12th Annual Loquat Festival

The Only Festival of Its Kind in the U.S. Celebrates and Shares Local New Port Richey Fruit Trees

Ecology Florida and New Port Richey FarmNet, with support of the City of New Port Richey, will host the 12th annual celebration of the Florida Loquat Festival on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in New Port Richey at Sims Park in and around historic Peace Hall. This is the only loquat festival in the United States. Thanks to our major sponsor, The New Port Richey Rotary Club; our community supporters, SERVPRO – Team George, NLG Divorce and Family Law; and other businesses, groups, and individuals in the community.

The festival is a learning and sharing event to help expand the knowledge and appreciation of the loquat tree and its fruit. There will be presentations on the cultivation of loquat trees, various uses of the fruit and leaves, and presentations about community markets and agrarianism.

A late winter freeze followed by record breaking heat confused the trees and caused late and failed ripening of fruit this year. As with other fruit festivals, loquat fruit production is subject to weather conditions, and this year’s erratic winter weather has impacted fruit development. Because of failed and late ripening, we may have less fruit than usual. We will have preserves and other products, and fresh fruit as well—just not be as much as previous years. 

A major feature of the festival will be the trees, from seedlings and saplings to large trees. Green Dreams, a major force in the sustainable food and culture movement, will be with us at the festival, offering a wide assortment of loquat trees, ready for planting. Also, as a special addition this year, Green Dreams will have Mulberry saplings and young trees.

Green Dreams has been the festival's primary nursery for several years, and this year it will offer its widest selection yet of high-quality named varieties of loquats. Other nurseries will have smaller trees at lower prices, including seedlings for $5.00. For best selection of the trees, please arrive early.

Another important part of the festival is education. Presentations will include instructions on the role of the loquat in sustainable farming and gardening, the use of leaves for tea and health care, and the cultural context of this wonderful tree.  We also will have a special presentation featuring “The Loquat Singer,” Dr. Roy Kaplan.

The Florida Loquat Festival in New Port Richey, Florida is the only loquat festival in the United States of America.

“There are loquat festivals in other parts of the world, from East Asia, through Central Asia, to Europe and North Africa and on to the Caribbean Islands,” said Dell deChant, one of the event’s organizers.  “But New Port Richey is home to only one in the USA.”

The festival opens at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 2:00 p.m. at Sims Park near historic Peace Hall.

The festival will have preserves, trees, brochures, scones, loquat-inspired crafts, lectures, seeds, poetry books, and fresh fruit. There will also be related events in downtown New Port Richey in the week before the festival—including the first-ever Loquat Walk, starting at the Public Library, on April 7, and the Annual Loquat Beer Tapping on April 10 at Cotee River Brewery. Festival shirts will also be available.

When

Location

Sims Park