Festivals and Attractions - Hendry, Glades, Lee County

Festivals and Points of Interest - Hendry, Glades and Lee County

LaBelle's Swamp Cabbage Festival is an annual event begun in 1965 by the local Jaycees. The festival honors the delicacy gourmets call "Heart of Palm." Held the last full weekend of each February the festival includes a large parade, dancing, and entertainment in Barron Park, downtown next to the Caloosahatchee River. Free. Swamp Cabbage Festival Schedule of Events

LaBelle's Fourth of July Celebration includes fireworks, games and music in Barron Park on the Caloosahatchee River and the traditional homemade raft race across the river. Free.

The Hendry County Courthouse, at the crossroads of SR 80 and HWY 29 was completed in 1926 and is an excellent example of an Italian Renaissance Revival building build of brick and with limestone column entry arcades and a four-story clock tower that is easily seen miles away and especially when entering town from the east on SR 80. The original Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, now houses the Hendry School Board offices and is worth a visit. Free

The Caloosahatchee River offers boating, skiing, and fishing fun. There is a public boat ramp west of the bridge on Hwy. 78. A public dock with water and electric is also next to the Library on the south side of the bridge and is available to transient boaters free of charge for 72 hours. Free

The LaBelle Historical Museum is housed in an historic pioneer home. Open on Thursdays, volunteer workers will show you around. Located one block southeast of the historic Hendry County Courthouse at 150 Lee Street (down the street from the Burger King). The hours of operation are 2:00 - 5:00 P.M. on Thursday and Friday, but call first due to seasonal hour changes. Appointments for other hours or for special group tours my be arranged by calling the museum at (863) 675-0034.Free

The Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest is one of the largest state forests in South Florida. Located south of LaBelle on County Road 832, the pristine forest covers 32,039 acres and is one of the few places in South Florida in which the pre-Columbian landscape can be observed. The area was logged in the early 1900s for making railroad ties and then used as a cattle ranch before being bought by the state. At one time there was even an oil well on the property. The unique natural system now is the roaming area for Florida panther, black bear, sandhill crane, wood stork and gopher tortoise.$1 Entrance Fee

The Big Cypress Indian Reservation is in southeastern Hendry county and features a "wild" look at Florida through the eyes, food, and wild scenery of the Big Cypress Indian Reservation. You may camp, hunt and eat there or just take a day tour. For a detailed look at a trip to the reservation go to Big Cypress Indian Reservation

Cannon Hammock County Park off County Road 832 in south Hendry county. 29 species of butterflies have been reported in this scenic out-of-the-way park. See News article about Cannon Park

Fisheating Creek - Remnants of the historic old Cypress Knee Museum is 14 miles northeast of LaBelle at the northwest corner of SR 29 and US 27 where in earlier days a large collection of unusally shaped cypress knees could be seen. The land was purchased by the state several years ago as part of the Fisheating Creek State Park, the new entrance is located about a mile north on U.S. 27.

Gatorama, one mile south of the old Cypress Museum location on US27, is an actual alligator farm and visitors can see how real live gators live and are raised.Gatorama

The Alva Historical Museum is located in Alva, 15 miles west of LaBelle in the first library building in Southwest Florida and demonstrates what life was like for early settlers in 1887. Open Saturday's only from 2-4 PM. Free

Eden Vineyards Winery located 3 miles west of Alva on SR80, 10 miles east of Ft. Myers. The Kiser family began plantings of wine grapes 20 years ago. The vineyards have been planed with fine wine grapes developed by the University of Florida. The Winery is Florida's oldest operating winery. Open for sales and conducted tastings from 11 am until 4 pm. Reservations for groups over 12 persons. Free

Buckingham Community Center, 4940 Buckingham Rd, off SR 80, 25 miles west of LaBelle offers a Bluegrass Concert and Pick-In the first Sunday of each month, sponsored by the Southwest Florida Bluegrass Association. Free to members, $3 donation for non-members. Association dues are $10 yearly, $15 for families. Hear some Bluegrass Banjo Pickin'!

Educational Concerns For Hunger Organization (ECHO), a non-profit Christian organization teaches innovative gardening techniques and you can walk through a simulated rain forest and desert environment. Free informative tours of the grounds and growing areas on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday at 10am. Gift shop and grounds open 9-12. Located at 174230 Durrance Rd in North Ft. Myers, one mile east of I-75, exit 26 (Bayshore Rd.) Call for directions. (239) 543-3246. Visit the ECHO Web Site Free

The Clewiston Historical Museum a 2,700 square feet facility is at 112 Commercio Street in Clewiston. ph. (941) 983-2870, and features the sugar cane industry, shell collections, the Seminole Indians and the history of old Riddle Field where 1,325 British cadets were taught to fly in the war years between 1941 and 1945. Open Tuesday through Saturday 1 PM til 5 PM. Free

Manatee Park is located on Palm Beach Blvd (SR80) a mile east of I-75, exit 25. Sponsored by the county and Florida Power and Light, this new park features manatees swimming in canals next to the FPL power plant. The manatees seek warm water during the winter months and find it here. Picnic facilities available. Free

The Thomas A. Edison Home and Museum is located near downtown Ft. Myers off State Route 80, also called Palm Beach Boulevard. The attraction is owned by the city of Ft. Myers and tours guided by volunteers are available and you can also spend time in the museum which displays hundreds of Edison's inventions.

Lake Okeechobee, the second largest freshwater lake in the country, at over 30 miles wide, is the perfect spot for hiking, relaxing, fishing and water activities. Numerous parks, fishing and boating facilities around the lake are available to visitors and residents. More Lake Okeechobee information.

Geocaching is a popular sport/game in the area. Hidden treasures are sought by participants using handheld GPS receivers. See the website at www.geocaching.com for locations of local treasures and more information on the sport. There are dozens of hidden caches located in the Hendry and Glades county parks and greenbelts. One example of a local geocache is at: Ortona Indian Mound Park

Treaure Hunting is a popular recreational activity throughout the area. Amateur treasure seekers can buy or rent a metal detector and search parks, woods, and old sites for buried coins and other metal objects of interest. The lucky ones might even find buried gold or at least lost jewelry! Local Treasure Hunting Info.

Festivals and Fairs in the area:

January - Martin Luther King Parade, Belle Glade
January - Honey Festival, Muse Fire Department
January - Catfish Festival, Buckhead Ridge (last weekend)
February - Ortona Cane Grinding Festival, Ortona Indian Mound Park (1st Saturday)
February - Sour Orange Festival, Lakeport (2nd Saturday)
February - Brighton Rodeo, Brighton Seminole Reservation
February - Swamp Cabbage Festival (last full weekend), LaBelle
March - Chalo Nitka Festival (1st full weekend), Moore Haven
March - Speckled Perch Festival (2nd weekend), Okeechobee
March - Hendry County Fair (3rd weekend), Clewiston
March - Spring Festival (4th weekend), Indiantown
April - Sugar Festival (3rd weekend), Clewiston
April - Black Gold Jubilee (4th weekend), Belle Glade
April - Big "O" Birding Festival, Moore Haven
May - Brown Sugar Festival (1st weekend), Clewiston (Harlem)
May - Writers Fishing Tournament, Glades County
September - Cattleman's Assoc. Rodeo (Labor Day Weekend), Okeechobee
November - Grassy Waters Festival, Pahokee
December - Christmas Parade and Festival (2nd Saturday), Okeechobee