Shell Festival 2013 Theme

Seashells come in many sizes, shapes, and colors and with a multitude of patters. With this in mind, the Sanibel Shell Festival Committee has choose Color Your World With Shells as the theme for the 76^th Annual Sanibel Shell Festival March 7, 8, and 9. It is the major fundraising event of the year for both the Sanibel Community Association and the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club. The well-known even, previously known as the Sanibel Shell Fair and Show, draws shell enthusiasts from across the Unites States, Canada and the Caribbean.

Festival visitors have the opportunity to purchase shells and intricate shell crafted items at the Shell Festival. Throughout the year, volunteers meet outside the Sanibel Community House to sort donated seashells, while inside shell crafters create elaborate floral bouquets and other shell craft items. These seashells and craft items will be offered for sale during the festival. The funds raised through these sales are used to support the Sanibel Community House.

It has been said that shell collecting is the second most popular collecting hobby after postage stamps. The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club-sponsored Sanibel Shell Show is an integral part of the Shell Festival and it gives everyone the opportunity to see shells from around the world, as well as breathtaking artistic creations made entirely from shells and sea life that are entered in the Shell Show. There will be a special category in both the scientific and the artistic divisions titled Color Your World With Shells. A special award will be given in both divisions to the exhibits that best reflect the festival theme. This competitive show is open to all shell collectors. Membership in the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club is not required.

While there is no entrance fee to attend the Shell Festival grounds, a donation is asked of those going inside the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club-sponsored Shell Show. Funds raised by the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club from the admission donations are given out in the form of grants to several local educational and conservation organizations including a scholarship fund to the University of South Florida.

For more information about entering an exhibit in the Sanibel Shell Show, go to www.sanibelcaptivashellclub.com/SanCap_shellshow.html 

Island Sun (January 25, 2013)

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