Summer Festivals in Florida

Florida has the privilege of having outdoor festival weather all year long, but still they manage to keep their place in the summer festival circuit with some special blowouts over the summer months.

Wish you had been around in the days of pillaging and pirates? John Levique Pirate Days bring pirating back to the Florida Coast. June 8-10 at John's Pass Village in Madeira Beach, enjoy The Pirates Ball, costume contests, a treasure hunt, and the pirates at their most fearsome, with a pirate ship invasion, a battle on the water, and plenty of pillaging! Find out more about the three-days of pirate fun at http://johnspassfestivals.com/ind2ex.html

Start your summer early at the Spring Fest in Cocoa May 3^rd through May 6^th. Held at the Cocoa Expo Sports Center, this yearly festival offers seafood, BBQ, crafts and shopping, plus carnival rides and games. A free concert by a country singer, this year Andy Griggs, and bull riding, give this event a little more of a unique feel. May 5^th, Spring Fest will celebrate Cinco de Mayo. For more information, go to the cities website: http://cocoabeachchamber.com/

If you are a little further south on May 3^rd through 6^th, you can get your festival season started with West Palm Beach's SunFest. SunFest features over fifty musical acts, an art show, crafts, a youth zone, and a floating boardwalk. Also, see one of the most stunning fireworks displays of the season.

Need a little less sun and a little more history? Head on over to Alachua County for the Yulee Railroad Days, May 30- June 3. Crossing town borders into many areas in Alachua County, Yulee Railroad Days consist of a number of events in different towns, each celebrating the railroads. For more information on events and locations, visit http://www.yuleerailroaddays.org/

You can also get your history fix in Pensacola at the Fiesta of Five Flags throughout the months of May and June. This annual festival that pays tribute to the founding of Pensacola by the Spanish, led by Don Tristan DeLuna, offers a treasure hunt and more. The name comes from the change of hands the city has gone through since its beginnings. Five flags have flown above it: Spanish, French, British, Confederate, and American. Find out more about the events that take place during the fiesta at: http://www.fiestaoffiveflags.org/

Whether you are Hispanic, or you just find Hispanic culture intriguing, the Hispanic Heritage Festival, withevents from August all the way through November, is a great place to stop in. Attracting over three hundred thousand people annually, this festival celebrating Hispanic heritage, offers performances and sporting events, as well as an art exhibition, music, food, and more. Get all the information at: http://www.hispanicfestival.com/

As you can see, Florida has more to offer up than just fantastic weather and beautiful beaches. If you're traveling in Florida this summer, be sure to stop and check out some of these festivals!