LaBelle, Florida - Swamp Cabbage Festival

The Annual Swamp Cabbage Festival - LaBelle, Florida

The LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival, in Hendry county, is an annual Southwest Florida event as some 25,000 people flood the streets of LaBelle for it's annual parade, and park festivities along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River. The festival is always held the last full weekend of February in LaBelle, Florida.

LaBelle's Swamp Cabbage Festival is an annual event begun in 1965 by the LaBelle Jaycees. The City of LaBelle extends a welcome to all our many visitors to this annual event. The festival honors the delicacy gourmets call the "Heart of Palm," the meat of the cabbage palm tree. The cabbage palm is actually the Sabal Palm, which is the state tree of Florida.

Watch live video from Don Browne - Florida on Justin.tv

33 minute parade video
10 minute parade video

The Swamp Cabbage Festival is held the last full weekend each February and features beauty pageants, dances, a huge Saturday morning parade with floats decorated with Sabal Palm fronds, entertainment including day-long bluegrass, jazz, gospel, Latin, country music, and delicious food in Barron Park, on the scenic Caloosahatchee River. For information about participation in the event contact LaBelle City Hall for contact information. Here are typical schedules and approximate dates and times for events for the annual festival:

The Swamp Cabbage Festival Events

February 1 LaBelle's clown

Deadline for entertainers and parade entries to sign up for the festival.

Mid-February

Swamp Cabbage Festival Junior Miss Pageant, LaBelle High School. Admission.

Mid-February

Swamp Cabbage Festival Queen Pageant, LaBelle High School. Admission.

Clewiston High School Marching Band Last Friday of February

Rodeo 7 PM, Rodeo Grounds. Admission.

Last Saturday of February

(All activites at the Barron Park on the Caloosahatchee River unless otherwise stated.)

"Swamp Stomp Along LaBelle's streets- 5K Run, 9:15 AM
Parade from LaBelle Airport area to Barron Park along Bridge Street, 10 AM
Quilt Show - LaBelle Womans Club, 10 AM-3 PM
Arts, Crafts, Food, Music at Barron Park Noon-7:30 PM
Rodeo 7 PM at Rodeo grounds. Admission.
Festival Country and Western Dance - Civic Center, Admission (BYOB), 9 PM-1:30 AM

horsedrawn carriage Last Sunday of February

Fishing Tournament at Boat Ramp, 6:30 AM-2 PM
Food, Music, Arts, Crafts at Barron Park 9 AM-5 PM
Fishing Tournament Weigh-in, 2 PM

(Swamp Cabbage Festival activities and times are subject to change.)

Festival Airshow from a past Swamp Cabbage Festival

Fly into LaBelle's Municipal Airport

Photos and Stories from past Festivals

Don Browne Live Video - LaBelle, Fl.

Live Broadcast And Chat - LaBelle, Florida

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