What’s not to love about starting the year off with two weeks of music, rides and fried Oreos — aka the South Florida Fair. Food festivals, sporting events, art shows and a boat show offer up just some of the good times guaranteed to follow. This is after all Palm Beach County.
From Tequesta to Boca Raton and west to the Glades, this is a vast community with plenty to do year round. Now that 2025 is just around the corner, it’s time to mark your calendars and set your reminders so you don’t miss the events that make living in the region such a joy.
And of course, these are simply the mainstays. Check The Palm Beach Post weekly for a list of the best things to do every weekend.
Here are some of the biggest events coming to Palm Beach County in 2025:
South Florida Fair
Packed with rides, games, parades, live music every day, ice shows, crazy food and so much more, the fair is ready to rock South Florida for 17 days straight. Under the theme “Imagine the Future” it will also feature 15 interactive exhibits exploring how the fascinating ideas and concepts of science fiction could soon become the reality of tomorrow. Presented by Imagine Exhibitions, these exhibits will help attendees discover the wonders of science, technology, engineering, math, biomedicine, artificial intelligence, and more.
This year’s fair runs from Friday, Jan. 17 to Sunday, Feb. 2. South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach. See website for admission prices and times. Information: southfloridafair.com
New rides, new food: 7 things to know about the 2024 South Florida Fair
South Florida Garlic Fest
Still the “best stinkin’ party in South Florida,” find out every conceivable way this beautiful bulb, with it’s powerfully pungent aroma, can be incorporated into one delicious dish after another. In addition, enjoy live music from The Fabulous Fleetwoods, Xperimento, Seranation and The Heavy Pets on Saturday and Santana Tribute, Daniel Childs Band and the Andrew Morris Band on Sunday. There will also be vendors, plenty of beverages and much more.
The event will take place 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2. Wellington Amphitheatre, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. $15. Information: garlicfestfl.com
The Palm Beach Show aka the ‘Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show’
The Palm Beach Show, often referred to as ‘The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show,’ is considered one of the most luxurious and sophisticated showcases of its kind in the United States. It remains the area’s only high-end showcase offering items spanning every genre, juxtaposing many periods and movements. Each year the show reinforces its all-inclusive nature as well as reaffirms its presence in the Palm Beach market as one of the season’s most prestigious cultural events.
The event is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 through Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. See website for ticket prices. Information: palmbeachshow.com
Delray Beach Open
Though the tennis tournament is the main draw, there are multiple events within this 10-day event including the Grand Tasting Event; Burgers, Bourbon and Brew; Ladies Day Luncheon; Tacos, Tequila and Tennis; Valentine’s & Volleys; Championship Brunch and more.The event is Friday, Feb. 7 to Sunday, Feb. 16. Delray Beach Tennis Center, 201 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. See website for ticket prices, exact time for events, matches. Information: delraybeachopen.com
Lake Worth Beach Street Painting Festival
The event will take place Saturday, Feb. 22 and Sunday, Feb. 23. Lake and Lucerne Avenues, downtown Lake Worth Beach. Free. Information: spf.lakeworthbeachfl.gov
Palm Beach International Boat Show
From the tiniest kayak to mega yachts that would make a Bond villain jealous, last year’s event featured over 800 boats. It also brought in over 55,000 attendees. 2025 promises to be just as bold and, once again, will be held along the beautiful downtown West Palm Beach waterfront. In addition to the boats, there will be hundreds of vendors from the marine and fishing industries. Enjoy great food within the show or step out and hit any one of the rock star quality restaurants along Clematis Street, Evernia Street, Narcissus Avenue and more.
The event is Wednesday, March 19 to Sunday, March 23. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach waterfront. See website for exact times and ticket prices Information: pbboatshow.com
Bacon & Bourbon Festival
Spend two days at this festival enjoying two of the finer things in life: bacon and bourbon. Enjoy that slightly sweet, complex brown liquor while exploring some of the mysteries that make it so intoxicatingly delicious as well as actually intoxicating. Next (or simultaneously) dig into strips of that amazing salty, sweet treat known as bacon and explore the different ways in can be incorporated into hundreds of dishes… even ice cream!
The event is Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23. Wellington Town Center Promenade, 11924 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. Free admission. Information: baconbourbonfest.com
Delray Affair
One of the largest arts & crafts festivals in the southeast United States, this event officially turns 63 this year. Called the “Greatest Show under the Sun,” the Delray Affair will run seven blocks in downtown Delray Beach and is a sprawling artistic wonderland renowned for its eclectic fusion of art, exquisite crafts, and funky products sourced from all corners of the globe. Prepare to be enchanted by a melting pot of creativity.
The event is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 6. Atlantic Ave., downtown Delray Beach. Free admission. Information: delrayaffair.com
Black Gold Jubilee, Belle Glade
This annual festival, named for the area’s incredibly-rich, fertile soil, began in 1978 and has grown to become one of the largest events in the area. It features a parade, car show, the Black Gold Jubilee 5K and 10K, live music, the Harvest Queen Pageant and much more.
The event is Saturday, April 12. Torry Island Campground, 5000 W. Canal St., Belle Glade. Free admission. Information: blackgoldjubilee.org
West Palm Beach GreenMarket
The award-winning West Palm Beach GreenMarket has been recognized multiple times as one of the best green markets in the country. Its season does not follow the calendar year and it’s not really a once-a-year event, but rather an every-weekend-during season affair. With the season ending in April. That said, it’s always an event when the market opens once again in October. (Also note that this isn’t the only green market in Palm Beach County, just the most celebrated. For a full account of green markets, reporter Eddie Ritz has assembled this guide.)
Going to the GreenMarket? It’s open through April 19, 2025 (closed March 22 for the Palm Beach International Boat Show) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Great Lawn, 100 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach
Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival
This annual festival takes place over several days in December with events at dozens of restaurants. In 2024, more than 70 chefs, bakers and wine experts, including Robert Irvine, Maneet Chauhan, Duff Goldman, Stephanie Izard, Clay Conley, Antonia Lofaso and Elizabeth Falkner were featured at events hosted by restaurants such as Aioli, Coolinary, Pink Steak, La Sirena, and PB Catch Seafood & Raw Bar. Details about the festival in 2025 aren’t yet available (attendees are possibly still digesting all the fabulous food from the 2024 festival which ended on Dec. 15.). But when the season rolls around again look for more information at pbfoodwinefest.com. Tickets to some events go fast.
Sandi Tree, boat parades and tree lightings
West Palm Beach’s iconic 35-foot tall, 700-ton holiday tree is typically sculpted in November, unveiled after Thanksgiving and sticks around through New Year’s Eve. For the past two years, the light show that plays nightly featuring Sandi Tree has been accompanied by live entertainment and opportunities to see the show from a higher perch – a Ferris wheel.
Sandi rises on the city’s waterfront lawn at 100 N. Clematis Street.
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: A dozen of the top events Palm Beach County has to offer in 2025
