Jennifer Decamp, Emily Nipps And Daniel Alan Norman 2016-12-16 07:24:06
Search {Events} at VISITFLORIDA.com The Sunshine State is home to a long lineup of events you can’t find anywhere else. Make the most of your Florida experience by putting one or more of these events on your must-do list. JANUARY Uncorked: The Key Largo and Islamorada Food & Wine Festival Enjoy a multi-sensory experience as culinary experts step up to the plate – and the palate. There are some 30 tasty food, wine and spirits events. When: Jan. 5-15 Where: Various locations in Key Largo and Islamorada Web: floridakeysuncorked.com 30A Songwriters Festival Catch more than 150 nationally recognized singer/songwriters playing 20 stages throughout coastal Northwest Florida towns. When: Jan. 13-15 Where: various venues along Hwy 30A Web: 30asongwritersfestival.com Art Deco Weekend More than 80 events: art exhibits, concerts, lectures, films, street theater, parades, antique autos, a variety of culinary offerings and for doggie lovers, Arf Deco. When: Jan. 13-15 Where: Along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach Web: artdecoweekend.com South Florida Fair Who doesn’t love a good fair? Join 500,000 folks at the Florida granddaddy of them all for 17 days of national concert acts, midway rides, amazing livestock and yummy food. When: Jan. 13-29 Where: South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach Web: southfloridafair.com MLK Day National Parade Known as the oldest and largest MLK Day parade in the southeastern United States, this parade draws some of the region’s best marching bands, dance troupes and other performers to the streets of downtown St. Petersburg. When: Jan. 16 Where: Downtown St. Petersburg Web: mlknationalparade.org Gasparilla Pirate Fest Tampa’s time-honored tradition of piratethemed revelry continues with plenty of grog and grabbing at beads, as well as a boat parade, street parade and day-long festival. When: Jan. 28 Where: Multiple locations in Tampa Web: gasparillaextravaganza.com FEBRUARY Florida State Fair Enjoy all the fair favorites – fried food, games and prizes, tilt-a-whirl rides, exhibits and more – while the weather is still cool enough to enjoy a whole day outside. When: Feb. 9-20 Where: Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa Web: floridastatefair.com Art Wynwood More than 70 top international galleries showcase their works, shining a spotlight on Midtown Miami and the Wynwood Arts District as a flourishing international cultural destination. When: Feb. 16-20 Where: Art Miami Pavilion, Miami Web: art-wynwood.com Battle of Olustee Reeanctment Thousands reenact Florida’s largest Civil War battle. The event also includes a Civil War Memorial Service and artillery night firing. When: Feb. 17-19 Where: Olustee Battlefield State Park Web: battleofolustee.org Coconut Grove Arts Festival It’s nearly a mile of great art plus crafts, delicious eats and live entertainment. About 120,000 people are expected to attend. When: Feb. 18-20 Where: Coconut Grove, Miami Web: cgaf.com Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival This star-studded affair showcases the talents of famous chefs, culinary personalities and wine and spirit producers. Suggestion: Book early for all events! When: Feb. 22-26 Where: Various locations throughout South Beach and Fort Lauderdale Web: sobefest.com Daytona 500 NASCAR’s hottest race returns for its 59th year following last year’s sold-out crowd, which comes not just for the main event, but for the day of fan activities, live music and more. When: Feb. 26 Where: Daytona Web: daytonainternationalspeedway.com MARCH Cummer Garden Month Stroll through the museum’s acclaimed European-inspired gardens while they’re in full bloom before scoring a front row seat for a lecture or concert. When: March 1-31 Where: Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville Web: cummermuseum.org Florida Strawberry Festival What began as an attempt to promote local strawberry crops nearly 90 years ago has blossomed into one of Florida’s best fests, complete with national touring musical acts, pageants, 4H animals and, of course, strawberry shortcake. When: March 2-12 Where: Plant City Web: flstrawberryfestival.com Bacardi Miami Sailing Week Teams representing countries from all over the world will compete against the backdrop of beautiful Biscayne Bay. The marquis event is the Star Class race for the prestigious 90th Bacardi Cup. When: March 5-11 Where: Regatta Park, Coconut Grove Web: miamisailingweek.com Concours D’elegance One of the top automotive events in the country, the features more than 250 rare and lovinglyrestored automobiles. When: March 10-12 Where: Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Web: ameliaconcours.org Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg The Verizon IndyCar Series opens the season at this challenging waterfront street course that turns St. Petersburg streets into a roaring festival of fun and entertainment all week. When: March 10-12 Where: Downtown St. Petersburg Web: gpstpete.com Daytona Bike Week A half-million bikers descend on the sandy turf of Daytona Beach for the 76th year, making it one of the world’s largest biker events and filling Daytona’s streets with loud music, celebrities, classic cars and motorcycle rallies. When: March 10-19 Where: Daytona Beach Web: officialbikeweek.com/daytonabikeweek Grapefruit League Enjoy the beautiful spring weather in the stands of a spring training game as more than a dozen teams, including the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins, spread all over the state to warm up their skills. When: March and April Where: Multiple locations, including Kissimmee, Jupiter, Tampa, Sarasota and Port St. Lucie Web: floridagrapefruitleague.com Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival More than 100 bands on five stages, but so much more: white-sand lakeside-swimming beach and bar, VIP camping, immersive art installations, craft beer makers, great food trucks and yoga and meditation sessions. When: March 2-5 Where: Sunshine Grove, Okeechobee Web: okeechobeefest.com Calle Ocho At 19-blocks long, it’s called the world’s largest street party – with good reason. It’s filled with musical stages, street performers, youth activities and a variety of food vendors. When: March 12 marking the conclusion of Carnaval Miami Where: Along SW 8th Street, Miami Web: carnavalmiami.com APRIL Sun ‘N Fun International Fly-In & Expo Whether you’re an aviation geek or simply looking for something fun to do in the Florida springtime weather, Sun n’ Fun has something for everyone, including dazzling day and night air shows, learning expos, evening entertainment and lots of souvenirs. When: April 4-9 Where: Lakeland Web: sun-n-fun.org/sun-n-fun-intl-fly-in-expo Delray Affair It’s pedestrians only, so join the throngs who cram 12 city blocks and side streets for all kinds of fun, highlighted by one of the largest arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast. Also included: concerts, street entertainers and great food. When: April 7-9 Where: Downtown Delray Beach Web: delrayaffair.com Beach’n Food Truck & Music Festival This family-friendly event is a celebration of music, food and arts and crafts. It also includes a great Classic Car show and a Kids Zone chock full of activities for the youngsters. When: April 2 Where: Coquina Beach, Anna Maria Island Web: annamariaislandchamber.org/IslandEvents Word of South Renowned authors and musicians pair up to share the stage to celebrate their craft together. When: April 7-9 Where: Tallahassee Web: wordofsouthfestival.com ArtsNaples World Festival Lasting 20 days this time around, there will be a stunning array of opera, symphony, chamber music, jazz, cuisine, film, recitals, cabaret and great food and wine. When: April 25-May 14 Where: Various locations throughout Naples Web: stayinmay.com Pensacola Crawfish Festival Feast on more than 16,000 pounds of crawfish – served in regional eats from po’boys to pies – while listening to live music. When: April 28-30 Where: Bartram Park, Pensacola Web: fiestaoffiveflags.org/pensacola-crawfish-festival Leesburg Bikefest A favorite among bikers for almost 20 years, this weekend event puts Leesburg on the motor map with more than 85 concerts, hundreds of vendors, bikini contests and poker runs. When: April 28-30 Where: Downtown Leesburg Web: leesburgbikefest.com Destin Charity Wine Auction Win bragging rights when you score a rare or vintage bottle of vino at one of the country’s top charity wine auctions. When: April 29 Where: Miramar Beach Web: dcwaf.org Jest Fest Enjoy family-friendly entertainment featuring acrobats, stilt walkers and sword swallowers. When: April Where: Historic Thomas Center, Gainesville Web: gvlculturalaffairs.org/website/programs_events/jestfest/jest-fest-gainesville.html MAY Suwannee River Jam Hot names in country, folk and Americana play multiple stages. Camping is available. When: May 3-6 Where: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Live Oak Web: suwanneeriverjam.com Sunfest You and about 175,000 other folks will see great national musical acts and a whole lot more: a juried art and craft show, three floating bar barges, fireworks, lots of kids’ activities and great food. When: May 3-7 Where: Flagler Drive, downtown West Palm Beach Web: sunfest.com Fort Lauderdale Air Show Doing the vrooooom thing again will be the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the Canadian Air Force Thunderbirds and the Breitling Jet Team from France. And, don’t miss the vintage WW II planes. When: May 6-7 Where: Fort Lauderdale Beach Web: fortlauderdaleairshow.com THE PLAYERS Championship The Stadium Course’s famed island green has broken hearts and crowned champions when the PGA TOUR’s brightest stars take their best shot. When: May 9-14 Where: TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach Web: pgatour.com/tournaments/the-playerschampionship.html MIDFLORIDA Mayfaire by-the-Lake One of Central Florida’s largest and oldest outdoor art festivals features around 165 artists displaying unique jewelry, sculptures, paintings, metalwork, photography and more. When: May 13-14 Where: Downtown Lakeland Web: polkmuseumofart.org/mayfaire-content Thunder on Cocoa Beach Returning for its eighth year, this offshore boat racing event brings some of the world’s fastest speedboats and lots of adrenaline to the shores of the Space Coast. When: May 17-21 Where: Cocoa Beach Web: thunderoncocoabeach.com/ Digital Graffiti Digital artists, filmmakers and photographers turn the white walls of Alys Beach’s architecture into multicolor, moving works of art. When: May 19-21 Where: Alys Beach Web: digitalgraffiti.com Blue Crab Festival Small town charm pairs with fresh-from-the-boat seafood, carnival rides, live music, parade and fireworks for Memorial Day weekend. When: May 26-29 Where: Palatka Web: bluecrabfestival.com Florida Folk Festival Music, dance, stories and crafts pay tribute to Florida’s cultural history and traditions. When: May Where: Stephen Foster Folk Culture State Park Web: floridastateparks.org/folkfest JUNE Panhandle Watermelon Festival It has watermelon in the name, but country music at its heart – plus a beauty pageant, arts and crafts vendors and a run. When: June 23-24 Where: Pals Park, Chipley Web: panhandlewatermelon.com St. Pete Pride What has grown into the one of the country’s largest LGBT pride events, St. Pete Pride begins with an entertaining and wild night parade and ends with a day-long street festival filled with characters, vendors, beads, food and performances. When: June TBA Where: St. Petersburg Web: stpetepride.com JULY Coke Zero 400 The summer’s most anticipated NASCAR stock car race continues with 160 laps under the lights and live country music, followed by the largest fireworks show in the Southeast. When: July 1 Where: Daytona Beach Web: daytonainternationalspeedway.com Mount Dora Freedom on the Waterfront Mount Dora once again hosts a fun-filled Fourth of July party in the beautiful waterside Elizabeth Evans Park. It features family-friendly carnival games, water slide inflatables, water tables for babies and toddlers, food, and of course, a fireworks show. When: July 3 Where: Elizabeth Evans Park, Mount Dora Web: mountdorafireworks.com/ The Key Lime Festival This sweet festival features pie eating, pie making contests and much more, including an attempt to make the world’s largest Key Lime pie, a wacky talent show and pageants for Miss Key Lime Pie and L’il Miss Key Lime. When: July 1-4 Where: Various locations in Key West Web: keylimefestival.com AUGUST Tampa Bay Comic Con Stunning, Hollywood-worthy cosplay and actual Hollywood celebrities fill the Tampa Convention Center, drawing comic book geeks and fans from all over the country. When: Aug. 28-30 Where: Tampa Convention Center, downtown Tampa Web: tampabaycomiccon.com Geckofest Gulfport celebrates the end of the summer with its quirky, gecko-themed annual events: the Gecko Ball, GeckoFest parade and GeckoCrawl. Come to one or all dressed in your most colorful or reptilian attire. When: Late Aug.-early Sept. Where: Gulfport Web: geckofest.com SEPTEMBER Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam More than 20,000 people gather for a country music sing along with the genre’s creme de la creme. When: Sept. Where: Frank Brown Park, Panama City Beach Web: gulfcoastjam.com Florida Scallop & Music Festival Feast on fresh bay scallops, browse arts and crafts vendors, and enjoy live music. When: Sept. Where: St. Joseph Bay, St. Joe Web: scallopfest.com OCTOBER Biketoberfest Known as the abbreviated fall version of Daytona’s famous Bike Week, Biketoberfest has become a favorite in the biker’s circuit. It draws hundreds of thousands of bikers and their families with music, model car and bike displays, live races and tattoo expos. When: Oct. 19-22 Where: Daytona Beach Web: biketoberfest.org 38th Annual Fantasy Fest Leave the young’uns at home and head for this non-stop, adult-themed mega-party, featuring lavish floats, parades, costume and masking competitions (one for pets, too!), street fairs and island bands. When: Oct. 20-29 Where: Key West Web: fantasyfest.com 1890s Festival Enjoy old-time candle making, glass blowing and basket weaving demonstrations as well as live music in this historic Victorian town. When: October Where: McIntosh Web: friendsofmcintosh.org NOVEMBER Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Where else but the Venice of America would you find this amazing event? You’ll see thousands of vessels, including some of the largest luxury yachts in the world. When: Nov. 2-6 Where: Various locations in Fort Lauderdale Web: showmanagement.com Fairchild Fall Garden Festival & 77th Ramble It’s South Florida’s most beloved garden party. Included will be cooking classes, gardening demos, a beer garden and the usual Ramble traditions: art, antiques, rare books, gourmet food and more than 15,000 plants for sale. When: Nov. 10-12 Where: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables Web: fairchildgarden.org Foo Foo Festival This eclectic, two-week-long lineup of arts and culture events includes the Great Gulfcoast Arts Fest and the Frank Brown International Songwriters’ Festival. When: Nov. 2-14 Where: Pensacola Web: foofoofest.com Nights of Lights Experience the magic of one of the 10 best holiday light displays in the world by trolley, horse-drawn carriage, boat or on foot. When: Nov. – Dec. Where: St. Augustine Web: floridashistoriccoast.com/nights Ribfest The rich smell of smoked meat and rock music fill the air as some of the region’s best “ribbers” and BBQ cooks bring their best to this three-day charity fundraiser, now in its 28th year. When: Nov. TBA Where: Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg Web: ribfest.org DECEMBER Art Basel Top galleries from all over the world will showcase works by masters of modern and contemporary art. Don’t miss the dozen or so smaller but wildly eclectic satellite art shows, too. When: Early Dec. Where: Miami Beach Convention Center and nearby by beaches and parks Web: artbasel.com Bradenton Blues Festival One of the area’s largest music festivals returns with a strong lineup of national and regional blues acts playing over a three-day stretch. Also enjoy local craft beer and food tents along with after-party celebrations. When: Early Dec. Where: Riverwalk Pavilion, downtown Bradenton Web: http://www.bradentonbluesfestival.org Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade There are many Florida holiday boat parades, but this one, known as “12 miles of the greatest show on H20,” is the leader of the pack. When: Dec. 16 Where: Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach Web: winterfestparade.com Celebrate Twice Take the free trolley between Port St. Joe (EST) and Mexico Beach (CST) to pop the bubbly and ring in the New Year from two time zones. When: Dec. 31 Where: Port St. Joe and Mexico Beach Web: www.celebratetwice.com Key West New Year’s Eve Anybody can drop a glitter ball and call it a year, but nobody does New Year’s Eve like Key West. Highlights include the Pirate Wench Drop, Giant Shoe Drop and the Conch Shell Drop. When: Dec. 31 Where: Key West Web: www.fla-keys.com/calendarofevents Find more events online! Explore the full collection of Florida happenings at VISITFLORIDA.com/events
©Visit Florida. View All Articles.