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A SEASON OF CELEBRATION
FESTIVALS
FESTIVALS AROUND THE TREASURE COAST
Larry Lawson’s tales of local ghostly sightings keep the crowds entertained during last year’s Treasure Coast History Festival. The festival will be Jan.
13 on Second Street in Fort Pierce.
Each year the Treasure Coast blossoms with festivals and
events that draw families from miles around. And there are a
lot of them, from farmer’s markets to music, seafood, pirate
festivals and art shows to the history festival hosted by Indian
River Magazine.
The region is a plethora of talented artists and craftsmen,
singers and musicians, seafood of all kinds, loads of historical
sites, festivals celebrating the foods of Italy, Germany,
Ireland and more. Add to that the ocean, the rivers, the wild
bird sanctuaries, hikes and biking on trails through natural
areas, and you have a well-rounded area ripe for all kinds of
recreational activities.
Here are some of the major events.
• Jensen Beach Pineapple Festival – for the 30th year the
festival presents music on stage, vendors, authentic junkanoo
and Bahamian Market, jugglers and street performers, rides,
kicking off the festival season in style, Nov. 17-19.
• Treasure Coast Beer Fest with more than 300 craft beers,
ciders and meads. Wine is new this year. Family-friendly
with food and children’s activities. In Tradition Square, Port
St. Lucie, Nov. 18.
• Treasure Coast History Festival, a one-day celebration of
historical events in Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties.
On South Second Street, Fort Pierce, Jan. 13
• Stuart Boat Show with more than 200 boats, boating accessories
and food in northern Stuart, Jan. 14-18.
• Taste of Little Italy at Tradition Square in Port St. Lucie is
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titions, demos, music, vendors, and rides for the kids make it
a must-go event, Jan. 26-28.
• Port Salerno Seafood Festival with all the delicious fresh
seafood you can eat in Port Salerno, Jan. 27
• Treasure Coast Pirate Fest, where buccaneers get together
in their best pirate gear to enjoy food, entertainment, kids’
activities, and an authentic-looking living history pirate encampment
in Veterans Memorial Park, Fort Pierce, Feb. 2-4.
• 59th Martin County Fair with all the traditional trimmings,
rides, livestock and family fun at the Martin County Fairgrounds,
Feb. 9-17.
• Party in the Park to help the Conservation Alliance celebrate
the 25th anniversary of saving the Fort Pierce Inlet State
Park lands from becoming a condo, and the preservation of
green spaces. Enjoy the food, music, exhibits, and the people
at the Inlet State Park on North Hutchinson Island, Feb. 10.
• St. Lucie County Fair, an old-fashioned fair with livestock,
competitions, crafts, fair food, clowns, rides, entertainment
at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds on Midway Road, Feb.
23-March 4.
• Spring training, N.Y. Mets at their stadium in St. Lucie
West, March 3-30. First home game is March 4.
• Indian River County Firefighters’ Fair where you can
enjoy the exhibits, shows, food, music, rides, livestock,
educational shows and much more at the Indian River
County Fairgrounds, March 9-18
• Under the Oaks Fine Arts and Crafts Festival, featuring
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Park, Vero Beach, named by several publications as one
of the top art shows in America, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., March 9-11.
• Shrimpfest Craft Brew and Hullabaloo, a three-day weekend
festival showcasing America’s most-loved seafood (nonseafood
available) in Riverview Park, Sebastian, March 16-18.
• Sandy Shoes Seafood and Brew, a seafood festival, craft
brew garden, and music all day and evening in Veteran’s
Memorial Park, Fort Pierce, March 24.
• Hooked on Music, a festival with food and arts and crafts,
featuring many bands in Fort Pierce Marina Square. Large
activity area for children and animals from Busch Wildlife
Sanctuary, March 31.
• Hibiscus Festival, a tradition in Vero Beach, with the Miss
Hibiscus Pageant, arts and crafts, food, music, plus a variety
of events at Pocahontas Park, 14th Avenue, April 5-8.
• Fort Pierce Oyster Fest where you can feast on oysters,
seafood, landlubber food and enjoy music, arts and crafts in
April at Marina Square. Dates and times to be announced.
• Martin County Shrimp and Lobster Festival offering yummy
seafood along with arts and crafts, showcasing talented
musical performers all day, with a kid zone in Memorial
Park, Stuart, April 27-29.
Compiled by Susan Burgess