DADE CITY, Fla. — The 29th Annual Kumquat Festival in Dade City has been rescheduled to March 8 “due to high winds and unsafe weather conditions” forecast for Saturday, officials with the Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce announced on Friday.
Officials issued the following statement:
“Due to high winds forecasted for tomorrow and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of our vendors, volunteers, sponsors, and attendees, the 29th Annual Kumquat Festival will be postponed.”
The Kumquat Festival is a popular event celebrated every year, typically on the same date as Tampa’s Gasparilla pirate fest, where attendees can celebrate the “little gold gem of the citrus industry” with treats inspired by the unique fruit along with a children’s activity area, classic car show, craft kumquat beer and wine, and activities for all ages.
Greg Gude, General Manager of Kumquat Growers, said the event is his busiest weekend.
“It’s just a shame that the weather’s coming in, but we understand you can’t be out on the asphalt in 50 mph wind gusts with little pop-up tents,” he said. “We’ve had them here when a little gust of 20 mph fly them over the fence.”
Vicki Wiggins, the president and CEO of the East Pasco Chamber of Commerce, said even amid cold weather last year, about 30,000 visited.
“So it’s a huge economical impact for our downtown,” she said.
“Our heart breaks for everybody that this is really going to be a hardship for some of them. We’re hoping that they can at least freeze some of the items or, maybe, they can still be open tomorrow.”
Businesses count on residents to still purchase the tiny, orange citrus. Kumquat growers said they will be open this weekend despite the festival being postponed.
“We’ll still have kumquats for sale so we’ve got them. They’ll last,” Gude said. “We’ve got them in refrigeration now and they’ll last until we can get them commercially shipped or you can come out here and buy some, at least for the next few weeks.”