Winter Springs barbecue festival raises water safety awareness, funds prevention

Winter Springs is set to turn barbecue into a fundraiser with a purpose, as The Wesley Seth Foundation brings its second annual Sizzle & Splash BBQ Cook-Off and Festival to Central Winds Park. The two-day event is designed to pull in food vendors, craft booths, families and competitive pitmasters while raising money and awareness for water safety, a mission that resonates across Seminole County each time pool season and lake recreation ramp up.

The barbecue cook-off is scheduled for May 15, followed by the festival on May 16 from noon to 6 p.m. at Central Winds Park, 1000 Central Winds Drive, Winter Springs. The event is listed by the City of Winter Springs and by the foundation as a community fundraiser tied directly to drowning prevention and water-safety education, giving the weekend a clear charitable goal beyond the usual festival traffic and live entertainment.

Organizers are planning a Florida Barbecue Association sanctioned competition along with bounce houses, live music, craft and business vendors, food vendors, dessert contests, a margarita contest and a barbecue sauce contest. The festival will also feature a Kids Que, where children can stage their own cook-off, plus a dunk tank with local celebrities, raffles, a large play zone with water activities and tasting opportunities for barbecue from competing teams.

The setup gives the foundation a way to reach families in a format that feels festive but stays rooted in its core message. The Wesley Seth Foundation describes itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on preventing water-related accidents, and says its programs include swim scholarships, swimming lessons, life-saving skills and water-safety equipment. Libby A. Baity is listed as the organization’s executive director.

The foundation’s prevention work has gone beyond events. A 2025 TV report on Seminole County water-safety efforts said the group distributed free door alarms, informational cards and water-watcher lanyards, underscoring how its outreach extends into homes and day-to-day supervision. The foundation also lists other community efforts, including Tee Off Fore Water Safety and Twistee Treat Spirit Night, as part of its broader fundraising and education strategy.

For Winter Springs, the second-year festival is more than a weekend crowd-pleaser. It is a visible sign that a local nonprofit is building a recurring fundraiser with business participation, family draw and a practical public-health mission that reaches well beyond Central Winds Park.