What To Do This March in Florida

North

Florida Luxe Arts Festival

Panama City
March 6–8

At this iconic Panhandle town’s annual art festival, creativity is everywhere—on the sides of buildings, the streets under your feet and in installations you walk past. Local musicians set the score as national street artists create trippy chalk art and intricate murals of butterfly wings stacked on top of each other. With an extra day added to the schedule, there’s more time to explore sights, sounds and colors of street art.
flluxeartsfestival.com

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The Player’s Championship

Ponte Vedra Beach
March 12–15

Watch Rory McIlroy hit an eagle on a par-5 at this four-day tournament at TPC Sawgrass. Kick off the week with a performance by 3-time Grammy winner Ludacris in front of the 17th hole. The next day, hit the course and get the best view of your favorite players, like Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland, at the stadium style course. And for those just there to par-tee, grab a Sawgrass Splash cocktail and rub elbows with some of North Florida’s elite socialites and the occasional celebrity.
theplayers.com

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Forgotten Coast En Plein Air

Port Saint Joe
March 20–29

Stemming from an old French tradition of painting in the outdoors, this expressive event invites 19 internationally acclaimed artists to sell, teach and capture the natural beauty and nostalgic feeling of Old Florida. For 10 days, there are workshops, exhibitions, quickdraws that are open to any and all, plus live demonstrations with up to 5 artists at a time. Across Franklin County artists will be set up along the shore trying to capture their own “Water Lilies” scene.
forgottencoastenpleinair.com

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Deep End Weekend

Fort White
March 5–8

Discover new depths of appreciation for Florida’s natural springs by descending far below the surface and into the silent, crystal-clear underwater ecosystem—no scuba tank allowed—at the nation’s largest free diving festival. Newlyweds and Deep End Weekend founders Kenzie and Tanner Pedersen invite you to fall in love with free diving, a sport where a single breath sustains divers as they go down 60 feet toward the Floridian aquifer. The weekend unfolds camp-style at the Ichetucknee Springs Campground, with live music and nightly bonfires. Past events have included a lesson on underwater photography, aquatic dance classes, chats with seasoned pros—world champion free diver Alexey Molchanov has made an appearance before—and, of course, free diving. Bring a tent if you’re feeling adventurous or glamp out with an RV.
deependweekend.com

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Central

Spring Obsession

Lakeland
March 14

Green thumb or not, at Lakeland’s 23rd annual garden festival, you can find flora festivities for anyone: mimosas in the garden, coloring stations for the kids and plants that you can’t kill. Gardening is more than just a hobby here on Main Street; it’s a part of the eco-friendly movement where vendors sell sustainable clothing, garden tools and patio art, in addition to unique houseplants, like Calatheas, special shrubs such as oleander and hanging airplants.
springobsession.org

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Flanagan’s Street Parade

Dunedin
March 14

This small Tampa Bay town boasts the largest St. Patrick’s Day street parade in Florida that celebrates all things Irish: bagpipes, Highland dancing and men in kilts—hopefully it’s not too breezy. Start with an Irish coffee at 11 a.m. and make your way to a Guinness by 11 p.m. at this 12-hour long party set to the sounds of Celtic rock and traditional Irish jams.
facebook.com/flanagansirishpub

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Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival

Winter Park
March 20–22

It’s far beyond your average art festival: 212 juried artists make everything from oil paintings of dreamy sunsets to hand forged metal and mica floor lamps. Historic downtown Winter Park hosts nearly 250,000 visitors each year for one of the most prestigious outdoor art festivals in the South, with prizes ranging from $500 to $12,000.
wpsaf.org

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Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival

Okeechobee
March 19–22

Immersive art and sensational musicians come together at the 10th anniversary of this 4-day music and arts festival. Pitch a tent under the palmettos and pines at Sunshine Grove and catch some of modern music’s favorite artists, like The Lumineers, Cage the Elephant, T-Pain, Flipturn and more. Their three main stages, Be, Here and Now, capture what the founders want from their audience—to be present and enjoy the good vibes, diverse music and giant, groovy art.
okeechobeefest.com

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Florida Strawberry Festival

Plant City
Now–March8

Berry good times are ahead at this annual fair, which blends classic midway fun with fresh-picked Florida produce and big-name musicical acts. An estimated 650,000 visitors are expected to pass through the gates again this year. Stroll the grounds with a locally made strawberry shortcake in hand, take a spin on the Tilt-A-Whirl or grab a seat at Wish Farms Soundstage for performances by headliners such as Alabama, Ginuwine, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts or Lonestar. Be sure to bring your appetite and sign up for an eating contest to test just how many Amish donuts or corn dogs is too many. Rides, livestock contests and a scholarship pageant round out the 11-day celebration marking the peak of strawberry season. 
flstrawberryfestival.com

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South

Marathon Seafood Festival

Marathon
March 14–15

Wear your stretchy pants at this weekend full of ocean delicacies: oysters, shrimp, conch-fritters, mahi mahi, lobster bisque, stone crabs and more. What initially began as a kickback among locals has now turned into a big party with boat shows, a rock wall for kids and live music from Florida natives, like Amber Leigh and The Marshall Morlock Band, to celebrate the year’s nautical harvest.
marathonseafoodfestival.com

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Miami Open

Miami Gardens
March 15–29

Starched linen pants and navy blue sweaters are the unspoken uniform of the Miami Open, which is a social event just as much as it is a sporting one. This see-and-be-seen function is a 12-day tournament featuring elite guests, from the likes of Neymar and Rihanna, watching world-renowned players, like Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz, compete for the glass trophy and walk home with $1.1 million. Sip an Ace Paloma and try not to get a headache from following the ball on the court.
miamiopen.com

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Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

Orlando
March 4–June 1

Iconic characters like Goofy, Minnie Mouse and Buzz Lightyear are brought to life as 10-foot-tall shrub statues for Epcot’s annual foliage festival that lasts nearly four months. It doesn’t stop there, either: there are more than 60 garden sculptures, known as topiaries, throughout the park, along with whimsical butterfly gardens and standout garden beds. Depending on the weekend you go, catch can’t-miss performances from Billy Ocean and Plain White T’s.
disneyworld.com/epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival/

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Bacardi Cup Invitational Regatta

Miami
March 1–7

Bright sails harness 20-knot winds and carve sleek silhouettes across Biscayne Bay during this storied regatta, where a, world champions and weekend sailors alike vie for glory in the fiercely contested Star Class. Hundreds of competitors from around the globe compete over multiple fleets, including J/70s, Melges 24s and Snipe classes, creating a week of high-performance action on the water. Racegoers can watch the thrills from waterfront venues like Coral Reef Yacht Club, Biscayne Bay Yacht Club and Shake-A-Leg Miami, then continue the celebration ashore with post-race happy hours, live music and Bacardi cocktails that keep the party rolling. Founded by the Bacardi family to honor Tito Bacardi’s legacy as a patron of the sport, the regatta blends serious competition with sun-soaked fun, making it a weekend no sailing fan—or partygoer—should miss.
bacardiinvitational.com

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