36th Annual John's Pass Seafood & Music Festival - What you Need to Know

The largest festival in Madeira Beach, named Pinellas County's Best Festival by Visit St. Pete Clearwater, opens this Thursday, October 25th. The event builds through the weekend boasting great food, live music, and fun for all ages.

Great​ ​fresh​ ​seafood​ ​and​ ​entertainment​ ​are​ ​the​ ​main​ ​highlights​ ​of​ ​the​ ​event.​ ​This​ ​year​ ​the​ ​John’s Pass​ ​Merchants​ ​Association​ ​put​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​improving​ ​food​ ​quality​ ​and​ ​engaging​ ​with more​ ​local​ ​restaurants.​ ​“Visitors​ ​can​ ​expect​ ​a​ ​higher​ ​quality​ ​of​ ​food​ ​this​ ​year,”​ ​said​ ​Sonny​ ​Flynn, Merchant​ ​Association​ ​President.​ ​Entertainment​ ​was​ ​secured​ ​through​ ​the​ ​festival’s​ ​partnership with​ ​Beasley​ ​Media​ ​Group​ ​to​ ​feature​ ​local​ ​entertainment​ ​at​ ​the​ ​highest​ ​level.

The​ ​Friday​ ​night’s​ ​​Halloween​ ​Block​ ​Party​ ​​is​ ​highlighted​ ​with​ ​an​ ​adult​ ​costume​ ​contest.​ ​By handing​ ​out​ ​$5,000​ ​in​ ​cash​ ​prizes​ ​split​ ​between​ ​the​ ​top​ ​three​ ​contestants​ ​the​ ​event​ ​draws​ ​an amazing​ ​assortment​ ​of​ ​handmade​ ​and​ ​professional​ ​costumes.​ ​Spectators​ ​cheer​ ​in​ ​the​ ​crowd and​ ​dance​ ​along​ ​as​ ​the​ ​locals​ ​parade​ ​across​ ​the​ ​stage​ ​and​ ​dazzle​ ​the​ ​crowd.

The​ ​weekend​ ​has​ ​many​ ​events​ ​for​ ​children​ ​including​ ​a​ ​​kids​ ​fishing​ ​tournament​,​ ​trick-or-treating through​ ​the​ ​shops​ ​and​ ​an​ ​all​ ​new​ ​shaded​ ​​kids​ ​zone​​ ​located​ ​upstairs​ ​adjacent​ ​to​ ​​The​ ​Alligator Attraction​.​ ​The​ ​​kids​ ​costume​ ​contest​​ ​is​ ​held​ ​at​ ​3:00​ ​p.m.​ ​on​ ​Saturday​ ​afternoon​ ​and​ ​the​ ​​junior chef​ ​challenge​​ ​is​ ​Sunday​ ​at​ ​3:00​ ​p.m.

The​ ​festival​ ​will​ ​once​ ​again​ ​attempt​ ​to​ ​break​ ​the​ ​word​ ​record​ ​for​ ​the​ ​​world’s​ ​largest​ ​bloody​ ​mary toast​.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​an​ ​ongoing​ ​battle​ ​between​ ​Madeira​ ​Beach,​ ​Florida​ ​and​ ​Racing,​ ​Wisconsin.​ ​This year​ ​the​ ​event​ ​will​ ​need​ ​to​ ​pull​ ​over​ ​2,000​ ​in​ ​attendance​ ​to​ ​take​ ​back​ ​the​ ​title.​ ​Join​ ​the​ ​toast​ ​to help​ ​raise​ ​money​ ​for​ ​American​ ​Cancer​ ​Society​ ​and​ ​grab​ ​a​ ​complimentary​ ​Deep​ ​Eddy’s​ ​Vodka bloody​ ​mary​ ​on​ ​Sunday​ ​at​ ​1:00​ ​p.m. Additional​ ​events​ ​include​ ​​The​ ​Battle​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Pass​ ​Fishing​ ​Tournament​​ ​and​ ​the​ ​first​ ​annual Seafood​ ​Festival​ ​5K​.​ ​With​ ​all​ ​of​ ​these​ ​great​ ​events​ ​what​ ​the​ ​festival​ ​really​ ​prides​ ​themselves​ ​in is​ ​giving​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​community​ ​after​ ​the​ ​crowds​ ​clear.​ ​“We​ ​are​ ​so​ ​grateful​ ​to​ ​have​ ​been​ ​able​ ​to give​ ​almost​ ​40,000​ ​dollars​ ​last​ ​year​ ​to​ ​our​ ​charities,”​ ​said​ ​Flynn.​ ​This​ ​year’s​ ​charities​ ​include Pinellas​ ​County​ ​Schools,​ ​American​ ​Cancer​ ​Society,​ ​and​ ​The​ ​Lupus​ ​Foundation.

Highlights Include;

Seafood Festival 5K - Come out Saturday morning and take to the sand for the first Seafood Fest 5k. Every registered runner will get a $5 voucher to be used at the festival.

Kids Zone - Open All Weekend

Friday Night - Block Party & Adult Costume Contest

Saturday Night Country - Bearded Brothers

Saturday at 3PM - Children's Costume Contest

Sunday at 1PM - World's Largest Bloody Mary Toast

Sunday at 3PM - Junior Chef Showdown

Additional helpful links;

PARKING MAP & TROLLEY INFORMATION

FULL LIST OF EVENTS