CLEWISTON — Top country music talent, great food and plenty of sweet treats will attract thousands to “America’s Sweetest Town” on St. Patrick’s Day for the 2018 Sugar Festival in Clewiston.

The festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Saturday, March 17, at Civic Park on U.S. Hwy 27 in Clewiston. Admission is free. All media are invited to attend.

Now in its 32nd year, the Clewiston Sugar Festival celebrates the region’s annual sugarcane harvest and the important economic impact sugar has on Glades communities and Florida’s agricultural industry. This year’s presenting sponsor is U.S. Sugar, a Florida pioneer in the sustainable farming and processing of sugarcane, citrus, sweet corn, broccoli and green beans.

“The Clewiston Sugar Festival is a special time for our entire community to get together and recognize another successful season,” said Judy Sanchez, senior director of corporate communication and public affairs for U.S. Sugar. “We look forward to hosting guests from near and far and showing why Clewiston truly is ‘America’s Sweetest Town.’”

This year, the Clewiston Sugar Festival will include the Sugar Fest 5K Run, the Sweet Taste of Sugar baking contest, food vendors, arts and craft booths, tractor displays and a car show. On the main stage will be country performers Big & Rich (5:30 p.m.), Easton Corbin (3:45 p.m.), Brooke Eden (2:15 p.m.), Doug Stone (12:45 p.m.) and Cody Williams Band (11:30 a.m.).

The festival will feature appearances by Miss Sugar 2018 Keelyn Sanchez and Junior Miss Sugar Brianna Madrigal. Also on the schedule is pickle ball, horseshoe and cornhole tournaments. The Seminole Tribe of Florida is sponsoring a free Kids Park with bounce houses, inflatable slides and other activities. Additionally, the festival will feature an alligator wrestling show provided by Billie Swamp Safari.

Pre-festival activities start with a performance by the Alter Eagles, an Eagles tribute band, on the main stage at 7 p.m. Friday, March 16.

“This community event will have plenty of music, sweet food, arts and crafts and activities to offer people of all ages,” said Hillary Hyslope, executive director of the Clewiston Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Clewiston Sugar Festival committee. “Sugar Festival is Clewiston at its best: good music, food and people.”

In addition to U.S. Sugar and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, other sponsors include FPL and the Hendry County Tourist Development Council.

For more information about the Clewiston Sugar Festival, including a complete schedule of events, go to https://www.clewistonsugarfestival.net.  Also visit our Sugar Festival page on Facebook @SugarFestival and follow us at #SugarFestival2018, #AmericasSweetestTown and #USSugar.