6 of Florida's wildest festivals

Florida truly knows how to have a good time — from citrus fruit celebrations in Dade City to Pride parties in St Petersburg, the USA’s southeastern ‘Sunshine State’ delivers more than just warm temperatures and remarkable beaches. Over 4,500 islands make up this large and diverse peninsula, and travellers will find food festivals, cultural celebrations, art fairs and music events happening almost every month across the state. Join locals to feast on frogs’ legs on the eastern coast or lure earthworms from the ground in the hinterlands of the Panhandle — here are some of Florida’s wildest festivals to plan a trip around.

Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival

When: Mid-January
While some say frog legs taste like chicken, form your own opinion on the regional delicacy during this festival, held every January in the small town of Fellsmere on Florida’s east coast. Traditionally, locals would head out at night to dig for frogs in the town’s marshy surrounds, but nowadays the frog legs on offer are sourced commercially. Lauded by Guinness World Records as the largest frog-leg festival in the world, the four-day event also provides an opportunity to try other swamp-sourced Florida foods, too, including alligator tail.

Kumquat Festival

When: Late January
Oranges might be the citrus fruit most synonymous with the Sunshine State, but it’s the humble kumquat that’s celebrated during this eponymous festival every January. Held in the historic centre of kumquat cultivation, Dade City, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, the festival gives visitors the chance to sample the small, sour fruit in pies and jams, or even as kumquat beer and wine. The festival buzzes with the energy of a busy farmers’ market, and features live music, crafts and a classic car and truck show, as well as artisanal produce.

Gasparilla Pirate Fest

When: Late January
Legend looms in Tampa Bay about a mythical Spanish pirate, José Gaspar, who terrorised the coast — and the area’s biggest annual event plays out in his name every January. The waters along Bayshore Boulevard near downtown fill with flotillas of festooned ships, and festival-goers dress as pirates to toss Mardi Gras-esque beads from floats. Things can get a little wild during the Carnival-style festivities; for families, there’s also the Children’s Gasparilla, held the weekend prior, which is a tamer affair.

EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival

When: March to June
For roughly three months every spring, Walt Disney World Resort’s futuristic EPCOT theme park comes into full bloom with elaborate gardens, fabulous flowers and towering topiaries modelled to resemble familiar characters. Famous acts take to the stage at the America Gardens Theatre during the festival, and outdoor stalls scattered throughout the park present gourmet foods embellished with edible flowers. The festival is included with regular park admission.

Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival

When: Mid-April
In northwest Florida, the tiny and remote town of Sopchoppy near Apalachicola National Forest is the backdrop for a most unusual gathering every April. Skilled locals create vibrations in the ground to lure earthworms up to the surface, making them easier to collect and use for fishing — a practice known as ‘worm grunting’. The event also features live music, gummy worm eating competitions and worm grunting contests for kids.

St Pete Pride

When: June
The city of St Petersburg on Florida’s west coast hosts a range of events throughout Pride Month, culminating on parade day with the state’s largest LGBTQ+ celebration. Thousands of marchers descend on parks spanning downtown St Petersburg’s waterfront and the community unites with live music, entertainment, local food vendors and interactive art.