Glades County Festivals and Events

Rodeos, bass tournaments, sour orange pie and cane syrup.

Almost everything happens in the cool months. January brings two small-community festivals on the lake shore, February has the Ortona cane grinding and the Seminole Tribe’s Brighton Field Day, and the season closes with Chalo Nitka, the county fair and rodeo in Moore Haven. These are community events run by volunteers, fire departments and civic groups, with home cooking, crafts and live country and bluegrass music.

Dates follow local custom (the third Saturday in January, the first weekend in March) but can shift, so confirm with the organizers or the county tourism office before you plan a trip around one. Summer is quiet apart from Gatorama’s hatching festival.

Annual Festivals and Events

Sour Orange Festival and Rib Cook Offusually January · Lakeport

A community festival known for its sour orange pie contest, along with ribs, crafts and food vendors.

Buckhead Ridge Catfish Festivalusually late January · Buckhead Ridge Community Park

A volunteer fire department fundraiser with fried catfish, music and crafts.

Art in the Parkusually late January · Moore Haven

A free art show with a car show, food and live music beside the county library.

Ortona Cane Grinding Festivalusually early February · Ortona Indian Mound Park

Sugar cane is ground and boiled into syrup the old way, with a barbecue dinner, bluegrass and clogging.

Brighton Field Day Festivalusually February · Fred Smith Rodeo Arena, Brighton Reservation

The Seminole Tribe’s festival since 1938, with a professional rodeo, Native dance, arts and crafts, Seminole food and concerts.

Party Under the Bridgeusually February · Moore Haven

A riverside street party with motorcycle and car shows, lawn mower pulls and live music.

Chalo Nitka Big Bass Tournamentusually late February · Moore Haven

The fishing contest that opens the Chalo Nitka season on Lake Okeechobee.

Chalo Nitka Festival and Rodeousually early March · Moore Haven

The county’s fair since the late 1940s, with a parade, carnival, ranch rodeo and Seminole culture.

Honey Festivalusually late March · Muse

A small festival in the western Glades community of Muse, celebrating local beekeeping.

Gator Hatching Festivalusually August · Gatorama, Palmdale

Visitors watch baby alligators hatch at the roadside attraction.

Dates move from year to year — confirm on the organizer’s site before you plan around an event.

Official Event Calendars

Visit Glades calendar of eventsThe county tourism office’s list of festivals, with usual dates. Glades County government calendarCounty meetings, park events and community notices. Florida Seminole TourismSeminole Tribe events, including Brighton Field Day.

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Glades County Events — FAQ

What is Chalo Nitka?

Glades County’s annual fair and festival in Moore Haven, named with a Seminole phrase for big bass. It began in the late 1940s and includes a parade, a rodeo and a bass tournament.

Do I need tickets for Brighton Field Day?

Yes, tickets are sold through the festival’s site ahead of time and at the gate. Rodeo seats can sell out on the busiest days.