Floating Through the Clouds at Cannafeast 2022
Cannafeast 2022 in Port Charlotte Florida
Through the years of covering shows and festivals alike, there has never been one quite like the Cannafeast.
Potluck Production's Cannafeast wasn't the largest festival that has ever taken place in terms of scale, but it did offer something unique, and it wasn't just the amount of herb in the air. Throughout the day there was a distinct eagerness in the air, some people came to enjoy the numerous vendors, and some implanted them in front of the stage quite early for some musical meditation, where the one and only
DJ Badda Skat was sending smoke signals in the air, signaling good times ahead.
At one point, there was even a giant marijuana leaf riding around on a bike, dubbed the Hemp Hero... or was that the herb getting to my head?
With over 90 vendors on festival grounds, it made it a real treat when walking around vendor village. Each offering something different, from a hand carved wooden hand, meant to be a smudging bowl, to hand painted bongs and bowls. At one point, I even stumbled across a pipe made of teeth at the Deezwickedcharms, the festival's Most Valuable Vendor. Meanwhile, things were getting real earthy at the Cannapalooza Nursery booth, who offered a wide array of products on site, everything from gummies to help you sleep, to vapes to ease the stress. Even Delta 8 flower was available on site.
Cannapalooza owner, Marlon Santiago explained to Nature Studios that everything within the company is "In house, and very grassroots." and further explaining that everything's done within Hudson, Florida. All the way from growing the plant to packaging it. This approach led Cannapalooza to taking gold in Tampa Bay Time's People's Choice Awards for Best Smoke Shop, and placing third in Best CBD Shop.
For those on the hunt for food with an insatiable case of the munchies, there were plenty of options.
Sometimes the munchies just calls for a delectable burger, and in that case, the Dank AF food truck had a savory wagyu burger served with their signature dank fries. The juicy burger was so fresh as it pleased each and every taste bud. The food truck even offered vegan options for those who prefer it. That wasn't all, because Smoking Momma Lora's BBQ Mobile was also on site, serving up aromatic dishes. With cotton mouth bound to be a factor, The Herban Flow provided tasty drinks, whether it be a mocktail or a cannabinoid infused tonic, kava and kombucha tea, or a myriad of other drinks. Co-owners Mike and Caitlyn Smith told Nature Studios they expect that 2023 will be the year where people start drinking their cannabis, and with the bounty of flavors they provided, it is highly possible.
KBong
Throughout the day, the anthems of Island Asylum, One Culture, Soul Purpose IV, rang through the festival grounds, providing a bounty of heady tunes to groove to. By the time the sun buried itself below the horizon, Sprout offered a dose of what was to come. Giving the crowd tastes of Rebelution, Iya Terra, and some of their own music. But then KBong hit the stage and drew everyone close for a set that felt like magic. The music was phenomenal, but the whole day had a magical quality. The vendors not only took pleasure in showing off their wares, but also seemed really happy to be there. Many said that Cannafeast was where they wanted to be and that it was a lovely event that they were glad to partake in.
The Cannafeast left everyone hungry for more, and luckily the Port Charlotte Fairgrounds will house FloFest in April 2023, another Potluck Productions event.
The success of Cannafeast beckons that FloFest will be a blast, and something that you won't want to miss.
Photos by Phil DeSimone
Video by Brian “Porkchop” Nicholson and Zack Kearney
Review by Brendan Mcginley