Fish fry aims to benefit the Historical Society

The Longboat Key Historical Society will host its 10th annual Old Time Fish Fry from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Cedar’s Café and Tiki Bar, 645 Cedars Court.

The event traces its roots back to the 1950s, when the Longboat Key Volunteer Fire Department was formed, and local residents held fish fries to raise money for the department’s first fire truck.

The tradition eventually faded, but the Historical Society resurrected it in 2005.

“It’s designed to get people together, to start the fall season and to fundraise for a good cause,” Historical Society Vice President Chet Pletzke said.

The money raised from the fish fry will benefit the Historical Society and its programs, including its website, digital archives and a lecture series in the spring.

“The Historical Society is the only group in town that’s trying to preserve the history of Longboat Key,” Pletzke said. “There’s a whole lot of history that’s hidden and unknown, and we want to give it to people to enjoy.”

Pletzke said the event gathers people from throughout the community, and he expects to sell approximately 200 tickets. Each ticket will include fish, sides such as hush puppies and salad and two beers or glasses of wine.

“It’s a long-time tradition we’ve had for years,” Historical Society board member Vera Freeman said. “A lot of people enjoy the Fish Fry and choose to come back in town for it.”

The event will feature a silent auction that includes various prizes such as a gourmet dinner and tickets to a baseball game, and there will also be new, hand-embroidered Longboat Key T-shirts and hats for sale.

“We’re really looking forward to it,” Freeman said. “It will be a great event.”

Local band Blues Pig will provide live music at the event and will perform songs about Longboat Key, including “Down on Longboat Key” by Alabama.

“There’s a few songs about Longboat Key that some people don’t know about,” Pletzke said.

Tickets are available at First Bank and Steff’s Stuff in the Centre Shops; Design 2000 in Whitney Beach Plaza; the Longboat Library, 555 Bay Isles Road; and Cedars Tennis Resort pro shop and cafe.

If you go
When: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7
Where: Cedar’s Café and Tiki Bar, 645 Cedars Court
Tickets: $25 in advance; $30 at the door