Cuban Sandwich Festival Returns in March

Cuban sandwich lovers get ready: The fourth annual National Cuban Sandwich Festival is soon to return to the streets of Ybor City.

Set to take place March 20-22, the free event features more than 150 food, art and cultural exhibitors. This year’s festival is the first to span three days.

Friday kicks off with a VIP reception for opening night with a location yet to be determined. Saturday features an attempt to break the record for building the largest Cuban sandwich in the world. The assembly takes place at Hillsborough Community College’s Ybor campus. This year’s goal is 102 feet, according to organizers.

Sunday’s “smackdown” takes place in Ybor’s Centennial Park at 1800 E. 8th St. The annual “smackdown” competition to see who has the best Cuban sandwiches features restaurants from South Florida and Tampa going head-to-head to see who serves up the best.

The Tampa-Miami rivalry is a long, heated one.

“Tampa has some serious pedigree when it comes to Cuban history — but no culinary chops,” wrote The Miami Herald’s Fabiola Santiago back in 2012.

When the Tampa City Council named the Cuban the city’s official sandwich, the Miami New Times posted a piece listing 10 reasons why “Tampa sucks.”

All ribbing aside, the Cuban Sandwich Festival is serious business in Ybor City. The event serves as a fundraiser this year for Emberlynn Padilla, a 3-year-old with a congential diaphragmatic hernia and also for New Beginnings of Tampa.

For more information about the festival, visit the event’s website.

Who do you think has the best Cuban sandwiches? Share your favorites by commenting below!

Patch file photo

See Also:

• Tampa Vs. Miami: Which City Has the Best Cuban Sandwich?

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