Dunedin Orange Festival Ripens In Its Second Year

Hundreds descended on Main Street for a day of live music, a mojo cook-off and free orange juice at the second Dunedin Orange Festival.

Seven Dunedin restaurants created dishes and participants voted on winners. edged out last year's winners (The Living Room) with their mahi-mahi bites. The Living Room took second place this year. 

Another popular attraction was the dunk tank, which saw several well-known volunteers including and Mayor Dave Eggers. Eggers drew lots of people in, riling them up and was a good sport when he was finally dunked. 

Organizer Marsha Goins said the festival saw a huge increase in attendance compared with last year.

"This has to be double if not more than last year," she said.

The money raised through the event goes to the Dunedin Chamber Cultural and Educational Foundation and the . 

Executive director of the Dunedin Historical Society Vincent Luisi said the festival is crucial to their survival.

"It has been a tough year for the Historical Society. State and and county funds were eliminated entirely," Luisi said. "This event will help with educational programs and just keeping the museum open." 

The festival was conceived as a way to raise money for the Historical Society and encourage visitors to downtown during the quieter summer months — in particular on the slow July 4 weekend.

“We intentionally planned the festival for today to bring people downtown. Fourth of July weekend is usually really slow,” Goins said.

The Orange Festival was made possible by the support of a team of 50 volunteers from the local area.

Dunedin artist whose inspired the Orange Festival, was among the volunteers. He thanked Goins on behalf of the volunteers at the end of the day.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without Marsha,” Spathelf said.