The Florida Blueberry Festival kicks off kicks off Friday (April 21) in Brooksville and continues through April 23.

BROOKSVILLE – Spring’s here and so are blueberries and the Florida Blueberry Festival, which celebrates the trendy berry.

The festival itself runs Saturday (April 22) and April 23. On Friday (April 21), there’s a kick-off event.

The Florida Blueberry Festival kick off event – “Victorian Epicurean Tasting Event” – supporting Brooksville Main Street will be 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday (April 21) at the Saxon Manor Garden Room, 103 S Saxon Ave. in Brooksville.

The Victorian Epicurean Tasting Event will offer tastings, hors d’oeuvres and a memento glass. It will feature craft libations from Island Grove Wine, Fishhawk Distillery and Marker 48 Brewery.  Hors d’oeuvres will be provided by Rising Sun Bistro, Mallie Kyla’s Café and Main Street Eatery.

Donation is $50 per person and all proceeds of the event will go to the nonprofit Brooksville Vision Foundation dba Brooksville Main Street.Seating is limited. For tickets call (352) 540-6409.For information contact Brooksville Main Street Executive Director Ryan A. Malloy at Director@BrooksvilleMainStreet.org or call (352) 540-6409.

The Sixth Annual Florida Blueberry Festival, sponsored by the Florida Blueberry Growers, the city of Brooksville and the Hernando County Board of Commissioners begins Saturday.

Two stages of live concerts, 250 vendors, an endless supply of blueberry-infused yumminess, and a dedicated Kids’ Zone will keep visitors celebrating through Brooksville’s tree-lined streets.  And, splat in the middle of it all will be a 1,000-foot water slide cascading down one of its mammoth hills.

“There really is something for everyone,” said Festival Director Michael Heard. “Every year, we build upon the biggest draws and add new features that make the festival even more exciting. It’s a great way to celebrate Florida’s blueberry bounty.”

As you step through the gate, the pies, jams and smoothies will be part of a sizable food court anchored by the festival’s iconic blueberry short cake. Stroll through hundreds of vendors offering unusual crafts, technological and agricultural gadgets, and live blueberry plants. Enjoy an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures and photos displayed during a two-day juried art show. City Hall’s Art Gallery showcases some of Hernando County’s most talented artists, including the festival’s Plein Air Competition. The Blueberry Patch Kids Zone features a three-story climbing wall, bungee acrobatics and a monster mural that kids can help colorize. Enjoy the Spring Skate, sponsored by Oak Hill Pediatric Emergency Care Center, Suncoast OB/Gyn, and Nature Coast Primary Care, where kids can take to the ice for free.

Then there is the continuous sound of music emanating throughout the venue. The Star Stage features a steady array of entertainment ranging from folk music to reggae and belly dancing. This year’s festival pays tribute to the 70’s mega-band Foreigner and the ever-popular Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. This is the 40th anniversary of Foreigner’s founding, and the tribute band, Head Games, will play Saturday night, while the Frankie Valli tribute band, Let’s Hang On, takes the stage Sunday afternoon. Popular regional groups, the Greg Billings Band and the Bearded Brothers & Hugh Embry Band, will be part of the nonstop entertainment.

Street performers, including jugglers, stilt performers and drum and bugle corps will be infused throughout the festival to add to the fun-filled atmosphere.

The festival is easy to find since most of the state’s major highways lead to Brooksville at the crossroads of US 41 and State Road 50.

Admission is free to children 12 and under; ages 13-17 is $5; ages 18 and up, $10. Separate fees are collected for specialty attractions, including the slide.  All concerts are free with admission.

For information, and to purchase admission tickets in advance, go to floridablueberryfestival.org.

Florida Blueberry Festival | Brooksville | Events | Things to Do | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

#FloridaBlueberryFestival #Brooksville #Events #ThingstoDo #TampaBayNews #TBReporter