Jennifer DeCamp, Emily Nipps And Daniel Alan Norman 2018-12-09 02:17:23
EVENTS & FESTIVALS FOR 2019 The Sunshine State has a wildly diverse array of landscapes and experiences, and the same goes for the kinds of happenings you’ll find throughout the year. Whether it’s a marquee sporting event in a big city, a rumbling motorcycle fest, a stylish wine shindig or a low-key songwriter gathering, you’ll find the perfect addition to your itinerary here. JANUARY Outback Bowl This SEC-Big Ten matchup is a crowd pleaser, from the early-morning pep rally party to the pre-game show (and flyover!) to the down-to-the-wire game. When: Jan. 1 Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Web: outbackbowl.com Uncorked: The Key Largo and Islamorada Food & Wine Festival This food fest features some 30 events, including cooking demos, celebrity chef appearances, food and wine pairing classes, live music and the Grand Tasting, a multisensory experience not to be missed. When: Jan. 10-20 Where: Various locations in Key Largo and Islamorada Web: floridakeysuncorked.com Art Deco Weekend More than 85 events: art exhibits, concerts, lectures, films, street theater, parades, antique autos, a variety of culinary offerings and, for doggie lovers, Bark Deco. When: Jan. 18-20 Where: Ocean Drive, Miami Beach Web: artdecoweekend.com South Florida Fair With 17 days of national concert acts, midway rides, activities for kids, amazing livestock and yummy fair food, it’s no wonder over 500,000 folks attend each year. When: Jan. 18-Feb. 3 Where: South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach Web: southfloridafair.com MLK Dream Big Parade & Family Fun Day The largest and longest-running MLK Day parade in the southeastern U.S. draws the region’s most talented youth bands and dance troupes. When: Jan. 21 Where: Downtown St. Petersburg Web: mlkdreambig.com FEBRUARY Florida State Fair Racing pigs, whirling rides, fried Oreos and live country music — this state fair is the real deal. When: Feb. 7-18 Where: Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa Web: floridastatefair.com DONNA Marathon Weekend This popular race benefits breast cancer care and research and takes place along four Atlantic beaches near Jacksonville. Runners and spectators don pink and put on a huge party throughout the weekend. When: Feb. 8-10 Where: Jacksonville Web: breastcancermarathon.com/donna-marathon-weekend Daytona 500 In its 61st year, NASCAR’s popular “Great American Race” brings its most adrenaline-inducing (and quick to sell out) annual 2.5-mile course to the Daytona International Speedway. When: Feb. 17 Where: Daytona Beach Web: daytonainternationalspeedway.com Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival This star-studded affair showcases famous chefs, culinary personalities and wine and spirit producers. Tip: Book early for all events! When: Feb. 20-24 Where: Various locations throughout South Beach and Fort Lauderdale Web: sobefest.com Florida Strawberry Festival Come celebrate the ruby-hued fruit that helped put Plant City on the map. This event features live music from national acts, carnival rides, pig racing and, of course, strawberry-centric eating contests. When: Feb. 28-March 10 Where: Plant City Web: flstrawberryfestival.com MARCH Carnaval Miami & Calle Ocho An eclectic series of events: Miami Cork & Fork, Carnaval on the Mile, a golf tournament, a dominoes tournament, a beauty pageant and, of course, its culmination, the fabulous Calle Ocho, one of the world’s largest street parties. When: March 2-10 Where: Various locations in Miami Web: carnavalmiami.com Concours d’Elegance Admire 300-plus lovingly restored classic cars, one-off luxury autos and historic racing machines. When: March 8-10 Where: Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Web: ameliaconcours.org THE PLAYERS Championship The PGA Tour’s second-richest event returns to its primo pre-Masters spot, giving golf fans a high-stakes warmup to the year’s first major. When: March 12-17 Where: TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach Web: theplayers.com 12 Hours of Sebring One of racing’s most beloved endurance races promises to bring even more racing and a heightened fan experience. When: March 13-16 Where: Sebring International Raceway, Sebring Web: sebringraceway.com March Madness The hopes and dreams of eight NCAA men’s college basketball teams take flight during tournament matchups. Two will advance to the Sweet Sixteen. When: March 21, 23 Where: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, downtown Jacksonville Web: ncaa.com/final-four Florida Blueberry Festival This folksy fair has a new location this year for its offering of blueberry pies, jams and wines. When: March 28-31 Where: Kissimmee Web: floridablueberryfestival.org APRIL Sebring Soda Festival A family-friendly celebration of the soft drink, this event showcases rare craft sodas and features live music, food trucks and much more. When: April 5-6 Where: Sebring Web: visitsebring.com/events Word of [South] This festival of literature and music features bestselling authors and acclaimed musicians sharing the stage for live music gigs or readings. When: April 12-14 Where: Tallahassee Web: wordofsouthfestival.com Tampa Bay Blues Festival Combines some of the country’s hottest blues with the beautiful waterfront Vinoy Park during some of the best weather of the year. When: April 12-14 Where: Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg Web: tampabaybluesfest.com Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival More than a dozen world-class sand sculptors create incredible sculptures using Clearwater Beach’s famous sugarlike sand. Features live music, fireworks and even a giant sandbox. When: April 12-28 Where: Clearwater Beach Web: sugarsandfestival.com South Walton Beaches Food & Wine Festival Savvy wine lovers use the tasting booklet to fine-tune their battle plan and choose samples from the Grand Tasting’s 800 wines. When: April 25-28 Where: Miramar Beach Web: sowalwine.com Interstate Mullet Toss & Gulf Beach Party Contestants only get one chance to throw a dead fish across the Florida state line into Alabama. When: April TBD Where: Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar, Perdido Key Web: florabama.com MAY Sunfest You and about 175,000 other folks can see great national music acts and much more: a juried arts and crafts show, three floating bars, fireworks and great food. When: May 2-5 Where: Flagler Drive, downtown West Palm Beach Web: sunfest.com Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival Feast on locally caught shrimp while enjoying live music and arts vendors. When: May 3-5 Where: Fernandina Beach Web: shrimpfestival.com Forgotten Coast En Plein Air A 10-day festival of art workshops, lectures, gallery shows and outdoor painting stations along the coast. When: May 3-12 Where: Alligator Point to Mexico Beach Web: pleinairfl.com Romanza Festivale Ten dazzling days dedicated to celebrating all of the creative arts, from theater to dance to visual arts. More than 80 performances and exhibits take the stage throughout the city. When: May 3-12 Where: St. Augustine Web: romanzafestivale.com Fort Lauderdale Air Show The U.S. Navy’s famous Blue Angels bring thunder in the sky. You’ll also see some of the nation’s most popular military jets and civilian aerobatic acts. When: May 4-5 Where: Fort Lauderdale Beach Web: lauderdaleairshow.com Florida Folk Festival This three-day event along the legendary Suwannee River celebrates Florida’s diverse range of traditional musical and dance forms. When: May 24-26 Where: Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, White Springs Web: floridastateparks.org/events/florida-folk-festival Silver Spurs Rodeo For over 60 years, this Osceola County tradition has been delighting crowds with bull riding, barrel racing and more. When: May 31-June 1 Where: Kissimmee Web: silverspursrodeo.com JUNE St. Pete Pride St. Pete Pride has quickly grown a name for itself, drawing people from all over the region to its colorful street festival and night parade. When: June 21-23 Where: St. Petersburg Web: stpetepride.com Panhandle Watermelon Festival Chipley’s annual fete pairs national country music acts with its muchanticipated watermelon harvest. When: June 28-29 Where: Chipley Web: panhandlewatermelon.com JULY Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament & Festival Anglers cruise the coast hoping to hook a winner in the city’s largest fishing tournament. When: July 15-20 Where: Jacksonville Web: kingfishtournament.com Hemingway Days The annual Papa-fest features readings, an exhibit of rare Ernest Hemingway memorabilia, a zany “Running of the Bulls” event, a marlin tournament, a short story competition, a street fair and, of course, the famous Look-Alike Contest. When: July 16-21 Where: Various locations in Key West Web: fla-keys.com/hemingway-days Caladium Festival Known as “the caladium capital of the world,” Lake Placid showcases some of its most gorgeous agriculture. When: July 26-28 Where: Stuart Park, Lake Placid Web: lpfla.com/caladium.htm AUGUST Tampa Bay Comic Con Comic book and cartoon geeks get decked out in elaborate and creative cosplay while meeting fan-favorite celebrity guests. When: Aug. 2-4 Where: Tampa Convention Center, downtown Tampa Web: tampabaycomiccon.com Harvest Grape Stomp Celebrating 25 years of Florida’s sweet grape harvests, stompers of all ages can experience the summer squish on the rolling hills of Central Florida. When: Aug. 17-18 Where: Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards, Clermont Web: lakeridgewinery.com Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam Over 20,000 country music fans jam this gulf-front park for a symbolic end-of-summer bash. When: Aug. 30-Sept. 1 Where: Frank Brown Park, Panama City Beach Web: gulfcoastjam.com SEPTEMBER Bruval Craft Beer Fest Sample some of the Sunshine State’s best craft brews with live music, food truck eats and a kids’ zone. When: September TBD Where: Seawalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach Web: bruvaljax.com Island Hopper Songwriter Fest There’s a talented singer-songwriter behind every great country music hit. Get to know the backstories behind country’s biggest hits and see them performed by the writers. This popular event has been expanded to three locations over 10 days. When: Late September Where: Captiva Island, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach Web: fortmyers-sanibel.com/island-hopper New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival This ever-expanding event brings local and nationally renowned musicians together for seaside jam sessions. Nearly 30 venues lined up from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River host jazz bands from all over the country. When: Late September Where: Various venues, New Smyrna Beach Web: nsbjazzfest.com OCTOBER 1890’s Festival Turn back time in Victorian McIntosh for a day of spoon chime crafting, glassblowing and candlemaking. When: October TBD Where: McIntosh Web: friendsofmcintosh.org Biketoberfest Drawing more than 100,000 visitors, this fest is beloved among motorcycle enthusiasts who come to watch the pros compete and cruise the streets. When: Oct. 17-20 Where: Daytona Beach Web: biketoberfest.org Clearwater Jazz Holiday One of the Tampa Bay region’s most highly anticipated live music events, this four-day festival brings world-famous acts to Coachman Park on Clearwater’s downtown waterfront. Previous performers have included The Temptations, Grace Potter and Trombone Shorty. When: Oct. 17-20 Where: Clearwater Web: clearwaterjazz.com Fantasy Fest Leave the young’uns at home and head for this non-stop, adult-themed mega-party in the Florida Keys. The festival features lavish floats, parades, costume contests (one for pets, too!), a street fair and island bands. When: Oct. 18-27 Where: Key West Web: fantasyfest.com Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Head to the “Venice of America” to see thousands of vessels, including some of the largest luxury yachts in the world. Enjoy culinary events, fishing seminars and a host of nautical activities. When: Oct. 30-Nov. 3 Where: Various locations in Fort Lauderdale Web: flibs.com NOVEMBER Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival More than 200 award-winning singersongwriters tell the stories behind their hits during live performances. When: November TBD Where: Perdido Key and various other locations Web: frankbrownsongwriters.com Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival You can hardly believe that these incredibly detailed artistic masterpieces are made out of Siesta Beach’s famous, powder-soft white sand. When: November TBD Where: Siesta Beach, Sarasota Web: siestakeycrystalclassic.com Nights of Lights The nation’s oldest city sparkles with millions of white lights. Events include the Christmas Parade, Luminary Night and Holiday Regatta of Lights. When: November–January Where: St. Augustine Web: floridashistoriccoast.com/nights-lights Orlando Veterans Day Parade Honor U.S. veterans at this spirited two-hour parade full of bands, floats and fanfare. When: Nov. 9 Where: Downtown Orlando Web: cityoforlando.net/veteransparade Miami Book Fair The nation’s largest literary gathering features an eclectic lineup of famous authors in all genres. Don’t miss the Street Fair, Children’s Alley and the Porch, the ultimate urban community hangout, and a stage for live music and interdisciplinary performances. When: Nov. 17-24 Where: Miami-Dade College Wolfson Campus, Miami Web: miamibookfair.com DECEMBER Miami Art Week If there’s any time for art lovers to be in South Florida, this is it. Check out more than 20 international fairs showcasing thought-provoking work from masters of modern and contemporary art. Don’t miss the parties that take place before, during and after the legendary Art Basel Miami Beach (see sidebar for Art Basel details). When: Early December Where: Miami Beach Convention Center and other locations in Miami-Dade County Web: miamiartweek.art Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade There are many Florida holiday boat parades, but this one (known as “The greatest show on H20”) is the leader of the pack. The event gets bigger and better each year as South Florida’s famously lavish yachts, bedecked to the hilt with countless strings of sparkling lights, show off their holiday cheer along Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway. When: Early December Where: Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach Web: winterfestparade.com New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop This uniquely Florida event starts with a kid-friendly celebration that involves 10,000 beach balls falling from nets above Pier Park, live entertainment, fireworks and more. As the stroke of midnight approaches, the party culminates with the drop of a massive, LED-lit beach ball and a second fireworks display. When: Dec. 31 Where: Pier Park, Panama City Beach Web: visitpanamacitybeach.com TaxSlayer Gator Bowl One of the longest-running college bowl games in the country, this New Year’s Eve tradition is a faceoff between two top college football teams. Get into the spirit with team pep rallies and a New Year’s Eve celebration after the game. When: Dec. 31 Where: Jacksonville Web: taxslayergatorbowl.com To find more Florida events, go to VISITFLORIDA.com/events.
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