The Tampa Bay heat is about to get more intense when this pepper-packed festival comes back to town.
Pinellas Pepper Fest hosts its 15th annual event at England Brothers Park at 5010 81st Ave. N next month, with activities for pepper-lovers from every level of the Scoville scale. The weekend-long festival happens on April 9 and 10, with Saturday's festivities happening from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday's running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Adrenaline-pumping activities at this year's Pepper Fest include axe-throwing, a jalapeño eating contest and the crowd favorite—an extreme lolly lick-a-thon where competitors are pit up against an insanely spicy lollypop.
Both days of the event are free to attend (including parking) and are filled with local food vendors, live entertainment, and loads of t-shirt cannons. Vendors to the likes of hot sauce specialists and kitchen gadget connoisseurs will be found scattered throughout the festival grounds.
There will also be hot food vendors slinging prepared dishes like burgers and BBQ, although no official vendor list has been released yet.
Live bands that will takeover the England Brothers Park bandshell include Amber Lynn, Jengle Slap, Infinite Tilt and the Longneck Band. More information about the music lineup and food vendors can be found on the Pinellas Pepper Festival Facebook.
Folks who are interested in vending at next month's pet and kid-friendly festival can fill out this online application.
