The ‘painfully delicious’ I Like It Hot! Festival returns Largo next month

Each year, a local group of heat seekers host a two-day celebration of all things spicy and eye-watering.

The 24th annual I Like it Hot! Festival returns to the Largo Event Center (6340 126th Ave. N) from Sept. 14-15, running from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

Like previous iterations of the popular event, this year’s festival will feature a wide range of spice-related vendors peddling hot sauces, spice rubs and salsas, spice tolerance contests, live music, food trucks, non-food vendors and more.

The main events of the festival are two entertaining contests: an "extreme" pepper eating contest (where the Scoville level gradually increases) and the Lolli Lick-A-Thon, where participants try to make it through “the hottest lollipop in the world.”

Other competitions include the battle for best vendor, salsa, BBQ and hot sauce.

Head to @ILikeItHotFestival on Facebook to browse the two-day event’s entertainment schedule, which includes performances from local acts like the 727 Band, Marianne & the Professor and Grego & the Lovebirds.

2024’s I Like it Hot! Festival is also free to attend, pet friendly, and offers complimentary parking.

And if you're palette isn't geared towards the spicy (and painful), don't worry, because there will be a variety of sweet and savory treats to indulge in, too.
[event-1] Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter