There are no major holidays in August, but don’t tell that to one of our many August-born residents. In addition to their own birthdays, here are some days in history to celebrate:
August 3, 1492 – Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with three ships, Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. Seeking a westerly route to the Far East, he instead landed on October 12th in the Bahamas, thinking it was an outlying Japanese island.
August 4, 1693 – Champagne was invented by Dom Perignon.
August 9, 1944 – Smokey Bear was born on Aug. 9, 1944, when the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council agreed that a fictional bear would be the symbol for their joint effort to promote forest fire prevention. Artist Albert Staehle was asked to paint the first poster of Smokey Bear.
The morning of Friday, August 13, 2004, many in Southwest Florida expected to watch Hurricane Charley pass by in the Gulf of Mexico on its way to landfall, somewhere around Tampa. But, the infamous wobble in the path changed all that, and drove the storm right through Captiva, Punta Gorda, Arcadia and Burnt Store Marina, leaving devastation in its wake.
August 15, 1969 – Woodstock began in a field near Yasgur’s Farm at Bethel, New York. The three-day concert featured 24 rock bands, and drew a crowd of more than 300,000 young people. The event came to symbolize the counterculture movement of the 1960s.
August 21, 1959 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a proclamation admitting Hawaii to the Union as the 50th state.
August 25, 1904 – The Banana Split was invented by David Strickler at a soda fountain in Latrobe, Pa.
August is a slow month for outdoor events in Florida because of brutal heat and humidity, potential for hurricanes, and a slowdown in tourism. Here are some events to look forward to:
August 1 – 2 – The 56th Annual Wausau Fun Day & Possum Festival, Wausau, Florida
Created in 1970 by Dalton Carter, the Wausau Possum Festival, occurring the first Saturday every August, celebrates the Opossum, a nocturnal marsupial. The event kicks off Friday night with a concert (act to be announced later) followed by the much-anticipated Possum King & Queen Contest. Saturday festivities include a parade through downtown at 10 a.m., games, activities, vendors, live entertainment, and a possum auction. The Donkey Ball Game begins at 7 p.m. For information, go to http://www.visitwcfla.com/events/wausau-possum-festival/
August 2 – Fisherman’s Village TikiFest, Punta Gorda, Florida
Island flavors and culture will be featured throughout the promenade and at the dry beach, including Hawaiian dance, steel drums, live demonstrations, shopping, and dining. Event hours are 12 – 6 p.m. For information, go to http://www.pureflorida.com/event/tikifest-at-fishermens-village/3206/
August 17 – The City Bikes Key Largo Triathlon, Key Largo, Florida
Located at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, athletes all ages compete in this Olympic and sprint distance triathlon (swim, bike and run). Hours: 6:50 – 11 a.m. for information, go to http://www.runsignup.com/Race/FL/KeyLargo/GameOnKeyLargoTriathlonSum
August 29 – September 1 – Just a Few Friends Key West, Key West, Florida
This is a memorial celebration honoring Key West’s favorite son, Jimmy Buffett, on the second anniversary of his Sept. 1, 2023 passing. The weekend is filled with tours, bar crawls, rum tastings and music events. The highlight is the Second Line Parade along Duval Street, culminating in a free music festival at Truman Waterfront Park with local and national entertainment. For information, go to www.justafewfriendskeywest.com)
