It all started with a festival I couldn’t quite believe was real.

Last winter, during my first visit to Fellsmere—a small town with deep roots just west of Vero Beach—I learned about their Frog Leg Festival, a Guinness World Record–holding event that draws tens of thousands of people every year. Fast forward to this past weekend, and there I was, surrounded by carnival rides, live music, and more frog legs than I knew existed.

Did I eat them? You’ll have to read on to find out. 😉

The Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival got its start back in 1990 as a fundraiser for kids’ recreational activities. On the very first night, they sold 400 dinners—and completely sold out of frog legs! With three days of the festival still ahead, volunteers went door to door trying to find enough frog legs to keep things going. They continued selling out night after night, and an annual tradition was born.

Today, about 80,000 people come from near and far, and volunteers serve up roughly 7,000 pounds of frog legs and 2,000 pounds of gator each year. Wow—that’s a lot of swamp cuisine!

There’s a large tent set up where people can sit down and dig into the festival’s famous frog leg and gator tail dinners. Feeling adventurous, but not that adventurous? You can sample things with a $5 frog or gator pop—which is the route I took.

And yes, I know what you’re thinking: Do frog legs taste like chicken? IYKYK. 😉

If dining on frog or gator isn’t your thing, don’t worry—no one’s judging. There are plenty of classic carnival food options, from turkey legs to pizza, and just about everything in between.

From the moment you arrive, local musicians set the mood. Grab a drink, wander over to the carnival rides, and soak it all in. After you eat, take your time strolling through the vendor booths. You’ll find festival T-shirts that support the cause, frog-themed décor you didn’t know you needed, and a mix of handmade soaps, clothing, and other fun finds.

Best of all, the festival is free to enter and free to park. There’s even a shuttle bus that runs frequently from a free parking lot just outside of town—saving you from traffic and letting you focus on more important things, like deciding between gator or frog.

The festival takes place every January around Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The 2027 dates should fall on January 14–17, but you’ll want to keep an eye on their website if you’re planning on attending the next one. Maybe I’ll see you there!

REI Co-op and Intrepid Travel have teamed up to take you somewhere extraordinary.

Hike Nüümü Poyo, also known as the John Muir Trail, one of America's most iconic multi-day treks, while forming lasting bonds with like-minded adventurers.

Set up camp each night with iconic backdrops and get to know your fellow travelers over dinners prepared by your local trip leader, who handles all the logistics so you can focus on the adventure.

This trip is part of a curated collection of small-group adventures across 85+ destinations worldwide. And right now, REI Co-op members save 15% on this REI Exclusive trip.

Book your Nüümü Poyo adventure

_{For T&Cs and more info, click here.}

If you don’t want to wait until next year to get your fill of frog legs or gator tail, fear not—Marsh Landing Restaurant serves both! The last time I was there, I chickened out and ordered the catfish sandwich instead. They’re open for breakfast on weekends, and for lunch and dinner every day except Monday.

Craving something sweet instead? Try Yami’s Ice Cream Shop. They serve 21 flavors of all-homemade ice cream, plus ice cream bars, fruit bars, and fruit drinks. They’re open daily from 10am–7pm.

Ditch 13 Gallery and Gifts is a delightful shop filled with unique, artisan, one-of-a-kind items—paintings, notecards, jewelry, wallets, and more. You’ll also find local history books, souvenirs, hats, local jams, honey, soaps, and lots of other treasures. They’re open Wednesday through Sunday, 10am–4pm.

Looking for a little nature? Drive over to the Blue Cypress Conservation Area. We saw ospreys circling and building nests, herons of all shapes and sizes wading through the shallow water, and perched in the trees. The cypress trees themselves are simply beautiful.

The town has a deep sense of history, with 20 historic landmarks. Fellsmere even published a walking tour website that dives into the details of each one if you want to learn more before you visit. I also wrote a short history on my primary blog.

If you know me, then you know that trying frog legs is completely out of the ordinary. But in this case, it felt like a true “When in Rome” moment. So if anyone asks what frog legs taste like, I can now confidently say—yep, kind of like swampy chicken. 🍗

My next journey is a little less adventurous, but still pretty cool. You’ll just have to check in with me next week to see what I’m up to. 😉

‘til next week, happy exploring!
Kathleen

To help you plan your trips, we link to stays and tours. Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning that if you book a trip or sign-up through these links, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.