The Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival is a Presidents’ Day weekend tradition (TBCGF)

If it’s Black History Month and Presidents’ Day weekend, then it’s time for the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival.

The ninth annual celebration of Black culture, history, and cuisine returns to St. Petersburg’s historic The Deuces neighborhood from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 14th. An expected crowd of over 18,000 will pour to the area around the Woodson African American Museum of Florida for a live performance by R&B singer and songwriter Sevyn Streeter, the annual collard green cook-off, culinary demonstrations by celebrity chef LaKisha Harris, vendors, fitness activities, wellness education, STEM exhibits, a family zone with a petting zoo and pony rides, and, last but not least, the free fresh collard greens giveaway. 

“It’s going to be a time,” festival co-founder Samantha Harris.

In a new wrinkle for 2026, this year’s festival culminates 45 Days of Excellence, a month-and-a-half-long celebration of community and culture that launched on January 1st.   Now that Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival Inc. also runs the  St. Pete MLK Parade under a three-year contract with the city, Harris says 45 Days of Excellence is a bridge that connects the two festivals and fills the weeks between them with community programming.

During the 45 days, social media posts and digital storytelling recognize civic leaders, activists, volunteers, entrepreneurs, and organizations for their contributions to the community. The City of St. Petersburg has also renamed its MLK Day of Service mini-grant program as the MLK Communities in Action, retooling the grant initiative to fund community programming throughout the 45 days.

This year, 27 organizations received grants of up to $1,500 for community initiatives and service projects that include health and wellness pop-up events, a free laundry day for low-income families and seniors, free dental care for uninsured and low-income residents, and gardening and healthy eating workshops.

Collard Green Festival Inc.’s own youth entrepreneurship program also culminates on festival day.  Launched at the 2025 festival, Next Gen Biz Builders, as the program is now known, is a six-week program that helps young entrepreneurs develop business skills such as budgeting, marketing, presentation, and social media.  Each young entrepreneur receives a $250 stipend for supplies, materials, marketing, and other business expenses. At the festival, these burgeoning business owners get their own vendor row to sell their wares, which have included baked goods, gift baskets, lemonade, crocheted items, gift baskets, and more. 

“There are kids who have actual businesses and vend at events,” Harris says. “They would absolutely benefit from vending at this festival.” 
For more information,  go to Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival