gifted musician who kept the crowd entertained with her spirited tunes.

Once again, the cook-off was declared a success, and the CLA thanks all those who made it so, from the hard-working volunteers to the generous supporters.


Carrabelle Lighthouse Association’s Joan Matey, sporting a crab trap hat, with Jon Johnson, winner of the Judges’ Choice award for his excellent crab cakes at the cookoff. [ photo by Jim Smith | Harry’s Bar ]

Crab Cake Cook Off – THANKS!

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We wanted to take this opportunity to say a very special THANK YOU to all the people who made this year's Crab Cake Cook-Off a sell-out success!! Because of you, an estimated $2000+ was raised for the Crooked River Lighthouse!

•Kathleen Oman, Marian Morris and Joan Matey for organizing and planning this wonderful event
•Six wonderful cooks: Jamie Messer, Renee Boudrey, Sean O’Shea, Selena Winchester, Jon Johnson and Brian Genard.
•Hardworking event volunteers & staff - Tamara Allen, Robin Gibson, Eva Gombas, Teresa Jackson, Lisa Keith-Lucas, Serge Latour, Laurel Newman, Mike Pace, Pat Tabuchi and others.
•Sean O'Shea and the Marine Street Grill / Harry's Bar staff for doing a fabulous job of hosting again
•Chip Klaus for taking photos on behalf of the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association as well as actively seeking donations with the collection jars
•Greg Kristofferson for MC duty
•The volunteer judges – Greg Kristofferson, Mayor Brenda La Paz, and Serge LaTour
•Numerous local merchants and artists for their generous donations for the silent auction
•Carrabelle Lighthouse Association (CLA) board, members & staff
•Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce, Carrabelle History Museum, Carrabelle United Methodist Church, City of Carrabelle, and Bill Owen for use of tables, chairs and tents for the comfort of our guests
•All our generous supporters, donors & attendees

This would not have been possible without your support and help!

LINKS TO FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES

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Members & Volunteers

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photo by April Kennedy Harry

Carrabelle Lighthouse Association

In 1999 the U.S. Coast Guard had plans to surplus the Crooked River Lighthouse and auction it off to the highest bidder. It was at this time that the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association, Inc. (CLA) was formed by a dedicated group of local citizens with the goal of preserving, restoring, and opening the lighthouse to the public. In August 2001 the CLA, in conjunction with the City of Carrabelle, was successful in having the Lighthouse deeded to the City through the Federal Lands to Parks program. Since that time the CLA and City officials have worked to obtain funding for the restoration of this historic treasure of Florida's "Forgotten Coast."

Today, the CLA's members are devoted to the worthy cause of restoring this small piece of maritime history. Through its efforts, the CLA has received funds from the Florida Lighthouse Association, the Florida Communities Trust, and the Florida Legislature. These funds have made possible the restoration of the lighthouse and improvements to the land surrounding the lighthouse. If you would like to help continue the work of maintaining the Crooked River Lighthouse, please join the CLA or make a tax deductible donation today. CLA, P.O. BOX 373, Carrabelle, FL 32322.

*The Carrabelle Lighthouse Association is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.

OFFICERS

President Steven Allen
Executive Vice-President Lori Gilbertson
Secretary 
Treasurer Missy Cumbie
Grounds and Park Keeper Chip Klaus
Safety/Lens Op Keeper Tim Keith-Lucas
Historians John Canetta and Rodney Reeves
Past President Delores Hardin
Charter Member Barbara Revell
Media and PR Sheri Wesson
Curator Joan Matey
Gift Shop Attendants
Eva Gombas, Lori Gilbertson

MEMBERS SHINE A LIGHT!

Help protect, preserve and restore our lighthouse's heritage.
Join us or renew  WITH THIS FORM

KEEPER’S INDIVIDUAL $20
KEEPER’S FAMILY $30
KEEPER'S BEACON $100  (Business membership will receive one membership card. Free climbing for one year with proof of employment.)
GUARDIAN OF THE LIGHT $250 (Lifetime Membership)

You will receive a membership card that entitles you:

  • Free climbs on the tallest beacon on the Forgotten Coast
  • The smile on your face when you realize you just supported the continued preservation of the historical Crooked River Lighthouse!
  • 10% discount on any item in our Gift Shop (except consignment)
  • Discounts at local participating restaurants & shops 

Volunteers Shine the Way!

Cheers to our valuable volunteers!  

Volunteering Opportunities:

  • Full Moon Events, (Greeters, Firepit Attendants, assisting lighthouse climbs with Pagers)
  • Assist at Country Market (help Vendors set-up, directing visitors)
  • Park grounds beautification: pick up branches, pine cones, pull weeds, etc.  Not to mention great exercise!
  • Clean the lighthouse tower
  • Garden – help maintain, pull weeds, assist Country Market produce sales
  • Inside & outside of Keeper’s House: Clean, sweep or pressure wash porch; minor repairs inside & out
  • Assist in Gift Shop and Museum; office/inside chores
  • Carpentry skills appreciated anytime!
  • Lantern Fest in November

We need and value volunteers!  Visit our Calendar for upcoming events.  Contact us: carrabellelighthouse@gmail.com or 850-697-2732.

Crooked River Lighthouse Museum Volunteers Can: 

Get a 20% discount on any items purchased in the gift shop. (Excluding consignment items)

Climb for free as well as members of their extended family.

Reserve the Community Room for meetings of groups with which they are affiliated.

CLA Selected for U.S. Lighthouse Society Grant

CRLH Tower by David StahlerThe Carrabelle Lighthouse Association Inc. (CLA) was recently selected to receive a $1,000 grant from the United States Lighthouse Society on behalf of the Crooked River Lighthouse and Keeper’s House Museum. We are one of 35 lighthouses in the nation and only 4 in Florida to receive a 2021 Emergency Relief Grant from the U.S. Lighthouse Society.

The grant specifically provides financial assistance for operational expenses for lighthouses due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum’s revenue and attendance were significantly impacted last year by the pandemic. Steve Allen, Board President for the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association said, “We are very grateful to the United States Lighthouse Society. These funds will help us continue to share this historic treasure with the community and the public.”

The United States Lighthouse Society is a nonprofit historical and educational organization dedicated to saving and sharing the rich maritime legacy of American lighthouses and supporting lighthouse preservation throughout the nation.

Crooked River Lighthouse and Keeper’s House Museum is located in Carrabelle, just west of the Carrabelle Public Beach Park at 1975 Hwy 98 W, Carrabelle. The Carrabelle Lighthouse Association is 501c3 non-profit devoted to the worthy cause of maintaining and sharing the Crooked River Lighthouse as a piece of maritime history. For more information, contact Crooked River Lighthouse at (850) 697-2732 or keeper@crookedriverlighthouse.com.