Have you ever heard of the Kumquat Festival? I hadn't until my father asked me to go. I asked what on earth was a Kumquat? Its a little bitty orange looking fruit. My step mom wanted one of the world famous pies. My father told me that he normally drives his Model A and enters it in the Antique Car Show.
About the Festival
As many as 40,000 people attend the one day event every year, with over 400 vendors and 40 sponsors participating, filling the historic Downtown core. Here, visitors can enjoy all kinds of tasty kumquat treats, from kumquat pie to kumquat cookies, smoothies, ice cream, marmalade, and even kumquat salsa.
Once we got to the Festival we walked and walked, through large crowds of people and vendors. We were there to try to find the Pies and the car show.
We found the Car show, my father was looking for the Model A group that he is associated with. He said he thinks they already left. The cars show was just about over when we got there. So we only saw a few cars.
On the way back though, we spotted the "skunk people". Husband and wife that raised these two skunks from babies. At first I thought they were cats, but nope they were really skunks.
Kumquat Home Made Ice Cream. As you can see in the picture below, the old steam engine was cranking 4 ice cream churns. It was pretty cool little operation.
Finally we find the pies. When we walked up there table was empty. My father walks over and asked are you out? The man said we have 100 on the way. Should be here in minute. As we got into the very long line, here they came. I asked my father what does one taste like? His reply was "I dont like it". That didnt set well with me, I had to try a piece of it. Oh it was wonderful. It was sweet and tart at the same time with a taste of orange.
We only spent a couple of hours there, we were both exhausted from the long waiting and walking. But I enjoyed myself. I got to spend quality time with my father, got to try something new, and got to see thousands of people.
So the next time your in Florida on the last Saturday in January, go check out the
Kumquat Festival in Dade City.
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