Yum! Florida Serves Up A Rich Menu Of Food Festivals

Yum! Florida Serves Up A Rich Menu Of Food Festivals

By Georgina Cruz

According to the old saying “the road to a man’s heart is through his stomach,” and I think it is the same in the case of travelers (of both sexes!). No wonder Florida is such a popular destination for vacations and staycations: it not only has abundant and excellent restaurants, cafes, and bistros but also a varied menu of food festivals each year. These events, mostly outdoors, feature not only various foods and beverages, but often also live music, arts and crafts fairs and other activities as well as, in some cases, international flavor. For example, everyone can celebrate Greece during the annual Greek Festival in St. Augustine, feel German for a day in Miami and other Florida cities during Oktoberfest and go on a culinary trip around the world during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in Orlando.

Some events have free admission (visitors pay only for food and beverages consumed); others have admission fees, and some collect funds for worthy causes so you help others while you eat!

Here are a variety of food festivals scheduled for the next few months. Always double-check the dates before planning travel as schedules are subject to change.

• July 15-Nov. 20 – You can send your taste buds on a trip around the world during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in Orland. It typically features more than 30 marketplaces with food and beverages from around the world and offers special tastings, culinary demonstrations, chef appearances, family activities and musical entertainment. Regarding the latter, “this year Mariachi Cobre and Jammin’ Chefs will return,” said a Disney spokesman. Some events, like the musical entertainment, are included in the price of admission to Epcot, others are extra. Info: www.TasteEpcot.com.
• August 12-15 – The Annual Key West Lobsterfest celebrates everyone’s favorite crustacean with a Lobster Boil, Street Fair, music and more. Some events are free, others are ticketed. Info: https://keywestlobsterfest.com/.

• September 24-26 – The Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival treats palates to a variety of dishes from carefully selected food vendors in downtown Pensacola. Visitors can enjoy foods such as grilled conch, seafood gumbo, oyster croquettes, soft shell crab, coconut shrimp, Caribbean crab cakes, and more. With more than 135 arts and crafts vendors, the Pensacola Seafood Festival is one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in Northwest Florida. Also on the agenda are live music and cooking demonstrations as well as a children’s play area. Info: www.fiestapensacola.org.
• Various dates and locations during October – Oktoberfest celebrations abound in Florida in cities including Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville, and typically feature German beer, food, music and folk dancing. Among the many celebrations is Oktoberfest Miami on Oct. 15-17 and 22-24 at the German American Social Club on Miller Drive. Info: https://oktoberfest.miami.
• Oct. 1-3 – Destin, a town in the West Coast of Florida, famous for its seafood, presents the Annual Destin Seafood Festival. The event offers fresh delicacies from the Gulf of Mexico at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk as well as plenty of live music and a family activities’ area. There is no admission charge to the festival, but donations are accepted. Info: www.destinseafoodfestival.com.
• Oct. 8-10 – Everyone can be Greek at St. Augustine’s Annual Greek Festival at Francis Field in Florida’s “Old City.” The festival, sponsored by Holy Trinity Greek Church, will showcase the aromas and flavors of freshly prepared Greek food and pastries. Costumed dancers typically perform to Greek music. A portion of the proceeds will benefit charity. Info: www.stauggreekfest.com.
• Oct. 29-31—The Naples Stone Crab Festival in Bayfront Naples and along the city’s waterfront features crafts, music and of course an abundance of succulent stone crab claws. Info: https://www.paradisecoast.com/event/stone-crab-festival/4368.
• Oct. 29-30 – The annual Food & Wine Classic” at the Swan & Dolphin Resort celebrates the delights of food and wine with tastings, demonstrations and seminars at this beautiful resort within walking distance of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Visitors who would like to spend a few nights to make the most of the festival have a new lodging option: the Swan Reserve, slated to debut in July on the Swan & Dolphin property. Info: https://www.swandolphinfoodandwineclassic.com/.
• Nov. 5-6 – The Annual Florida Seafood Festival in Apalachicola, one of Florida’s oldest, serves up seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events, and musical entertainment. Highlights include oyster eating and oyster shucking contest, blue crab races, cooking contest, parade, 5k Redfish Run and The Blessing of the Fleet. The festival is held at the mouth of the Apalachicola River under the shade of the oaks in Battery Park. Info: www.floridaseafoodfestival.com.