The summer season has arrived and it’s time for the beach! Have you made your Gulf Coast vacation plans yet? If not, you should. Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores offer just what you need for the ideal summer beach getaway: a laid-back family atmosphere, pristine shores, warm Gulf waters, as well as sun and plenty of fun.
In addition to the quiet beaches and relaxing shorelines, staying in Indian Rocks Beach and Indian Shores offers you close convenient access to all of the Gulf Coast events, attractions and festivals. Speaking of festivals, here are a couple to check out if you’re here with us this weekend.
7th Annual Pinellas Pepper Fest
You’ll be feeling hot, hot, hot during this Pinellas Park festival. The Pinellas Pepper Fest is in its seventh year and 
happens this weekend on Saturday, June 1 from 10a.m. to 4p.m. and on Sunday, June 2 from 11a.m. to 4p.m. at the England Brothers Band Shell Park. The festival features hot sauce and salsa competitions, live music all weekend, hundreds of hot pepper plants for sale, hot and fiery foods and sauces to sample and purchase, and more.
Saturday’s events include the Amateur Hot Sauce Competition and Pepper Eating Contest. Sunday’s events include the Amateur Salsa Competition, Spicy Lolly Lick-A-Thon, and the Favorite Vendor Competition. These contests need audience participation and voting, so be sure to be there.
The Pinellas Pepper Fest is open to the public with an admission fee of $2 per person. Children age 12 and under receive free admission to the event. Parking is also free. For all of the latest updates and information, visit the Pinellas Pepper Fest Facebook page.
Dunedin Brewery 5th Annual IPA Festival
Dunedin Brewery, Florida’s oldest craft brewery, holds its 5th Annual IPA Festival this Saturday, June 1 from 7-11p.m. The event happens rain or shine and is a night filled with hoppy beer, spicy foods and funky jams. Live music is provided by the band Dopapod.
Admission is $35 and includes a commemorative glass along with generous samplings of all IPAs. The $45 admission ticket includes all of those things plus a meal (vegetarian options available). The Dunedin Brewery IPA Festival tickets can be purchased online.
The beer list for the night includes over 35 IPAs, double IPAs, and experimental IPAs. Official releases of the Chronicle 10: Double Oatmeal Pale Ale and Three Copper Coins occur that evening along with some other fabulous craft brews.
And More…
We think both festivals are worth attending and are a nice contrast! Some ice-cold beer and some spicy hot food seems like a perfect combination. We hope to see you at our local festivals this weekend and throughout the summer. Let us know if you’re planning to attend the Pinellas Pepper Fest or the Dunedin Brewery IPA Festival. We’d love to hear about it. Happy festival-going!
