The Best Florida Events in April 2027: Sand Sculptures, Blues, Airshows and Pickleball 🌴🎸
April might be the sweet spot of the Florida calendar. Spring break crowds thin out, the weather is warm but not yet steamy, and the event lineup is stacked from the Keys to the Panhandle: giant sand sculptures on Clearwater Beach, the Blue Angels over Lakeland, blues on the St. Pete waterfront and the biggest pickleball party in the world in Naples.
Here are the best things to do in Florida in April 2027, in date order, with confirmed 2027 dates where they’ve been announced and where I’d stay for each. Pro tip: April 9 – 11 is the busiest weekend of the month, with the Blues Festival, the Delray Affair, two film festivals and SUN ‘n FUN all happening at once, so book early if you’re traveling that weekend.
1. See Giant Sand Sculptures at the Sugar Sand Festival (Clearwater Beach) 🏖️
📍 Pier 60, Clearwater Beach | 📅 March 26 – April 11, 2027
Master sand sculptors turn tons of sand into a walk-through gallery right on Clearwater Beach. The 2027 theme is “Treasures in Sand: Tails of the Sea.” Here’s what the 2026 festival looked like:
Right at Pier 60, so the festival, the beach and the nightly sunset celebration are all steps from your room.
Check Rates & Availability →2. Stop and Smell the Topiaries at EPCOT Flower & Garden 🌸
📍 EPCOT, Walt Disney World | 📅 March 10 – May 31, 2027
EPCOT fills with character topiaries, garden-themed Outdoor Kitchens and the Garden Rocks concert series. It’s included with park admission and runs all spring, so it’s easy to add to any Orlando trip.
3. Rock the Beach at Tortuga Music Festival (Fort Lauderdale) 🌊
📍 Fort Lauderdale Beach Park | 📅 Expected April 2 – 4, 2027
Three days of country and rock right on the sand, with a focus on ocean conservation. Ticket sites list April 2 – 4, 2027; watch for the official lineup and confirmation.
A comfortable Fort Lauderdale base for a beach festival weekend.
Check Rates & Availability →4. Watch the Blue Angels at SUN ‘n FUN (Lakeland) ✈️
📍 Lakeland Linder International Airport | 📅 Expected April 6 – 11, 2027
One of the biggest aviation events in the country, with daily airshows, thousands of aircraft and, in 2027, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Lakeland is an easy day trip from Tampa or Orlando.
5. Groove at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival (St. Petersburg) 🎸
📍 Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg | 📅 April 9 – 11, 2027
Three days of top blues acts on the downtown St. Pete waterfront. Bring a chair, grab a drink and settle in by the bay.
A boutique stay in downtown St. Pete, an easy walk to Vinoy Park and the waterfront.
Check Rates & Availability →6. Stroll the Delray Affair (Delray Beach) 🎨
📍 East Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach | 📅 April 9 – 11, 2027
The 65th Delray Affair takes over seven blocks of Atlantic Avenue with artists, crafts, food and live music. It’s one of the biggest arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast.
7. Catch a Premiere at the Florida & Sarasota Film Festivals 🎬
📍 Maitland (Orlando) & Sarasota | 📅 April 9 – 18, 2027
Two of Florida’s best film festivals run the same 10 days. The Florida Film Festival at Maitland’s Enzian Theater is an Oscar-qualifying showcase for indie film, and the Sarasota Film Festival fills downtown Sarasota with screenings, filmmaker Q&As and parties.
8. Run the Seven Mile Bridge Run (Marathon) 🏃
📍 Marathon, Florida Keys | 📅 2027 date TBA (usually a Saturday in early to mid April)
Run seven miles across one of the most scenic bridges in the world, with nothing but turquoise water on both sides. In 2026 it was April 11. Registration usually opens in late January and fills fast.
9. Party at the Gasparilla Music Festival (Tampa) 🎶
📍 Tampa | 📅 2027 date TBA (2026 was April 10 – 12)
Tampa’s downtown music festival returned in 2026 at Meridian Fields in Water Street Tampa. Watch for the 2027 dates and lineup.
10. Roll Into Jeep Beach (Daytona) 🚙
📍 Daytona Beach | 📅 April 16 – 25, 2027
Thousands of Jeeps take over Daytona Beach for 10 days of trail rides, beach cruising and shows, all raising money for local charities.
Need a place to stay? See our guide to hotels near Daytona International Speedway.
Right on the beach in Daytona, in the middle of the Jeep Beach cruising scene.
Check Rates & Availability →11. Watch the Pros at the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships (Naples) 🏓
📍 East Naples Community Park | 📅 April 17 – 24, 2027
Billed as “The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World,” the US Open drew more than 55,000 fans and 3,750 players in 2026. Watch the pros on championship courts, or sign up to play if you’ve got game.
I’ve stayed here, and it’s a comfortable Naples base, a short drive to the courts, 5th Avenue and the beach.
Check Rates & Availability →12. Sip at the Sandestin Wine Festival 🍷
📍 Village of Baytowne Wharf, Sandestin | 📅 2027 date TBA (usually mid-April)
One of the Gulf Coast’s longest-running wine festivals, with hundreds of wines to taste at Baytowne Wharf. In 2026 it ran April 16 – 19.
On the beach in Sandestin, a short drive from Baytowne Wharf.
Check Rates & Availability →13. Secede With Key West at the Conch Republic Independence Celebration 🐚
📍 Key West | 📅 2027 date TBA (late April, always including April 23)
Every April, Key West celebrates the day in 1982 it “seceded” from the U.S., with 10 days of quirky events including a bed race, a drag race down Duval and a mock naval battle. In 2026 it ran April 17 – 26.
A charming guesthouse in Old Town, walkable to Duval Street and the festivities.
Check Rates & Availability →14. End the Month With the Wings Over Ocala Airshow ✈️
📍 Ocala | 📅 April 30 – May 2, 2027
Another chance to catch the Blue Angels, this time in horse country. Pair it with a day at Silver Springs or Rainbow Springs nearby.
Planning Tips for April in Florida
Book the April 9 – 11 weekend early. Between the Blues Festival, the Delray Affair, two film festivals and SUN ‘n FUN, it’s the busiest weekend of the month.
Get in the water. April is a great month for the springs before the summer crowds. See our guide to the best natural springs in Florida.
Coming earlier? See what’s happening in March 2027, or check out Florida festivals worth planning a trip around and the Florida events calendar.
FAQ
What are the best events in Florida in April 2027?
Highlights include the Sugar Sand Festival on Clearwater Beach (through April 11), SUN ‘n FUN in Lakeland (expected April 6 – 11), the Tampa Bay Blues Festival (April 9 – 11), the Delray Affair (April 9 – 11), the Florida and Sarasota film festivals (April 9 – 18), Jeep Beach in Daytona (April 16 – 25) and the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships in Naples (April 17 – 24).
When is the US Open Pickleball Championship 2027?
The Minto US Open Pickleball Championships run April 17 – 24, 2027, at East Naples Community Park in Naples.
When is the Tampa Bay Blues Festival 2027?
The Tampa Bay Blues Festival is April 9 – 11, 2027, at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg.
Is April a good time to visit Florida?
Yes. April has warm, mostly dry weather before the summer heat and humidity, spring break crowds are winding down, and there’s a packed calendar of festivals, airshows and sporting events.
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