What's on?
Want to know when Florida’s best holiday destinations come alive during seasonal celebrations or festivities favoured by the locals? Check out the Sunshine State’s highlight events for each month of the year below. Plus, you can find a full list of events and festivals on Visit Florida’s monthly events calendar.
January
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA NATURE FESTIVAL
Where? Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples
What? Explore the local environment through 40 guided field trips to 20 wildlife hot spots, including the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the Big Cypress National Preserve. The field trips include birding walks, buggy rides and boat tours.
FLORIDA MANATEE FESTIVAL
Where? Downtown Crystal River
What? Celebrate Florida’s beloved gentle giant with arts and crafts, live music, a beer garden and live manatee viewing at the nearby Three Sisters Spring. The event is a favourite among locals as it grows and adds attractions each year.
ST AUGUSTINE FILM FESTIVAL
Where? Various venues, St Augustine
What? Cinephiles will have a full slate of entertainment and will have to pick and choose wisely between showings of more than 30 independent films. The festival, presented by St Augustine’s Flagler College, has its opening night gala at the historic Lightner Museum. Films will be screened at five different venues around the city.
GASPARILLA PIRATE FEST
Where? Multiple locations in Tampa
What? Visitors from all over the country swoop in to celebrate as bead-wielding pirates invade the City of Tampa, beginning with a boat parade and brunch, a parade along Bayshore Boulevard, and a street festival that draws thousands.
February
CIRCUS SARASOTA WINTER PERFORMANCES
Where? The Circus Arts Conservatory, Sarasota
What? Sarasota is known as the circus capital of the world and here’s a chance to see why. These annual performances, showcased in a one-ring, five-star European big top, have been acclaimed around the globe for world-class artistry and entertainment.
COGNIZANT CLASSIC
Where? Palm Beach Gardens
What? The best golfers in the world will play for millions of dollars in prize money and try to rack up early points in the race for the Fed Ex Cup title at The Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches at the PGA National Resort.
FOOD NETWORK SOUTH BEACH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL
Where? Various locations throughout South Beach and Fort Lauderdale
What? This star-studded affair showcases the talents of famous chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers. Celebrities abound, and events include brunches and lunches, grand tastings and demos, seminars, intimate dinners, walk-around tastings and late-night parties.
EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
Where? Various locations in Fort Myers
What? Thomas Edison wintered in Fort Myers from 1885 until his death in 1931, and this almost month-long fest pays homage to the great inventor. Highlights include the Thomas Alva Edison Science & Inventors Fair, Strolling Flower Show, Antique Car Show, Thomas Edison Birthday Party, Crafts on the River & Vintage Market, Grand Parade, Classic Car Show and the don’t-miss-it Mutt Strutt.
March
SARASOTA JAZZ FESTIVAL
Where? Various locations in Sarasota
What? This yearly event attracts some of the best jazz artists from around the country. And it always features the popular Jazz Trolley Pub Crawl.
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Where? Various locations in Miami-Dade County
What? Year after year, it’s a film fan’s delight and includes world and state premieres and top actors and directors. Don’t forget the “after” parties!
SPRINGTIME TALLAHASSEE FESTIVAL
Where? Kleman Plaza, Tallahassee
What? What began as a small-town celebration to promote Tallahassee’s beauty has turned more than 40 years later into two full days of entertainment. Enjoy 200 arts, crafts and food vendors, the Grand Parade featuring floats and marching bands, live music, a beer garden and a children’s park to keep more than 200,000 festival-goers happy and well fed.
SEAFOODIES TRIPLE HEADER
Where? Respectively, various locations in Fort Myers Beach, Marathon Community Park in Marathon and Veterans Community Park in Marco Island
What? On the left coast there’s the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Parade, and on the right coast there’s the Original Marathon Seafood Festival. Both feature mouthwatering, straight-from-the-sea fare and so much more, including live music, arts and crafts vendors and a whole bunch of activities for kids.
fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com marathonseafoodfestival.com
April
ROCK THE OCEAN TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Where? Fort Lauderdale Beach
What? The sands of Fort Lauderdale will once again be transformed into an oceanfront, multi-stage festival for music lovers and ocean lovers alike. The line-up always includes the very best country and country-rock bands.
FORT PIERCE OYSTER FESTIVAL
Where? Downtown Fort Pierce
What? There’s Oysters Casino, Oysters Mexicali, oyster stew, grilled oysters, raw oysters, fried oysters and more. While oyster lovers get their fill, they’ll also contribute to a better eco-system as shells are gathered for oyster reef restoration projects.
PIER 60 SUGAR SAND FESTIVAL
Where? Pier 60, Clearwater Beach
What? This beach-wide celebration pays tribute to Tampa Bay’s two most valuable assets: sugar sands and sunsets. The showcase is a 21,000-square-foot structure that transforms into an art gallery of sand sculptures created by master artists from around the world.
CENTRAL FLORIDA EARTH DAY
Where? Lake Eola Park, Orlando
What? Learn about Florida’s endangered species, sample some vegan food, do some Tahitian dance moves, buy some plants and paint a “paper bag mushroom” at Central Florida’s longest-running Earth Day celebration.
May
CLEARWATER BEACH RESTAURANT WEEK
Where? Various restaurants in Clearwater Beach
What? This two-week long festival gives visitors the chance to sample some of the area’s top-notch dining or casual fare, all at super-low prices. It all begins with a kick-off party that features beer and wine tastings, music and fireworks.
FUNK FEST & JACKSONVILLE JAZZ FESTIVAL
Where? Downtown Jacksonville
What? Downtown Jax gets groovy in May with two major music fests turning the city streets into one big outdoor party. The jams get started at The Shipyards thanks to top national funk/soul acts for the Funk Fest. Then things turn a little more mellow at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.
KEY WEST PADDLE CLASSIC
Where? Various locations, Key West
What? Participants can enjoy a challenging course over crystal blue waters, circling the city through scenic mangroves, passing by the historic Seaport District and more. The event is open to paddlers on stand-up paddleboards, prone boards, outrigger canoes, dory boats, surf skis and kayaks.
SPACE COAST NERDFEST
Where? Melbourne
What? Nerds and geeks from all over the region come together to unite as one, celebrating sci-fi cultural icons, video games, comics, Renaissance-fair-style live jousting, collectibles and more. Don’t forget to tell clients about the costume contest!
June
SARASOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Where? Sarasota
What? Hundreds of music students from some of the top programmes in the world attend this three-week festival to showcase their talent and learn new skills. Festival audiences are invited to any of the concerts or lectures, including the Thursday afternoon Artist Showcase concerts, Friday Festival chamber concerts, and Saturday Symphony orchestra concerts.
COCOA BEACH PIRATE FEST
Where? International Palms Resort, Cocoa Beach
What? This family-friendly pirate fest has enough to keep everyone entertained, including interactive treasure hunts, water-cannon battles in a pirate-themed splash pool, black powder weapon demonstrations and an adults-only Pirate’s Ball.
iHEARTRADIO ULTIMATE POOL PARTY
Where? Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Miami Beach
What? Presented by visitflorida.com, this musical weekend getaway is broadcast nationally on the CW network. Past performers include Jennifer Lopez, Neon Trees, Ariana Grande, Iggy Azalea, Tiesto and Lil John.
bleaulive.com
SUMMER MOONLIGHT SEA TURTLE WALKS
Where? Museum of Discovery & Science and the beach, Fort Lauderdale
What? Enjoy an evening of sea turtle exploration and identification while uncovering the natural history and myths of turtles. With a little luck and weather permitting, visitors might just see a 300-pound loggerhead venture out of the ocean to lay her eggs.
mods.org
July
ANNUAL UNDERWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Where? Looe Key Reef (about six miles south of Big Pine Key)
What? Divers and snorkellers go deep at this quirky concert that highlights reef preservation and is a whole lot of fun. Classic rock is piped in underwater via speakers suspended from boats hovering above the third largest reef in the world.
PALM BEACH SUMMER BEER FEST
Where? South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach
What? Is there anything better than that first sip of an ice-cold brewski on a hot summer day? Don’t miss this event that features an amazing array of more than 150 craft beers. The hot music goes great with the cold beers.
COOL ART SHOW
Where? St Petersburg
What? This popular, free indoor (read: air-conditioned!) art show fills the St Petersburg Coliseum with ceramics, jewellery, photography, paintings, sculpture and multimedia works. Food and drinks, including beer and wine, are also on the menu.
MIAMI SPA MONTH
Where? Various luxury spas throughout Miami-Dade County
What? It’s hot out there. What better way to chill than to pamper yourself at some of Miami’s world-famous luxury spas – at discount prices, no less. Actually, it’s not one month, it’s two months long!
August
SUMMER RESTAURANT WEEK
Where? Various restaurants in Pensacola
What? Visitors can delight their tastebuds on this fixed-price culinary adventure through Pensacola’s top restaurants. Each chef has geared their menus toward local and seasonal ingredients.
SUMMER OF RUM FEST
Where? The Cuban Club, Ybor City (Tampa)
What? What better way to stay cool in the Florida summer heat than with a sampling of various rum punches, rum runners, rum coladas, rum mojitos and more rum? Patrons have the option of partying outdoors for a true tropical experience or cooling off indoors, with music and dancing throughout.
SEA TURTLE BABY SHOWER
Where? Park West at Fort Pickens Gate, Pensacola Beach
What? Make sure visitors save the date for this fantastic shell-a-bration for all the sea turtles that make the Pensacola area beaches home during sea turtle nesting season. Representatives from the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center will have an educational booth and merchandise. This family-focused event also includes games, activities and live music.
FLORIDA KIDS & FAMILY EXPO
Where? Orange County Convention Center, Orlando
What? All types of family-focused exhibitors – from playground-makers to Girl Scouts and petting farms – gather to display their goods and provide interactive fun for kids of all ages and their parents. Teens can learn make-up techniques, kids can play laser tag and parents can learn more about party planning, daycare and other innovative offerings. Bonus: it’s all indoors and air-conditioned.
mycentralfloridafamily.com
September
PEPSI GULF COAST JAM
Where? Frank Brown Park, Panama City Beach
What? Floridians love their country music, whether it twangs, trills or has crossover pop appeal. More than 15,000 people gather annually for the Labor Day weekend to sing Dixie tunes while swaying barefoot in Panama City Beach’s sugar-soft sand. This one always attracts country music’s top acts.
INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP
Where? Various locations from St Augustine across the Panhandle to Perdido
What? Every year some 560,000 volunteers in 91 countries clear local beaches of more than 16 million pounds of trash. Take the pledge this year to help make our oceans a healthier and trash-free environment.
MIAMI SPICE & FLAVOUR PALM BEACH
Where? Various restaurants throughout Greater Miami and the Beaches, and also throughout Palm Beach County
What? Foodies can splurge during these two yum-on-the-cheap dining programmes. In the Miami area, close to 200 restaurants and bistros offer three-course prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner. Further north, more than 50 eateries from Boca Raton to Jupiter will also offer three-course prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner.
ilovemiamispice.com flavorpb.com
TAMPA THEATRE WINEFEST
Where? Tampa Theatre, downtown Tampa
What? A beloved and historic old theatre holds its biggest fundraiser, where its patrons are encouraged to come dressed as their favourite character based on the yearly theme. Visitors can also sample fare from some of the area’s best independent restaurants and rare, top-rated wines from around the world.
tampatheatre.org/WineFest
October
HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS
Where? Universal Orlando Resort
When? Select nights in September through November
What? For more than 20 years, Universal Orlando Resort has brought to life guests' most horrifying fears in a way no one else can. At Halloween Horror Nights, visitors will encounter hundreds of “scareactors” roaming throughout eight haunted houses, scare zones and shows that are sure to create nightmares for years to come. Be sure to check out the on-site resort vacation packages. This favourite taking place on select nights in the autumn is popular with the adult crowd and is not recommended for children.
MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY
Where? Lake Buena Vista Resort
When? Select nights in September through October
What? Suitable for all ages, at this fun seasonal event kids and adults alike dress in costumes and trick-or-treat around Magic Kingdom Park in the evening. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is not included in regular park admission and requires a separate ticket. However, fewer people means shorter queues for even the most popular rides and enough sweet treats for all. Don’t let visitors miss the Boo To You Halloween Parade and the night’s finale – the Happy HalloWishes fireworks display.
BRICK-OR-TREAT
Where? Legoland, Winter Haven
When? September and October
What? Legoland has expanded its annual celebration so that even more people can enjoy the building activities, scavenger hunts, the world’s largest LEGO jack-o-lantern and a nightly Halloween-themed fireworks show.
For more on Halloween celebrations this month, check out Halloween Hotspots for Families in Florida
OKTOBERFEST
Where? Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach
What? You don’t need dirndls and lederhosen to enjoy an ice-cold beer stein filled with the best Oktoberfest brews. Instead, prepare yourself for a weekend of German food, music and themed contests such as stein holding and pumpkin bowling, and, of course, beer to welcome autumn. Beaches Oktoberfest kicks off festivities with a Craft-Toberfest party featuring 40 craft breweries and 10 food trucks.
beachesoktoberfest.com
November
FAIRCHILD FALL GARDEN FESTIVAL & RAMBLE
Where? Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables
What? This is South Florida’s most beloved garden party. Included will be seasonal cooking classes, home gardening demonstrations, and a beer garden – all mixed in with the usual Ramble traditions, such as art, antiques, rare books, gourmet food and more than 15,000 plants for sale.
fairchildgarden.org
BEACH HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Where? Aaron Bessant Park, Panama City Beach
What? Start the Christmas season with a good dose of pre-holiday cheer. This event features two music concerts, s’mores, hot chocolate, Christmas tree lighting and fireworks.
NORTH FLORIDA FAIR
Where? North Florida Fairgrounds, Tallahassee
What? Recommend visitors give in to the glory of all things breaded, fried and full of sugar at this 10-day affair. Other than the typical fair standards such as rides and skill games, they can stick around for the live performances. Ensure they feed an animated 16-foot dinosaur and don't miss the death-defying feats of a hybrid motorcycle acrobatics show.
northfloridafair.com
SAND ART TRIO
Where? Various locations across the state
What? Not one, not two, but three this year! You can’t go wrong with any of them: the Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship and Beach Festival on Fort Myers Beach, the International Sand Art Competition in Key West and the Annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival on Siesta Key near Sarasota. No matter which one clients attend, they will be awed by the amazing out-of-sand creations.
fmbsandsculpting.com siestakeycrystalclassic.com fmbsandsculpting.com
December
MIAMI ART WEEK
Where? Various locations in Miami Beach and Miami
What? Art Basel is the centrepiece for what has to be the most amazing, eclectic week for great art anywhere. Leading galleries from around the world will show historical work from masters of modern and contemporary art. Painting, sculptures, drawings, photographs and films will be on display, and don’t let visitors miss the ever-growing and eclectic satellite art fairs that take place before, during and after Art Basel.
BRADENTON BLUES FESTIVAL
Where? Riverwalk, downtown Bradenton
What? Local and national blues acts entertain along Bradenton’s waterfront all day, filling the streets with music while thousands of visitors peruse the food trucks, local vendors and nearby bars.
SANTA FEST
Where? Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa
What? Downtown Tampa’s prettiest park becomes a holiday playground for kids, featuring ice skating, make-and-take craft areas, free photos with Santa and the Rough Riders’ Holiday Parade with holiday characters, fire trucks and floats.
NEW YEAR’S EVE BEACH BALL DROP
Where? Pier Park, Panama City Beach
What? Watch a gigantic beach ball count down the New Year and 10,000 inflated beach balls drop from nets. The family-friendly event features face painting, fireworks and live music.
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