Once a year, tiny Cedar Key, with a population under a thousand, swells with tens of thousands of visitors for one weekend. The reason: the Cedar Key Seafood Festival, one of Florida’s longest-running and most beloved celebrations of Gulf Coast seafood culture.
If you’re planning a Cedar Key trip and want to time it around the festival, or you’re simply curious what all the fuss is about, here’s what to know.
When Is the Cedar Key Seafood Festival?
The festival is held annually in mid-to-late October, traditionally the third weekend of the month. According to the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce’s official events page, the 2026 Seafood Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026. Because exact dates can shift slightly year to year, it’s always worth confirming current dates directly through the Chamber of Commerce before finalizing travel plans.
Who Puts It On
The festival is organized by the Cedar Key Lions Club, and by 2025 the event had reached its 54th year running, making it one of the most established community festivals on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s a genuinely local, volunteer-driven event rather than a corporate-run tourist attraction, which is part of what gives it its distinct small-town character.
What to Expect at the Festival
The Seafood Festival is built around exactly what the name promises: fresh, local seafood, but it’s grown into a full weekend celebration that includes the following:
- Fresh seafood vendors serving up local specialties, with Cedar Key’s famous farm-raised clams taking center stage alongside shrimp, fish, and other Gulf catches
- Arts and crafts exhibitors lining the streets, often well over 100 vendors, based on past years, selling everything from coastal-themed artwork to handmade jewelry
- Live music performed by local musicians throughout the weekend
- A parade through downtown Cedar Key, typically held on the Saturday of the festival
- Free admission to the festival itself, with food and vendor purchases priced individually
Where It Takes Place
The festival is centered around downtown Cedar Key, spanning State Route 24 and Second Street, and extending to the Gulf-front City Park near the waterfront. Given the town’s small footprint, the entire festival area is very walkable once you’re parked or dropped off.
What to Know Before You Go
It draws a serious crowd. For a town with well under a thousand full-time residents, tens of thousands of visitors descend on Cedar Key for this event. Expect crowded streets, limited parking, and packed restaurants.
Book lodging early. Local visitor guides consistently advise reserving accommodations well in advance for festival weekend, as rooms in and around Cedar Key book up quickly once the date approaches.
Comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing matter. Because the festival involves a lot of walking across a full weekend, comfortable footwear and layers for changing October weather are worth planning for.
Parking fills up fast. Given the town’s limited size, arriving early in the day (or considering off-site parking with a shuttle, which some tour operators offer) can save a lot of hassle.
Combining the Festival With a Fishing Trip
Here’s a genuinely underused strategy for a Cedar Key visit: book a fishing charter for the days just before or after the festival, then experience the festival itself as the capstone of your trip. October also happens to be one of the best months of the year for redfish in Cedar Key’s waters, sometimes referred to locally as “Red October,” meaning festival weekend often lines up with some of the best fishing conditions of the entire year.
A half-day or 3/4-day charter earlier in the weekend, followed by the festival on Saturday, makes for a full, well-rounded Cedar Key experience that most first-time visitors never think to plan around.
Other Cedar Key Events Worth Knowing About
The Seafood Festival isn’t the only annual event in Cedar Key. The town also hosts the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts each April, drawing artists and visitors for a springtime arts festival, and smaller community events throughout the year organized through the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce. For the most current calendar of events, the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce events page is the most reliable source, since dates and events are updated there directly by the local chamber.
Ready to Plan Your Trip Around the Festival?
Whether you’re coming purely for the seafood and arts or want to combine it with some of the best redfish fishing of the year, book your Cedar Key charter around festival weekend and make the most of your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Cedar Key Seafood Festival?
The festival is typically held in mid-to-late October each year. The 2026 festival is scheduled for October 17. Exact dates should be confirmed via the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce, as they can shift slightly year to year.
Is the Cedar Key Seafood Festival free to attend?
Yes, admission to the festival is free, though food, drinks, and vendor purchases are priced individually.
Who organizes the Cedar Key Seafood Festival?
The festival is organized by the Cedar Key Lions Club and has been running for over five decades.
Is Cedar Key busy during the Seafood Festival?
Yes, very. The festival draws a large crowd relative to the town’s small year-round population, so expect crowded streets, limited parking, and fully booked lodging if you don’t reserve early.
Can I fish and attend the festival on the same trip?
Yes, and it’s a great combination. October is also one of the best months for redfish fishing in Cedar Key, so booking a charter around festival weekend makes for a well-rounded trip.
Saltwater Outlaw Charters, Cedar Key, FL | Captain Tracy Collins | 352-843-4067
