So, you are planning an April vacation, and you know you want beaches, sunshine, and you don’t want your destination to be overly crowded, and you are wondering if such a utopian place exists? Well, we at Happy Palm Stays are here to tell you that not only does it exist, it also just so happens to be our hometown of Cocoa Beach, with the months March through May offering the best time to enjoy a beachy adventure and explore the different events and festivals that the locals love. The rainy season is still a couple of months away and most travelers are home, at school, and at work, diligently doing real life and anticipating a summer vacation, but now that you know the secret, this guide to the top events in Cocoa Beach in April that will fit into the blank slots in between your beach days!
The Ron Jon Cocoa Beach Triathlon and Duathlon +5K, April 13
Not everyone enjoys the idea of a good run while on vacation, but there are those souls who race through life, finding their joy in the slap of shoes hitting the pavement, and if we have just described you, the Ron Jon Cocoa Beach Triathlon (and Duathlon + 5K) may be just what you need for your happiness. Starting at 6:30 AM, next to the Cocoa Beach Country Club, the .25 swim in the Banana River serves as the kickoff to run, or in this case, to ride, because the next step in the triathlon is a 12-mile out-and-back bike ride, and THEN the running starts. 3.1 miles of race take place along the Country Club golf cart track, offering a flat service and no gain in elevation, something that makes this event a little easier than your typical triathlon. Finishers will get medals, and the winners, divided into different categories, will each receive $150 gift cards to Ron Jon Surf Shops.
Friday Fest, April 18, Downtown Cocoa Beach
Friday is always our favorite day of the week, bringing us into the weekend, but the third Friday of every month in Cocoa Beach shines brighter than the other three! Friday Fest celebrates art, food, music, and the weekends we wait all week to arrive and when you are on in town on April 18, you can join in the fun! Starting at 6 PM and ending at 10 PM, there will be live music, food vendors selling the yummiest foods, beer tents to make you happy, and vendors selling their art, their crafts, and all types of wares that you won’t be able to live without. And as you dance in the streets, chow on delicious food, gulp down cold beer, and celebrate being alive, you may wish that every Friday was Friday Fest, but since it can’t be (the original would lose some of its magic if it happened every week, don’t you think?) we suggest you grab every bit of joy out of every second in downtown Cocoa Beach! This event is free to attend but it will cost for the food, drinks, and any gifts you decide you need to own.
East Coast Dog Surfing Festival, April 20, Lori Wilson Park
Easter is for the dogs this year in Cocoa Beach and that’s a good thing! The East Coast Dog Surfing Festival offers more than just dogs on boards, although we think that would be enough if it were the only event! Also offering dog surfing lessons, Best Doggie Easter Outfit and Best Doggy Bikini Contest, honestly it will be impossible to keep from laughing throughout the entire experience. Two-legged surfers are invited to explore the fun that can be had, with the first 50 people doing the bunny paddle out into the water receiving free bunny ears! Free to attend, doggy participants should pay a $5 donation, with the proceeds benefitting the Brevard Humane Society.
Barbecues and Pool Parties at Home in Cocoa Beach in April
Your favorite events may be the ones you enjoy at home in your Space Coast spring rental. Enjoy a family pool party, temperatures are going to be crazy perfect or grill your catch of the day and experience a family barbecue with the sea playing the theme music to your getaway. High-tech televisions can make movie night even more fun and you know what? Board game night can be the events that you remember long after you have left our white sands and have returned to your own home sweet home. The events you attend in Cocoa Beach don’t all have to be ones sanctioned by the city or some business, they can be the ones you enjoy with your family in your comfortable and luxurious Florida retreat. Reserve your favorite escape today!
