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Santa Fe River Song Contest this Sunday features springs art and music

Press release from Our Santa Fe River

The 10th Annual Santa Fe River Song Contest on Sunday, March 27, 2022, will offer a lot more than new songs about the Santa Fe River, but also artwork about the river and springs from some of the area’s most talented visual artists as part of the Silent Auction. The event starts at 1 p.m. with live music and the Song Contest kicking off at 2 p.m. at Rum 138, 2070 Southwest County Road 138, Fort White, Florida. Admission to the Song Contest is $10 per person, ages twelve and under free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at oursantaferiver.org. All proceeds support Our Santa Fe River Inc.

This 10th annual event will once again feature local songwriters and their original songs about this local treasure, the Santa Fe River. The 2022 Contestants, in alphabetical order, are: Ellen Bukstel, William Ennis, Jane Fallon, Alivia Hunter, Patrick Ivey, Mike Manetz, Nicolette Matt, Luis Ortiz, and Lisa Scarborough. The order of performance will be determined at the beginning of the event.

The 2022 judges panel includes Edward Amaya, Tom Machnik, and Carol Richardson. Alachua County’s Poet Laureate E. Stanley Richardson is the master of ceremonies.

The winner and two runners-up will receive cash prizes, and all participants will receive a professional YouTube video of their performance. Past Song Contest performances are available on the Our Santa Fe River, Inc.’s YouTube channel.

Silent Auction Features River and Springs Focus

The Silent Auction brings a variety of ways to enjoy and support our rivers and springs. For a river experience, contributions of a Pontoon Charter with Karen Chadwick, or overnight stays with either The Tree House at Horsepower Farms or Turtle Palace on the Santa Fe are the best bet.

For something more permanent, look for talented artwork from area artists including Eleanor Blair, Linda Blondheim, Ray Carson, Tina Corbett, Laura Daily, Elayne Dubin, Leslie Gamble, Karen Le Monnier, Joanne Malles, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, and John Moran, to name a few. Contributions also include Michael Everett prints and signed copies of the new book, “The Wilder Side of Florida.”

Gifts and services have also been donated by Ace Hardware, First Magnitude Brewery, Florida Springs Institute, Infiniti Wellness, Landscapes Unlimited, Lion’s Lair, Lone Palm Jewelers, Sanna Rocks, Taino Roots Artisan Kitchen, Unique Notions, and Wild Birds Unlimited.

Activities for Everyone at the Song Contest

At 1 p.m., Fort White-based “In the Moment” band will warm up the stage for the Song Contest participants. After the Song Contest winners are announced and while the Silent Auction pieces are distributed, “In the Moment” will take the stage again to close the show.

Attendees can help the Sierra Club Suwannee-St Johns Group create their Trash Art project by decorating the Turtle Island sculpture with their plastic bags and rinsed out plastic waste products, such as colorful plastic lids, and plastic packaging that they bring from home. The completed sculpture will be exhibited at the 5th Avenue Arts Festival in Gainesville in April to raise awareness on the problem plastic pollution is causing in our waterways.

Additional Song Contest activities include an opportunity to have a photograph with a mermaid, information booths, locally crafted beer, food, and wine, and a 50/50 raffle.

For more information, visit oursantaferiver.org.

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