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2014 FLORIDA - MAY 2014
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
(see also: 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010)

May 2-3, 2014  Smokin Blues Bikes & BBQ
St. Cloud, Florida
Live music, professional & backyard BBQ competition, bike rally/show, beer/wine, a kids' zone and much more. Always fun and always free.

May 2-4, 2014  51st Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Held in the heart of historic downtown Fernandina Beach on beautiful Amelia Island, Florida since 1964, the family friendly, free admission Shrimp Festival offers delicious shrimp prepared every way imaginable by 25 food booths all staffed and run exclusively by local Nassau County non-profit groups as fund-raisers.  Wear your walking shoes to visit over 300 Fine Artisan & Crafters, 50 Antique Dealers, 25 Kid Fun Zone Activities, Live Music on 2 Stages, and lots of Pirates.

May 2-4, 2014  30th Annual Pensacola Crawfish Festival
Pensacola, Florida
The event is one of the largest crawfish boils in the state and features thousands of pounds of boiled crawfish in addition to other traditional Cajun and Creole fare such as red beans & rice, crawfish pie, boudin balls, and even fried gator tails.

May 10, 2014  8th Annual May Day Festival & BBQ Cook-Off
Defuniak Springs, Florida
There will be a host of activities for the kids, such as face painting, a magician as well as a model airplane show and demo.  Come and be prepared for the various food vendors selling from fried Oreos, candy apples to oriental food to polish sausages.

May 10, 2014  30th Annual Windsor Zucchini Festival - Windsor, Florida
The Festival will be a day of fun for everyone! Activities include Duke of Zuke & Zuqueenie Pageant, arts & crafts, Cook-a-Zuke contest, live music, hay rides, fried zucchini, zucchini ice cream, and contests for the biggest, ugliest and best carved zucchinis.

May 11, 2014  Mother's Day - Nationwide
Most restaurants in the U.S. have special events scheduled for today. They are too numerous to list. (2nd Sunday in May)

May 14-18, 2014  National Association of Flour Distributors Convention
Naples, Florida
The NAFD sponsors an all-industry forum addressing strategic issues impacting the flour distribution supply chain. In addition to manufacturer and distributor decision makers, senior-level ingredient suppliers participate in the NAFD four-day meeting. The program is designed with an intensive educational agenda to assist members in improving their bottom lines. This conference is an excellent opportunity to network with key customers, potential customers and other flour industry colleagues

May 17, 2014  A Taste for Learning - Orlando, Florida
Plan to join us at the Rosen Shingle Creek to enjoy wine, spirits, food and an auction! Vintners from around the world donate and pour their finest wines and spirits to help raise funds for scholarships benefiting both Valencia College and Orlando Health’s medical education program. 100% of all dollars raised from tickets, sponsorships and auction items will go back to these foundations. Tickets purchased by February 14, 2014, will be $200 per couple--20% off the regular price! After that date they are $125 per ticket. (also: www.valencia.org/taste/ )
 

2013 FLORIDA - MAY 2013
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events still waiting for new dates

May 4, 2013  39th Annual Panacea Blue Crab Fest - Panacea, Florida
Held annually at Woolley Park on scenic Dickerson Bay, the festival promotes the crab industry in Wakulla County. Enjoy a parade, live music, dance performances, historic demonstrations, a crab picking contest, fireworks, and lots of good food including boiled blue crab.

May 11, 2013  Treasure Coast BBQ Championship - Ft. Pierce, Florida
Sanctioned by the Florida BBQ Association, will be held at the beautiful Riverwalk Center along the Indian River. Want something sweet? Enter the Best Dessert Contest on Friday night. Proceeds from the BBQ go to help homeless dogs and cats of The Humane Society of St. Lucie County.

May 11, 2013  Island Grove Blueberry Festival - Island Grove, Florida
Fun for the whole family! Delicious Florida foods, Blueberry Bake Sale, Cake Baking Contest, arts and crafts vendors, kids activities and entertainment, blueberries and plants. Proceeds benefit the local fire department.

May 11, 2013  Dine on the Wild Side - St. Augustine, Florida
A great mothers day present! Treat yourself, Mom, wife, family, and friends to a wild Saturday they will never forget? How about dining next to a roseate spoonbill while being serenaded by the sounds of a roaring gator, all while supporting our wildlife center. Your event ticket will help us pay for the meals of our orphaned wild birds, mammals and reptiles. Come to our 19th annual "Dine on the Wild Side" fund-raising dinner will be held at The St. Augustine Alligator Farm on Saturday evening, May 11th, 2013. The Alligator Farm and Zoological Park (www.alligatorfarm.com) sponsors this popular event every year for HAWKE. This wonderful zoo has everything from the cute and fuzzy to the largest and rarest alligators and crocs.

May 14, 2013  GEt Cooking West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
Inspired by the intuitive technology of GE, we present GEt Cooking, an informative demonstration on our new GE live kitchen appliance featuring menu items that easily transition from appetizers to "small plate" entrées that add up to a full and varied meal. Join us for lunch, an interactive presentation and a hands-on dessert lesson to GEt you cooking in our kitchen and at home.

May 15, 2013  GEt Cooking Bonita Springs - Bonita Springs, Florida
Inspired by the intuitive technology of GE, we present GEt Cooking, an informative demonstration on our new GE live kitchen appliance featuring menu items that easily transition from appetizers to "small plate" entrées that add up to a full and varied meal. Join us for lunch, an interactive presentation and a hands-on dessert lesson to GEt you cooking in our kitchen and at home.

May 16, 2013  Annual Brandon Business Expo & Taste of Brandon
Florida State Fair Grounds, Florida
Attendees will get to see more than 200 exhibitors plus receive FREE samples from "Taste of Brandon" participants including: Chick-fil A, Smokey Bones, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Mimi's Cafe.......and more! Registration is available now & open to all types of business!

May 18, 2013  68th Annual Newberry Watermelon Festival
Newberry, Florida
Since 1946. Some of the favorite festival activities started many years ago and still continue today. These activities include contests for watermelon eating, seed spitting, hog calling, pie/cake baking, and of course the 'Big Melon.´

May 19, 2013  8th Annual Taste of the Beach - St. Augustine, Florida
The event is held each year at the St. Augustine Pier and Pavilion from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm. Local restaurants within the beach community are featured.

May 24-27, 2013  Blue Crab Festival - Palatka, Florida
25th Annual Festival--as always, on Memorial Day Weekend. Arts & crafts, beauty pageant, seafood cookoff, and entertainment.

2012 FLORIDA - MAY 2012
FOOD & WINE FESTIVALS, SHOWS, EVENTS
events still waiting for new dates

May 4-6, 2012  A Taste of Pinellas - St. Petersburg, Florida
A Taste of Pinellas benefiting All Children's Hospital will be on hiatus for 2013 while organizers retool the event for future success.

May 11-12, 2012  Meadlennium - Winter Springs, Florida
Open to all homebrewers, Meadlennium is one of the nation's premier mead-only competitions. Sponsored by Central Florida Home Brewers.

May 17, 2012  Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation
Ft Lauderdale, Florida
Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation is the nation's premier culinary benefit, featuring top chefs and mixologists -- all of whom are coming together to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in America.

May 18-19, 2012  SFC Boots 'n BBQ Cook-off - Starke, Florida
A Florida Barbecue Association sanctioned contest. Just like on television, professional BBQ teams from Georgia, Alabama and Florida compete. Enjoy BBQ and more great Southern food. Live entertainment and fun things for kids. Cake auction, fine friendly folks. Scholarship fundraiser to help Bradford County students attend Santa Fe College.

May 28, 2012  9th Annual Palm Beach Jerk & Caribbean Culture Festival
West Palm Beach, Florida
Do you like Caribbean foods such as Jerk Chicken, Jerk Pork, Jerk fish, Rice and Peas, bammy, Jamaican patties, etc.?  Tons of attractions, authentic Caribbean live band performances and so much more!

2011 FLORIDA - MAY 2011
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events still waiting for new dates

May 7, 2011  Hastings Potato and Cabbage Festival - Hastings, Florida
Come help celebrate this year's harvest season as this annual event returns to St.Johns County. Known as the Potato Capitol of Florida, the town of Hastings will host a fun-filled day with entertainment of all kinds, kids' activities, art and history exhibits and a Farmer's Market.

May 11, 2012  10th Annual Florida Wine Festival - Tallahassee, Florida
Three days of fine Italian food, fine wine and friends. Benefits the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science.

May 14-15, 2011  Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival - Zellwood, Florida
Will not take place in 2012. UPDATE: no festival in 2013 either.

May 27-28, 2011  4th Annual Blazin-n-Butts & Brisket BBQ Competition
Brooksville, Florida
Over 35 professional teams and more than a dozen regional “backyard” amateurs are expected to compete. Enjoy award winning BBQ, family entertainment, and exhibits! Proceeds will support the not for profit Friends of the Children.

2010 FLORIDA - MAY 2010
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Event
events still waiting for new dates

May 6, 2010  A Tasteful Affair - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
United Way of Broward County invites you to the exclusive food and wine event of the year - "A Tasteful Affair," presented by Premier Beverage. Guests will have the chance to sample delicious cuisine, sip on the finest wines and mingle with other community leaders.