Springtime in Cocoa Beach & the Space Coast: Key Events & Dates
Embrace the charm of Cocoa Beach and the Space Coast as the year begins to unfold, bringing a diverse range of events and activities. With the arrival of milder weather and rising temps, spring weather typically arrives early here. From sea turtles to surf and art festivals, the season here offers a refreshing array of opportunities for exploration and relaxation. Discover the key events that define this period and make Cocoa Beach and the Space Coast a perfect destination for your first vacation of the year or spring break!
Holiday Weekends in Spring:
- St. Patrick’s Day: March 17, 2027 (Wednesday)
- Good Friday: March 26, 2027
- Easter: March 28, 2027
- Memorial Day: May 31, 2027
Cocoa Beach & the Space Coast Spring 2027 Events:
- Heads up – Beach ‘N Boards Fest appears to be on indefinite hiatus: This longtime spring surf/volleyball/lifestyle festival was cancelled in 2025 and we found no signs of a 2026 or 2027 return – its own event website now redirects to unrelated content. We’ll add it back if it’s revived, but don’t plan your trip around it for now.
- East Coast Dog Surfing Festival (Easter Sunday, March 28, 2027, Lori Wilson Park): A fun, family- and dog-friendly event including dog surfing lessons, Best Doggie Easter Outfit and Best Doggy Bikini contests, and of course the dog surfing championship, benefiting the Brevard Humane Society.
- Space Coast Mural Festival (2027 dates TBA – historically held in late March; the 2024 edition ran March 23-24): A free, family- and dog-friendly street festival held in Downtown Cocoa Beach, complete with live mural painting, music, a kids corner, and food trucks.
- Melbourne Art Festival (April 25-26, 2027, Wickham Park): A nationally recognized event featuring over 215 artists, held each year on the fourth weekend of April.
More Happenings:
If you’re not here during one of the events, don’t worry! There is still plenty to do this time of year!
Easter Egg Hunts: There are a variety of egg hunts around Easter weekend (March 27-28, 2027). Our favorites are:
- Kiwanis Island Easter Egg Hunt – a FREE event for the community with breakfast, snacks, activities, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and of course, an Easter Egg Hunt.
- City of Cocoa Beach Easter Egg Hunt – has special groupings by age for the egg hunt plus special events.
- Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Manatee Sanctuary Park – has special groupings by age for the egg hunt plus special events.
Walk or Bike: The beautiful temperatures are perfect for spending time enjoying the outdoors. These are our favorite places for a stroll or ride.
- The Beach!
- Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary & Hiking Trail
- Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands (Viera Wetlands)
- Enchanted Forest Sanctuary (Titusville)
If you need to rent bicycles for the beach, you can do so right through Southbound Stays. Just email us for full details.
Take a day trip to one of the theme parks: It is a great time to take advantage of the milder temps and less crowding before summer kicks in (except those spring break weeks).
NOTE: We’ve partnered with Fubble, a Central Florida based attraction ticketing agency to streamline purchasing your Orlando area attraction tickets at DISCOUNTED RATES. This includes Disney World, Universal, Sea World & more! Most are an easy, 1-hour or less drive from the home. Your purchase is directly with Fubble via our website; the biggest discounts are typically for multi-day passes.
Wildlife Encounters:
Manatee Season is from November through April each year. One of the best places to spot manatees is along Manatee Sanctuary Park in Cape Canaveral. A great way to encounter manatees up close is through a guided kayak or paddle board tour. We highly recommend the Cocoa Beach Kayak company. You can tell them we sent you!
Sea Turtle Nesting Season is from March through October each year. Guided Sea Turtle walks are a wonderful way to support organizations that are dedicated to preserving sea turtles and other wildlife while getting to see them up close in a way that keeps them safe.
- Friends of Sebastian Inlet State Park – Reservations required
- Friends of the Carr Refuge – Reservations required
- Sea Turtle Preservation Society – Reservations required
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge – Reservations required
- Stella Maris Environmental Research – Reservations required
If you are still in the planning phases of booking your trip to Cocoa Beach, we would love the opportunity to host you at our Cocoa Beach Airbnbs / Vacation Rentals. You can view our availability and book directly right here on our website.
PS: Cocoa Beach fun isn’t limited to the spring time! Be sure to check out our What to Do Cocoa Beach guide for year-round inspiration.
Quick Answers: Cocoa Beach in Spring 2027
Is the Beach ‘N Boards Fest happening in 2027? It doesn’t look like it – the event was cancelled in 2025 and we found no evidence of a 2026 or 2027 return. The East Coast Dog Surfing Festival and Melbourne Art Festival remain solid spring picks instead.
When is the East Coast Dog Surfing Festival in 2027? Easter Sunday, March 28, 2027, at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach.
Is spring a good time to visit Cocoa Beach? Yes – spring brings mild, warming temperatures, smaller crowds than summer (outside of spring break weeks), and overlapping sea turtle nesting and manatee seasons.
When does manatee season end near Cocoa Beach? Manatee season runs through April, so spring visitors can still catch manatee sightings at Manatee Sanctuary Park before sea turtle nesting season takes over.
NOTE: Dates above reflect confirmed 2027 event schedules where available; a few dates had not yet been officially announced at time of writing and will be updated once released.