Summer Food and Wine Festivals Help Beat the Florida Heat

Tampa, FL (PRWeb) June 27, 2007 -- Cool off this summer at one of the food and wine festivals coming to Florida. Enjoy the refreshing taste of wine and beer from around the world, without having to leave the state.

Whether it's the Gavel and Grapes Festival, WaZoo at Lowry Park Zoo, or the Taste of Weston, there's a variety of elegant wines and boutique beers to help beat the Florida heat. "So come out of your beer stein and taste-test some unique and different brews. Drink outside the beer bottle--and definitely outside the wine box!" writes Joan Steinbacher, author of "Food Fest! Your Complete Guide to Florida's Food Festivals."

All these events offer a tantalizing selection of local cuisine in addition to the various beverage samplings.

But if wine and beer events aren't to your liking, there are other food festivals to tempt your taste buds this summer. Seafood takes center stage at the Gulf County Scallop Festival and the Key West Lobsterfest. And clams highlight the Clamerica Celebration where the unique contests--clam shucking, clam bag races, clam hunt, and more--may be a bigger draw than the clams themselves! Health-conscious festival-goes can try one of the mango festivals and savor the many flavors of this luscious tropical fruit.

As usual, there's plenty of entertainment at each event, including arts and crafts, live music, and more.

Don't miss out on another fun Florida food event! Here's a sampling of what's coming to Florida this summer:

* Cedar Key - Clamerica Celebration (July 4)

* Coral Gables - International Mango Festival (July 14-15)

* Pine Island - Mangomania Tropical Fruit Fair (July 14-15)

* Tarpon Springs - Gavel and Grapes Festival (July 21)

* Tampa - WaZoo (August 4)

* Key West - Lobsterfest (August 10-12)

* Port St. Joe - Gulf County Scallop Festival (August 18-19)

* Fort Lauderdale - Taste of Weston (August 29)

So enjoy a spontaneous day trip or weekend getaway with your family and friends this summer! For additional information and more events, visit "Food Fest!"--the ultimate "foodies" travel guide--at www.FoodFestGuide.com

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