Posted by Bruce Bilmes and Sue Boyle
, February 23, 2010 22:35
This celebration of the Florida state tree began in LaBelle in 1966 (and yes, swamp cabbage comes from the core of a tree, the Sabal palm). LaBelle puts on a major shindig, which begins this year on Friday, 2/26/10 at 8 p.m. with the famous LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival Rodeo & Pro Bull Riding. The rodeo will continue with shows Saturday afternoon and evening, and Sunday afternoon. Saturday’s swamp cabbage parade begins at 10 a.m., which will be preceded by the Swamp Stomp at 8:30 a.m. (this is a 5K run/walk). Even earlier than that, the annual bass tournament will start at dawn, with a $2000 first prize.
There’s a Super Cruise for car enthusiasts, a motorcycle show, mower racing, and the legendary armadillo races. An hour-and-a-half cruise of the Caloosahatchee River will be available for $20. And there will be lots of music and dancing all day Saturday and Sunday, featuring Bobby Bare at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. There will, of course, be plenty of swamp cabbage to enjoy, too, in the form of stews and fritters, along with such local edibles as alligator and boiled peanuts. See the festival website for all the details.
