Last updated on February 22nd, 2026 at 04:04 pm
For more than 60 years, this authentic Florida town east of Fort Myers has been celebrating swamp cabbage in a down-home festival and parade.
The LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival takes place every year on the last weekend in February.
Swamp cabbage — it’s called hearts of palm when you pay $15 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 debate whether the big entertainment is the rodeo or the armadillo races.
The festival is free and fills the city’s waterfront Barron Park, North State Road 29 at the Caloosahatchee River. Also happening on festival weekend is an independently organized car show, air show and a rodeo.
Driving through town on the day before the festival opens, you’ll see empty lawn chairs lined up along the parade route. Yes, people stake out their spots the day before without fear that someone will steal their chair overnight. Now THAT is the sign of a traditional small town.
Festival organizers expect 30,000 people over the weekend. In the last few years, it has added beer tents.
Traditions include deep-fried swamp-cabbage fritters (the classic Swamp Cabbage Festival dish) and armadillo races. Ther races are managed by the Rotary Club to raise money for scholarships and occur at intervals throughout the festival. (If you love armadillos, you’ll get 15 seconds of fun from this armadillo “dancing.”)
Swamp Cabbage Festival
2026 entertainment (will be updated for 2027)
Saturday, Feb. 21
10 – Parade begins
11:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremony
noon – Jack Kaune
1 p.m. – Country Rhythm Cloggers
1:30 p.m. – Recognitions
Festival Queen & Princess
Grand Marshal
Heritage Family
2 p.m. – Hambone Band
4 p.m. Tobacco Road Band
5 p.m. – Park closes
Sunday Feb. 22
8:30 a.m. – Church in the Park
10 a.m. – Alva Cloggers
11 a.m. – Charlie Pace Band
12:15 p.m. – Andrew Morris Band
2:30 p.m. – Tobacco Road Band
4 pm. – Park Closes
Here’s more information on the Swamp Cabbage Festival website.
Historic LaBelle, home of the Swamp Cabbage Festival
LaBelle started as a town located right on the main drag, the Caloosahatchee River, because at the turn to 19th Century, rivers were the highways of Florida. The region was populated by cattle and citrus farmers and in 1895, landowner Captain Francis Hendry platted the town that would become the seat of the county named after him.
While a 1928 fire destroyed many of the original buildings, a few remain and the historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town, however, is now in a decidedly out of the way location and its historic downtown is a work in progress.
We had a terrific lunch in a beautifully restored downtown cafe called the Forrey Grill, with a tasty blackened grilled chicken on a croissant sandwich and fresh crunchy homemade potato chips.
We’ve also enjoyed excellent barbecue at Log Cabin BBQ, 480 W Hickpochee Ave. You’ll want to stop here after reading all the reviews on Yelp. The free soup was especially good. (Yup, free soup for everyone.)
Where is LaBelle?
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. (See map below).
Places to explore near LaBelle
- Exploring along the Caloosahatchee: Kayak trails, rustic scenery and small towns
- Kayak Telegraph Creek, unspoiled kayak trail 20 minutes from LaBelle
- Six Miles Cypress Slough Preserve
- Fort Myers Beach: Charming seaside getaway
- Lovers Key State Park for manatees, kayaking and beaches
- Mound Key State Archaeology Site
- Cayo Costa State Park: Dreams of a private island
- What makes Sanibel special and nine ways to experience it.
Find a room near LaBelle
Campgrounds near LaBelle
- Whisper Creek RV Resort, Labelle
- The Glades RV Resort, Labelle
- Camping with the Army Corps of Engineers
If you’re near a Costco they have hearts of palm in jar two packs at a decent price.