This is a Festival promoting a small, tart, and often overlooked citrus fruit -
the Kumquat. Many of the 400 plus vendors at this event will offer tasty treats
made from the fruit - from kumquat smoothies, kumquat cookies, kumquat
marmalade, kumquat salso, to the crowd favorite kumquat pie (tastes a bit like
Key Lime pie, but with it's own unique flavor). The event routinely draws as
many as 40,000 people to the downtown area of historic
Dade City.
Even though this is advertised as a one-day event, there are other activities
that predede it in what locals refer to as "Festival month". The first Saturday
of the month kicks off the festivities with the "Dade City Cruise-In" car show.
Then on Sunday, the Mr. and Miss Kumquat Pageant is held. The week immediately
prior to the Festival, local growers host open houses with grove and packing
house tours.
Food vendors, arts and crafts booths, and farmer's market stands are scattered
over a large area along downtown streets that are blocked off from traffic
during the festival. An antique car and truck show is held in the courthouse
parking lot. and there is a large kid's play area. The streets around the
courthouse square are ground zero for continuous entertainment during the
festival. Expect to see stage performances by folk dancers and cloggers, folk
and country groups, as well as shows by local churches.
Activities & Facilities
Restaurant
Playground
Arts/crafts vendors
Live music
Short hiking trails