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Florida is the place to be if you enjoy the taste of mango.
FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN
Taste of Tradition:
Florida’s Food Festivals
Plan your vacation around one of these statewide celebrations that put homegrown flavors in your mouth.
By Marcea Cazel
Florida is known around the world for its sunshine and beaches. But the state also has a long history rooted in agriculture and aquaculture. For generations, the bounty of these industries has shaped Florida’s communities and the dishes found on local menus. Oranges may be the state’s most famous crop, but Florida is also known for strawberries, stone crabs, clams, cattle, and other foods that helped build towns across the state.
Many communities still celebrate these traditions through food festivals. These events highlight the crops and seafood that helped Florida grow, while also giving residents and visitors a chance to taste regional fare at its best. From the Panhandle to the Keys, food festivals create a flavorful map of Florida’s agricultural heritage.
North Florida Festivals
Apalachicola oysters
ADOBE STOCK
Florida Seafood Festival
Apalachicola » First weekend in November
From shrimp to oysters to grouper, the food harvested directly from the Gulf near the Florida Panhandle helps sustain the community. The oldest seafood festival in the state, the Florida Seafood Festival is held in Apalachicola over two days. It features oyster shucking and eating contests, races (for both humans and crabs), a parade, live music and a carnival, along with opportunities to purchase food to benefit local nonprofit groups.
Clams in Cedar Key, Florida
GETTY IMAGES
Cedar Key Seafood Festival
Cedar Key » Oct. 17-18, 2026
The tiny town of Cedar Key opens its doors to visitors every October for its annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival. An island town of fewer than 1,000 people located 130 miles from both Tampa and Jacksonville, Cedar Key buzzes during the event. Cordoning off a few blocks of downtown, the historic fishing village celebrates its long history of seafood harvesting with live music, a parade, family activities, and, of course, plenty of seafood, including the clams now harvested to support the local economy.
Central Florida Festivals
Sweet treats are available at the Florida Strawberry Festival
Florida Strawberry Festival
Plant City » Late February/Early March
For almost 100 years, the Florida Strawberry Festival has promoted the sweet fruit that has made Plant City the winter strawberry capital of the world. Held over 11 days, the festival not only highlights the area’s berries, tomatoes, squash and dairy products, but it also features midway rides, youth livestock shows and concerts featuring nationally known artists. One item not to miss is the famous strawberry shortcake.
The Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival features a collards cook-off.
The Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival
St. Petersburg » Mid-February
Founded to promote healthy eating and Black history, the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival began with a one-day festival but has expanded into other programming throughout the year. The foundational street festival has been held for nine years in the Jordan Park neighborhood (Carter G. Woodson African American Museum of Florida) and features a collards cook-off, exhibits hosted by local businesses, health screenings, family activities and live music. Newer additions to the festival are the I Heart Collard Greens 5k & Fitness Extravaganza, usually held in March, and the upcoming St Pete MLK Parade 2027 40th Year Celebration (Jan. 18, 2027). In addition to the 5K race, attendees can attend sports clinics, participate in fitness contests and watch healthy cooking demonstrations. The January parade is one of the largest celebrations in the nation honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Southern Florida Festivals
Hearts of palm are featured at the Swamp Cabbage Festival
Swamp Cabbage Festival
LaBelle » Last weekend in February
The state tree of Florida, the Sabal palm, produces the hearts of palm used in fancy salads and other tasteful recipes. Used by settlers for building materials and as a food source, these trees, also known as cabbage trees, are honored at the Swamp Cabbage Festival in LaBelle, a small town located 30 miles east of Fort Myers. Full of beauty queens, armadillo races, a parade and plenty of deep-fried fritters filled with hearts of palm, the festival raises funds to support scholarships for the local Rotary Club.
Learn all about mangos at the Mango Festival in Miami and enjoy the fresh fruit.
Mango Festival
Miami » June 13-14, 2026
Held at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens in Miami, the Mango Festival is a celebration of this plentiful fruit that grows in many South Florida backyards. In season from May through October, mangoes are often enjoyed fresh off the tree but can also be used to make soups, added to salads or to create tropical drinks. Fairchild grows more than 300 mango varieties, and the festival celebrates them through tastings, cocktails, cooking demonstrations and more.
If going to Miami, check out the AAA Miami Travel Guide.
Key lime pie made from fresh key limes
Key Lime Festival
Key West » July 1-5, 2026
Smaller and tarter than a traditional lime, the West Indian version, known as a key lime, was made famous by its namesake pie, a specialty of Key West as far back as the 1930s. During the five-day Key Lime Festival, participants enjoy a variety of foods, contests, a vendor market, historical talks and, of course, a key lime pie eating contest.
Visit AAA.com/TripCanvas, AAA’s online travel planning tool, to plan and book travel to Florida.
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