Miami is the number one place in America for events and parties of all kind. Depending on the time of year different events will take place. There's the Miami International Boat Show, Miami Book Fair, Art Basel, Miami Fashion Week, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Ultra, Winter Music Conference and many more. These type of Miami events bring in huge crowds and have a huge economic impact. For example one of Miami events named Ultra (one weekend of electronic music) brings South Florida $79 million.
Other notable periods like Art Basel Miami in December have a much wider impact on Miami events. During Art Basel Miami many satellite Art Fairs setup in Miami Beach, Wynwood and Midtown. International brands look to jump on the exposure of Art Basel and align their brand with an Art theme. For example Heineken created the Heineken Mural Map.
Sony Ericsson Open
Where: Crandon Park Tennis Center, 7300 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne When: Mar-Apr Tel & website: 1-888 383 1515/305 379 7978/http://www.sonyopentennis.com/ Fifth-largest international tennis tournament in terms of players, prize money and attendance.
Art Basel Miami Beach
Where: Wynwood, Midtown and Miami Beach Convention Center When: December 4 - 8 2013 (usually first week of December) Tel & website: 305 674 292/www.artbasel.com
Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
Where: South Beach When: late Feb to early March Tel & website: 305 627 1275/http://corporate.sobefest.com/ The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE is a national, star-studded, four-day destination Miami event showcasing the talents of the world's most renowned wine and spirits producers, chefs and culinary personalities
Miami International Boat Show & Strictly Sail
Where: Miamarina at Bayside, 401 Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown & other locations When: 3rd wk Feb Tel & website: 954 441 3220/www.miamiboatshow.com This popular Miami Event showcases the latest in yachts, powerboats, sailboats, engines, electronics and accessories.
Spring
Miami International Film Festival
Where: Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, 174 E Flagler Street, at SE 1st Avenue, Downtown, & other locations When: early Mar Tel & website: 305 237 3456/www.miamifilmfestival.com By bringing the best of world cinema to Miami, MIFF presents the city and the film industry with a singular platform that fosters creative and technical talent.
WGC-CA Championship
Where: Doral Golf Resort & Spa, 4400 NW 87th Avenue, at NW 41st Street, North-west Miami When: mid Mar Tel & website: 305 447 4653/www.worldgolfchampionships.com
Carnaval Miami/Calle Ocho
Where: throughout Miami-Dade County When: early Mar Tel & website: 305 644 8888/www.carnavalmiami.com The Miami Event began as a club that started in 1975 by a small group of high school friends, to grow and become a major service non-profit organization.
Miami International Orchid Show
Where: Coconut Grove Convention Center, 2700 S Bayshore Drive, at SW 27th Avenue, Coconut Grove When: late Feb Tel and Website: 305 255 3656 / http://www.sforchid.com/
Winter Party Week
Where: on the beach at Ocean Drive, at 14th Street, South Beach When: late Feb Tel & website: 305 571 1924/www.winterparty.com Over 10,000 guests from around the world attend this Miami Event. A annual six-day extravaganza featuring the most spectacular venues, the most unforgettable parties and receptions and the best international DJ talent.
Dade Heritage Days
Where: throughout Miami-Dade County When: Mar-Apr Tel & website: 305 258 9572/www.dadeheritagetrust.org Dade Heritage Trust (DHT) was founded in 1972 as a nonprofit membership organization to preserve Dade County’s architectural, cultural and environmental heritage through advocacy, education and restoration. This Miami-Dade County event celebrates with open houses, lectures, and guided walking and canoe tours of sights like the Deering Estate and the Barnacle site.
Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition
Where: Tamiami Park, Coral Way/SW 24th Street & SW 112th Avenue, West Dade When: Mar-Apr Tel & website: 305 223 7060/www.fairexpo.com A private, not-for-profit organization will continue its dedication to enriching our community by promoting education and South Florida agriculture while showcasing and rewarding youth achievement.
Summer
Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival
Where: throughout Coconut Grove When: 1st weekend June Tel & website: 305 448 9501/www.goombayfestivalcoconutgrove.com Who needs to go to the Bahamas. This Miami event brings the Bahamas to Miami over a three day event including music and food.
International Mango Festival
Where:Fairchild Tropical Garden 10901 Old Cutler Road, at SW 101st Street, South Miami When: 2nd weekend July Tel & website: 305 667 1651/www.fairchildgarden.org
Miami Spice Restaurant Month
Where: throughout Miami When: Aug-Sept Website: http://www.ilovemiamispice.com/
During August and September, Miami Spice bring a Miami event that features top restaurants, offering three-course meals (Lunches $19 or $23, Dinners $33 or $39) featuring signature dishes created by world-renowned chefs.
Autumn
Festival Miami
Where: University of Miami, Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, at San Amaro Drive, Coral Gables When: 4-6wks from mid Sept Tel & website: 305 284 4940/www.festivalmiami.com This Miami event brings a Premier Live Music Festival—provides world-class musical programming in diverse styles to all of South Florida.
Junior Orange Bowl Festival
Where: throughout Miami-Dade County When: Oct-Jan Tel & website: 305 662 1210/www.jrorangebowl.com Known as "The Largest International Youth Sports and Arts Festival," the Junior Orange Bowl Youth Festival blossomed in 1948 when the first Junior Orange Bowl Parade traveled through beautiful downtown Coral Gables and become and important Miami events.
Columbus Day Regatta
Where: Biscayne Bay When: mid Oct Tel & website: 305 858 3320/www.columbusdayregatta.net
Miami Book Fair
Where: Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus, 300 NE 2nd Avenue, at NE 3rd Street, Downtown
When: mid Nov
Tel & website: 305 237 3258/www.miamibookfair.com This Miami event features six nights of readings and discussions with noted authors from the United States and around the world.
South Beach Comedy Festival
Where: various venues When: mid-Jan Website:www.southbeachcomedyfestival.com South Beach comedy week is guaranteed to bring laughs and smiles.
Ocean Drive Volleypalooza
Where: Ocean Drive & 8th Street, South Beach When: early Feb Tel & website: 305 532 2544/http://www.southbeachvolleyball.com/ This Miami event brings all those fit young people out for a sexy volleyball tournament. For two days watch models from the world's top agencies get down and dirty in the South Beach sand.
Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Where: throughout Coconut Grove When: 3rd weekend Feb Tel & website: 305 447 0401/http://www.cgaf.com/
What began in 1963 as an intimate “clothes line” art show featuring a handful of artists and a few thousand onlookers as part of a promotion for the Coconut Grove Playhouse’s production of Irma la Douce has transformed itself into South Florida’s most successful arts festival.
