Clewiston: local rooms, events and more

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Town and around · Florida · 59k people

Clewiston

Locals say the Glades · “America's Sweetest Town”

Sweetness by the lake, where the cane grows tall.

Sugarcane greenLake Okeechobee blueMuck soil brown

Welcome to the Glades, where the lake is big and the living is easy. Whether you're here for the fishing, the sugar cane, or just a quiet slice of Florida, you'll find a friendly wave and a cold drink.

Clubs for Clewiston

No clubs for Clewiston yet.

The room

Clewiston Quiet now Sweetness by the lake, where the cane grows tall.

One room for everyone around Clewiston. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Clewiston. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Lake Okeechobee The big lake, centerpiece of the Glades.
Clewiston Inn Historic inn with famous wildlife murals.
Clewiston Museum Local history and sugar industry exhibits.
Moore Haven Lock and Dam Controls water flow on the rim canal.
Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail Paved path around the lake, great for biking.
Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area Public land for hunting, fishing, and birding.

Outdoors Fishing on Lake Okeechobee
Outdoors Airboat tours through the marsh
With kids Clewiston Museum
With kids Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail
Evenings Country bars with live music
Evenings Lakefront tiki bars
Locals love Fishing camps
Locals love Airboat tours

Through the year

Clewiston Sugar Festival March Celebrates the sugar harvest with food, music, and carnival rides.
LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival February A community festival featuring swamp cabbage dishes and a parade.
Lake Okeechobee Bass Tournament Spring and fall A competitive bass fishing event drawing anglers from across the state.
Clewiston Rodeo January A traditional rodeo with bull riding and barrel racing.

Subtropical with hot, humid summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is fall through early spring. Summer brings afternoon thunderstorms and mosquitoes; winter is dry and pleasant. Best: Fall through early spring

Talk like a local

“The Glades”: The region itself
“Lake O”: Lake Okeechobee
“Cracker”: A native Floridian
“Gator”: Alligator

Getaways

Okeechobee Fishing town on the other side of the lake.
Naples Gulf coast beaches and upscale dining.
Port St. Lucie Atlantic coast city with parks and riverfront.
Sebring Home of the Sebring International Raceway.

Local flavour

Rooting for Miami Dolphins (NFL), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), Miami Marlins (MLB), Tampa Bay Rays (MLB), Orlando Magic (NBA), Miami Heat (NBA), Florida Panthers (NHL), Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL), Inter Miami CF (MLS), Orlando City SC (MLS)

Eat and drink

Swamp cabbage (hearts of palm) A local specialty from sabal palms, celebrated at the Swamp Cabbage Festival in LaBelle
Fried catfish Common in fish camps and local diners
Key lime pie A Florida staple, widely available
Sugar cane syrup Reflects the area's sugar industry
Cuban sandwich

Where people go

Lake Okeechobee The second-largest freshwater lake in the contiguous US, central to recreation and identity
Sugarcane fields Vast agricultural landscapes that define the region
Fishing camps Rustic waterfront spots for anglers
Airboat tours Gateway to the Everglades ecosystem
Cattle ranches

Heritage and traditions

The Glades region is proud of its deep agricultural roots, especially the sugar cane industry that earned Clewiston the nickname 'America's Sweetest Town,' and its intimate connection to Lake Okeechobee, the heart of Florida's freshwater fishing and wildlife.

This time of year in Clewiston

Hunting season Fall–Winter Fall and winter are prime for deer, turkey, and hog hunting in the WMAs.

Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something, preparing to.

Festivals

Clewiston Sugar Festival April Celebrates the sugar cane harvest with a parade, carnival, and cane-themed foods.
LaBelle Swamp Cabbage Festival February Honors the state tree, the sabal palm, with a festival featuring swamp cabbage dinners.
Clewiston Rodeo February A traditional rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, and a small-town atmosphere.
Lake Okeechobee Bass Tournament Spring A major bass fishing competition that draws anglers from across the country.

Landmarks with a story

Clewiston Inn A historic hotel with a famous mural of the Everglades, a gathering place for locals and visitors.
Clewiston Museum Showcases the region's history, from the Calusa and Seminole to the sugar boom.
Moore Haven Lock and Dam A key water control structure on the Caloosahatchee River, part of the lake's flood control system.
Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail A 110-mile trail along the Herbert Hoover Dike, offering views of the lake and wildlife.
Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area One of Florida's largest creeks, a natural area with ancient shell mounds and diverse wildlife.
LaBelle Heritage Museum Preserves the history of LaBelle and Hendry County, including pioneer and cattle ranching heritage.

Food traditions

Swamp cabbage Hearts of palm harvested from the sabal palm, often cooked as a side dish or in salads. A true local specialty.
Fried catfish Fresh catfish from Lake Okeechobee, dredged in cornmeal and fried, is a Friday night staple.
Key lime pie A Florida classic, made with tart key limes and a graham cracker crust, enjoyed year-round.
Sugar cane syrup Locally produced syrup from sugar cane, used on biscuits or in cooking, a sweet reminder of the harvest.
Cuban sandwich A legacy of Florida's Cuban community, with pork, ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard pressed on Cuban bread.

Music and arts

Country and western music The rural, cowboy culture is reflected in local music, with honky-tonk and country ballads popular at bars and events.
Bluegrass jams Informal gatherings of musicians playing bluegrass and folk tunes, often at community centers or private homes.
Everglades storytelling Oral traditions of tales about the lake, alligators, and pioneer life are passed down and shared at local gatherings.

A little history

Pre-1800s Seminole and Calusa peoples inhabited the region for centuries, leaving shell mounds and trading networks.
1920s Clewiston was founded by the Clewiston Company in the 1920s to develop a sugar industry, earning the nickname 'America's Sweetest Town.'
1930s-1940s The Herbert Hoover Dike was built after destructive hurricanes in the 1920s and 1940s to protect surrounding communities from Lake Okeechobee flooding.
Early 1900s The Everglades drainage projects transformed the region into productive agricultural land, boosting sugar, citrus, and cattle industries.
1960s The sugar industry expanded rapidly after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, as U.S. companies sought domestic sugar sources.

Rivalries

Clewiston vs LaBelle high school football The annual game is a big community event.
Bass fishing rivalries between local guides Who catches the biggest bass on Lake O.

Game day Bass fishing tournaments
Game day Rodeo
Outdoors Fishing on Lake Okeechobee
Outdoors Airboat rides
With kids Clewiston Museum
With kids Swamp Cabbage Festival

A Southern drawl with a rural, agricultural flavor. You'll hear 'y'all' and 'fixin' to' often, and Spanish phrases from the large farmworker community. Locals talk about 'the lake' (Okeechobee) and 'sugar cane' as everyday topics.

Only here

Clewiston is known as 'America's Sweetest Town' due to its sugar industry.
The Swamp Cabbage Festival celebrates the sabal palm, Florida's state tree, with a unique local dish.
The Herbert Hoover Dike offers a 110-mile trail around Lake Okeechobee, the second-largest freshwater lake entirely within the U.S.
During sugar cane harvest, you'll see fields being burned to remove leaves—a dramatic, smoky sight.

New here? A few tips

Be ready for mosquitoes, especially near the lake and during summer; bring repellent.
Learn about the Herbert Hoover Dike and lake levels—it's a common topic and affects boating and fishing.
Try swamp cabbage at a local restaurant or festival; it's a true taste of the Glades.
Understand the sugar cane harvest season (November–April): you'll see burning fields and hear trains hauling cane.
Hurricane season runs June–November; have a plan and stock supplies.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Part of Fort Myers area

Nearby

Every area

OkeechobeeFloridaWhere the lake meets the cattle country NaplesFloridaSunshine, sunsets, and sea breezes.Port St. LucieFloridaSalt air, river bends, and a slower pace SebringFloridaWhere the race never ends and the lakes are always calm.Fort Myers–Cape CoralFloridaSalt breeze, canal sunsets, and a life on the water.ArcadiaFloridaWhere the Peace River meets the rodeo Punta GordaFloridaQuiet waterfront living with a splash of Old Florida.Vero BeachFloridaSunrise over the Lagoon, where the river meets the sea.

Clewiston, FL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.