Must See Destinations

Cedar Key Seafood Festival: Eat by the Beach

Cedar Key Seafood Festival

Festivals are of great importance and a beautiful way to celebrate the magnificent culture and traditions of a place. They serve a vital role in providing social structure and maintaining ties to one’s ancestors. Florida is home to many seafood festivals. However, I find Cedar Key Seafood Festival to be a particularly interesting and amazing event. These kinds of events provide a wonderful chance to interact personally with the inhabitants of Levy County. Here, in this article we will discuss Cedar Key Seafood Festival.

What is Cedar Key and what can you find there?

Cedar Key is an island city in Florida. It is in the Gulf of Mexico. There is a place called Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge which has small islands with paths and many birds.

Also there is Cedar Key Museum State Park. It has a nature trail, an old house from the 1920s and things that show how Cedar Key used to be a busy port.

Also Read: Colonial Town Park and Millenia Park Orlando

Why is the Cedar Key Seafood Festival so Unique?

The first is that it takes place in Cedar Key Florida, which is, as considered by Budget Travel, one of the best small towns in the United States. Cedar Key is an attractive town with a fascinating background and a population of under 1000 permanent people.

Secondly, Cedar Key is a major producer of farm raised clams in the United States. Third, Cedar Key Seafood Festival is one of the best occasions where you can visit the historic Seahorse Key, 3 miles from Cedar Key.

Cedar Key Festival Timings

On Saturday the Cedar Key Seafood Festival starts running from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sunday its timing is from 10 am to 4 pm.

Activities

There are more than 100 arts and crafts booths. There is a beautiful parade on Saturday morning including live music performances and lots of delicious local seafood with a huge variety.

Farming Clams in Cedar Key

Farming Clams in Cedar Key Florida

Many fishermen on Cedar Key had to stop working after Florida restricted large scale net fishing in 1995. Instead a lot of local fishermen took part in the federally funded job for the aquaculture of shellfish. Cedar Key clams are collected in the morning and served the next day in a Las Vegas restaurant.

More Activities on Cedar Key

You can hire a kayak from Kayak Cedar Keys operator Tom “Tomyakker” Leibert right on the shore while attending the Cedar Key Seafood Festival. Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge is in charge of managing the famous island of Atsena Otie Key.

Main street has been converted into a trail through the woods shaded by oak trees and you can still see the old cemetery. There are also a large variety of bird species in Florida.

Also Read: Types of Florida Beach Birds

Cedar key Seafood Festivals Parking

Cedar key Seafood Festivals Parking

Families who come earlier receive complimentary parking tickets free of cost. Parking near the festival for the whole day is expected to cost $10.00 per vehicle.

Parking attendants are all nice and helpful, ranging from churches looking to raise a little money to individuals. As you enter the town their signs will be visible.

Cedar key Seafood Restaurants

In Cedar Key Florida. We have listed our best options for seafood restaurants in Cedar Key with oceanfront dining which you must check out while you’re in town.

Tony’s Seafood Restaurant

Tony’s Seafood Restaurant

World renowned Tony’s Seafood Restaurant. For his clam chowder, restaurant’s head chef received award for global title. It is a must visit place in Cedar Key seafood festival.

Seafood platter, shrimp pasta and po’boy sandwiches are among the other shrimp, clam, crab and oyster meals offered at Tony’s Seafood Restaurant.

Steamers Clam Bar and Grill

Steamers Clam Bar and Grill in Cedar Key Seafood Festivals

Clam bowls and pots are a specialty of Steamers and they are always produced using fresh, nearby Cedar Key clams that have been steamed in garlic and white wine.

They also provide a variety of various crab and fish meal plates, fish sandwiches, peel and eat shrimp, tomato garlic mussels, coconut shrimp, steamed fried oysters, snow crab legs and Oysters Rockefeller.

If you would prefer to have your soup with a beautiful view of the ocean rather than traveling all the way over to Tony’s to obtain their award winning chowder. They also have some really decent clam chowder.

Big Deck Raw Bar Restaurant

Big Deck Raw Bar is on Dock Street. It has great seafood and a good view of Cedar Key’s lively atmosphere. You can eat different kinds of raw and cooked seafood while feeling the festival’s excitement. Its outdoor deck is a perfect place to enjoy a meal with your friends and family.

Bottom Line

In short it is one of the best festivals for having fun and a great time with your families. If you are searching for a unique culture and memorable time. You should visit Cedar Key Seafood Festival. It offers a variety of activities for kids as well as adults.

Also Read These Articles:

Bomberos Field Park: Where Community Spirit Comes to Life
Discover Wadeview Park Orlando: An Affordable Community