The annual Hastings Cabbage, Potato and Bacon Festival returns April 27-28. Held in the heart of downtown Hastings, the festival celebrates the town’s agricultural roots through creativity and good, old-fashioned fun.
Experience the flavors of Hastings with four distinct culinary events.
From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., festivalgoers will sample an array of delectable dishes prepared by popular local chefs, including Hari Pulapaka, Genie McNally, Michael Lugo, Ned Pollack, Ellie Schultze, Dejuan Roy, Sebastian Sikora and Rebecca Reed. Each chef will craft a plate using cabbage, potatoes and bacon. Tickets to the Taste of Hastings are $35 for general admission and $100 for the VIP experience and may be purchased online at www.HastingsFL.org/meet-the-chefs.
Sunday, April 28, features the prestigious American Culinary Federation Sanctioned Cooking Competition, where three accomplished chefs will showcase their skill and artistry using any or all of the three main ingredients. With all the flash and sizzle of televised cooking competitions, these chefs will race against the clock and each other to impress the judges. The competition begins at 1 p.m. and tickets are $20 and may be purchased at zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/0ecac79f-1be9-4556-8f1f-74cd37898fe5.
The Spud Run and Cabbage Crawl Fun Run on Saturday, April 27, is a hallmark of the festival. Athletes of all ages can take on the 5K, 10K, 15K or 1-mile run. No matter the distance, runners, walkers and joggers will enjoy the picturesque scenery of the region’s rich agricultural landscape on a course that meanders through Hastings. Prices vary depending on distance and registration period. Runners can register here.
The Great Hastings Mow Down Lawn Mower Races are a sight to be seen! With the course running straight down North Main Street, there’s plenty of action. Racers can compete in two racing classes, open stock adult (ages 18 and older) and young rider open stock (ages 15-17), with heats running from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Mowers can then don their best decorations and join the Mow Down Parade.
A long-standing tradition in the Potato Capital, the Miss Potato Queen Beauty Pageant is a local favorite. Contestants from surrounding counties participate in age categories from newborns to 23 years of age. The contest spans Saturday and Sunday, with baby to tiny on Saturday, Little Miss to Miss on Sunday.
During the Outdoor Artisans Market, artists, makers and tantalizing bites will line North Main Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendors will offer everything from curated clothing collections and jewelry to flowers and art. The best local food trucks are serving fall-off-the-bone barbecue, fried chicken, seafood, lemonade and more. The atmosphere is complete with live music throughout the weekend at the Bozard Stage, featuring favorites like Bad Dog Mama, Damon Slaughter and Billy Buchanan.
