For more than 45 years, LaBelle, a town of 4,000 just east of Fort Myers on the Caloosahatchee River, has been celebrating swamp cabbage in a down-home festival and parade. The 2013 Swamp Cabbage Festival is Feb. 23-24.
Swamp cabbage — it’s called hearts of palm when you pay $10 for it in a fancy restaurant — comes from the state tree, the sabal or cabbage palm.
The festival is the sort of small-town extravaganza where teen-age girls vie in a beauty pageant, the high school band plays “Louie Louie” in the parade, and folks argue about whether the big entertainment is the rodeo or the armadillo races.
Here’s what’s planned for the 2013 LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival
The festival is free and fill’s the city’s waterfront Barron Park, North State Road 29 at the Caloosahatchee River. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. Entertainment includes Wilson Fairchild, a country music duo from Virginia.
The South Central Florida Car Club Car Show fills Fort Thompson Avenue in downtown LaBelle with classic American muscle cars and other noteworthy vehicles from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
The Hendry County Cattlemen Association present the 4th Annual Ranch Rodeo at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights, Feb. 22 and 23. It’s $5 for adults; kids under 10 are free. This takes place at the rodeo grounds on State Road 29. The rodeo features homegrown Florida cowboys and cowgirls and is a qualifying event for the Florida Cattlemen’s Association state championships in Kissimmee.
There’s the Swamp Stomp 5K run to benefit the Humane Society.
Here’s the complete schedule:
Saturday, Feb. 23
- Noon Opening Prayer
- 12:10 p.m.Queen & Princess introduction and performance
- 12:20 p.m. Justus Band
- 1:15 p.m.Country Rhythm Cloggers
- 2:15 p.m. Yard Dog Charlie
- 3:15 p.m. Showtime Cloggers
- 4 p.m. Wilson/Fairchild
Sunday, Feb. 24
- 10 a.m. International Christian Academy
- 10:30 a.m. Blackwater Band
- 11:30 a.m. Dave Randant
- 12:15 p.m. Queen & Princess Introduction & Performance
- 12:30 p.m. Nightwind Band
- 1:20 p.m. The Dance Company
- 2:15 p.m. Justus Band
- 3 p.m. Wilson/Fairchild
Here’s more information on the 2013 Swamp Cabbage Festival website.
Campgrounds and Lodging Near LaBelle:
- Hotels in La Belle
- Campground listings from ReserveAmerica
Check out this video of the Armadillo Races:
Directions: Labelle is 28 miles east of Fort Myers on State Road 80, also known as Palm Beach Boulevard. If you are coming from the east coast, Labelle is 98 miles west of West Palm Beach on State Road 80. And if you are travelling south from the Orlando area, take U.S. 27 south for 74 miles to Palmdale, where you pick up County Road 29 for the final 14 miles to Labelle.
Don’t forget the mudhole!
what mudhole? where?
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I am trying to locate a source from which I can purchase swamp cabbage and have it shipped. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks
Ann,
You can buy swamp cabbage, AKA hearts of palm, at many grocers. it is sold in small cans in the canned vegetables section.
Many brands and varieties, including organic, are available online in the grocery section at Amazon.com.
Hope that helps.
Here are some really nice photographs organized in three galleries by a FloridaRambler reader:
Labelle Cattleman’s Rodeo, 2/26/11
Labelle Auto Show, 2/26/11
Labelle Swamp Cabbage Festival, 2/26/11
Thank you Bev Armstrong! My favorites are of the armadillo races!