Southwest Getaways 2008 - (Page 25) Florida Festivals Southwest-Style What To Do: From swamp buggies to international film, Southwest Florida celebrates its culture and heritage with unabashed festivity. For a taste of the fun, plan your visit around one (or more) of these food- and music-filled weekends. what Sharks Tooth & Seafood Festival, Venice, 941-412-0402 what Sarasota Film Festival, 941-364-9514; www.sarasotafilmfestival.com 2007 Sarasota Film Festival. what weekend: Second in April what fun! Food, fossils and seafood. what on earth? Venice’s beaches are known for their fossilized sharks’ teeth. what accommodations: Inn at the Beach, 800-255-8471, www.innatthebeach.com what Sugar Festival, Clewiston, 863-983-7979, www.clewiston.org/festival.htm what weekend: First two in April what fun! Free outdoor film screenings, big-name celebs and gala parties. what accommodations: Hyatt Sarasota, 800-233-1234, sarasota.hyatt.com what weekend: Third in April what fun! Country music, sweet treats, bass tournament and sugarcane-grinding. Beachcombing on Venice Beach. Photo by Alex Gore. what on earth? Cane fields surround “America’s Sweetest Town.” what accommodations: Clewiston Inn, 800-749-4466, www.clewistoninn.com what MangoMania, Pine Island, 239-283-4842, www.floridascreativecoast.com what weekend: Weekend after July 4 what fun! A wacky hat parade, exotic fruit creations, mango-toss and Mr. MangoHead. what on earth? Pine Island grows mangoes and other tropical fruits like crazy. what Swamp Buggy Races Festival, Naples, 800-897-2701, www.swampbuggy.com what weekend: Last weekend in October what fun! Swamp Buggy Parade, mud races and dunking the Swamp Buggy Queen. what on earth? Invented for the Everglades, souped-up swamp buggies, with their big, fat tires, are the local monster truck equivalent. Southwest Getaways 25 http://www.sarasotalmfestival.com http://www.clewiston.org/festival.htm http://www.innatthebeach.com http://www.sarasota.hyatt.com http://www.clewistoninn.com http://www.floridascreativecoast.com http://www.swampbuggy.com
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