With Dorian in the rear-view and another football season kicking off, September is going to be a great month to enjoy outdoor events and activities here in Florida.
Whether you are interested in craft festivals, or anything having to do with food, music, or nature, there are a ton of incredible events happening all over the Sunshine State this month that you won’t want to miss out on.
Art & History
22nd Annual Punta Gorda Sullivan Street Craft Festival
Our first big art festival of the month will be the 22nd Annual Punta Gorda Sullivan Street Craft Festival in lovely Punta Gorda on September 14 and 15.
This craft festival makes for a fantastic excuse to visit Florida’s Gulf Coast during the month of September, and it has been growing by leaps and bounds over the past few years for exactly that reason.
25th Annual Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival
Craft lovers who can’t make it to Punta Gorda will have another option the following weekend when the 25th Annual Downtown Delray Beach Craft Festival takes over the Atlantic Coast town of Delray Beach on September 21 and 22.
In addition to the fantastic finds available from the craft show, downtown Delray Beach is also filled with an amazing selection of boutique shops and delicious restaurants.
Washington County Heritage Festival
Our best Civil War reenactors will be heading to the Florida Panhandle on September 27 and 28 for the Washington County Heritage Festival. With blacksmith demonstrations and live cannon firings every 45 minutes, anyone passionate about history will find plenty to get interested in at this festival.
In addition to the treasure trove of American history on display, there will also be 4-H show animals, pony rides, a bounce house, and live entertainment.
Food & Beverage
19th Annual I Like it HOT! Festival
Spicy food fanatics will be flocking to Minnreg Hall in Largo for the 19th Annual I Like it HOT! Festival on September 14 and 15. Those visitors can participate in events like a hot pepper eating contest, an amateur salsa contest, an amateur BBQ sauce contest, and the Voodoo Chicken Bones Challenge.
In addition to the main events, there will also be live entertainment throughout the weekend and one of the largest hot sauce markets you have ever seen in one place.
Smokin’ in the Pines BBQ Festival
There is a BBQ competition in Florida just about every month of the year, and the big one in September will be the Smokin’ in the Pines BBQ Festival at the Forest Capital State Museum in Perry on September 20 and 21.
Like any good BBQ competition, there will be plenty of cash prizes up for grabs, including some people’s choice awards that visitors can vote on.
Pensacola Seafood Festival
Just like we have to have a BBQ Festival every month here in Florida, we also have more than our fair share of seafood festivals. Seville Square Park in downtown Pensacola will be hosting the Pensacola Seafood Festival on September 27 and 28.
This festival will feature all of the best chefs from the area serving up samples of their favorite seafood creations, and many of the local restaurants will also be offering seafood specials throughout the weekend.
Music & Film
14th Annual Central Florida Film Festival
Epic Theaters Mount Dora will be welcoming guests to the 14th Annual Central Florida Film Festival on September 6 through 8. This annual celebration of independent filmmaking will feature an entire collection of never-before-seen films, as well as plenty of meetup opportunities for movie buffs.
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest will kick off on Captiva Island from September 20 to 22. Then the festival will hop over to downtown Fort Myers for September 23 to 26 before finishing up at Fort Myers Beach on September 27 to 29.
This 10-day music festival will feature more than 80 country music songwriters taking the time to explain the writing process behind some of their favorite hits.
19th Annual New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival
Another can't-miss music festival this month is the 19th Annual New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival, which will take place at multiple locations around New Smyrna from September 26 to 29.
The 2019 lineup features a star-studded list of jazz musicians who will be performing for free all over town throughout the entire weekend.
Nature Festivals
Florida Keys Poker Paddle
Anyone interested in standup paddleboarding will be excited to check out the Florida Keys Poker Paddle in Islamorada in the Florida Keys on Saturday, September 7. Participants in this fun day out on the water will paddle their way through a scenic four-mile course that should be filled with opportunities to encounter manatees.
REEF’s 10th Annual Upper Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival
The Postcard Inn Beach Resort & Marina in Islamorada will be hosting the REEF’s 10th Annual Upper Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival on September 13 to 15. The event was created to help control the lionfish population in the area, and there will be lots of prizes for teams that catch the most lionfish and the biggest lionfish.
Palm Beach Nautical Extravaganza
The South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach are going to be the place to be in South Florida on September 14 and 15. There will actually be three separate nautical festivals happening at the same time over the course of the weekend.
Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the Florida Fall Boat Show, the 10th Annual Florida Marine Flea Market & BBQ Festival, and the Marine and Tropical Art Festival and Craft Show.
With everything happening this month, residents here in Florida aren’t going to have any problem keeping themselves busy.
Make sure you highlight some of these awesome events and festivals on your own calendar so that you don’t miss them.
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