Chalo Nitka

The Chalo Nitka Festival - Moore Haven, Florida

(Video: 2011 Festival Parade - Moore Haven, Florida)

Moore Haven's Chalo Nitka Festival and Frontier Days is Glades County's annual county fair. The Festival in the park, and parade through the city streets culminates the festivities on the 1st Saturday every March, with the Youth Livestock Show and auction held during the week before the Saturday festival day.

One of Florida's oldest continuous festivals, dating back to 1949 when the celebration started commemorating the completion of the paving of Main Street (now called Avenue J) in Moore Haven.

Chalo Nitka means "The Day of the Big Bass" in the Seminole Indian language.

“The Chalo Nitka Festival is really the Glades County Fair, and like fairs in small towns across America, it features homemade food and arts and crafts, carnival rides and beauty queens, but with a special twist, celebrating Glades County’s traditional friendship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida,” says Glades County Economic Development Council and Tourism Development Council executive director Tracy Whirls.

Here's the typical schedule of events and some scenes of recent festivals:

Tuesday - Glades Youth Livestock Show 7:00 p.m. Dairy and Swine Show at Youth Livestock Rodeo Grounds

Wednesday - Glades Youth Livestock Show

7:00 p.m. Steer and PeeWee Show at Youth Livestock Rodeo Grounds

Thursday - Glades Youth Livestock Sale

7:00 p.m. Livestock Sale at Youth Livestock Rodeo Grounds

Friday - Chalo Nitka Frontier Days Rodeo

8 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Kid's Day Fishing Contest At Park

11 a.m. - Children's Games

7:00 p.m. Rodeo at Bronson Rodeo Arena - Barrel Racing, Roping, Tying, Racing, Bull Riding - admission

9:00 p.m. Adults only dance at Doyle Conner Building - admission for entrance and coolers

Saturday (1st Saturday in March)7:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. -Pancake Breakfast (Elementary School Cafeteria)

10:00 a.m. Chalo Nitka Festival Parade - U.S. 27 in Moore Haven

11:00 a.m. - Craft and Food Booths Open (Chalo Nitka Park) - admission

11:30 a.m. Opening Ceremonies, Music, Entertainment until 4 p.m.

7:00 p.m. Rodeo at Bronson Arena - Barrel Racing, Roping, Tying, Racing, Bull Riding - $5.00 admission

8:00 p.m. Teen Dance (Wiggens Bldg.) - admission

9:00 p.m Adult Dance (Doyle Conner Bldg.) - admission for entrance and coolers

Festival events and times subject to change

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