SEBASTIAN RIVERFRONT FINE ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL - JANUARY 20-21
Began as a 75th Anniversary Celebration in 2000 and the following year became the Sebastian Fine Art and Music Festival.
The Sebastian Fine Art and Music Festival began in the year 2000 by an established 75th Anniversary Committee which recommended an Art Show/Street Celebration be included in the festivities. They also recommended a millennial clock to be placed on a city property commemorating the anniversary.
Citizens suggested that a photographer be commissioned to take a photo of citizens of Sebastian during the celebration and that it be placed in a time capsule in a location designated by the committee. Paver blocks were to be sold in the location of the clock once established, and people buying them could vote on where to place the clock. Several different locations were suggested.
MOTION and SECOND were made to allow the celebration to be held on December 16 and 17, 2000, closing Indian River Drive from Harrison Street to south of the Good Guys property, closing the Yacht Club ramp for two days, having a foot parade, using the west side of Good Guys property for parking, starting the parade on Sunday so that it will culminate with the burying of the time capsule at 5 p.m. in the area of the Kroegel statue."
ROLL CALL on the motion carried unanimously.
In 2001 Lisanne Monier, briefly addressed Council on the request for street closings, and beer sales in the park by the Chamber of Commerce for the Fine Art and Music Festival and the City Manager explained that plans were underway for a 2nd Annual Riverfront Art and Music Festival in December and that he would bring forward plans as it progresses. The new Fine Art Group and the Sebastian River Art Club decided to work together, Fine Art in the roadways and Art Club in Riverview Park.
Approval for the street closing and requested dates for the Sebastian Fine Art and Music Festival was given by City Council and each year for the past 23 years, the very successful juried Art festival has taken place over a January weekend on streets adjacent to Riverview Park.
SEBASTIAN RIVER ART CLUB EVENT, ART IN THE PARK - FEBRUARY 17
On April 9, 1979 Council passed motion to permit Sebastian River Art Club to place sign in median announcing annual spring art show. There is no indication of the proposed location.
In December 1976 the City received an offer from Mr. Burr to sell the city 25 lots in Edgewater Park Subdivision for recreational purposes; Mr. Gray (attorney) suggested the Council study the matter in depth before turning it down as price was good, and that wording "for recreational purposes" be changed to "for public use;' Mr. Szeluga suggested writing Mr. Burr to let him know the matter was under advisement. On December 11, 1978 Mr. Vocelle stated the City has a lease purchase agreement with Mr. Burr on property on SR 512 and now desires to exercise its right to purchase same; meeting set for January 9 at title company in Vero Beach; Mr. Vocelle said if the City does not exercise its right to purchase, monies paid in thus far would be forfeited; Council authorized Mayor and City Clerk to attend meeting and pay necessary funds; Mr. Vocelle stated this property is dedicated in perpetuity for public use and can never be sold for private purposes. In October 1980 a Resolution was adopted dedicating the Burr property as a public park and recreation area. It was agreed that if the park was ever named, it should include the name Burr.
On February 8, 1982 City Council passed a motion to allow the Sebastian River Art Club use the Burr property for their spring art show on March 3 & 4. After passing the motion to allow the Sebastian River Art Club to use the Burr property for their spring art show on March 3 & 4, Council passed a motion to discuss suggestions for renaming the Burr property at a workshop meeting on March 3. On March 17, 19821 Council passed a motion to turn the naming of the Burr property over to the Fourth of July Committee. On July 21, 1982 Council adopted a resolution officially naming the newly purchased Burr property as the Sebastian Riverview Park.
On October 20, 1982, Council passed motion to allow the use of Riverview Park for the Sebastian River Art Club for the Art Show to be held December 3 and 4, 1982 subject to proof of liability coverage for not less than $100,000. On November 10, 1982, Council passed a motion to join the Sebastian River Art Club in their event as a sponsor and waive the requirement for insurance.
March 9, 1983 Council passed a motion to allow the use of Riverview Park for the Sebastian River Art Club for their Spring Art Show. November 9, 1983, Council passed a motion to permit the Sebastian River Art Club to use Riverview Park on December 2 and 3 for a winter art show from 1 O am to 4 pm. Each year for the past 40 years the Sebastian River Art Club has held its seasonal monthly art shows in Riverview Park. On February 6, 1984, Councl passed motion to allow the Sebastian Riverview Art Club the use of Riverview Park for a spring art show March 3 and 4 and winter show October 27 and 28. Each year for the past 40 years the Sebastian River Art Club has held its seasonal monthly art shows in Riverview Park.
On October 17, 1984 Mayor thanked the Sebastian River Area Art Club for the paintings they placed at city hall. City Hall had been moved from US 1 to Main Street into the former 1927 Schoolhouse. On December 8, 2004, during the first meeting and dedication of the newly constructed City Hall next door to the old schoolhouse exactly 80 years from the original incorporation as the Town of Sebastian on December 81 1924, Mayor McCollum read a Welcome and then presented a plaque to the Sebastian River Art Club for their restoration of the painting "Native American" which had been originally given to the City in 1974 by former Council Member Meta Chesser in honor of her father Captain Robert Hardee. That painting was hung in the new City Council Chambers for many years before being transferred to the Sebastian Area Historical Society museum where is it today.
On January 9, 2013 a Proclamation was presented to the Sebastian River Art Club on their 75th Anniversary.
RIVER DAYS AND CRAFT BREW HULLABOO - MARCH 15-17
In 2017 Marc Gingras, representing the Sebastian Rotary Club, made a presentation on moving the Annual ShrimpFest and Craft Brew Hullabaloo permanently to Riverview Park in Sebastian from its former location in Fellsmere and requested City sponsorship. Mr. Gingras described to Council how the Rotary Club of Sebastian and Exchange Club of Fellsmere started the festival three years ago to raise infrastructure funds for youth sports; that the organizing committee plans to run the festival similar to the Clambake; and they believe they will be more successful in Riverview Park with their effort.
Weeks later a contract was approved for the annual spring event. In 2022 the event name was changed from "ShrimpFest & Craft Brew Hullabaloo" to "River Days & Craft Brew Hullabaloo". The event has been held in Sebastian for the past seven years.
CITY OF SEBASTIAN EARTH DAY AND ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION - APRIL 20
Throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s a City Tree Advisory Board promoted the importance of trees in the community, applied for and received designation of the City and A Tree City USA, and recommended amendments to the City Council as to importance of codes to identify trees and protect and promote those considered as "specimen". They promoted tree protection to the citizens of Sebastian and conducted activities in keeping with a 1996 Council resolution designating "Arbor Day" in the City of Sebastian and authorizing the Tree Advisory Board to develop a ceremony. A proclamation promoting Arbor Day recognition was read and presented in January 1996. For many years to follow, a proclamation would be read and presented by the Mayor and the Tree Board would continue to conduct community outreach at annual Arbor Day celebrations.
In 2005 a new Temporary Environmental Advisory Committee was formed by the City Council in light of the City's plans for a new Environmental Planner and Division for the City and inclusion of environmental elements to the Code. This committee was disbanded and replaced by a Natural Resources Board which exists today. During 2006 plans were made to hold an Earth Day celebration in Riverview Park and it has been an annual event since 2007.
CRAFT CLUB OF SEBASTIAN - MAY 11-12
Craft Club of Sebastian President Cindy Anderson, and Secretary Sharon Wise came before Council in October 1988 for use of Riverview Park for a craft show open to the public.
Mayor Votapka advised that the group would be responsible for supplying additional facilities to accommodate a large crowd and City Attorney Nash advised Council review its policy and distinguish profit making use on a regular basis from fundraisers. The request was approved to grant permission to the Craft Club of Sebastian for use of Riverview Park on two dates in November and December upon receipt by the City Clerk's office of a refundable $100 security deposit and amended to add "with appropriate restroom facilities provided by the group".
Cindy and Fred Anderson came back after those events to request future use on weekends in the winter and spring. The City Attorney cautioned against setting a precedent by regularly providing use of the park by organizations which are profit making, but the Council approved the request on a vote of 4-1.
The Craft Club continued over the next 35 years to successfully hold its seasonal shows and has made contributions to the City for the betterment of the park.
SEBASTIAN RIVER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONCERT IN THE PARK -
JUNE 7
The Sebastian Chamber of Commerce Summer Concerts in the Park began in 1999 and Concerts in the Park kicked off in 2000 as requested by Chamber Executive Director then Beth (Perez) Mitchell and has had a very successful 24 years bringing musical entertainment to residents on Friday evenings in Riverview Park.
4TH OF JULY FREEDOM FESTIVAL - JULY 4
For at least 55 years and probably more, the City of Sebastian has hosted a 4th of July celebration along the riverfront with the generous assistance of various local service organizations. The first mentions of the 4th of July celebration in Council minutes were requests for funding to the Sebastian River Jaycees for fireworks at meetings each May from 1968 to 1972, and a $300 budget for the Jaycees' Fourth of July celebration in May 1973.
On June 14, 1976 Frank Kroegel, Chairman of the July 4 celebration, reported on arrangements and asked the City to donate $100 towards overall expenses rather than specifically for fireworks; and invited Council and Clerk to ride in the parade in the US Bicentennial wagon. In June 1979 Mr. Kroegel announced that the Boy Scouts would have a booth for cold drinks and hot dogs and the Fire Dept. would help line up parade using their walkie-talkies.
These early activities would probably have been centered in City Park, the designated public park property between Main Street, Indian River Drive, and US 1 where the old City Hall (now Chamber of Commerce) building stood and in those days the parade would have been on US Highway One. What is now Riverview Park was privately owned lots until the late 70s when the City entered into a lease agreement before the final purchase of the park property by the City in the early 80s.
In later years there was a 4th of July committee and even later still the Lions Club ran the day long activities along with assistance from many City service organizations over the years. Regardless of when it started, the 4th of July festivities, dubbed the Sebastian Freedom Festival is and always has been a premier event in our fair City.
SEBASTIAN RIVER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GRILL OUT NIGHT -
AUGUST 9
The Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce has held a Grill Out Night in August for many years to bring local people together with local businesses in out off-season.
ARTIST'S RENDITION OF 100 YEARS IN SEBASTIAN - SEPTEMBER 14
This will be conducted by the Sebastian Art Club. Locations to be determined.
CITY HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST/SEBASTIAN PD MOVIE NIGHT -
OCTOBER 25
Halloween has been celebrated in Sebastian in one form or other going back many years. In 1961 the P.T.A. held a Halloween Carnival near the old schoolhouse on Main. There is a record of another Halloween party at the school in 1973.
For several years in the 1980s Council approved use of the Sebastian Community Center free of charge by the Sebastian River Junior Women's Club to hold their annual Halloween haunted house and in 1989 it was announced that the Club would hold the Haunted House at Pottinger Funeral Home.
From 1996 to 2001 the Indian River County Recreation Department held a Halloween Parade and Costume Judging along Indian River Drive to Riverview Park. In the later years the Rotary Club joined to assist with food in the park after the parade.
In 2007 the Recreation Department started up a Halloween Costume Contest, Pumpkin Decorating & Candy, and around 2019 the Sebastian Police Department added a movie night out in Riverview Park.
The Sebastian River Junior Women's Club has built a very scary Haunted House on weekends throughout the month October for the many years. It is currently on Main Street across from the Methodist Church and it just gets bigger and better every year.
SEBASTIAN CLAMBAKE LAGOON FESTIVAL - NOVEMBER 8-10
In 2002 a proposed annual Sebastian Clambake Lagoon Festival to be held in Riverview Park over a 3 day weekend in November was approved by Council. It would be sponsored by several local organizations to become the Sebastian Clambake Foundation Inc. a non-profit which would raise funds for local needs. The Sebastian Clambake River Festival has been a premier annual event and is heading into its 22nd successful year. It celebrates the lagoon and Over the span of years the Sebastian Clambake Foundation has awarded over $1 million in donations.
SEBASTIAN RIVER AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LIGHT UP NIGHT -
DECEMBERS
The Sebastian Chamber of Commerce has held a City wide Light Up Night on the first Friday in December traditionally the night before the Christmas parade along Indian River Drive. Businesses are invited to outdo one another to bring the spirit of the holidays to the business district.
SEBASTIAN ROTARY BREWFEST - DECEMBER 7 DAY
The Rotary Club of Sebastian has held a one day brewfest in Riverview Park in December for the past two years. This event features craft beers brought in by 20+ Florida breweries, wineries and cideries, music and food. Proceeds from the event benefit the Rotary Club's charitable efforts, a non-profit beneficiary and Riverview Park.
CHRISTMAS/CENTENNIAL PARADE - DECEMBER 7 EVENING
Back in the 1940s and 1950s there are records of annual candy purchases for City sponsored Christmas celebrations that likely took place at "City Park" in the area where City Hall was located in the riverfront area first at the old Bank of Sebastian building and after 1958 in the newly constructed City Hall which is today the Chamber of Commerce. The Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion sponsored Christmas parties in that time. A Christmas tree was in City Park and lit each year. In 1954 there is an announcement by Councilmember Meta Chesser that all arrangements had been made to include the Vero Beach band, carols by school children and Santa Claus would visit by invitation of the American Legion. She continued to organize the gatherings for the next several years. On into the 1960s the celebrations in City Park continued annually. In 1973 $1000 was released to the Chamber of Commerce for Christmas street decorations. The Sebastian Jaycees became involved in the Christmas celebration and a celebration and official opening of the newly constructed Community Center on North Central Avenue was held On December 21, 1974. From that year on for several years thereafter the celebration took place at the Community Center. The Sebastian Singers joined the celebrations performing at the events.
The First Annual Christmas Parade was held on Saturday, December 15, 1984.
In 1985 the City Clerk's request to hold the Children's Annual Christmas Party in the council chambers on December 22nd was approved. This would be in the newly attained 1927 building which became City Hall in 1983.
In 1989 a request from Parks and Recreation Committee to approve use of Riverview Park for a Winter Wonderland Program sponsored by the Sebastian Junior Women's Club for the Month of December was approved. City Council approved the request. It was a beautiful event that lit up all of Riverview Park for the season.
In 1994 a request came in from the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce to use Riverview Park and the Yacht Club to bring Santa in by boat and decorate the park as Christmas Around the World and was approved by Council. This included a boat parade which would be called the "Santa Sail-in" and stretched from Captain Hiram's to the Yacht Club. Santa would arrive at the Sebastian Yacht Club ramp and be escorted to his house in Riverview Park.This lasted for the next ten years until the hurricanes of 2004 hit Sebastian and created a great deal of debris in the Indian River.
In 2005 discussions took place by groups who had been involved in prior holiday activities about having a Christmas parade on the street since the river was off limits and delivering Santa by sleigh in the parade.
The idea was brought before and approved by Council and once again a street parade on Indian River Drive was back. This was organized by GFWC Sebastian River Juniors and Woman's Club; Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce Staff; and the Sebastian Property Owners to organize the parade.
In 2004 the City will celebrate its centennial throughout the year and top it off with a Christmas/Centennial parade on the night of December 7, {the 20th year of the street parade) followed by an all day celebration on December 8, 2024, our official 100 year birthday, in Riverview Park.
DECEMBER 8 SEBASTIAN CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN RIVERVIEW PARK -
DECEMBER
A festival will be held in Riverview Park on Sunday, December 8, 2024 exactly 100 years from the date of Sebastian's official incorporation. We invite you all to come out and celebrate this paradise we all call home.
December 8, 1924 minutes
On October 29, 1924 a meeting was advertised to be held on December 8, 1924 at 7:30 p.m. for registered voters of St. Lucie County* residing in the proposed corporate limits of the Town of Sebastian (metes and bounds description was included in the advertisement), for the purposed of organizing a municipal government within the proposed corporate limits to incorporate under the provisions of Section 1827 of the Revised Statutes of the State of Florida, to select a corporate name and to choose and select officers for said proposed municipal government.
The December 8, 1924 meeting was held and a certified copy of the list of registered voters residing in the proposed corporate limits duly certified by Mrs. Ada L. Tyrie, Supervisor of Elections for St. Lucie County was presented showing a total of 105 registered voters. The meeting was called to order and a roll call was conducted of the 82 people present of the 105 registered voters and the result showed that more than two thirds and not less than 25 in number were present and participating in the meeting and it was then moved and carried by a vote of more than a majority of those present that the proposed corporate limits set out in the advertisement shall be incorporated, followed by another vote the new municipal corporation shall be "Town of Sebastian" with the seal being round with the word SEAL in the center and the words "Town of Sebastian, Florida" surrounding the word "Seal": and that the Town Council of said Town of Sebastian shall consist of five Alderman. Nominations were made for office of Mayor, five Alderman, a Clerk and Marshal and following secret ballot of the electors present, the following were elected by majority.
T.B. Hicks - Mayor
M.M. Miller - Alderman
A.G. Roberts - Alderman
C.L. Beugnot - Alderman
Charles W. Sembler - Alderman
H.M. Sallee - Alderman
L. 0. Baughman - Clerk
G.F. Vickers - Marshall
*Sebastian was a part of St. Lucie County at that time. In 1925 Indian River County was created by the Florida Legislature and Sebastian would become a part of Indian River County.
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