Festivals and Events
The weather is cooling down, but the festivals are heating up! Kicking off our event lineup is the sizzling Miami Beach Pride, followed by an array of musical celebrations, a rockin’ twist on Oktoberfest, and a flurry of fantasies come to life.
Miami Beach Pride
Sep 10-19
Miami Beach
Come together with all members of the community at the iconic Miami Beach Pride festival, a colorful and inclusive experience that takes place in one of the most vibrant and diverse places on earth. In fact, this is a world renowned event that is attended by international visitors and even celebrities. Check out the parades, musical performances, vendors, and guest speakers who are making a difference. There are a host of smaller events located within the whole of Pride, which visitors are encouraged to explore. There are also many programs that you can explore year-round, like the Angels Program which provides scholarships for LGBTQ+ youth, and Legacy Couples which shares the stories of LGBTQ+ couples who have persevered through trials and prejudices.
miamibeachpride.com
Island Hopper Songwriter Festival
Sept 17-26
The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel
The annual Island Hopper Songwriter Festival is a diverse music festival hosted by iHeart Radio and BMI, taking place all across For Myers and the island of Sanibel, home to beautiful beaches and beautiful cultures. The festival takes place in a wide selection of hotels and resorts – the perfect opportunity to book early and be steps away from your favorite artists as well as yet-undiscovered ones. Just sit back and relax on the gorgeous island beaches as you take in the live music; this is what Florida is all about.
island-hopper.fortmyers-sanibel.com
New Smyrna Beach Jazz Festival
Sept 23-26
New Smyrna Beach
Join in on this jazzy sensation. This lively three-day event is filled with the best of jazz, the testiest of foods, and the most fun. Concert goers can spend all day at this perfect location hopping from club to club to get a full range of music and entertainment, spanning Flagler Avenue from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River! But it doesn’t end there – the festival has expanded over the years to include many more streets such as Third Avenue, Canal Street, Atlantic Avenue and the North Causeway, so that your fun can last all day and well into the night. There’s never a dull moment at this festival, as even if you want a break from all the dancing you’ll be doing, you can explore the beautiful area of New Smyrna Beach!
nsbjazzfest.com
25th Annual Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival
Oct 2-3
Sarasota
Let’s get crafty! Along the famous white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico lies Sarasota, a city known for its beautiful culture, architecture, and museums, among much else. You too can get involved in the culture and artistry of the city by visiting the Downtown Sarasota Craft Festival, which has garnered much love from fine craft lovers all around. This festival has something that will appeal to everyone – from jewelry, pottery and ceramics to photography, painting and clothing, and whatever else might spark your crafty interest. Do you have a green thumb? This festival also includes the Green Market, home to plants, exotic flora and handmade soaps, as well as temptations such as gourmet spices and freshly popped kettle corn! Spend the whole day to your crafty heart’s content – free of admission.
visitsarasota.com
Miami Broward Festival
Oct 2-10
Miami
Colorful, creative and inclusive, this festival is a cultural experience you must have! Be sure to set aside time to see all that this festival has to offer; it is packed with all sorts of competitions kicking things into high gear with the Carnival and Kings, Queens and Individuals Show. Expect to see a whole lot of color, and more feathers and beads than you ever have before. Kings and Queens will be wearing their breathtaking and unique costumes, iconic cultural pieces that can sometimes reach up to 15 feet wide and 20 feet tall! Watch the Parade of the Bands, a parade that can go over eleven hours and is comprised of more than 18,000 masqueraders and 20 masquerade bands. Don’t forget to visit all the stages, concerts, and expos, as well as the extensive Arts and Crafts portion – you’ll be sure to leave with some souvenirs. All that celebration is sure to work up some hunger, and luckily there’s an extensive and authentic selection of food, drink and libations from the Caribbean region.
miamicarnival.org
Clearwater Jazz Holiday
Oct 14-17
Clearwater
For four days and four nights, you can join over 35,000 people in this live, world-class music festival in the beautiful Coachman Park. Enjoy your favorite artists and discover new ones against the backdrop of one of the world’s greatest beaches, right there on the glittering Gulf of Mexico. What started as a series of concerts in the back of a flatbed truck evolved into what is now an annual music festival pulling tens of thousands of international guests each year, featuring combinations of legendary and contemporary artists and a diverse community of music enthusiasts.
clearwaterjazz.com
29th Annual Biketoberfest®
Oct 14-17
Daytona Beach
Ride with over 100,000 bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts at this annual Daytona Beach motorcycle rally! Watch the thrilling motorcycle racing at Daytona International Speedway and listen to invigorating live music while enjoying the prime weather. October in Daytona Beach is a dream of warm sun and cool breezes, perfect for spending your time outside experiencing the thrill of live racing and touring the most scenic routes in Central Florida.
daytonabeach.com/biketoberfest
REEF Fest
Oct 14-17
Key Largo
Become a part of marine conservation with a hands on experience at REEF Fest. This four day celebration focuses on the success of marine conservation and education initiatives locally. Take part in diving and eco-adventures alongside the most prestigious names in diving and marine conservation, as well as attend educational seminars and social gatherings. There will be socials every evening of the festivals, which are free and open to everyone – the whole festival is, welcoming all those who are interested, although pre-registration is preferred. If you want something a little more exclusive, the For the Love of the Sea Banquet is a ticketed dinner.
reef.org/REEFFest
Sarasota Rocktoberfest
Oct 15-17
Get ready to rock out at this awesome twist on Octoberfest. Paragon Festivals, with the Sarasota Downtown Merchants Association and their special guest the Humane Society of Sarasota County, are bringing an authentic Oktoberfest experience coupled with fantastic live musical performances. There will also be authentic German fare like sausages and hot pretzels, as well as traditional German music and dancing.
visitsarasota.com
Fantasy Fest
Oct 22-31
Key West
Let your imagination run wild at Fantasy Fest! This momentous occasion has been a Key West tradition for over 40 years. Don your best costume, no matter if it be an elf or a warrior or a rock star. Bring your best dance routine or go freestyle, and be prepared to bellow to your favorite oldies or jive to the latest hits. At this annual 10 day, nonstop party for grownups, anything goes, so long as everyone is feeling the beat and havinga good time! October may be the off season – but it’s going to be anything but quiet; this wild extravaganza welcomes revelers from all over the world to bring their imaginations and best pair of dancing shoes, and get ready for 10 days of costumes, parades, libations, and a whole lot of memories!
fantasyfest.com
