Dessert Wars

Dessert Wars returns to the Florida State Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 24, from 3 PM to 7 PM. It's a one-afternoon event that brings together more than 50 dessert vendors from across the Tampa Bay region, as well as South and Central Florida, all competing for the title of Dessert Champion.

The spread covers a lot of ground. You'll find cupcakes, cookies, ice cream, and doughnuts, and the variety doesn't stop there—the vendors bring a wide range of sweets to the table, so there's something for almost any craving. The festival bills itself as the largest traveling dessert festival in America and a celebration of the foodie lifestyle, and the sheer number of vendors gathered in one place makes that easy to see.

One of the best parts is that you get a say in who wins. The crowd decides the People's Choice Champion in a vote that closes mid-afternoon, before the trophy ceremonies begin. It's an all-ages, family-friendly event, and children two and under get in free, so it works as a day out with kids just as well as a sugar-fueled afternoon with friends.

Tickets start at $35. The event is held in the Entertainment Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 US-301, Tampa—use the US HWY 301 entrance at Gate 1 to find your way in. It runs from 3 PM to 7 PM on Saturday, October 24.