Florida Key Lime Pie Festival

St. Augustine's Sweetest November Tradition Takes Over Francis Field

The Florida Key Lime Pie Festival returns to Francis Field on Saturday, November 14th, 2026, transforming the historic downtown green space into a celebration of Florida's unofficial state dessert. Running from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, this all-ages event combines competitive pie tastings, live demonstrations, and local vendor booths in the heart of America's oldest city. The November timing brings cooler temperatures and lower humidity, making it ideal for spending a full day outdoors sampling variations of the tart, creamy classic.

What to Expect:
Francis Field's open layout accommodates multiple tasting stations, cooking demonstrations, and artisan booths spread across the historic grounds. The festival atmosphere blends serious pie enthusiasts judging competition entries with families enjoying the carnival-like energy of food vendors and live entertainment. Expect lines at the most popular pie vendors during peak afternoon hours, but the eight-hour window gives plenty of opportunity to sample everything from traditional recipes to creative twists on the key lime pie formula.

Insider Tips:
- Hit the competition tasting area before 11:30 AM when samples are freshest and lines are shortest
- Bring cash for smaller vendors, though most major booths accept cards
- The field offers minimal shade, so pack sunscreen and a hat for the midday stretch
- Pace your pie consumption - with dozens of vendors, it's a marathon not a sprint
- Park early or use the Historic Downtown Parking Facility to avoid the post-10 AM rush
- Grab a festival map at the entrance to locate specific vendors or demonstration times
- November weather in St. Augustine can shift quickly, so bring a light layer for late afternoon

Getting There:
Francis Field sits at 14 W Castillo Drive in the heart of St. Augustine's historic district, bordered by the Castillo de San Marcos and the downtown waterfront. The Historic Downtown Parking Facility stands just 128 meters from the field entrance, offering covered parking that fills quickly on festival days. NPS Lot 5 on Spanish Street provides additional parking about 406 meters away, requiring a short walk through the historic streets. Street parking along Castillo Drive and surrounding blocks becomes scarce after 10 AM but turns over throughout the day. Walking from the Castillo de San Marcos takes less than five minutes, making it easy to combine the festival with other downtown attractions.

Local Scene:
The blocks surrounding Francis Field offer plenty of pre-festival fuel and post-pie recovery spots. Maple Street Biscuit Company sits about 500 meters away, perfect for grabbing a hearty breakfast before diving into dessert all day. The Modern Rose provides a lighter option with tea and gluten-free choices just 455 meters from the field. For those needing a palate cleanser between pie samples, Cidersmith offers craft ciders about 400 meters away. Sunday Gathering Table brings vegetarian and vegan options for anyone wanting substantial food alongside the sweets, located 441 meters from Francis Field. After hours of key lime pie, Columbia Restaurant delivers traditional Spanish-Cuban fare about 567 meters away for those ready for a proper dinner. The compact downtown layout means everything stays within a 10-minute walk, letting festival-goers easily explore St. Augustine's food scene before or after the main event.