Guides · Clermont, Florida
Clermont in Fall: Hills, Events & Local Food
Clermont’s hills—the steepest ground in peninsular Florida—do something the rest of the state can’t: they catch the season. When the groves went, the topography stayed. Fall is when you feel it.
Why Clermont's Hills Make Fall Feel Different
Clermont sits on the Lake Wales Ridge, a spine of ancient sand dunes that gives the town elevation rare for Florida. That altitude matters when the calendar turns: cooler air settles in earlier, and the angle of the sun against the slopes makes the landscape read differently than the flatlands just east. The citrus groves that once covered these hills are gone—killed off by freezes and development—but the terrain remains. It’s the reason fall feels like an actual shift here, not just a date on a calendar. The National Training Center, established in 2001, brought athletes to these hills, and the town’s 2014 slogan, “Choice of Champions,” leans into that climb.
Waterfront Park in Fall: Fewer Crowds, Better Light
Summer at Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola is a wall of heat and noise. By October, the crowds thin, the water cools, and the light turns longer and lower across the lake. The swimming area, fishing piers, and playground are all still open—you just don’t have to share them. Evenings arrive earlier, and the hills that ring the lake catch the sunset in a way the flat parts of Florida never manage. It’s the best time of year to be there. The locals know it.
Where to See Clermont's Citrus Legacy
The Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, still stands over a landscape that no longer looks like the one it was built to celebrate. From its height, you can see the pattern: former grove rows turned to subdivisions, the industry that made this county a citrus powerhouse reduced to memory. For a living counterpoint, Showcase of Citrus on Frank Jarrell Road offers a working view of what remains—not a romanticized version, but the practical reality of citrus in a place where the freezes rewrote the economy. Neither site pretends the groves are coming back. That’s the point.
Best Places to Eat in Clermont After Hiking
The hills around Clermont are best tackled with a plan for afterward. The highest-rated spots near the parks and trails run the gamut from breakfast to steak. IHOP on S Hwy 27 holds a 4.7 rating from 7,616 reviews—a reliable stop near the main corridor. Pepe's Cantina Clermont on W Minneola Ave, also 4.7 from 4,978 reviews, sits close to the lake and the downtown end of things. Keke's Breakfast Cafe on S Hwy 27, rated 4.7 from 3,848 reviews, is the post-hill breakfast play. For dinner, Outback Steakhouse on E Hwy 50 (4.6, 5,048 reviews) and Miller's Ale House on S Grand Hwy (4.6, 3,640 reviews) both hold up. If you want a chain guarantee, Texas Roadhouse on S Hwy 27 (4.5, 4,417 reviews) and Carrabba's Italian Grill on FL-50 (4.5, 3,025 reviews) won't disappoint. Lower-rated but serviceable options include Denny's Restaurant on Town Center Blvd (4.0, 3,990 reviews) and Steak 'n Shake on FL-50 (3.8, 3,103 reviews)—fine in a pinch, but not the reason you drove up here.
Fall Festivals Near Clermont Worth the Drive
Clermont’s own Pig on the Pond runs three days at Waterfront Park, drawing more than 20,000 people; the 2026 edition was the 27th, run by Project Scholars. But if you want more festival season, the surrounding towns deliver within a day-trip radius.
| Event | Distance from Clermont |
|---|---|
| Mount Dora Arts Festival | 21 miles |
| Mount Dora Craft Fair | 21 miles |
| Red Hot & Boom (Altamonte Springs) | 25 miles |
| Kumquat Festival (Dade City) | 35 miles |
| Sanford Porchfest | 36 miles |
| Great Day in the Country (Oviedo) | 38 miles |
Clermont Demographics: Who Lives Here Now
Clermont’s population sits at 44,984, with a median age of 42.4 years. The median household income is $79,789, and 35.7 percent of residents hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Housing shows the town’s dual character: 18,718 total units, with 558 held for seasonal or recreational use and 1,800 vacant—a mix of permanent residents, part-timers, and turnover. The median home value is $368,600, and median gross rent runs $1,774. Unemployment is at 5.9 percent. It’s a working town with a weekend side. The hills are the reason both exist.
Common questions
- What's there to do outdoors in Clermont in the fall?
- Hit Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola for swimming, fishing piers, and a playground. Lake Louisa State Park offers hiking and nature. Fall weather is mild, so it's prime time for these spots before winter.
- Is the Citrus Tower still worth seeing?
- Yes, the 1956 Florida Citrus Tower still stands, though the groves it was built to celebrate are mostly gone. It's a roadside landmark that outlived the industry, offering a view of the hills and what suburban development has replaced.
- Where can I get a good breakfast in Clermont?
- Keke's Breakfast Cafe on S Hwy 27 is rated 4.7 from nearly 3,900 reviews. IHOP on the same highway also scores 4.7 from over 7,600 reviews. Both are solid bets for a morning meal.
- What's the Pig on the Pond event like?
- It's a three-day festival at Waterfront Park, the biggest in south Lake County, drawing over 20,000 people. Run by Project Scholars non-profit, the 2026 edition is the 27th. Expect food, entertainment, and a crowd.
- Are there any good steak or casual dining spots?
- Texas Roadhouse on S Hwy 27 rates 4.5 from over 4,400 reviews. Outback Steakhouse on E Hwy 50 scores 4.6 from over 5,000. For something different, Pepe's Cantina Clermont on W Minneola Ave is rated 4.7.
- Can I still see citrus groves around Clermont?
- Most groves are gone, lost to freezes and development. Showcase of Citrus on Frank Jarrell Rd, rated 4.5, offers a taste of the citrus heritage. It's the closest you'll get to the old grove economy.
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