Hastings’ Cabbage, Potato, and Bacon Festival Returns April 25–26

A crowd of people gather for the Annual Cabbage, Potato, and Bacon Festival lawn mower races

Beloved agricultural festival celebrates local produce through food, fun, and heritage events.

Contact: Barbara Golden
Phone: 904-669-8142
Email: BGolden@FloridasHistoricCoast.com

St. Augustine, Fla. (March 26, 2026) – The Third Annual Cabbage, Potato, and Bacon Festival returns to historic Hastings April 25-26, 2026. This family-friendly celebration honors the community's agricultural heritage through cooking demonstrations, artisan vendors, live music, and three ticketed events.

Located just west of St. Augustine, Hastings was originally settled in 1890 as a railroad-oriented farming community to supply winter vegetables, especially potatoes, to Henry Flagler’s resort hotels in nearby St. Augustine. In the 1920’s, it became known as the “Potato Capital of Florida.”

Free activities at the Cabbage, Potato, and Bacon Festival include the Great Hastings Mow Down Lawn Mower Races, kicking off Saturday, April 25, at 9 a.m., where participants will compete in various heats and events for ribbons, trophies, and bragging rights. The Cottage Artisan Vendor Market opens at 9 a.m. both Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26, and features handcrafted goods, specialty foods, and unique local finds. Festival-goers can also enjoy free live cooking demonstrations from local chefs and live music on North Main Street.

The Cabbage, Potato, and Bacon Festival also has three ticketed events. The Taste of Hastings: Streetside Brunch begins Saturday, April 25, at 11 a.m., as local chefs prepare brunch items live on Main Street. Confirmed chefs include Jenn Ashton of Juniper Market, Ned Pollack, formerly of Gypsy Cab Co. and Ned’s Southside Kitchen, Sebastian Sikora of La Cocina at the Cellar Upstairs, Ellie Schultze, Sherry Stoppelbein of Luvin’ Oven Catering, Vicki Skillman of Orange Blossom Catering St. Augustine, Paul Brock of The Feed Mill, and students from First Coast Technical College. All dishes will be inspired by the Festival’s star ingredients: cabbage, potato, and bacon.

This year’s Cabbage, Potato, and Bacon Festival features the return of a local favorite, the Hastings Potato Ball. Hosted on Saturday, April 25, at The Venue, a new event space on Main Street, this ticketed event is an elegant evening that celebrates Hastings’ rich agricultural heritage and honors the town’s founding families. Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner prepared by Chef Barry Honan, 2026 James Beard Award Semi-Finalist, of Lotus Noodle Bar and Executive Chef Matt Brown of Asado Life. The event also features a signature cocktail, cash bar, live and silent auctions, music, dancing, and a special appearance by the 2025 Potato Queen.

Sunday, April 26, the 2026 Miss Potato Queen Beauty Pageant begins at 11 a.m. at The Venue. The pageant is open to contestants hailing from surrounding counties, with age categories spanning from newborns to 23 years old.

Tickets for the three events are available for purchase now at www.HastingsFL.org. Explore more of Florida’s Historic Coast’s rich culinary scene by sampling the area’s diverse restaurant offerings or taking a restaurant tasting tour.

Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach; and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. For advance travel information, call 1-800-653-2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com. Check us out on social media Instagram @FloridasHistoricCoast; Facebook.com/OfficialStAugustine; and Threads @floridashistoriccoast