Florida Fairs, Festivals and Events You Won’t Want to Miss in 2022
In partnership with: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Craving some funnel cake? Fortunately, there’s a fair or festival in nearly every corner of Florida. In addition to every fried food you can imagine, fairs pay homage to the state’s agriculture industry through numerous exhibits and competitions. Add live entertainment, carnival games and amusement rides, and your local fair offers the opportunity to be a kid again – at least for a day.
Florida State Fair
Feb. 10-21, 2022
Boasting the largest midway in the country, the 12-day Florida State Fair in Tampa never strays from its core purpose as a showcase of the state’s agriculture industry. Attracting close to 500,000 visitors each year, the Florida State Fair ranks fifth as the most-attended fair in the country, according to industry news source, Matt’s Carnival Warehouse. Almost all entertainment experiences, including thrill shows, musical acts, circus shows, educational exhibits, agricultural experiences and more, are included with the price of admission. In the Creative Living Competitions, youth and adult artists and crafters, bakers, woodworkers, horticulturists, photographers and more bring their best work to the fair. Cracker Country, Tampa’s only living history museum, with 13 original structures dating back to the late 1800s, is open every day of the fair, with costumed interpreters portraying everyday life in 1890s rural Florida.
Grant Seafood Festival
March 5-6, 2022
Run solely by volunteers, Grant Seafood Festival celebrates the rural community’s heritage as a fishing village. What started as a community fish fry in 1966 has exploded into the longest-running seafood festival in the Southeast. And while you enjoy clams, fish, lobster, shrimp, oysters, crawfish, scallops or one of the other delicious offerings, many made with the same homemade recipes passed down through generations, you can feel good about your purchase because proceeds from the festival fund the Grant Community Center and scholarships for Brevard County-area young people. The festival also features live music, arts and crafts. Admission and parking are free.
See more: 8 Florida Food Festivals You Don’t Want to Miss
Collier Fair
March 17-27, 2022
The Collier Agricultural Fair & Exposition Inc., a not-for-profit organization, promotes education and Southwest Florida agriculture by producing an 11-day fair at the Collier Fairgrounds in Naples. Family fun ranges from livestock exhibitions and live entertainment to midway rides and all the carnival foods you love. In the Family Living building, you can view quilts, other handiwork and cultural arts, horticulture and homemade goodies such as preserves, cakes and pies. Other activities include chainsaw carving, a demolition derby, a petting zoo and magic shows – truly something for everyone. Parking is free.
North Florida Fair
Nov. 3-13, 2022
More than 140,000 people enjoy the North Florida Fair, a large agricultural festival in Tallahassee celebrating accomplishments in agriculture, education, industry and recreation. Fairgoers enjoy rides, food, entertainment and fun for all ages, but agriculture remains the focus of the fair, which is celebrating its 80th year. At the fair, youngsters show off their skills through 4-H and FFA competitions in dairy cow and goat categories. Attendees can also see award-winning beef cattle, poultry and rabbits. In addition, visitors can view fine arts and crafts, flower shows and drool over the baked goods and harvest vegetables in their respective contest categories. Many attendees enjoy multiple days of fun by taking advantage of one of the 450 RV camping sites on the North Florida Fairgrounds. With parking, exhibits and entertainment included in the price of admission, the North Florida Fair offers fun for all ages.
To find more Florida agriculture events in your area throughout the year, visit FDACS.gov.