As the Seafood and music festival has grown, so has the venue location. The '26 rendition was…read moreheld at the Sarasota Fairgrounds on Ringling off Fruitville. Now known as Sarasota Seafood and Music festival. Lots of food- seafood, hamburgers and carnival fried food plus bands and many merchants. I got a plate of jambalaya (a bit too salty) but loaded with sausage and shrimp (good deal for $20). Lots of beer options to wash it down(beer vendors took credit cards). Free parking and admission although you need to buy tickets for food.

This Seafood Festival is much better than the Tampa one we went to…read more There is a new parking garage in town for .50 an hour and your dog is welcome. I think the walkways are too hot for their paws right now, however people have pets here. We ordered a 3 item platter to share with Grouper, Coconut Shrimp and Jambalaya. We were happy with the $24.00 price and the food was very good. The Grouper needed another minute of cook time, it was still fresh and mild. The Jambalaya had Mahi in it and Sausage which was flavorful. There is a stage with live music that adds to the events fun factor and admission is free!

I went for the first time last evening and it was absolutely amazing! People were friendly, the…read moreatmosphere was outstanding and the service out of this world!!! Loved it!!!

Friendly folks and happy. Felt welcomed and amongst friends…read more Highly recommend to anyone feeling alone or just wanting company.

When it comes to free festivals, this one is the best kept secret in Florida. Located in the heart…read moreof true Florida, Clewiston is every bit of American farm culture as anywhere in the US. The town welcomes you in and you feel true American spirit without any political sabotage. Family friendly, while still delivering that turn it up country party vibe. Not easy to pull of btw. Opening nite show with Don Felder of the Eagles with a big firework finale was enough to call it a successful event. Saturday car show was a trip down memory lane. Tons of agriculture and farming equipment and history on display. The Saturday concert list was full of talent and good vibes. Food booths for miles and plenty of retailers offering all sorts of relevant products. Then Jake Owen closed the festival with his signature crowd focused show. Free??? I almost don't want to post this so we can keep it a secret! If you want real Florida, country, American shenanigans, check it out. Hats off to Big Sugar for making it all happen.

Every year at end of the sugar cane harvest season, Clewiston, known as "America's Sweetest Town,"…read morecelebrates the harvest with its Clewiston Sugar Festival center in the city's Civic Park located on Highway 27 right next to its historic Clewiston Inn. It's at this event that everyone gets a close-up look at what sugar cane farming is all about with large outdoor stage entertainment, bands, singers, vendors, foods, and "Sugarland Express" tours where you are not only offered the opportunity to see, view and learn the latest in sugar farming techniques but to also chop and chew on some of the world's best sugar cane. The Sugar Festival I attended was Clewiston's 30th such event, which locals commonly refer to their "Raising Cane" party. It's based upon their original such event by United States Sugar company back it the 1930's held when the grinding mill "went down" after the last carload of the year's harvested sugar was grinded out. The festival also celebrates Clewiston's surroundings like Lake Okeechobee as well as its neighboring partners such as the Seminole Nation. Though it's a large event gathering and played up rather big by the local Clewiston Chamber of Commerce, being fun, educational and entertaining, not really all that much as far as festivals go. This may be due in part as Clewiston really isn't all that much of a city with so many of the local farm workers being of migrant farm labor from Mexico, Jamaica and Barbados, living in migrant farm housing and the sugar industry itself generally owing its prosperity to various federally set sugar price supports, USDA regulated sugar allotments and tariff rate quotas. Indeed, if you are foodie and looking to try new or authentic foreign tastes in foods, I found those of Mexico to be your best bet though there are many local South Florida vendor offerings such as gator burgers, etc.

First year coming to the Cabbage Festival. My boyfriend and I set up a tent promoting him(Realtor)…read moreand his brokerage. We are having so much fun meeting some really nice people! Definitely will come back next year.

Came out here last weekend in February with Paul and Arlene H for swamp cabbage palm festival for…read morecar show, parade, festival food. We got there early watched some of the parade at 10:00 caught the end of an armadillo races. We saw a few friends and had a great time. It's fun for all ages and a great way to re-live some of my small hometown memories of life in a small town. Pro tip visit the food venders early before or during the parade. Wait times are zero. Wear comfortable shoes and go under the bridge to cross bridge at because the police are trying to keep traffic moving on bridge st. Food 4 indian fry bread/indian burgers/pumpkin fry bread was delicious swamp cabbage in a cup was good too. Not a big fan of this delicacy. The fritter version was a little better with hot sauce. Ambiance 4 lots to do and see. Service 4 small town hospitality Location 3 Value 3 buy a collector mug then sweet tea refills for a buck hit the spot. (See Paul H. Picture) Swamp cabbage pics are also on IG, twitter #swapcabbagefest #swampage 12/2015

Second time here. For some reason we didn't like it as much as last year. Food was good, but not…read moregreat. Didn't see any entertainment while we were there. I guess we were too early.

Great festival. Only thing is, when I see "seafood and music" I expect to see a lot of it. There…read morewere maybe 4-6 trucks of-seafood and the stage for music, but there was also a market set up too. I loved seeing all of the local stores and different products for sale, so no negativity with that, but just surprised it was there to begin with since it's a "seafood and music" festival!!!