The year is rolling right along, and we are already heading into the fifth month of 2019. May is one of the absolute best times to get out and enjoy festivals and events in Florida, so that is exactly what we are going to do this month.
And since looking at the full events calendar is completely overwhelming, we took some time to pull together the best of the best events happening in the Sunshine State this month. Let’s jump right into it!
Art & History
Romanza Festivale of the Arts
St. Augustine will be kicking off the month with their Romanza Festivale of the Arts starting on May 3 and running through May 12. This 10-day event will feature more than 75 different art events all over town, which makes it the perfect time to appreciate the oldest city in the country.
St. John’s River Festival of the Arts
Lovers of fine art will want to make the trip to Sanford for the St. John’s River Festival of the Arts on May 4 and 5. This massive arts festival will feature more than 125 regional and national artists displaying everything from paintings and sculptures to pottery and woodworking.
ArtsQuest
Another big art festival happening this month will be ArtsQuest in Santa Rosa Beach on May 11 and 12. This will be the 31st year for ArtsQuest, and this year they are expecting more than 150 artists to be on-hand displaying a wide range of beautiful creations.
Food & Beverage
Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival will be returning to Fernandina Beach for its 56th year on May 3 to 5. Locally caught shrimp will be the focal point of this fun festival, but there will also be plenty of local art on display, as well as live music.
St. Augustine Craft Brewers Festival
More than 25 North Florida breweries are planning to take over Fountain of Youth Archeological Park in St. Augustine on May 11 for the St. Augustine Craft Brewers Festival. Old Coast Ales and Ancient City Brewing will be the focal point of the event, but Infinite Ale Works, Rockpit Brewing, and Aardwolf Brewing Company are also scheduled to be at the event.
Seagrapes Wine & Food
The Florida Aquarium in Tampa will be hosting Seagrapes on Saturday, May 18. This is the biggest annual fundraiser for the aquarium, and there will be more than 100 bites available from a wide range of local chefs and restaurants at this year’s event.
Music & Film
Sunfest
The biggest music event of the month will definitely be Sunfest along the water in West Palm Beach on May 2 through 5. This year’s lineup features a wide-ranging assortment of performers that includes acts like Keith Urban, OneRepublic, Tears for Fears, Ludacris, and the B-52s.
Key West Songwriters Festival
Another great music festival to attend in May will be the Key West Songwriters Festival in Key West from May 8 to 12. There will be live music performances from artists known for writing their own material all over Key West over this long weekend.
Jacksonville Jazz Fest
If jazz music is your passion, then you won’t want to miss out on the Jacksonville Jazz Fest taking over Jacksonville on May 23 to 26. Gladys Knight will be headlining this year’s festival, but there will be all kinds of jazz performances happening all through the city over the course of this four-day event.
Nature Festivals
Punta Gorda Hibiscus Festival
Exotic plants will be on display in MarketPlace in Punta Gorda for the Punta Gorda Hibiscus Festival on May 3 through 5. This popular local event is focused on beautiful plants and flowers, but there will also be antique cars on display, live music, and tons of great food.
Redland International Orchid Festival
Another popular nature festival this month will be the Redland International Orchid Festival in Homestead on May 17 to 19. This is one of the largest orchid festivals in the country, and they are expecting more than 50 different vendors at this year’s event.
Wild Amelia Nature Festival
Eco-tourists and conservationists will be out in full force at the Wild Amelia Nature Festival on Amelia Island from May 17 to 19. With more than 1,500 care of barrier islands, the entire Amelia Island ecosystem is fascinating for nature lovers, and this festival is all about celebrating the area’s natural splendor.
Whether you are passionate about the art festivals, the food and beverage events, the live music performances, or the beauty of nature, there is something for everyone happening around the state of Florida in the month of May. Make sure you hit up at least a few of these great events and let us know how much fun you have!
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