GOOD NEWS: 12th ANNUAL FLORIDA LOQUAT FESTIVAL
April 12, 2025
New Port Richey, Florida
Sims Park at the Peace Hall ~ 6431 Circle Blvd

Ecology Florida and New Port Richey FarmNet, with support of the City of New Port Richey, will host the 12th annual celebration of the Florida Loquat Festival on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in New Port Richey at Sims Park in and around historic Peace Hall. This is the only loquat festival in the United States. Thanks to our major sponsor, The New Port Richey Rotary Club; our community supporters, SERVPRO – Team George, NLG Divorce and Family Law; and other businesses, groups, and individuals in the community.

The festival is a learning and sharing event to help expand the knowledge and appreciation of the loquat tree and its fruit. There will be presentations on the cultivation of loquat trees, various uses of the fruit and leaves, and presentations about community markets and agrarianism.

A late winter freeze followed by record breaking heat, confused the trees and caused late and failed ripening of fruit this year. As with other fruit festivals, loquat fruit production is subject to weather conditions, and this year’s, erratic winter weather has impacted fruit development. Because of failed and late ripening, we may have less fruit than usual. We will have preserves and other products, and fresh fruit as well – just not be as much as previous years.

A major feature of the festival will be the trees, from seedlings and saplings to large trees. Green Dreams, a major force in the sustainable food and culture movement, will be with us at the festival, offering a wide assortment of loquat trees, ready for planting. Also, as a special addition this year, Green Dreams will have Mulberry saplings and young trees.

Green Dreams has been the festival’s primary nursery for several years, and this year it will offer its widest selection yet of high-quality named varieties of loquats. Other nurseries will have smaller trees at lower prices, including seedlings for $5. For best selection of the trees, please come early.

Another important part of the festival is education. Presentations will include instructions on the role of the loquat in sustainable farming and gardening, the use of leaves for tea and health care, and the cultural context of this wonderful tree. We also will have a special presentation featuring “The Loquat Singer,” Dr. Roy Kaplan.

The Florida Loquat Festival in New Port Richey, Florida is the only loquat festival in the United States of America. “There are loquat festivals in other parts of the world, from East Asia, through Central Asia, to Europe and North Africa and on to the Caribbean Islands, but New Port Richey is home to only one in the USA” said Dell deChant, one of the event’s organizers.

The festival opens at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 2:00 p.m.: Sims Park at and near Peace Hall.

The festival will have preserves, trees, brochures, scones, loquat inspired crafts, lectures, seeds, poetry books, and fresh fruit. There will also be related events in downtown New Port Richey in week before the festival – including the first ever Loquat Walk, starting at the Public Library, on April 7 and the annual loquat beer tapping on April 10 at Cotee River Brewery. Festival shirts will also be available.

HERE IS WHAT YOU’LL FIND AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL

Fresh Loquats
Loquat Preserves (jellies, jams, compotes, butters)
Loquat Pastries and scones
Loquat Trees (seedlings to saplings to small mature trees)
Loquat Festival T-Shirts
Brochures
Loquat Poetry Books
Educational Program

At the Festival

Friendship Farms – Trees
New Port Richey FarmNet – Fruit
The Blarney Scone – Scones
Local Kitchens and One Lazy Gardener – Preserves
Effie’s Kitchen (possible) – Preserves, Cookies, Loquat Butter, Mini Bunt Cakes
White Heron Tea and Gifts – Tea & Skincare lotion
Green Dreams – Trees

In Downtown New Port Richey

Cotee River Brewery – Beer
Wright’s Natural Market – Smoothies and Fruit (at Wright’s Market)
White Heron Tea and Gifts – Tea & Skincare lotion (at White Heron Tea & Gifts)
Rose’s Bistro – Loquat Pies (at Rose’s Bistro)
Gone Juicing – Juices and Loquat Waffles

Sponsors and Supporters

The Rotary Club of New Port Richey – Major Sponsor
Ecology Florida
New Port Richey FarmNet
SERVPRO – Team George
NLG Divorce and Family Law
City of New Port Richey
Cotee River Brewery
City of New Port Richey Environmental Committee
White Heron Tea & Gifts
CIDA Institute of Dental Arts
The West Pasco Historical Society
One Lazy Gardener
Grand Gardens
Friendship Farms
The Loquat Trees of the New Port Richey community