Inverness officials created the Cooter Festival in 2004 to showcase the city after a series of hurricanes that year battered the region. Former City of Inverness officials Patty Smith, retired Parks and Recreation director, Frank DiGiovanni, former city manager, and Deborah Davis, retired city clerk, recently sat down to discuss the inaugural event. The three said city leaders wanted a fun gathering that could lift spirits and draw attention to Inverness.
Smith said the event started as a way to promote the community. “What did we have to promote our town? A lake, a boat, a cooter,” Smith said, describing the turtle that gave the festival its name. Organizers hoped the festival would become a signature event that residents and visitors would look forward to each year.
The festival’s mascots, Sunny Cooter and the original Cooter Festival mascots, became a familiar sight at early events. Sunny Cooter appeared on water skis, and the character helped build a playful identity for the celebration. The Cooter Festival 2016 logo, shown in Chronicle file art, reflected the event’s lasting branding.
DiGiovanni said the festival grew into more than a single weekend of activities. “The thing with the festival is, we were looking for a hook,” he said, recalling the early planning. The team worked to make the event distinct from others in the region, and the name and mascot became central to that effort.
Davis and the other former officials said the festival evolved over the years, and the name Cootertober emerged as a nickname for the autumn celebration. They credited the Citrus County community for embracing the event and keeping its traditions alive. The conversation offered a look at how a small-town idea became a lasting part of Inverness life.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
