Some Florida annual events have been held for years. One is over 116 years old. These events are never just fun, they celebrate the rich history and culture of this state in many different ways. There are also over a dozen theatrical festivals, theatrical showcases, musical events, lectures and workshops, car shows, boating shows, and something else that will keep you busy all year long. Here are some fun Florida annual events you might want to attend.

April is here and that means it is time for the Florida State Fair. It is the only fair in Florida that features four distinct venues. Each venue features its own unique theme. There are the Gulf Coast Pavilion, the Southeastern Railroad Depot, the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, and the Jacksonville Exhibition & Flea Market. All four venues host hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Each annual event has its own parade and the fair’s biggest show takes place in the Pepsi Grand Prix on April 10th.

Another popular annual event in Florida is St. Patrick’s Day. This colorful celebration is celebrated with much gusto by lovers of all things green. It features local festivals like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Throughout the day hundreds of floats parading through the streets of Jacksonville feature live music, Irish speakers, and demonstrations by local businesses. Several festivals also feature movies, demonstrations, parades, food festivals, and much more.

The month of June also sees major annual events in Florida. It includes the Gainesville Jazz Festival, the Florida Blues Festival, the Shrimp Festival in Jacksonville, the Florida Tomato Festival in Daytona Beach, and the Miami Beach Wine Festival. This last event is considered the largest annual gathering of Florida tomatoes in the world. It is also one of the most popular festivals in the area with a huge overflow of visitors.

In addition to these well-known festivals, there are many other festivals that celebrate everything in Florida. For example, the Celebration of Lights is held every five years to commemorate the many years that solar energy has been available to us. There are more than sixty thousand lights throughout the state illuminating Times Square, Fifth Avenue, Central Park, and the lights of New York City. Another major event that features musical acts and fireworks is the Folsom Street Fair. It is held every five years and is known for featuring performances by the Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, and many others.

Florida is home to a large number of annual events that happen before each February rolls around. Some of these include the Florida Peach Festival which happens in late January or early February. In Jacksonville, it takes place just before the big snowfall hits. The festival features lots of fresh peaches, including ones that have been plucked just an hour before the festival and have been cured in saltwater. Local wine barrels are used to ferment the wines so they can be served to visitors. This is a wonderful opportunity to try the many varieties of Florida peach.

Film festivals take place all over Florida in February and in March as well. The Florida Film Festival takes place in Miami and includes movies from around the world including Oscar contenders. The festival also includes theater shows, but if you are looking for a family-friendly activity, the Jacksonville Museum of Art features interactive exhibits and children’s programs. Other annual events in Florida include the Florida Peach Festival in Jacksonville, which features thousands of peaches.

Spring in Florida is synonymous with one thing only – the famous barbecue flavor. The annual South Florida Apple Festival takes place in early April and pits local apple growers against each other to harvest the nation’s finest apples. The festival also includes a barbecue and crawfish festival. No matter what your favorite season is, there is an annual event that will most certainly take place in Florida.

Susan Mitchell