Spring Starts Early in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach | Events & Festivals

A bold statement we'll stand behind: there is no better place (outside of Ireland) to celebrate St. Patrick's Day than Punta Gorda.

Downtown Punta Gorda is the center of several parties, including the biggest, by Celtic Ray Public House, an authentic Irish pub, which closes an entire street for their all-day/all-night, music-filled party.

Learn more about Celtic Ray Public House on the Flavor Coast site!

The Gulf Theater at the Military Heritage Museum is proud to present St. Patrick's Day with Blue Skye Pipes & Drums.

The IceHouse Pub adds their fair share of revelry, and Downtown Kava always has a creative twist for St. Patricks.

Fishermen's Village also throws a family-friendly St. Patrick's party.

Attention Foodies: spring is a great time to visit Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach. This season features several food fests:

• Babcock Ranch Seafood and Music Festival: February 13–15
• Port Charlotte Greek Fest: February 27–March 1 (now in its 32nd year!)
• Babcock Ranch Reggae Festival: March 6–8
• Taste of Punta Gorda and Beyond: March 8

If you miss any of those, you'll still be able to partake in the ongoing culinary happenings like Wine Tastings at Punta Gorda Chocolate & Wine: Saturdays; the Punta Gorda Long Lunch Tour: Wednesdays through April; several weekly Farmer's Markets; and countless independent restaurants to explore. Start exploring and planning with the Flavor Coast site and go from there, then savor to your stomach's content:

Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is a very artistic and crafty area. No matter what time of the year you visit, you'll find an amazing array of art and culture:

Performance

• The Charlotte Players present another hilarious show, Drinking Habits 2, February 12–March 8
• The Punta Gorda Short Film Festival, now in its 12th year, presents world-class short films March 4
• Porgy and Bess, a Jazz Opera by George Gershwin, presented by the Gulfshore Opera, debuts at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center on March 27
• Rock out at the Southern Grand Slam Music Festival April 24 and 25 and/or drop in on the Babcock Ranch Jazz & Blues Fest April 25

Explore myriad other live concerts here.

Art & Culture

Spring is bursting with art events, with the National Art Exhibition at the Visual Arts Center, running until March 26; the Sullivan Street Craft Festival happening March 7 and 8; and the Babcock Ranch National Art Show taking place March 14 and 15.

Of course, Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens is always a destination for art, craft, and beautiful botanicals, and until April 19, you can check out Origami in the Garden, an international exhibit showcasing the ancient art of paperfolder as translated in heavy metals.

You'll find several galleries in the area as well, and we encourage exploration!

Spring Training is a huge part of the season here, but it deserves its own spotlight. If baseball is part of your spring plans, start with our full guide to Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach: Your Spring Training Home Base.