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The Sugar Festival in Clewiston, Florida
By Nicholas Jurkowski

Clewiston is an interesting little town in the middle of south Florida. Though it isn’t coastal, it is located on the banks of Lake Okeechobee (that’s right! The second largest freshwater lake in the United States! THAT Lake Okeechobee!) It is, according to the city’s fathers, “America’s Sweetest Town,” no doubt because of the large amounts of sugar cane grown there (interestingly, the reception you get from the townspeople can be somewhat cold). They like to say that they are “in the middle of everywhere” – that is to say that they are about 60 miles from Ft. Myers in the southwest and 60 miles from Palm Beach in east. While there are always some things to do in Clewiston year round - bass fishing in Lake Okeechobee is always good – every April, the town really comes into its own with the Sugar Festival.

The Sugar Festival takes place over two weekends – the second and third Fridays and Saturdays in April. Like all county-style fairs, you will find standards like farming equipment expos and a beauty pageant (where they crown an annual Miss Sugar). One of my favorite events localized to the Clewiston festival is the Taste of Sugar Dessert Contest, where chefs of all types strive to make the most delectable sugary creations they can. Other highlights include an old fashioned cane sugar grinding exhibition (surprisingly interesting) and an antique car show. Admission to the festivities is free, so why not? It really is the highlight of Clewiston’s entertainment offerings.

Since you’re already going broke to go to the sugar festival, it’s worth considering renting a limousine from Millenium Limo to go to your favorite event (be it the Miss Sugar Pageant, the rodeo, or the bass fishing tournament.) It would wow the Clewiston small-towners, and be pretty entertaining to boot. Clewiston will never look at you the same again!

Nick Jurkowski is a senior editor for MilleniumLimo.com: the essays above can be found on his night life blog, updated daily and available via RSS, at The Urban Adventure Blog.