The 44th annual event kicked off Friday, filling John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk with the smell of fresh Gulf seafood and the buzz of thousands of visitors.
MADEIRA BEACH, Fla — The John’s Pass Seafood Festival is back this weekend — bringing with it a celebration of Florida’s coastal culture and a powerful reminder of how far this resilient waterfront community has come.
The 44th annual event kicked off Friday, filling John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk with the smell of fresh Gulf seafood, the sounds of live music and the buzz of thousands of visitors enjoying one of Pinellas County’s biggest traditions.
But for locals and business owners, this year’s festival means much more than food and fun.
“It feels great being back here again — being back with no sand on the street, no water on the streets,” said Raphael Rios, who owns the Happy Snapper food truck. “It’s amazing what a year has done and what we’ve been through and what it looks like now.”
Just a year ago, the festival was canceled after powerful storms swept through the area. The year before that, a fire in 2023 destroyed several boardwalk businesses. Now, Madeira Beach leaders say this weekend’s crowds are proof the area is bouncing back.
“To get back open and show it off; to offer it again to the community and people visiting — it’s awesome,” said Jay Hatch, Madeira Beach’s recreation director. “Every one of our residents and business owners are proud of it, so being able to show that off to the rest is really key — and that’s why we do this.”
Rios says he got emotional seeing the crowds return. In the weeks after Hurricane Helene, his food truck served nearly 50,000 meals to locals and first responders.
“For them to come back and say, ‘Hey, thank you for being out here,’ it’s a great experience,” he said. “It’s very humbling.”
Visitors say seeing John’s Pass come back to life is inspiring.
“It’s crazy to see it recovered from the hurricanes,” said TJ Jackson, visiting from Texas. “Hard to believe it was as devastated as it was.”
“I think it’s well worth the trip,” Jan Ward added. “There’s so much to see and do. The weather is perfect and beautiful. It’s great.”
Local businesses say the festival provides a crucial economic boost and a chance to remind visitors that the village is open for business.
“Get to the beach. Bring things back,” said Chris Owen, a regular visitor. “These businesses rely on us to come here, help rebuild this community and everything.”
Organizers say the event’s return to its traditional late-October date also means the return of Halloween favorites — from kids’ trick-or-treating Friday night to an adult block party and costume contest Saturday evening.
“The vibe here is excitement and opportunity,” Hatch said. “We are open. The beaches are open. The village is open. We want people to come see it — come enjoy it.”
The John’s Pass Seafood Festival runs through Sunday, with free admission, live entertainment, more than two dozen food vendors and shuttles from nearby parking lots.