Festivals and Events
Need a spa day - or month? How about some tasty fresh mangoes or craft beer? Or maybe an event the whole family can enjoy like an airshow or expo? You can enjoy all these things and more during this summer’s festival season in Florida!
July 1 - August 31
Miami Spa Month
Greater Miami and the Beaches
Need an excuse to go to the spa? We’ve got one that’ll last you all summer! Greater Miami and the Beaches are renowned for luxury spas that rank among the “Best Spas in America,” and anyone who really appreciates relaxation should take advantage of Miami Spa Month, which runs throughout July and August. You can enjoy rejuvenating special treatments for as low as $109 at Miami’s premier spas. miamispamonth.com
July 6
Underwater Music Festival
Looe Key
One of the most unique concerts in the world is held underwater! Taking place at the Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Underwater Music Festival is a nationally-acclaimed, submerged songfest involves divers and snorkelers going beneath the waves to hold a quirky concert that brings attention to reef preservation - and fun! The event is held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and staged by Keys radio station US1 Radio 104.1 FM. The music is broadcast underwater via Lubell Laboratory speakers suspended beneath boats positioned above the reef.
lowerkeyschamber.com/festival
July 13
Pensacola Beach Air Show
Pensacola Beach
Get your adrenaline pumping when you watch the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, as they perform daring aerial acrobatics in the skies above the Gulf of Mexico and Santa Rosa Island. Don’t forget to bring sunglasses, sunblock, and $1 for the bridge toll!
blueangels.navy.mil
July 13 - 14
International Mango Festival
Coral Gables
Discover this summer’s juiciest festival: the International Mango Festival! Enjoy two delicious days that celebrate the “King of Tropical Fruit.” Learn exciting cooking tips and mango facts at lectures and cooking demonstrations, shop local artisan vendors, or pick up delicious foods from local vendors, and sample refreshing brews perfect for summer. When you’re posting your excursion to social media, be sure to use the hashtag #MangoFest and tag @FairchildGarden! The visitor with the most “likes” will receive a Fairchild Membership! Free for Fairchild Members, Adults: $25, Seniors (age 65+): $18, Children (6-17): $12, free for children 5 and under.
fairchildgarden.org
18 - 21
Hemingway Days
Key West
True fans of Ernest Hemingway - especially those that happen to resemble him - cannot miss Hemingway Days in Key West. This celebration of one of history’s most memorable authors includes a Hemingway look-alike contest, gathering of writers, and of course, fans of the author. Enjoy readings of prose and poetry, a special museum exhibit featuring rare Hemingway memorabilia, and even a bull run!
fla-keys.com/hemingway-days
24 - 28
Miami Salsa Congress
Miami Beach
Put on your dancing shoes and head to Miami for the Miami Salsa Congress, a gathering of the world’s top salsa talent and international touring artists, award-winning dancers, world-class dance instructors, top industry DJs and great Latin bands. Choose from several pass options, from full VIP and five-day to regular weekend passes. Get your tickets or passes now and salsa on!
miamisalsacongress.com
August 2 - 4
Tampa Bay Comic Con
Tampa
Get your geek on and enjoying sharing the fun and excitement of joining other comic, film, and television show enthusiasts at Tampa Bay Comic Con. This comic con is packed with everything you’d expect at weekend devoted to comic book junkies: cosplay, celebrity guests, toys and graphic novels, an electronic gaming arena, and a “game cave” with tabletop and board games, foam sword fighting, a kids’ play zone, and more.
tampabaycomiccon.com
August 3
Monthly Canal Street Historic District Craft Beer Walk
New Smyrna Beach
Join hundreds of fellow beer enthusiasts in the historic district of New Smyrna Beach to sample beers all along Canal Street, from 1-7 p.m. the first Saturday of every month. Tickets are usually $20, but you can save 10% when you bring your glass back! Tickets include a six-ounce Canal Street souvenir glass and 12 sampling tickets that can be redeemed at 10 locations in the district. The walk is held on the first Saturday of each month. Purchase tickets at The Half Wall Beer House or New Smyrna Beach Brewing Co. For more details, visit: canalstreetnsb.com
August 8 - 11
Key West Lobsterfest
Key West
It’s lobster time! Florida’s spiny lobster is known for its sweet, delicious meat, but its season is quite short; hence, an epic celebration to commemorate this short, sweet time. Divers and snorkelers only have two days to catch their limit of lobster, and the celebration opens with a beach party, lobster boil, free concert and street fair, and much more in the southernmost city in the continental U.S., Key West!
keywestlobsterfest.com
August 17 - 18
Florida Kids & Family Expo
Orlando
This is an event that the whole family will love! Enjoy all kinds of family-focused exhibitors, from playground-makers to Girl Scouts to petting farms. Teens will learn makeup techniques while kids can play laser tag, and parents will learn about party-planning, daycare, and other innovative offerings.
mycentralfloridafamily.com/orlando-expo
August 17 - 18
Annual Harvest Grape Stomp
Clermont
Harvest season has finally arrived, and it’s time for the grape-stomping competitions! Gather at Lakeridge Winery for their annual grape stomp, which is both fun and tasty (and just a tad messy). Listen to live music throughout the weekend, and enjoy Lakeridge wine, beer, soft drinks, and a delicious selection of foods available for purchase - as well as complimentary winery tours and tastings.
lakeridgewinery.com
Now - September
Turtle Treks
Fort Lauderdale
Connect with sea turtles in a way you never imagined with Turtle Treks. This fantastic event is hosted by the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale. Join them on select evenings in June through September to discover and identify sea turtles while uncovering the natural history and the myths and truths of the life of a turtle. With weather permitting, you might see a 300 lb. loggerhead venture out from the waves to lay her eggs on the beach! All of the Turtle Trek proceeds fund rescue operations for turtles.
seaturtleop.com
