DADE CITY – The Greater East Pasco Chamber of Commerce has rescheduled the 29th annual Kumquat Festival to March 8 in Historic Downtown Dade City.
Organizers said postponing the original festival date was a difficult decision made from an abundance of caution because of projected weather conditions and concern for everyone’s safety. Identifying a new date that aligned with city services, vendor availability, downtown logistics and regional schedules proved equally challenging.
While Saturday is traditionally preferred for large community events, organizers said March 7 presented significant conflicts with other area festivals, youth sports and family activities, including opening day celebrations for the local Little League program, which would have divided attendance and placed additional strain on families, volunteers and shared community resources. They determined March 8 to be the most feasible option.
The chamber acknowledges that moving the festival to a Sunday will impact many in the community, particularly local faith families, visiting guests and traveling vendors. Organizers said faith, family and fellowship are cornerstones of life in Dade City, and they respect the importance of Sunday worship and religious commitments.
Because of this, the chamber is working with churches within the festival footprint to ensure congregations can attend services as normal. Accommodations are being coordinated to maintain access to church facilities, adjust traffic flow where needed and minimize disruption so worship and fellowship can continue uninterrupted.
“This festival belongs to our community,” the chamber said in a statement. “Our first responsibility is always safety, and our second is care for the people who make this event special. Every possible date had an impact somewhere, and we worked hard to choose the option that created the least disruption overall. We’re grateful for the understanding and flexibility our residents, churches, vendors and partners continue to show.”
The Kumquat Festival remains a family-friendly tradition celebrating Pasco County’s citrus heritage and small-town charm. It features hundreds of vendors, businesses and kumquat-inspired treats throughout downtown.
The chamber extends appreciation to the faith community, downtown merchants, sponsors, volunteers and vendors who have adjusted schedules on short notice.
Visit kumquatfestival.org for event updates, maps and vendor information.
