14 Exciting Family Friendly Annual Events Floridians Enjoy

Florida’s annual events are worthy of note because they have been celebrated for many years. Aside from art and music, these annual events are quite often themed around a common feature. Florida plays host to a long lineup of yearly events, including social events, football, rattlesnake hunting, and worm grunting festivals, among others. It’s no wonder: with beautiful, warm beaches to all the following events and affordable real estate that people are paying attention to the booming housing market around Orlando.

The state is usually a beehive of activity all year round. Illustrated below is a list of some of the events taking place in the state from January to December.

1. Art Deco Weekend

This festival started out as a small grass area in 1979, and has culminated into one of the biggest celebrations of art deco architecture and culture. This festival is usually highlighted by parades, street theaters, antique expos, art exhibits, concerts, films, as well as some culinary offerings.

2. South Florida Fair

This is usually a 17-day exhibition that encompasses first-class stage shows, livestock shows and auctions, competitions, lots of kids’ activities, national stage shows, and midway rides. This extravaganza usually takes place at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach.

3. Uncorked Food And Wine Festival

This particular festival includes several wine tasting events, food and wine preparation classes, cooking demos, wine dinners, and there’s a “Grand Tasting” on the last day of the exhibition. It takes place in Key Largo and Islamorada, and lasts for 10 days.

4. Coconut Grove Arts Festival

This festival goes on for 3 days, and features over 300 of the most talented artists and craftsmen from all over the world. It’s usually a great stretch of fun, live entertainment, great art, and epicurean food.

5. Daytona 500

This is the most important race in the NASCAR calendar. It usually takes place on the last weekend of February, attracting approximately 200,000 people from all over the country.

The race was conceived by Bill France in 1947, had its first race in 1948, and has become an annual event ever since then. Considered as the most important race, it pays the most money to the winning driver.

6. Silver Spurs Rodeo

This biannual event occurs in Kissimmee, and it has been held since 1944. All rodeo staples are inclusive in this event, including the rodeo parade, western style dancing, bull riding, saddle-bronc riding, and steer racing. A climate-controlled arena is the new feature that the rodeo fans enjoy.

7. Daytona Beach Bike Week

Bike Week takes place in the first week of March and lasts for 10 days. Several activities occur, including concerts and various street festivals, motorcycle races, and block parties.

8. Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival

Sopchoppy is located in the western region of the Apalachicola national forest, a little south of Tallahassee. This event usually takes place on the second weekend of April, on Saturday. It features horseshoe championships, live music, a 5k marathon, and crafts.

9. Mug Race

This is a 35 nautical mile river race for sailboats. It is sponsored by the Rudder Club of Jacksonville, and it has been a sight to behold for many years, termed as the ‘world’s longest river race.’ It usually takes place on the first weekend of May.

10. Wausau Possum Festival

Up to 9,000 visitors take part in the trotting race that ends in meeting with the new Miss Possum Day Queen. It usually occurs in August on the first weekend and includes arts and crafts, possum parade, crosscut sawing contest, and music.

11. Florida Heritage Book Festival

Usually a gathering of writers, authors, and literature fans, this festival takes place every September in St. Augustine, at the Flagler college. The main building is a historic old hotel, the Ponce de Leon.

12. San Antonio Rattlesnake Festival

Located in west central Florida, San Antonio is a small town about 24 miles north of Tampa. Held on the third weekend of October, it features the rattlesnake run, arts and crafts, live music, and other events/activities. This year, it’s being held at the Pasco County Fairgrounds

13. Light Up Mount Dora

This event takes place in Donnelly Park in Mount Dora (a city near Orlando) during the first weekend after thanksgiving. During this period, more than two million lights are switched on, and they are a sight to behold when they come on all at once. It includes Christmas music, dancers, and more.

14. Winterfest Boat Parade

The Winterfest Boat Parade is held every December in Fort Lauderdale, and has been a tradition since 1970. More than a hundred small boats and big yachts are covered in arrays of patterns of lights and decorations, and sail along the New River in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach.

Conclusion

All of these events are in addition to the state’s natural wonders, theme parks, attractions, and fantastic imaginative journeys. From Walt Disney to the Universal complex in Orlando, Florida is the hub of entertainment for visitors and common folk alike. The state has more to offer than meets the eye.

The post 14 Exciting Family Friendly Annual Events Floridians Enjoy appeared first on Rebecca Silva.