Sunshine Ace Hardware’s sixth annual Big Green EGGfest will be held March 22 at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. The family-friendly event, which raises money for local nonprofits, celebrates the art of grilling while crowning Southwest Florida’s unofficial Grill Master of the Year.

Guests at Big Green EGGfest enjoy all-you-can-eat food samplings, grilling demonstrations, live music, beer, wine and hard seltzer drinks. Attendees also serve as judges and vote for their favorite chef-prepared meats, vegetables and side dishes.

Chefs compete in amateur and professional divisions using a Big Green Egg to prepare their culinary dishes. A Big Green Egg is a multi-functional ceramic charcoal barbecue cooker that can be used as a grill, oven or smoker. Chef Asif Syed of 21 Spices, a three-time Professional Grill Master of the Year winner, will join Big Green Egg grilling blogger Shannon Morgan and Big Green Egg YouTube grilling instructor Ron Dimpflmaier in leading cooking demonstrations. Moonstone Riders, a Naples-based group inspired by the music of jam bands, funk, classic rock and country, will play on the main stage at Riverside Park.

Since its inception, EGGfest has generated more than $130,000 to support local nonprofits.

“Over the past five years, Big Green EGGfest has become one of Southwest Florida’s premier outdoor events centered around food, music and fun,” said Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware. “It’s a great event for parents and children to enjoy a little family bonding time and groups of friends to reconnect while enjoying a beautiful springtime day.”

The 2025 Sunshine Ace Hardware Big Green EGGfest will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 22 at Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St. in Bonita Springs.

Taster tickets are available for $20 at SunshineAceEGGfest.com and include event attendance, all-you-can-sample food and three votes for the People’s Choice Award. VIP tickets are $50 and include event attendance, all-you-can sample food, three People’s Choice votes and access to a VIP seating area with an open bar. All ticket options allow tasters to direct their donation to one of four beneficiaries: Northside Naples Kiwanis Club, United Way of Collier and the Keys, Rotary Club of Bonita Beach Sunset and Leadership Collier Foundation.

Chef registration is also available at SunshineAceEGGfest.com. The cost for amateur chefs, home cooks and nonprofits to compete is $25. Registration for professional chefs, which includes trained chefs, caterers and restauranteurs, is $150. Chefs can enter with a team of up to three additional individuals as sous chefs and servers, and compete for prize packages and ultimately the title of EGGhead Grill Master Pro, EGGhead Grill Master Amateur and People’s Choice Award winner. Awards include a MiniMax Big Green Egg Grill to the Grill Masters.

Event sponsors include NCH Emergency Department (Bonita Springs), BKS Partners, Florida Gulf Coast University, Lee Health, PBS Contractors and Priority Marketing.