by The Editors | March 14, 2024
Can’t-Miss Events in Florida this Spring
Reel in a wahoo in St. Augustine, sip on something fizzy in Sebring or sit track-side in Miami for a heart-pounding Formula 1 race this spring.
NORTH
Fish to Fork
Amelia Island
May 9–12
Fish and dish at this interactive culinary weekend that brings together sport fishing and the art of cooking at the Omni Amelia Island Resort. The event kicks off with a chef’s welcome dinner to fuel guests for their turn with a rod and reel on the following day’s excursion. At sunrise, the charter boats depart from Fernandina Harbor Marina, helmed by some of the South’s most notable chefs and headed for peaceful jetties and backwaters. Everything that’s caught, from grouper and sea bass to skate and flounder, will be served on Saturday during the individual cooking competition on Magnolia Lawn. The individual contest encourages the chefs to create signature dishes out of the fresh catches they reeled in. Then the seafood stakes culminate in a Chef Showdown, an hourlong competition where chefs are divided into teams and must incorporate into their dishes a last-minute secret ingredient, which is only revealed minutes before the contest begins. The result is a gourmet, on-the-fly menu for guests to feast and vote on. Arguably the freshest way to sample North Florida’s bounty, this five-star experience will leave attendees happy as clams and ready to book their spots for 2025.
omnihotels.com
Northeast Florida Wahoo Shootout
St.Augustine
Now-March 30
Troll North Florida waters for two days in search of a prize catch for a chance to win a cash prize or a 21-foot Yellowfin bay boat at the world’s largest wahoo fishing tournament.
wahooshootout.com
Dressing Louisa
St.Augustine
March 6-May 14
Explore the nuances of fashion through each decade of the 1800s by taking a closer look at famous boarding room proprietor Louisa Fatio’s iconic styles at the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum.
ximenezfatiohouse.org
Word of South: A Festival of Literature & Music
Tallahassee
April 26-28
Springtime in the capital city kicks off with this annual festival dedicated to all things books and music, including an opening-night performance by The Flaming Lips. Stop by the Flamingo stage to hear from voices and musicians straight from our pages.
wordofsouthfestival.com
Digital Graffiti Festival
Alys Beach
April 26-28
The signature white buildings of Alys Beach transform into an explosion of movement and color as local artists project their short films and generative art across the city’s architecture.
digitalgraffiti.com
Tupelo Honey Festival
Wewahitchka
May 18
This Panhandle festival is dedicated to one of the region’s biggest exports: tupelo honey. Come for the sweet delicacies, and stay for the car show, food and live entertainment.
tupelohoneyfestival.com
JJ Grey’s Blackwater Sol Revue
St. Augustine
May 25-26
Jacksonville’s JJ Grey and Mofro produce and headline this two-day music fest with artists such as Lucero, The Allman Betts Band and Anders Osborne.
theamp.com
CENTRAL
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Orlando
Feb. 28-May 27
Witness the world come into bloom this spring at this three-month-long horticultural exhibition unfolding throughout the park. On top of Epcot’s typical allure, stop and smell the flowers, topiaries and botanical displays sprinkled with a little bit of Disney magic. Wander the butterfly garden, which captures the insect’s life cycle and pollination habits, and snap selfies with the meticulous recreations of Disney characters, fashioned out of shrubs, flowers and moss. The topiary sculptures this year include Bambi, Groot, a dragon and more, all created by a team of Imagineers, welders, gardeners and Disney’s in-house horticulturists. Throughout this visual feast, eat your way through Epcot’s 11 countries, sampling seasonal dishes such as spicy chicken gumbo, muffuletta paninis and chocolate whiskey cake. The long-running Garden Rocks Concert Series sets the soundtrack—with performances by the Plain White T’s, Crowder and The Pointer Sisters—to channel your inner flower power.
disneyworld.disney.go.com
65th Annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival
Winter Park
March 15-17
Wander through downtown at one of the nation’s largest juried art competitions. Hundreds of artists will vie for 64 awards totaling $76,500 with paintings, sculptures and mixed-media art.
wpsaf.org
43rd Annual Sunnyland Boat Festival
Tavares
March 22-24
Walk the docks at the country’s largest wooden and antique boat show and cheer on the competitors in the Festival of Speed, showcasing more than 60 classic cars.
acbs-sunnyland.org
Old Florida Celebration of the Arts
Cedar Key
April 6-7
Recognized as one of the top small-town arts fairs in the nation, this festival has been bringing color to the community since 1964. See creations from over 100 artists in this idyllic small town.
cedarkeyartsfestival.com
Sebring Soda Festival
Sebring
April 6-7
Find your next fizzy favorite from among the best in bubbly beverages. Thousands of carbonation connoisseurs gather to sample the more than 200 craft sodas, ranging from Oak Creek Blonde Root Beer to Mr. Q. Cumber.
sebringsodafest.com
Beer ‘Merica
Orlando
May 18
Salute Uncle Sam for American Craft Beer Week with more than 100 different craft brews, seltzers and more in Gaston Edwards Park. Dress in your best red, white and blue for a chance to win a one-year supply of your favorite beer.
beermericaorlando.com
Ford Intl. Cuban Sandwich Festival
Ybor City
May 26
Decide who has the best Cubano from vendors across the historic Tampa neighborhood of Ybor City at this 13th annual competition. Watch the culinary community attempt to construct a 350-foot-long Cuban sandwich.
cubansandwichfestival.com
SOUTH
Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix
Miami Gardens
May 3-5
Verstappen, Hamilton and Perez bring the g-forces to the Miami International Autodrome, as the Hard Rock Stadium complex transforms into a high-stakes Formula 1 track in this third annual race to take place in South Florida. Throughout the three-day event, international drivers (and the sole American Logan Sargeant) fly 57 laps around the 3.36-mile track at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour for a chance to claim the W on day three. The course snakes around the stadium and features experiential seating areas for fans, like an artificial marina with real glittering yachts. Watch from the grandstands to feel the energy of the cars flashing by or stay a few floors down in the air-conditioned villas for up-close views. Off-the-track action is nearly as exciting as the race itself with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment mingling among the fans (think David Beckham, Tom Cruise, and Venus and Serena Williams). Art installations, live music from the likes of the Jonas Brothers and DJ sets keep the party vibes hitting on all cylinders throughout the weekend.
f1miamigp.com
Florida Derby
Hallandale Beach
March 30
Don your frilliest hat and place your smartest bets at this iconic horse race—with a $1 million purse—that has taken place at Gulfstream Park since 1952 and marks the run-up to the Kentucky Derby.
floridaderby.com
Tortuga Music Festival
Ft. Lauderdale
April 5-7
This signature beachfront festival dedicated to ocean conservation features Lainey Wilson, Hardy, Ashley McBryde and other country music stars.
tortugamusicfestival.com
Pompano Beach Seafood Festival
Pompano Beach
April 20-21
Eat yourself silly while sampling some of the best crawfish, shrimp and fish in South Florida while listening to local blues and reggae bands. All proceeds benefit Pompano Beach’s Boy Scout troops and local schools.
pompanobeachseafoodfestival.com
Zilia Sánchez: Tolopolgías/Topologies
Miami
April 20-Oct. 13
In this Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, exhibition, Cuban-based painter Zilia Sánchez’s abstract forms are surveyed across her 60-year career.
Icamiami.org
The Messi Experience: A Dream Come True
Miami
April 25-June 30
With Lionel Messi’s arrival to Inter Miami came a tsunami of excitement. Now, futbol fans can experience his life through a new lens, with exhibits on his rise to soccer stardom and interactive drills.
themessiexperience.com
Key West Songwriters Festival
Key West
May 1-5
For five days, venues and stages across Key West come alive with the music of the best songwriters and soon-to-be stars from across the United States, featuring country music headliner Cole Swindell.
Keywestsongwritersfestival.com
