January

FedEx Orange Bowl Classic - This annual collegiate football game has been going on for over 70 years and brings together the Atlantic Coast and Big East Conferences. The event has moved to a new location and is now being hosted at the Pro Player Stadium.

5K/10K Run Against Drugs - Pro Player Stadium also hosts the beginning of the 5K Run Against Drugs. Both the 5 and 10K runs award prizes for the best male and female.

February

Miami International Film Festival - The Miami Film Festival features over 100 filmmakers, producers and talent from around the world. Both juried and audience awards are given in the categories of Documentary and Dramatic.

Coconut Grove Art Festival - Over 300 artists from around the country descend on Coconut Grove to share their art with the people of Miami. And of course no festival would be complete without food, music and activities for the kids.

March

Miami Grand Prix - The Homestead Miami Speedway hosts the annual season opener of the world's famous Indy Racing League.

Carnival Miami Festival - A celebration of all things Latin, which stretches over a week and includes food, music, dance, parades, and fireworks.

Calle Ocho - Possibly the largest street party in the world, over a million visitors flock to SW 8th Street in the heart of the Cuban district for this one-day event. It is the culmination of the Carnival Festival. The party stretches over a 23-block area and is definitely the place to be.

April

Louisiana Crawfish Boil - You may not be in Louisiana for real, but it will certainly feel that way with this genuine Cajun festival. Live music drifts over the crowd as people enjoy the bite of the food and the spicy atmosphere.

Metropolitan Miami Flower Show - Lots of flowers are to be expected. The show also features a number of lectures and horticultural displays. Come to see or shop.

May

Great Sunrise Balloon Race - This is a fundraising event for the Sunrise Community, an organization that helps those with developmental disabilities. The race involves one balloon taking off and finding a spot to mark a large 25-foot 'X' on the ground. Other balloons then have to find the X and try to drop beanbags as close to it as possible.

Arabian Nights Fantasy Festival - Opa Locka was created in 1926 and designed by Glenn Curtis. Four square miles encompass one of the largest collections of Moorish architecture in the Western hemisphere. Each year more than 20,000 people gather at the Arabian Nights Festival for food, games, live performances, and music.

June

Fete De La Musique - Coconut Grove - This festival began in France in 1982 and is set to coincide with the summer solstice. Since then it has expanded to over 100 countries. Coconut Grove in Miami embraces the ideal of bring music to the people of the world with over sixty five bands on multiple stages in genres including jazz, rock, pop, soul, classics, and more.

Summer Shorts - This annual event kicks off the Miami theater season with a series of short 5 to 20 minute plays. Also usually includes the readings and exhibitions of over 150 other artists in addition to the new plays. The performances are typically packed, but they still make for a nice cool break to the hot summer days and nights of Miami.

July

Everglades Music and Crafts Festival - This annual event in the Miccosukee Village celebrates the cultural heritage of this group of Native Americans. Activities range from live music, authentic crafts and food, to the more unusual alligator wrestling and airboat rides.

International Mango Festival - This weekend is dedicated to the celebration of mangos. Come to the festival to buy a mango tree, enjoy tastings, demonstrations, lectures, food demos, and more. Have a mango smoothie to keep cool.

August

Snake Day - While probably not the event for those that are bothered by hissing, slithering creatures, the Miami Museum of Science hosts Snake Day annually. Fun for the family includes a Snake Showcase, presentations, contests, prizes, and activities. Snake owners are encouraged to bring their snakes along for the fun with the enticement of free admission.

Miss Hispanidad - Lovely Hispanic young ladies between the ages of 16 and 25 compete to be named Miss Hispanidad. Based on beauty, poise, and personality, the competition includes bathing suit and evening gown competitions. The winner is awarded scholarships, trips, and other prizes.

September

United States Dance Sport Championships - This annual competition is considered to be one of the most prestigious in the world, and couples from over 30 nations come to compete. Titles to be decided there include four major U.S. titles, three open U.S. Championships, and four World Championships.

Festival Miami - This festival is sponsored by the University of Miami School of Music and features a range of international artists performing a variety of genres including jazz and orchestra. The festival runs for 5 weeks.

October

Hispanic Heritage Festival - This festival lasts the entire month of October, and includes a variety of events centered on the theme of the role of Hispanics in the development of the U.S. through the discovery of the Americas to present day. Given that half of Miami's population is Hispanic, this is the place to go to truly celebrate Hispanic heritage.

Coral Gables Oktoberfest - This 5-day event features food, music, and of course, beer. Bands from Austria and Germany are imported to delight visitors as they wander through the beer garden.

November

Miami Book Fair International - The best attended book fair in the nation sees hundreds of thousands of book lovers wandering through the streets of Miami. What began in 1984 as a two-day festival has grown to a weeklong celebration whose stated mission is to "promote reading, encourage writing, and heighten an awareness of literacy and the literary arts in our multi-ethnic community". In addition to the street fair, there are also events including a rare book show, children's activities, and a series of readings with prominent authors.

Ford 400 - NASCAR's championship race comes to the Homestead Miami Speedway each November bringing with it some of the biggest names in auto racing to compete for over a quarter million dollars. NASCAR racing made its debut in the Miami area in 1995.

December

King Mango Strut - This tongue-in-cheek parade parodies the annual Orange Bowl Parade. A range of comedic participants mocking everything from politics to polemics make their way through Coconut Grove. Their motto: Putting the Nut back in CocoNUT Grove since 1982.

Santa's Enchanted Forest - Miami's Tropical Park sparkles with 3 million lights for the world's largest outdoor Christmas fair. Children are always delighted by the opportunity to see Santa and visit the animals in the petting zoo.

Big Orange New Year's Eve Celebration - What could be as much fun as standing in Times Square, freezing, watching the ball drop? Standing in Miami, not freezing, watching a humongous orange drop, of course!

Sources:

( http://www.miami-travel-services.com/ )
(Accessed July 13, 2004)

(

http://www.miami.eventguide.com

)

(Accessed July 13, 2004)