21 Florida Food and Wine Festivals You Must Try This Fall
From pungent garlic parties to high-brow bourbon festivals, here is a complete guide to all of the best food and drink events happening this fall.
North
Florida Seafood Festival
Apalachicola
Nov. 3–4, 2023
Slurp, shuck or sprint your way to victory at the oldest seafood festival in the Sunshine State. Lace up your shoes, and work up an appetite during the 5K run through the historic streets of Apalachicola. Then, it’s the crustaceans’s turn to make a run for it during the famous blue crab races, where they hurtle down the wooden track toward the finish line. If your stomach is more impressive than your stride, stick around for the afternoon. Dexterity and detail prevail in the oyster shucking contest, where contestants lose points for loose shells and other atrocities. But that’s just the opening act for the evening’s biggest draw: the oyster-eating contest. Here, contestants battle to throw back the most shellfish, some eating as many as 300. The trickiest part? Keeping them down. floridaseafoodfestival.com
Seeing Red Wine Festival
Seaside
Nov. 9-12, 2023
Red wine pairs best with southern charm and sandy toes. From prosecco to port, there’s a pour for every preference with more than 130 curated wines at this grand tasting. seasideseeingred.com
New Year’s Eve Shrimp Drop
Fernandina Beach
Dec. 31
Forget the Times Square ball drop—ring in the New Year with an LED-lighted shrimp. Paired with fireworks and local vendors, it’s a crustacean celebration for everyone. ameliaisland.com
Sandestin Gumbo Festival
Sandestin
Feb. 24–25
Grab a spoon and sample local spicy stew at this ultimate gumbo competition. No one said the best gumbo had to be from Louisiana, but you’ll be the judge of that. sandestingumbofestival.com
30A Wine Festival
Alys Beach
Feb. 22–26
Don’t be deceived, this soiree isn’t just for sommeliers. Wine, beer, bourbon, tequila and other spirits flow freely at this fest. Play croquet and sip rose, or eat some ‘cue and drink craft brews. It’s all about toasting to your tastes. 30awinefestival.com
Central
Tampa Pig Jig
Tampa
Oct. 22
When it comes to slinging ‘cue, rocking out and raising lots of money for kidney disease research, the iconic bay city community throws a party like no other. Once a small backyard get-together, this fundraising festival is now not only on the big stage but is making a big difference for those diagnosed with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a rare disease that scars the kidneys. Designate your family grill master and enter in one of the four barbeque competition categories: brisket, butt, ribs and the legendary wild card category—if it’s edible, it’s eligible. The winners will be announced before the headlining musical guest Sam Hunt and opening act Kip Moore. All of the country tunes and good barbecue support organizations working toward an FSGS cure. Tampapigjig.com
Tailgate Taste Fest
Tampa Bay
Oct. 15
Scream for your team at this tricked out tailgate boasting small bites from Tampa’s best restaurants. Think: mac-and-cheese bites, chicken and waffles, and wings dripping in buffalo sauce. tailgatetastefest.com
Clearwater Sangria Festival
Clearwater
Nov. 5
Choose your wine, fruit and other sweet additions to create your own boozy beverage. Rich in antioxidants, sangria is good for your heart—and your soul. clearwatersangriafestival.com
Stone Crab Jam
Crystal River
Nov. 5
Crack open a claw and a cold one with your closest friends in celebration of this ocean delicacy. This party is packed with live music, beverages and seafood so good you’ll want to dance in the streets. stonecrabjam.com
Cows ‘n Cabs
Winter Park
Nov. 12
The Ravenous Pig, Luke’s Kitchen and more than 20 other local haunts turn out small-bite plates all day and into the evening. Pair your fare with an old fashioned or a slew of other spirits. cowsncabs.com
St. Pete Beer and Bacon Festival
St. Petersburg
Jan. 14–15
Beer, bacon and barbecue: a Floridian’s trifecta. Enjoy a winter breeze at this outdoor cookout with more than 50 pork-based dishes from local vendors. It’s the one time of year you might stand by the grill for warmth.
stpetebeerandbacon.com
Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival
Fellsmere
Jan. 19–22
Hop to it! This beloved annual festival is a little freaky but a lot of fun. The proud owner of two Guinness Book World Records, this Fellsmere feast serves more than 7,000 pounds of frog legs each year to festivalgoers from around the region. froglegfestival.com
South
South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Miami
Feb. 23–26
Party beneath the stars and among them on the busy streets of South Beach at this eating extravaganza. Boasting more than 90 curated events alongside top chefs, mixologists and the world’s biggest cooking personalities, SOBEWFF has become one of Miami’s marquee annual events. Clink glasses with stars like David Burtka, Neil Patrick Harris and celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto. Even Martha Stewart and Queen Sofia of Spain have taken their seats at this Sunshine State table. If you’re not starstruck by the guest list, then the menu should do the trick. From tacos and tequila to the buzzworthy Burger Bash, attendees can sample cuisine from all over the world without leaving the Magic City. It’s an unmatched celebration of all things sweet, spicy and unapologetically South Beach. corporate.sobewff.org
Rocktoberfest
Sarasota
Oct. 14–16
Raise a beer, and toast to three days of live music, beautiful weather and … Schweinshaxe (AKA: roasted ham hock) in the spirit of Germany’s Oktoberfest. In between bands and brews, feast on sauerkraut, pretzels and, of course, bratwurst. paragonfestivals.com
Miami Rum Renaissance Festival
Coral Gables
Nov. 12–13
Get schooled on all things rum at this spirit shindig. Between all the samplings and seminars, you’ll leave with an in-depth knowledge of this pirate’s drink from sugar cane to snifter. rumrenaissance.com
Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival
Palm Beach
Dec. 8-11
Florida’s culinary heavy-hitters including Clay Conley, Lindsay Autry and Timon Balloo combine culinary chops with Food Network stars and New York powerhouses for a weekend of bespoke bites. pbfoodwinefest.com
South Florida Garlic Festival
Wellington
Feb. 4–5
Stinky breath abounds at this pungent party in the south focused on garlic grub. Admit it, you’ve always been a little curious what garlic ice cream tastes like. garlicfestfl.com
Everglades City Seafood Festival
Everglades City
Feb. 17–19
All Floridians need for a little fun is stone crab, craft beer and a good cause. Luckily, this festival has all three. Sample the state’s freshest seafood right on the edge of the swamp. evergladesseafoodfestival.org
Wellington Bacon & Bourbon Festival
Wellington
March 25–26
Bourbon is best paired with bacon, according to this boss hog festival. Chefs share their secrets while you throw back 30 different bourbons. Nothin’ like a little buzz with your bacon. baconbourbonfest.com
