Peter Schorsch
Country music and sweet treats are headed to Clewiston next week for the 32nd annual Sugar Festival.
“This community event will have plenty of music, sweet food, arts and crafts and activities to offer people of all ages,” said Hillary Hyslope, executive director of the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Clewiston Sugar Festival committee. “Sugar Festival is Clewiston at its best: good music, food and people.”
Among the visitors for the March 17 event in “America’s Sweetest Town” are music acts Big & Rich, Easton Corbin, Brooke Eden, Doug Stone and the Cody Williams Band.
Music isn’t the only draw for the all-day event at the Civic Park on U.S. Hwy 27.
The agenda also includes the Sugar Fest 5K Run, the Sweet Taste of Sugar baking contest, and plenty of food vendors, arts and craft booths, tractor displays and a car show.
Those looking for some competition can put their name down for pickle ball, horseshoe and cornhole tournaments. The Seminole Tribe of Florida is sponsoring a free Kids Park with bounce houses, inflatable slides and other activities. Additionally, the festival will feature an alligator wrestling show provided by Billie Swamp Safari.
“The Clewiston Sugar Festival is a special time for our entire community to get together and recognize another successful season,” said Judy Sanchez, senior director of corporate communication and public affairs for U.S. Sugar. “We look forward to hosting guests from near and far and showing why Clewiston truly is ‘America’s Sweetest Town.’”
The festival coincides with the region’s annual sugarcane harvest and celebrates the harvest’s economic significance within the Glades region.
U.S. Sugar is the main backer of this year’s festival. The Seminole Tribe of Florida, FPL and the Hendry County Tourist Development Council are also sponsoring the event.
More information on the Clewiston Sugar Festival, including a complete schedule of events, is available at clewistonsugarfestival.net and on Facebook.
