5 of the Best Things To Do This February on the Gulf Coast

There’s more to love than just the beach, the sunny days, the warm temps, and the gorgeous Gulf of Mexico waters here in Florida. February also happens to be a very busy month full of some of the best and most popular fairs, festivals, events and things to do on our beaches and in our towns. You definitely don’t want to miss these, so mark your calendars and get ready for some fun in the Florida sun. All of these are events are totally family-friendly and offer a little something for everyone.

Here are 5 of the very best things to do this February on the Gulf Coast. Grab your flip flops, your sunglasses and come join us!

Florida State Fair: February 9-20, 2017

Always in Tampa and always in February! The Florida State Fair comes to town this month as the first state fair of the year in the country. The Florida State Fair celebrates over 100 years of family fun on the Gulf Coast and has been in operation since 1904, originally known as the Florida State Mid-Winter Festival. Today, the event attracts over 500,000 fair-goers over the 12 days. It has everything you’d expect from a state fair from awards for best pies, quilts and prized bulls to Midway rides, crazy fair food and live music. Get your Florida State Fair advance tickets online and save money on your admission if you purchase them before February 9, when the discount ends. Find out more by reading 10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Florida State Fair.

Valentine’s Day on the Gulf Coast: February 14, 2017

What’s not to love about spending Valentine’s Day in Florida? Heat up the romance while you enjoy the warm, sunny days and starry nights of your beach escape with the one you love the most. Go out on the town for a romantic dinner for two, explore the local nightlife, stroll hand-in-hand along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, or take a scenic dinner cruise. There are an infinite number of ways to make Valentine’s Day extra special this year. Read more about How to Have the Most Romantic Gulf Coast Getaway Ever right here.

Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival: February 17-19, 2017

Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival

The Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival is a pretty big deal every February in the St. Petersburg-Clearwater area each year. The event kicks off annually with its signature Blues Walk on Cleveland Street slated for Friday, February 17 this year, followed by the Sea-Blues Festival on Saturday and Sunday, February 18-19, at Coachman Park. The Blues Walk restaurant crawl kicks off an awesome weekend, filled with blues music and great seafood. On Friday night there is blues music and local restaurants are offering Sea-Blues-themed dinner and drink specials all night. Head downtown (Cleveland St. between Osceola and East) to kick-off your Sea-Blues weekend right, and come see all that Cleveland Street has to offer. Then enjoy the Clearwater Sea-Blues Festival for the rest of the weekend with a jam-packed schedule of live performances for 2017. Admission to the Sea-Blues Festival is free with reserved seating and VIP options available.

Winterfest on the Rocks in Indian Rocks Beach: February 18, 2017

Winterfest in Indian Rocks Beach is in its 12th year in 2017 offering family fun for everyone with free admission and free parking. The community spirit is high at his event, which is hosted at the Calvary Episcopal Church in IRB from 10a.m. to 4p.m. with children’s activities, parades, arts and crafts vendors, food and drink, drawings and a silent auction. For more information on this locally loved event, click here.

Florida Strawberry Festival: March 2-12, 2017

Florida Strawberry Festival

Technically the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City happens in March, but you need to start making your plans now and getting your tickets ASAP, so we’re putting it in with our February events. There’s nothing quite like the taste of summer all winter long all thanks to the Florida strawberry. In addition to fabulous fresh-picked Florida strawberries, the Florida Strawberry Festival plays host to plenty of other family-friendly events for your entertainment pleasure. Festival-goers enjoy entertainment all day long, exhibits, competitions, livestock shows, kids activities, along with a nice variety of arts and crafts vendors. For a few extra dollars, take advantage of the opportunity to see live concerts, experience the Belle City Midway with all its rides, games and other thrilling attractions, and sample some of the best festival fare around. Please, please, please leave room for some strawberry shortcake. It’s the festival’s signature dish! You can purchase discounted Florida Strawberry Festival tickets at area Publix super markets up until March 12.

Which of these fun and fabulous Florida events will we be seeing you at this February? Let us know!