Southwest Florida is a hotspot for fairs and festivals, especially from November to April. While there are art and music festivals, and even craft brew and food festivals, the Naples and Marco Island area offers the best of Florida seafood festivals.
If you love fresh-caught fish, shrimp and crab and have never tried fried gator, you simply must try a Southwest Florida seafood festival. Here are some of our favorites!
Everglades Seafood Festival
An authentic trip to Florida is not complete without a visit to the Everglades, especially for seafood! After all, Everglades City is known as the “stone crab capital.”
This year marks the 52nd annual Everglades Seafood Festival. More than 100 vendors are serving up fresh-from-the-Gulf shrimp, fish and stone crab. This three-day festival features arts and crafts, carnival rides, and live country and bluegrass concerts. It’s truly a family-friendly event that you will not want to miss!
Date: February 11 – 13, 2022
Cost: Admission is free but donations are appreciated. Free parking is limited, but a few charitable organizations offer parking for a nominal fee. Please be prepared to walk!
Location:
Broadway on the Circle
102 Copeland Avenue
Everglades City, Florida 34139
Approximately 45 minutes from either condominium
Insider’s-in-the-Know: Getting there early can help you beat the traffic and the heat! Head out early and be mindful of early afternoon traffic leaving after lunch. Sorry, no pets or coolers will be admitted and beer is cash only.
Goodland Mullet Festival and Buzzard Lope
This three-day festival has been held annually the weekend before the Superbowl for the last 12 years. It attracts thousands of people to Goodland where you can get fried and smoked mullet which is their specialty.
Stan Gober, the owner of Stan’s Idle Hour Seafood Restaurant in Goodland has been hosting the festival for 12 years. There is a variety of vendors nestled alongside a vast array of arts and crafts. The festival is named after Stan Gober’s song, Buzzard Lope, which depicts the dance that buzzards do when they hover over roadkill.
Date: Jan 29 – 30, 2022
Cost: Free admission
Location:
221 Goodland Drive West
Goodland, Florida 34140
Approximately 15 minutes from either condo
Insider’s-in-the-Know: Parking/traffic can be difficult, especially since there is only one road in and out of Goodland. A great alternative is a car transportation service.
On average, for up to four people expect to pay $12 plus gratuity; more than four people costs $4 per person plus gratuity one-way. This is a great way to attend with no designated driver needed!
Naples Stone Crab Festival
Naples loves festivals and the Stone Crab Festival is no exception. Several local restaurants, business and locations in Old Naples (including Tin City, Bayfront and Port of Naples) team up to provide the ultimate seafood experience. Attendees will enjoy fresh stone crab claws, arts and crafts vendors, music and activities designed for the kids!
Date: October 2022
Cost: Admission is free. $5.00 general parking.
Location:
1500 Fifth Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
Approximately 35 minutes from either condo
Insider’s-in-the-Know: Many of the vendors offer special discounts all weekend long. Visit the festival’s website for more information on discounted sightseeing cruises, jet ski and boat rentals, and more.
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