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Events

Ours is a festive place, with long-standing community and cultural celebrations like the annual Chalo Nitka Festival, where for more than a half century our ranchers and the Seminole Tribe come together to celebrate the bounty of Lake Okeechobee, and the Sour Orange Festival, creating tasty treats out of bitter citrus. Major events like the Big O Hike and Big O Birding Festival also bring scores of outdoor enthusiasts to our shores.

Big O Birding Festival | Big O Hike | Brighton Field Day | Chalo Nitka | Ortona Cane Grinding Festival | Sour Orange Festival | Winter Festival

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UPCOMING EVENTS
Oct 29-31: Florida Trail Association South Regional Conference, Fisheating Creek Resort.  Download registration form.
Nov 21-29: 17th Annual Big O Hike around Lake Okeechobee
December: Christmas on the Caloosahatchee, Moore Haven

2010
January, second Saturday: Sour Orange Festival, Lakeport
January, last Saturday: Winter Festival, Buckhead Ridge
February, first Saturday: Ortona Cane Grinding Festival, Ortona
February, 3rd weekend: Brighton Field Day and Rodeo
March: Chalo Nitka, Moore Haven
April: Big O Birding Festival

 

Big O HikeANNUAL FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Each spring, bird lovers flock to Glades County for the annual Big O Birding Festival, which is co-sponsored by the Tourism Development Councils in Glades and Hendry Counties. The festival includes field trips to birding hot spots in Glades and Hendry counties by van, foot, airboat and swamp buggy.

Each November, nature lovers gather at the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail for the annual Big O Hike. Organized by the Florida Trail Association Loxahatchee Chapter, this nine-day hiking event is open to hikers of every ability. Join in for a morning or take the entire challenge of walking 109 miles around Lake Okeechobee!  

The city of Moore Haven celebrates Lake Okeechobee and its history with the Chalo Nitka Festival and Rodeo in March. The festival includes a Big Bass Fishing Tournament, parade, carnival rides, food/crafts booths, entertainment and a ranch rodeo.