An annual staple in Fellsmere, Fla. for the past 32 years, the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival is a carnivalesque celebration of frog legs. Held at the old school house and little league park near the center of this town of less than 5,000 residents, the four-day festival puts forward some of the finest culinary delicacies the South has to offer.
If you are not from the area, this may sound weird, but trust us on this one, frog legs are delicious. Frog legs are usually fried in batter or grilled, and most people say they taste like a combination of fish and chicken. The flavor is reminiscent of chicken, but sweeter, and the texture is similar to that of fish. Which is to say, you should definitely try at least one frog leg dish. Maybe go for the frog-leg dinner which comes with grits, coleslaw and hushpuppies, all great palate cleansers for the nervous or unanointed. Gator is on the menu, too: another regional food item which really does just taste like chicken.
While we think trying local foods is one of the most essential parts of travel, the festival organizers know not everyone can stomach the legs. In that case, their roster of Italian or Polish sausages, cheddar nuggets, fried okra, curly fries, deep-fried oreos and funnel cakes should do the trick.
Beyond the food lines, there are many opportunities for you to leave the festival with a plush prize, whether you want to shoot some hoops or pop balloons. Rides include some classics, such as those that plummet to a near death apparati and, on the friendlier side, merry go rounds. You’ll want to cap the evening off with a nice stroll down to see vendors selling anything from custom print shirts to artisanal pickles.
The Specs
- 80,000 frog leg lovers attend the festival each year.
- Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival is free to attend.
- Check out Fifty Grande’s guide to Florida here.
FAQs
What is the closest airport to Frog Leg Festival?
Those frog legs are just thirty miles away from the Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
Which artists are on the Frog Leg Festival lineup?
Johnny Debt, Matt Rosman, Jason Wright, Chemistry, and Hired Guns.