Are you planning a trip to Florida in March?
Well, look no further!
I’ve got the inside scoop on all the festivals and events you’ll want to check out for your Florida vacation in March.
From Swamp Fest to the berry best Strawberry Festival, shrimptastic seafood feasts, and roaring bikes at Daytona Bike Week, Florida’s got it all and more.
So what are we waiting for?
Let’s get ready to check in to the best Florida vacation spots this March packed with one-of-a-kind Florida festivals.
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Key Takeaways
- March in Florida offers a lot of unique festivals and events with temperatures in the mid to high-70 degrees Fahrenheit
- Swamp Fest is for monsters of all ages where you can dress up as your favorite swamp creature
- The Florida Strawberry Festival is a family-friendly event celebrating all the strawberry goodness you could ever dream with fun contests, rides, and agricultural exhibits
- The Bay Area Renaissance Festival takes you back in time over 7 different themed weekends
- Community spirit and one of a kind events are a common theme across all March events in Florida.
As you can see, each location provides unforgettable experiences that make Florida a top March getaway destination. Find out why below.
1. Swamp Fest in Weeki Wachee, Florida
Get ready to have a gator of a good time at Swamp Fest in Weeki Wachee! Emerging from the swamp in 1994 this Florida festival is fun for monsters of all ages.
I love visiting Weeki Watchee any chance I get for the classic old Florida feel and the gorgeous springs.
With its famous Weeki Wachee mermaids, incredible crystal clear waters, gentle manatees, and an oasis of nature, Weeki Wachee is a must-visit Florida destination any time of the year in my opinion.
What makes it special?
Here you’ll get to:
- Dressup like a swamp creature for the Swamp Monster Contest
- Feast on the ultimate food fair experience
- Explore the Arts & Crafts vendors
- Take a chance on the prize raffles which include two brand-new kayaks
- Proceeds from the festival support local charities
Slither over for swampy fun on March 7th, 8th, and 9th, 2025 at Linda Pedersen Park, and kids 5 and under are free.
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2. Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida
If eating your way through a festival in Florida is your way of having fun then the Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld, Orlando needs to be one your must-visit places for March in Florida.
There’s not one but two different special events running during the Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld, Orlando, St. Patrick’s Day at SeaWorld, and Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras runs from February 27th to March 2nd, 2025, and March 4th and March 6th to 9th, 2025.
What makes it special?
You’ll enjoy exciting things to do such as:
- Feel the Mardi Gras spirit with entertainers, bead captains, stilt walkers, and musicians bringing the Pop Up Parade to life
- Hear the sounds of Cajun and jazz classics fill the air from the live bands
- Experience the energy of Bourbon Street right here in Orlando at the Street Party with a live DJ, dancing, and street performers
- Savor the classic Gulf Coast flavors in authentic mouthwatering dishes
The St. Patrick’s Day celebration takes place from March 13th to the 17th and March 20th to the 23rd, 2025.
What makes it special?
Here you’ll get to:
- Experience a Taste of Ireland with dishes like Corned Beef & Cabbage, Shamrock Sour, and Green Beer.
- Listen to the lively tunes of Irish melodies performed by traditional musicians.
- Watch entertainers and stiltwalkers bring a splash of Irish flair to the Irish Market Plaza.
The best part of all is that this Florida in March festival is included with admission.
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3. Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida
If you’re searching for the berry best event in Florida in March, then look no further than the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City!
Showing off why Plant City is the strawberry capital of Florida, this Florida festival is legendary, beginning back in 1930.
I love how it still has that old-school Americana feel but with a modern-day fairground twist.
It’s a deliciously sweet mix of nostalgia, wild contests, epic concerts, and, of course, endless strawberry-filled treats and yummy goodies!
What makes it special?
Fun Things to Do:
- Celebrate Florida’s strawberry harvest
- Watch top-notch musical performances from groups such as Boyz II Men
- Savor the sweetness of all things strawberries including Strawberry Mashed Potato Pie!
- Be a part of the community spirit and the legacy of the Florida strawberry
- Enjoy livestock shows, exhibits, live entertainment, and fun midway rides
- Indulge in a Strawberry Pizza Pie Eating Contest or Super Dog Mega Corndog Eating Contest
- Show off your competitive spirit in the Deep-Fried Strawberry Pie on a Stick Relay
- Check out the baby contests of decorated diapers, diaper derby, a baby parade, and lots more fun activities!
There really is something for everyone to enjoy at this March festival in Florida. This local favorite event runs from February 27 to March 9, 2025, in Plant City, Florida.
4. The Marathon Seafood Festival in Marathon, Florida
Get ready to shell-ebrate fresh local flavors and fun at the Marathon Seafood Festival!
It´s a shrimptastic good time of mouthwatering Florida Keys seafood including Florida lobster, stone crab, mahi-mahi, oysters, shrimp, and more delicious eats.
With roots back to 1976, the Marathon Seafood Festival is the oldest seafood festival in the Keys celebrating the flavors of the sea.
What makes it special?
You’ll enjoy exciting things to do such as::
- Dive into dishes of Florida lobster, fish tacos, ceviche, crab cakes, conch fritters, lobster/crab bisque, Cuban croquetas and more
- More than 200 vendors filled with one-of-a-kind hand-crafted nautical-themed items, home décor, jewelry, and clothing
- Children’s area of rock climbing, face painting, obstacle courses, and lots of family fun
- Boat show showcasing not only boats but engines
- Live Entertainment of all types playing throughout the weekend from island music to rock, country, and blues
The Original Marathon Seafood Festival takes place on March 8th and 9th, 2025 at Marathon Community Park.
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5. Calle Ocho Festival in Miami, Florida
This epic free event in Florida is the largest Latin music festival in the entire country!
Yep, you read that right, FREE!
15 street blocks of Little Havana are filled with musical stages as Carnaval Miami takes over.
It’s nonstop entertainment every which way you turn with folkloric dances, endless international foods to sink your teeth into and sampling sites.
What makes it special?
This event:
- Attracts well over a million festival goers and is the largest street party in the USA
- Has you grooving to live entertainment like salsa, merengue, and reggaeton music
- Is a colorful extravaganza of street parades
- Serves up endless mouthwatering Latin cuisine
So, grab your crew, family, and friends, or even roll solo and come out on March 9, 2025, for an electric atmosphere and celebration.
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6. Annual Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival in Tarpon Springs, Florida
I love Tarpon Springs! It has its own unique vibe you won’t find anywhere else.
With the sponge docks, the Greek culture, and the friendly atmosphere, it’s a great place for solo travelers to visit with its small-town vibes, and it’s easy to walk around and explore.
For 50 years they have been hosting the Tarpon Springs Fine Arts Festival on the bayou and it’s the perfect excuse to make a trip out to this beautiful coastal town.
What makes it special?
What to expect:
- More than 150 exhibiting artists
- A full day of music, sample craft beers, and lots of yummy international foods
- Free shuttles running every few minutes from Craig Park to Tarpon Tower
- Free parking at Tarpon Towers, downtown Tarpon Springs, and many side streets
This year’s event runs on March 8th and 9th, 2025, and is considered to be one of the largest fine arts festivals in Florida.
7. Daytona Beach Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida
Florida’s Atlantic coast is the ultimate vacation spot in Florida for March with sunshine and ocean breezes.
And if you’re lucky enough to hit Daytona Beach during Bike Week, you’ll get to experience the thrilling sounds of roaring engines and revving bikes.
What makes it special?
This event features:
- Harley-Davidson demos and rides, bike shows, and stunt shows
- Daytona Motorcycle Swap Meet Extravaganza and Show
- HOG International Ride
- Live music and a free concert on March 8th
- Free pancake breakfast on March 2nd
- A contest where you can enter to win the 2025 Official Bike Week Motorcycle
Daytona Beach Bike Week cruises into Daytona Beach, Florida from February 28th to March 9th, 2025.
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8. Sunnyland Boat Festival on Lake Dora, Florida
Tavares sits right on the edge of Lake Eustis, Lake Harris, and Lake Dora, so it’s no surprise they’re home to the Sunnyland Boat Festival!
This year, the annual antique and classic boating event is stepping up its game with even more exciting features along the waterfront, giving you plenty of reasons to come enjoy a day at the lakeside.
What makes it special?
You’ll enjoy exciting things to do such as:
- Sail out on the Dora Canal cruise and enjoy a picnic for boaters
- Eat your way through the Food Court and have fun at the Beer Garden
- Take a stroll through the Nautical Flea Market
- Explore the Field of Dreams with Antique Boats for Sale
- Shop the Sunnyland Ship’s Store of clothing and boat show items for sale
- Soar through the air on a Sea Plane Ride
- Check out the Woody Cars and Amphicars on display and enjoy the parade
The Florida festival in March is located at Wooten Waterfront Park in downtown Tavares, Florida, and directly on Lake Dora from March 21-23, 2025.
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9. St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival in St. Augustine, Florida
This historic city is one of the best places to visit in Florida year-round, so when the St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival rolls in, you shore don’t need to invite me twice!
This annual festival is serving up the freshest catch with everything from shrimp and crab to fish tacos and all kind of seafood delicacies.
What makes it special?
You’ll enjoy exciting things to do such as:
- Axe throwing for all ages
- Shell-abrate with tons of fresh seafood and classic country fair eats
- Meet SAL the Lion Mascot, Mermaids, and the Pirate Crew for pictures
- Lots of pirate fun with games for Kids in Pirate Landing for free
- Shop the Arts & Crafts Village
- Live entertainment like Forever Johnny Cash Tribute, Tribute to the Eagles, classic Southern rock, and Latin fusion
The St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival will be held at Francis Field in downtown St. Augustine from March 29th to 30th, 2025.
Plus, every yummy bite you take at the festival isn’t just mouthwateringly delicious, it’s also giving back! Each food vendor donates a portion of their sales to the SAL Foundation, so every dollar you spend helps someone in need.
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10. Bay Area Renaissance Festival in Dade City, Florida
Running over 7 weekends, this 16th-century European village takes you back in time.
With 15 lively stages of entertainment, think musicians, magicians, jugglers, and even full-on jousting battles, you’re in for a one-of-a-kind adventure straight out of the Renaissance era!
What makes it special?
You’ll enjoy exciting things to do such as:
- Watching birds of prey soar through the air
- Shopping at over 100 artisans with handcrafted goods at the Festival Marketplace
- Having a feast fit for royalty on turkey legs and mead
- Enjoying full-contact live armored jousting
- BARKbarian Brew Fest with your furry friends
- Celebrating Norse mythology during Viking Invasion weekend
- Watching your favorite fairy tales come to life at Once Upon a Time
- Rallying with the crowd as you cheer on the competitors at the Highland Fling games with lots of fun games for you to try too
Head out to the Villagers of Folkstone rain or shine from 10 am to 6 pm on weekends from February 15th to March 30th, 2025.
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Honorable Mentions:
Below are a few honorable mentions that didn’t make the list but are also great options for you:
- Key West Conch Blowing Contest (March 8th)
- Leesburg Main Street Car Show (March 8th)
- Fort Myers Shrimp Festival (March 8th and 9th)
- Taste of Tavares: Food Wars (March 27th)
- Leesburg Black Heritage Festival (March 1st)
- EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival (Starting March 5th)
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Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Go in Florida in March
You can’t go wrong with any of these Florida vacation spots in March!
If I could, I’d be hopping from one Florida festival in March to the next all month long.
Each one is totally unique in its own one-of-a-kind Florida way, bringing its own vibe and lots of fun moments to be made.
It’s Florida, after all, where there’s never a dull moment in the Sunshine State!
Until next time, Happy Florida Travels Hipster!
About the Author
Sarah Jordan is a solo traveler enthusiast, professional travel writer, and proud mama to her rescue dog Coconut.
With a love for destinations across the globe, she made Epcot her first theme park and still treasures her EPCOT World Showcase passport to this day.
After finally following her inner wanderlust, she discovered the freedom and empowerment that solo travel brings.
