Tallahassee Florida Best Food and Drink Festivals 

Throughout the year, this city hosts a diverse range of food, wine, and beer festivals providing residents and visitors alike with an opportunity to indulge in delightful dishes, relish fine wines, and raise a glass to artisanal craft brews.

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Tallahassee Beer Festival: August

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This premier North Florida tasting event draws over 2,500 enthusiastic attendees to the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center, offering unlimited samples from more than 100 brewers. The festival showcases over 300 different fermented beverages, including craft beers, ciders, ales, meads, sparkling sodas, seltzers, and wines from national, regional, and local producers including Proof Brewing Company, Deep Brewing, and Lake Tribe Brewing. Each attendee receives a personal tasting cup with access to convenient pour buckets and rinse sprayers for glass cleansing between samples.

 

A selection of food trucks and local restaurants serve diverse culinary options ranging from gourmet tacos to smoked barbecue, perfectly complementing the vast beverage selection. Live music fills the venue throughout the event, with local bands providing an energetic backdrop for the festivities. Essential event features include a VIP early entry option, designated driver tickets, and a partnership with United Partners for Human Services, where 100% of proceeds benefit local nonprofits.

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Panacea Blue Crab Festival: November​​

 

The annual Panacea Blue Crab Festival, a cherished tradition since 1975, celebrates the local crab industry in Wakulla County, Florida. Held at Woolley Park on scenic Dickerson Bay in Panacea, the event kicks off with a parade down U.S. 98 before the gates open for a day of waterfront fun. This year's festival featured over 100 vendors, offering a diverse array of goods from handmade crafts to local seafood. Attendees savored a variety of culinary delights, including crab cakes, shrimp po' boys, barbecue, and funnel cakes, complemented by beverages from local breweries and wineries.

 

Live music performances by bands such as The Red Hills Band and The Salty Dogs entertained the crowds throughout the day. A highlight of the festival was the annual Blue Crab Eating Contest, where participants competed to consume the most crabs in a timed challenge. The event also included clog dancing performances, arts and crafts displays, and children's activities, all set against the picturesque backdrop of Dickerson Bay.

 

Florida Seafood Festival: November

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The oldest maritime event in Florida draws thousands of seafood enthusiasts to celebrate the fishing heritage and bountiful harvests of Franklin County. The Florida Seafood Festival, hosted at Battery Park along the Apalachicola River, features more than 60 vendors offering local delicacies including fresh oysters, shrimp, blue crab, and mullet prepared in countless ways from fried to blackened to steamed.

 

Local restaurants like Up The Creek Raw Bar and Papa Joe's Oyster Bar & Grill showcase their signature dishes alongside craft vendors selling maritime-themed artwork and jewelry. Nearly 25,000 attendees enjoy live entertainment on two stages, with past performers including national country acts like Travis Tritt and Confederate Railroad. The festival's unique features include the oyster shucking contest where competitors race to properly open dozens of oysters, the blessing of the fishing fleet ceremony, and the annual Miss Florida Seafood crowning celebration.

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Cleaver & Cork Food & Wine Festival: March

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The region's most sophisticated culinary gathering brings together master chefs, vintners, and craft beverage artisans in a celebration of fine dining and drinks at Tallahassee State College Foundation. Cleaver & Cork stands as a cornerstone event featuring eight distinct tasting experiences, each showcasing innovative food pairings and premium libations. Headlining this milestone tenth anniversary is celebrated culinary icon Chef Tom Colicchio, known for his role as head judge on "Top Chef" and his acclaimed restaurants.

 

The foundation has thoughtfully designed each segment of the festival to highlight both local talent and visiting culinary masters through intimate dining experiences and demonstrations. Special features include professionally guided wine tastings, chef-led cooking demonstrations, and carefully curated spirit sampling sessions. Students from Tallahassee State College's culinary program work alongside industry professionals, creating a unique educational component that sets this festival apart from others in the Southeast.

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Whether you're a beer aficionado, a wine connoisseur, or simply a lover of exceptional food, Tallahassee offers a festival tailored to tantalize your taste buds and leave you yearning for more.