HOW IT ALL BEGAN!
ONCE KNOWN AS LA VERBENA DEL TABACO CIGAR FESTIVAL AND NOW THE YBOR CITY CIGAR HERITAGE FESTIVAL, READ HOW IT ALL BEGAN.
Poster advertising the 1920 Cigar Festival.
Here’s the story: By 1939, Tampa's cigar industry was facing significant challenges. Between 1929 and 1939, 17 factories closed, resulting in a workforce that was about 5,000 less than a decade prior. A Tampa Times article from 1939 noted there were “less than 20 plants that could be called ‘major.’” Yet, in 1935, all of that faded into the background during the Cigar Industry Golden Jubilee, a four-day celebration honoring the industry that put Tampa on the map.
Women in swimsuits are in a large cigar box for the La Verbena del Tabaco Festival. The woman holding the cigar is Rose Esperante Figueredo, the grandmother of Lisa Figueredo, owner and publisher of Cigar City Magazine.
The Tampa Times suggested that locals might have been “too close” to fully appreciate the impact of cigars on Tampa, a sentiment that still resonates today. This event not only highlighted the historical significance of the cigar industry but also drew international media attention and large local crowds, including distinguished visitors. The celebration kicked off with the La Verbena festivities and included:
A cigar-making contest
The creation of a world-record-setting cigar
Open houses at local factories for community tours
A daytime parade attracting over 16,000 attendees
Mayor Robert Chancey requested the closure of businesses and schools for the parade, which featured dozens of floats, some of which had previously appeared in the Gasparilla Parade. The event also welcomed a delegation of Cuban naval ships, including the Cuban Presidential Yacht.
The opening night, the La Verbena—a Spanish-style carnival—was held at Plant Park, showcasing traditional folk performances from various ethnic social clubs. Highlights included a public wedding (with the bride donning a dress made entirely of cigar leaves) and a lively German beer garden. Each ethnic mutual aid society maintained its pavilion, hosting performances every half hour. The Golden Jubilee was as much a celebration of the cigar industry’s 50th anniversary as it was a public relations spectacle, marking the end of an era. By 1949, the number of cigar workers had dropped to about 7,000, with only 18 large factories remaining. By the 1950s, the industry was nearly fully mechanized, leaving fewer than 2,500 workers crafting hand-rolled cigars.
A cigar-making contest
The creation of a world-record-setting cigar
Open houses at local factories for community tours
A daytime parade attracting over 16,000 attendees
Mayor Robert Chancey requested the closure of businesses and schools for the parade, which featured dozens of floats, some of which had previously appeared in the Gasparilla Parade. The event also welcomed a delegation of Cuban naval ships, including the Cuban Presidential Yacht.
The opening night, the La Verbena—a Spanish-style carnival—was held at Plant Park, showcasing traditional folk performances from various ethnic social clubs. Highlights included a public wedding (with the bride donning a dress made entirely of cigar leaves) and a lively German beer garden. Each ethnic mutual aid society maintained its pavilion, hosting performances every half hour. The Golden Jubilee was as much a celebration of the cigar industry’s 50th anniversary as it was a public relations spectacle, marking the end of an era. By 1949, the number of cigar workers had dropped to about 7,000, with only 18 large factories remaining. By the 1950s, the industry was nearly fully mechanized, leaving fewer than 2,500 workers crafting hand-rolled cigars.
The La Verbena Del Tobacco float at Plant Field, 1940, complete with ladies encased in oversized cigar tubes.
The La Verbena Del Tobaco Cigar Festival continued until around 1940, while other “Latin Fiestas” thrived into the 1960s. Today, events like the Cigar Heritage Festival, also known as the Ybor City Cigar Festival, celebrate cigars and Tampa’s rich Latin heritage. The accompanying photos capture the spirit of the original cigar industry festivities.
From 1996 to 2013, the Cigar Heritage Festival changed hands multiple times, revealing a need for more organization to host such a large event. Lisa Figueredo, founder and publisher of Cigar City Magazine, stepped in with her event expertise in 2014, revitalizing the beloved festival. Known for organizing some of Tampa's premier events, she expanded the festival into a week-long celebration, featuring pre-parties across the city, culminating in the main event on Sunday.
From 1996 to 2013, the Cigar Heritage Festival changed hands multiple times, revealing a need for more organization to host such a large event. Lisa Figueredo, founder and publisher of Cigar City Magazine, stepped in with her event expertise in 2014, revitalizing the beloved festival. Known for organizing some of Tampa's premier events, she expanded the festival into a week-long celebration, featuring pre-parties across the city, culminating in the main event on Sunday.
Since then, Lisa has passed the leadership to her son, Rob Aguinaga, who has upheld the festival's traditions and elevated it further, achieving attendance figures of nearly 10,000-15,000—making it the largest cigar festival in the world! The festival attracts cigar enthusiasts, Ybor supporters, local families, history buffs, and visitors from around the globe, featuring the finest cigars from renowned brands, along with unique boutique selections.
From its origins as La Verbena to the present-day Ybor City Cigar Festival, this event has welcomed millions to Ybor City and generated significant revenue for Tampa businesses.
Join us this year at the Ybor City Cigar Festival on Sunday, December 6, 2026, in Centennial Park!
From its origins as La Verbena to the present-day Ybor City Cigar Festival, this event has welcomed millions to Ybor City and generated significant revenue for Tampa businesses.
Join us this year at the Ybor City Cigar Festival on Sunday, December 6, 2026, in Centennial Park!
Ybor City Cigar Festival Proclamations
2015 Ybor City Cigar Festival Day honors the Cigar Capital of the World!
2016 Ybor City Cigar Festival Day honors Don Carlos Fuente.