Chamber ribbon-cutting celebrates show, festival
Combined as the Sanibel Shell Show & Festival for the first time since pre-Hurricane Ian, the 89th annual event prompted a SanCap Chamber ribbon-cutting on opening day on March 5 at its traditional venue — The Community House — Sanibel.
“This just feels like now normal truly has returned for the islands and the longest-running event celebrating Sanibel’s worldwide reputation as a prime shell-collecting destination,” chamber President and Chief Executive Office John Lai said. “The coming together of community has been restored.”
Since the storm, the shell show and festival ran as two separate events at two different venues. The shell show, originated in 1928 by Hallie “Granny” Matthews on the porch the Island Inn, had remained on-island.
The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club and Sanibel Community Association jointly hosted this year. Running from March 5-7, it brought exhibitors from around the world to enter their scientific collections and artistic creations in a highly competitive and judged event that awarded trophies and ribbons in classes of competition. Kids’ area activities, raffles, a silent auction and food trucks added to the festivities.
“We are very excited to have the Sanibel Shell Show return to the Sanibel Community House to reunite with the Shell Festival,” Sanibel Shell Show & Festival Chairperson Beryl Hosack said.
The Sanibel business community supported the event as sponsors, as well as donors of silent auction items. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium supported again this year with Live Mollusk Tanks for attendees to learn more about the creatures that create the shells. Other non-profit groups and residents helped as volunteers.
“Whether a shell collector for the thrill of the shell or an artist drawing out the beauty of a shell in a creation, this event once again had something for everyone to enjoy,” she said.