There will be something for everyone at the 2012 Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival!  This year’s event, taking place October 19^th-21^st, will feature approximately sixty-five booths of beautiful artwork and handmade crafts.  Experience mullet, shark, gyros, boiled peanuts, cotton candy and the newest fried treats—with forty food booths, the possibilities are endless.    Visit with the Army Rangers and their tent full of creatures, or stop by the clown stage for a knee-slapping good time.  Kids of all ages can enjoy a variety of carnival rides and games, with daily armbands available on-site.  To top it all off, the Mullet Festival stage will be blasting some of the hottest music of yesterday and today.

Friday’s headliner will be Georgia-bred country rapper Colt Ford.  His new CD, Declaration of Independence, debuted at the top of the Billboard Country Albums chart in August, catching the music world by surprise.  It’s no surprise, however, to his throng of devoted fans that continues to grow, even though his brand of music receives little radio airplay.  Ford experienced a #1 hit as co-writer of Dirt Road Anthem, a song Jason Aldean broke boundaries with in 2011.  The Molly Ringwalds, the self-proclaimed World’s Greatest 80s Cover Band, will get the party started for Colt Ford.

After a stellar performance to close out last year’s festival, Jake Owen returns to headline Saturday night’s slate of entertainment.  Owen, a Florida native, has experienced a whirlwind year.  He got engaged, then married and is expecting an addition to the family in November.  Alone With You, the follow-up to his multi-week #1 hit Barefoot Blue Jean Night, spent two weeks atop the charts as well.  Jake spent the summer on possibly the biggest tour of the year, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw’s Brothers of the Sun Tour.  Beginning in October, Jake will venture out on a headlining tour of his own, as he was chosen to lead the 2012 edition of CMT on Tour.  Jake is also featured on Colt Ford’s new single, a retrospective tune called Back.  Two hot new acts will also be appearing Saturday night:  duo Florida Georgia Line, who have taken the Country Music world by storm with their single Cruise, and the group Due West, who recently made their Grand Ole Opry debut, and whose harmonies have been called “a three-lane road to magic.”

Kellie Pickler will close out the festival as Sunday’s headliner.  Kellie, an active supporter of the USO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, recently grabbed national headlines for shaving her head in support of her best friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer in June.  She has a big heart, a big voice and a catalog of songs that includes sassy singles such as Red High Heels and Best Days of Your Life along with emotional hits like I Wonder and Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.  Since auditioning for American Idol at the age of 19, Kellie has captivated Country Music fans with genuineness, just like her heroes Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn.  Local church groups will entertain the crowd during the afternoon and, continuing the tradition, no alcohol will be served on Sunday.

If you have ever dreamed of performing at the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival, here is your chance!  The 4^th edition of the Mullet Festival Singing Showdown, now known as The Voice of Boggy Bayou, will hold auditions at the Niceville Community Center on Tuesday, October 2^nd from 6-8pm and Saturday, October 6^th from 11am-3pm.  A $25 entry fee is due upon audition.  Judges will choose 5 finalists to compete on Friday, October 19^th at the Mullet Festival for a $500 cash prize and the chance to perform Saturday night.  Visit our website for entry forms and more information.

The Mullet Festival can be found at the intersection of Highway 85 North and College Boulevard.  Tickets at the gate remain $10 daily and $15 Saturday from 5pm until close.  Children age 11 & under are free and do not require a ticket.  Advance tickets will once again be available for $9 each or 3 for $25 and can be purchased online or at a number of locations from Walton to Escambia County.

For detailed information on entertainers, tickets, and other activities, visit us online at www.boggybayoumulletfestival.info.

35th ANNUAL BOGGY BAYOU MULLET FESTIVAL

The Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival always promises a good time for the entire family, and this year is no exception.  Art & craft booths will showcase the talents of local artists, as well as those from surrounding states. The food booths will be a hit with flavors from all over the world, and Mullet fans and newcomers alike can enjoy a taste of the local staple our Festival is named for.  Carnival rides, clown acts, magic shows and cartoon characters will be on hand for “children” of all ages, and the Mullet Festival stage will come to life each day with concerts by top Country stars and other musical acts.

 Friday night will feature the return of rising Country star Brantley Gilbert. Brantley has recently penned two #1 hits for Jason Aldean (My Kinda Party and Dirt Road Anthem).  His own single Country Must Be Country Wide is climbing the charts and is featured on the deluxe edition of his album Halfway to Heaven, which will hit stores September 13^th.

 Trace Adkins is sure to be a crowd pleaser on Saturday night. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Trace has had 4 Grammy nominations and has won numerous ACM and CMT Awards. Trace has acted in motion pictures, been a voiceover artist, a social commentator, and was a finalist on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice.  Trace’s song Just Fishin’ has become his 15^th top-ten hit and is the lead single from his latest album Proud to Be Here.

 The tradition continues with Alcohol-Free Family Day on Sunday, October 23^rd.  Sunday’s headliners are duo Steel Magnolia and Vero Beach native Jake Owen.  Steel Magnolia won season two of CMT’s Can You Duet? and after signing with Big Machine Records saw their debut single, Keep on Lovin’ You, reach #4 on the Country charts.  Jake Owen, the Academy of Country Music’s 2009 Top New Male Vocalist, has spent 2011 touring with Keith Urban and readying his third album for release.  The album sold 55,000 copies in its first week to top the Billboard Country Albums chart the same week the title track, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, became the #1 Country song.

 Performances by local church groups are always popular on Sunday afternoon.  Also taking the stage Sunday will be the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys Band, who recently made their Grand Ole Opry debut and have received national media attention with performances on Letterman, the Today Show and Huckabee.

 2011 will mark the third year of the Mullet Festival Singing Showdown.  Auditions will take place at the Niceville Community Center on Saturday, September 24^th from 10am-2pm and Tuesday, October 4^th from 6pm-8pm.  A $25 registration fee is due upon audition.  Five finalists will be chosen to compete Friday, October 21^st around 7pm on the Mullet Festival stage for $500 cash and the opportunity to perform the following night during the Festival.  Visit the Mullet Festival page at cityofniceville.org for Singing Showdown information and entry forms.

 Also appearing are Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster and the Alabama Blues Brothers.  The complete schedule of events will be posted online closer to festival time.

This year’s Mullet Festival will be held October 21-23 at the intersection of Highway 85 North and College Boulevard.  Tickets at the gate will be $10 daily and $15 Saturday from 5pm until closing time.  Children age 11 & under are FREE.  Advance tickets are $9 each or 3 for $25 and can be purchased online or at numerous locations from Walton to Escambia County. 

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34th ANNUAL BOGGY BAYOU MULLET FESTIVAL

The 34th Annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival promises a great time for

the entire family, with entertainment, the highest quality fine art and home

hand-crafts, and a staggering array of food concessions.

mullet fans will consume this humble fish that has played such an important

role in both the local economy and in the general nutrition of our culture.

This celebration of food and fun will take place on the weekend of

October 15-17.

Joe Nichols will be delighting the crowd at this year’s festival on

Saturday night. Also performing on Saturday will be Jerrod Niemann, The

Tip Tops, Bo Porter and .Caliber.

Performing on Friday night will be Brantley Gilbert, Damon Smith,

Dr. Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster and local favorite The BluesCrabs.

Several local church groups will perform Sunday afternoon.

Also performing Sunday will be Ronnie McDowell and The Stamps

and the Barry Fish Band. Closing out the festival will be Josh Turner.

For detailed information on entertainers and other activities, visit our

website at www.boggybayoumulletfestival.info .

Not to be missed on the Children’s Stage will be an array of clown

shows, magic shows, and cartoon characters, which will particularly delight

the younger set.

Lots of hungry

The Mullet Festival is held at the intersection of Highway 85 North and

College Boulevard.

MULLET FESTIVAL INFORMATION:

www.boggybayoumulletfestival.info

lmason@niceville.org

850-729-4545