It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Worden Farm’s Greenmarket!

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Worden Farm Greenmarket at the Village! Husband and wife team Chris Worden, Ph.D. and Eva Worden, Ph.D. are the dynamic duo that created Worden Farm. For almost 10 years, the Worden’s have been growing fresh, local, organic produce for our very own Southwest Florida community. The company not only strives to maintain their high quality products, but also promotes agricultural sustainability and biodiversity through educational programs. The farm is managed by a variety of sustainable methods for conserving and enhancing natural and human ecosystems. The Worden’s are renowned for their use of innovative organic farming techniques through their original, maintainable and ecological procedures. Worden Farm’s famous products and eco-friendly methods are recognized at the local, state and national level, being featured in several national and regional media outlets, including The Nightly News with Brian Williams on NBC, America’s Heartland on PBS, American Farmer, Florida Grower, Florida Travel+Life, and Florida Trend. Everyone is raving about Worden Farm’s Greenmarket!

Worden Farm also hosts events and tours, educating about farming and culinary techniques. This includes culinary workshops, farm tours, gardening workshops, private market bookings, farm feasts and special events.

From the Fall to the Spring seasons, anyone is able to gain access to their wonderful food by going to a sponsored farmer’s market. The farm produces over 50 different varieties of certified organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers, making it hard to walk away without buying something! Worden Farm’s Greenmarket will be featured at the Village every Wednesday, between the months of January and March, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Not only will organic fruits, vegetables, and flowers be available for purchase from Worden Farm but the Village will also have 100% natural granola from Leslie’s Granola, fresh seafood from Peace River Seafood, imported olive oils and spices from Bella Balsamic, Culinary Cooking Demos by Charlotte Technical Center and live entertainment by Singer/Guitarist Michael Hirst for some dancing while you shop!

By becoming a member of Worden Farm, you are guaranteed: affordable weekly harvest share of fresh, local, organic produce, during peak season, a weekly farm newsletter with recipes, ideas, farm updates, and photos, free farm tours for members and guests during the season, discounts on farm workshops and special events, 10% discount at all Worden Farm farmers market locations, personal satisfaction of connecting with the farm, and helping to protect the environment, preserve open space, support family farming, promote training of future organic farmers and gardeners, and create a strong local economy and community.

Visit www.wordenfarm.com for further farm membership information, crop information, over 50 different listed recipes, and upcoming events or call 941 637-4874 for more information. You can always visit www.fishville.com for upcoming events, times and locations of upcoming Worden Farm’s Greenmarket at the Village. See you at the market!

Chocolates and Oils and Bling, OH MY!

New and delicious stores have kept Fishermen’s Village booming with hungry customers! Jeremy and Rebecca Berlin just recently opened our newest “foreign” store, Bella Balsamic & the Pressed Olive, offering over 40 varieties of one of a kind olive oil and balsamic vinegar. These world-renowned, high class are made of 100% natural ingredients with real herb and fruits, enhancing the taste to something out of this world! Free samples of all types of oil and vinegar are always provided so you can experience the various tastes of Sicily and Venice right here in Punta Gorda! Flavors are endless so it is impossible to not find something to your liking. The store’s variety includes infused and not infused selections. Specialty oils include grapeseed, white truffle, almond black walnut and sesameed seed, all of which are amazing. The most popular balsamic vinegar flavors include fig, cranberry pear and cerano honey. Besides the incredible selection of oil and vinegar, various items are also sold. Spices are available for purchase from all over the world such as curry powder and italian oregeno. Gluten free pasta is displayed in a specific section of the store, available in different colors,shapes and sizes for some experimental fun in the kitchen! Their newly uploaded website www.bella-balsamic.com allows all customers to order any type of bottle online and learn more about the origins of the oil and vinegar. Be sure to visit this wonderful addition to the village and look out for it’s future plans including a salad bar, daily chef with grille, cookbooks for purchse, and delicious crepes in the morning!

Amy and Bryan Hick’s Beach Bums fudge store has been an incredible hit in Southwest Florida but it’s new addition, Beach Bums Sweet Shoppe:Cupcakes, Sweets and Treats, is a whole other story! As soon as you enter the store, your nostrils are hugged by a sweet and sultry aroma of freshly made chocolate and sweets. Jumbo cupcakes, double fudge brownies and cookies are made every day. There are 15 different kinds of chocolate filled cupcakes that are guranteed to make your taste buds scream for more. Saltwater taffy and delicious bulk chocolates are available by the pound (but you will certainly want more). If you’re looking for the sweets without getting the sweet tooth, there are sugar free choices as well! Hand dipped pretzels and graham crackers are the way to go for a salty but sweet taste. Not to mention, Beach Bums also sells nostalgic candies for a “sweet” trip back to the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s like old fashioned candy drops and handmade candy canes. Soon to come is are whole lines of cake and cupcake cookbooks so you can bring Beach Bums to you! Need ideas for holiday or birthday gifts? Head on over where there are themed items such as birthday hats, specialty holiday ornaments and household decorations and so much more!

Plans for a night out on the town? Check out our new bling store Bitz of Glitz! This store is fun for all ages with everything a girl needs. The costume jewelry, handbags, belts and scarves makes this store an accesory dream! The owner, Meme Albright, also owns two other stores in the Village, Bijoux and Sea Spirit. The merchandise allows customers to mix and match with inexpensive jewelry that is sure to make you shine even more. Sparkles, rhinestones and floral patterns are popular in this cute and trendy store. During the holiday and birthday season, it’s a great place to easily find something to work with whether you’re on the runway, headed to school or out to dinner with some family and friends. Everyone is talking about Bitz of Glitz!

For more information on these great new stores visit www.fishville.com or call 941-639-8721.

Festival of Lights Kick Off Event

Deck the halls! The most wonderful event of the year is underway at Fishermen’s Village! Prepare yourself for a spectacular display at the Festival of Lights 2011, as every light bulb in town will be illuminated with Christmas color. Don’t miss the official ribbon cutting initiated by Santa and City Councilman Bill Albers. This festival kick-off on November 19^th will include a special lighting ceremony of the Village when over one million lights will be turned on all at once. Every day from November 19^th-December 31^st, you can see the beautiful Christmas spirit spread out through the Village!

The festivities will begin at 5:30 pm with the arrival of the one and only, Santa Clause. Join us for his arrival in his reindeer drawn carriage courtesy of TKM stables! Following the official ribbon cutting are Lee County Pipes and Drums as they parade through the Village. Be sure to stop by Center Court to catch their special Christmas performance.

The excitement doesn’t stop there! Bring the whole family to join in song with the Charlotte Chorale Dickens Carolers from 6:00-8:00pm. Get Christmas airbrushed art for free on your face or body or even a free balloon creation courtesy of Luis the Balloon Man. Throughout the night complimentary refreshments will be offered to our patrons as you join us for dancing the night away to the Boogiemen Band from 5-9 pm, getting snapshots with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and shopping throughout the Village for Christmas gifts. Be sure to catch a ride on a horse-drawn carriage by TKM Stables for a small fee to complete the enchanting night of holiday festivities.

Calling all golf carts! Show off your holiday spirit on November 26^th, 2011 by decorating your golf cart and participating in the Christmas Lighted Golf Cart Parade at the Village. Staging will take place at the end of W. Retta Esplanade beginning at 5:30 pm and the parade will begin at 6 pm. If you’ve got the best golf cart in town, show off! For more information and the registration form go to www.fishville.com

Between December 3 and December 31, King Fisher Fleet is offering their annual Christmas Lights Cruise. All aboard as you enchant yourself upon a relaxing cruise and ride down the harbor and the canals of Punta Gorda to see the Christmas lights. There will be cruises offered at three different times during the evening but reservations are strongly recommended! King Fisher Fleet is taking reservations and selling tickets fast. Call (941) 639-0969 to reserve your seat on a cruise and enjoy an evening at the Village!

Admission to the kick-off event is a canned donation to be donated to the Good Samaritans Food Pantry. Parking is also free of charge. We can’t wait to see you there in your holiday spirit throughout November and December. Happy Holidays!

Back to the Fifties Sock Hop!

Ready for music, fun and contests? Don’t miss the hippest event of the year including fifties trivia, twist dancing, bubble gum blowing, hula hoop and jitter bug contests! There will be prizes galore throughout this fun-filled event starting on November … Continue reading →

What would you do with $1,000,000 but yo

What would you do with $1,000,000 but you could only buy ONE thing?

Free live entertainment at the Village e

Free live entertainment at the Village every Friday and Saturday night! Father/Daughter Duo Magen & Mike perform 5-9 pm, Center Stage, enjoy

Bark, Bark, Barktoberfest!

As we inch closer to the holidays, fall season brings upon us a soothing air. Drinking sweet apple cider at home, carving pumpkins with family and watching leaves fall from the trees are all included in our transition to autumn. In spirit of the best season of the year, Fishermen’s Village is presenting the third annual Oktoberfest!  On Saturday, October 8th, the Village will be filled with an array of October activities for everyone.

 

The event will begin with shows by the talented East Elementary and Sallie Jones Elementary Schools from 10:00 am-10:30 am, at Center Court. Support the hard work and enthusiasm of these young entertainers! Throughout the day, children and their families can choose a pumpkin from East Elementary School’s PTO Pumpkin Patch. While enjoying the festivities, stop by the patch to take home an orange Oktoberfest souvenir! The excitement continues with the 2nd annual Weiner Dog Derby from 11:00 am-12:00 noon. All different types of pups are welcomed for this 25 yard race to the finish so start training your furry friends!

 

Village merchants get to join in on the delight of Oktoberfest in “Scarecrows on Parade” where their originality will be put on display. Scarecrows have been historically used to frighten off birds from harvests, but the Village-Crows will be ones of style, cuteness and appeal. We encourage the public to vote on their favorite display based on the merchant’s innovation. There will be a multitude of different kinds to choose from; big, small, short, and tall, we have them all! Every vote is eligible to win a fabulous prize of $100 village bucks to use for dinner at one of our great restaurants or something special from any of our stores. Enter for a chance to spoil you, Village style!

 

While relishing the variety of German food and delicacies sold at the Village restaurants, check in on the live entertainment during the day. Follow the dance steps along with the Steinwingers Oompah band as they perform German and Bavarian polkas, waltzes and marches, from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Schuplattler Gruppe Alpenrose dancers and Peter & Edith will also be performing your favorite German tunes from 5:00-9:00 pm, Center Stage. Get those dancing shoes ready!

 

If you have enjoyed Fishermen’s Village’s “Muttini Mingle” events, presented by Salty Paws, you don’t want to miss the 6th annual Barktoberfest on October 29th, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., center court! Get ready to dress up “man’s best friend” into the most creative outfit you can put together for the biggest pet costume contest in town. Space is very limited so pre-registration is required to participate. This is a charity event sponsored by Salty Paws as all proceeds go towards the local animal shelter. Join us for exciting activities for you and your furry friends to adore! Call 941-575-7599 for more details.

 

Fishermen’s Village invites you to join us for the event of the season! Admission is free and we guarantee a great time. Fishermen’s Village is located off Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda.  From I-75 take exit #164, turn left on to Hwy 17 and proceed 3 miles to the Village.  For more information, call 941 639-8721 or visit Fishville.com. We hope to see you there!