Families and friends celebrate the Collard Green Festival with food, fun, and dancing.
St. Petersburg’s beloved Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival is back on February 15, 2025. The event will celebrate collard greens with fun activities, culinary contests, and the charming Collard Green King, Brandon Beachem. Attendees can enjoy dance-offs, a food cook-off, and a special family zone. Plus, a pre-festival event called ‘Collards After Dark’ will offer an exclusive culinary discussion. Mark your calendars for a day of community and delicious collard greens!
St. Petersburg is gearing up for a tasty treat! The upcoming Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival is set to make its grand return on Saturday, February 15, 2025, right outside the Woodson African American Museum of Florida. This event is a celebration of everything collard greens, and trust us, you won’t want to miss it!
Taking center stage this year is the Collard Green King, lovingly known as Brandon Beachem. As the official mascot of the festival, he is ready to charm the crowd with his lively spirit and impressive dance moves. Brandon has become a beloved figure at the festival; he’s not just a mascot but a heart and soul who brings joy to everyone in attendance.
The festival was first founded in 2018 by a group of passionate locals, and it started without a mascot. However, as the festival grew, the idea of having a mascot came to life. Local artist Steve Madden originally designed a fun logo featuring an anthropomorphic collard green, but it was clear that the festival could use a physical embodiment of the spirit of collards!
Fast forward to today, and we have Brandon Beachem, who was chosen for the role after impressing the festival co-founders with his dazzling dance skills. He has been dancing since he was just five years old, and his reputation as “Brandon B., the Dance Machine” has never been stronger. Friends say he can freestyle like there’s no tomorrow, and one time he even danced for an amazing 8-hour marathon!
Expect lots of excitement this year! At last year’s festival, Beachem was a crowd favorite as he mingled with attendees, took countless selfies, and even participated in the festival’s popular 5K run. This year, he’s planning to introduce a fun new dance move called the “folding chair” and will also take part in a spirited dance-off!
This year, the Collard Green King costume has gotten a glamorous upgrade. It now features a shiny crown, a regal cape, and a scepter, making him look more majestic as he leads the collard green festivities. Plus, his 9-year-old son, Xavier, will be joining in on the fun, dressed as a cute pepper!
The festival isn’t just about dancing and showcasing the Collard Green King! There will be a delightful collard cook-off where chefs from around the area will compete for the title of the best collard dishes. And don’t forget the free collard giveaway that everyone loves, ensuring that everyone leaves with a little taste of the festival!
Families will have plenty to do, with a special family zone and live workouts to keep everyone active. For book lovers, a book fair will take place, alongside fantastic musical performances by talented artists like Shyann, Alexis Harris, and Tiffany Evans.
But wait, there’s more! On February 14, a special event called “Collards After Dark” will take place, featuring a culinary discussion led by local journalist Eric Deggans at Studio@620. This exclusive event comes with a ticket price of $100, a must-visit for food enthusiasts and anyone looking to kick off the festival in style!
So, mark your calendars for February 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 2240 Ninth Ave. S., St. Petersburg. It’s going to be a day filled with fun, community, and of course, everything collard greens! For more information, feel free to check out the festival’s website or give them a call. It’s time to celebrate the collards in a big way!
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