FESTIVAL SEASON

This spring, Central Florida will play host to a variety of festivals and events.

// WRITTEN & COMPILED BY KARIN FABRY-CUSHENBERY

Check out a few of our top festival picks below. We encourage you to check the event websites to stay up to date on the latest news and COVID precautions related to these or other events.

Florida Strawberry Festival, Plant City // March 4-14

Although the festival will go on this year, it will do so without headline entertainment concerts due to the pandemic. The festival’s other major attractions, including rides, livestock shows, on-grounds entertainment, concessions and exhibits will continue. Gates open at 10am and close at 10pm daily. Admission costs $10 for those 13 and over, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for children under 5. There will be special Moonlight Magic midway hours on Friday, March 12. After closing at 10pm, the festival will reopen at 10pm and run through 2am. Weekends and Monday the rides will be open until 11pm. The Kiddie Korral will run 10am until 10pm daily. flstrawberryfestival.com

Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Online Event // March 6-7

This annual Tampa festival is one that draws in hundreds of talented ne artists. This year’s event will be virtual, allowing viewers to stream live entertainment throughout the weekend, explore artist’s online booths, watch art demonstrations and partake in online artrelated children’s activities. Prize money will be awarded as usual to the top artists. Events are being updated and added, so check the website for updated details. gasparillaarts.com

Sarasota Spring Fine Art Festival, Sarasota // March 6-7

This 7th annual festival highlights a variety of art creations, ranging from photography and painting to wearable art and woodworking. Visitors will have the opportunity to peruse the exhibits, talk to the artists and purchase works to take home. This year’s event layout has been modified to allow for more space between booths. Masks will be required for artists and attendees, and hand sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the festival. This event is produced by Paragon Festivals and is hosted by the Sarasota Downtown Enrichment Association. The Humane Society of Sarasota County is this year’s special guest. Hours will be Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm, and admission is free. paragonevents.com

Mount Dora Spring Festival of Arts and Crafts, Mount Dora // March 20-21

Hand-craft exhibitors and fine arts artists will come together for this annual festival. Art and crafts will be available for purchase, and the exhibits will line the walking district of Mount Dora. The event has been ranked in the Top 50 Classic/Contemporary Craft Festivals in America by Sunshine Artist 2020. The festival is presented by Visit Mount Dora and will take place from 9am-5pm both days. There will also be children’s activities, food vendors, wine tastings and live entertainment. Well-behaved pets are allowed on leashes, and there is no admission fee to attend. mountdoraspringfest.com

Florida Manatee Festival, Crystal River // March 27-28

For 34 years the Florida Manatee Festival has aimed to celebrate and educate the public about Florida’s gentle giants. There will be four stages of live entertainment throughout the event, plus the Kids’ Zone, which will include sand art, face painting, in atables, dancing and more. Plenty of vendors will be on hand, including ne art, craft, retail and food options. There will be manatee boat tours, and tickets are available at the boat dock area in Kings Bay Park. On Saturday, the rst tour takes o at 9:30am and the last at 4:30pm. On Sunday, tours run from 9:30am-3:30pm. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and free for those 5 and under. The Adventure Zone will feature virtual reality racing, rock climbing and other adventurous activities. The Hippie Village at Heritage House is back by popular demand with Bohemian crafts, entertainment and a relaxed vibe. gomanateefest.com

Sebring Soda Festival, Sebring // April 2-3

This two-day event features live music, festival food, beer and wine, and, of course, soda. More than 200 soda samples will be available, including unique flavors like caramel apple, prickly pear, candied bacon, key lime, cucumber, espresso and more. The festival will also feature more traditional samples of colas, root beers and ginger ales. Drink tasting tickets are required for sampling. Most of the sodas at the festival are made in small batches, and most are made with natural sugar—no high fructose corn syrup. The fun kicks off on April 2 with the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Fizzy Family Fun Night from 3-9pm. The event includes Easter-themed fun, an outdoor family movie, games and soda sampling. The actual Soda Tasting and Main Event will be Saturday, April 3 from 11am-6pm, complete with live entertainment, food trucks, vendors and shopping. sebringsodafest.com

McIntosh Garden Show and Sale, McIntosh // April 3

Garden- and plant-related vendors will bring a variety of plants, trees and flowers to this annual event. Food and activities for children will be available, and drawings for garden items and décor will be held throughout the event. The McIntosh Seedlings Garden Club’s booth will feature herbs, shrubs, indoor plants, veggies, perennial plants, garden accessories and more. Handmade garden decorations, signs and artwork will also be for sale. mcintoshseedlings.com

Old Florida Celebration of the Arts, Cedar Key // April 17-18

According to the event’s website, “we are cautiously, optimistically and creatively

moving ahead with plans for Cedar Key’s Spring Arts Festival. Adjustments are being made in the layout to reduce congestion, encourage one-way flow and do our best to host a COVID-safe event.” Should the need arise for a cancelation, an announcement will be made prior to April 1. Each year, this arts celebration features award-winning art pieces in painting, sculpture, jewelry, textiles, photography and more. Crafts vendors will also be on-site, along with homemade treats from local vendors, local seafood and more. The festival will take place April 17 from 10am5pm and April 18 from 10am-4pm. This juried art show will hand out cash prizes and awards totaling $12,000. cedarkeyartsfestival.com

Florida State Fair, Tampa // Moved to April 22-May 2

The Florida State Fair is one of the state’s most beloved events. The fair features one of the United States’ largest midways with dozens of rides and games. The fair will also include a variety of competitions, from best quilt and pie to plant. Livestock and agriculture competitions will also put competitors against one another in youth and open competitions. The fair also includes the Mildred W. and Doyle E. Carlton, Jr.’s Cracker Country, which is Tampa’s only living history museum. The museum features 13 original structures that date back to the late 1800s. Docents in historic dress share their knowledge and show what life was like for early Floridians. The state fair is known for its Deep Fried Dash, which will take place May 1 this year. There will also be live entertainment throughout the fair. Safety precautions are being put in place, including health screenings, mandatory masks, sanitizing stations, crowd limits and more. floridastatefair.com

Garden Show & Spring Festival, Williston // May 1-2

The sixth annual garden show and spring festival will return to Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens this May. The festival will feature live music, vendors selling everything from plants to arts and crafts. Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens features more than 50 separate garden displays situated in a 100-year old lime rock quarry. As part of the festival you’ll enjoy discounted admission into the botanical gardens. The event runs 9:30am-5pm both days. Admission is $9 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 13 and free for those 5 and under. cedarlakeswoodsandgarden.com.

Winter Park Sidewalk Art Fest, Winter Park // Virtual Festival March 15-31, Live Festival May 14-16

This show annually earns top ranking among art festivals nationwide. The festival made its debut in 1960 and has become known as one of the most prestigious outdoor art festivals in the country. Produced by an allvolunteer board, the annual event typically draws in more than 300,000 visitors each year. Over 1,000 artists from around the world apply to the festival, with 225 being selected to exhibit their pieces. Categories include watercolor, leather, metal, sculpture, drawings and pastels, photography, clay, graphics and print making, and more. There will also be live music and food vendors. wpsaf.org

Florida Folk Festival, White Springs // May 28-30

This three-day musical celebration features a wide variety of music that reflects on the state’s cultural heritage. The event will include music, dance, stories, arts and crafts, and plenty of food. The festival will feature a folklife area that will highlight performances and demos that celebrate the diverse lifestyles found in Florida through music, flavors and sights. There will be demonstrations and workshops dedicated to keeping cultural traditions alive. Learn to call a square dance, collect your ancestral history and support native plant and animal life. floridastateparks.org/floridafolkfestival