Yearlong Programs
The LGBTQ Visitor Center provides essential resources for LGBTQ tourists, both before and during their visit and promotes socioeconomic development and tourism. The Center supports the education, travel, and tourism outreach for the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.The Center builds community by fostering social engagement and community wellness. It also enhances the health and well-being of the LGBTQ community by providing activities, programs, and services that bring everyone together for a shared purpose. The Center is home to Pridelines, a local service organization that holds many community events at the Center. There is also a partnership in place with the University of Miami that offers ongoing transgender support. Their doors are open to a diverse array of visitors, including tourists from all over the world, support group participants, meeting attendees, LGBTQ+ youth and more.
The Miami Beach Visitor Center (MBVC), powered by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and located at 100 16th Street, Suite 6, Miami Beach, receives support from the City of Miami Beach, the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, Miami-Dade Tourist and Development Council, and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. They also partner with leading companies in the tourism and hospitality industry to offer exclusive discounts for visitors along with mobile apps, maps, guides, and brochures to help the visitor explore Miami Beach and its surrounding areas.The Visitor Center has a concierge service providing customized itineraries and recommendations on current and upcoming events, dining, shopping, attractions, and arts and culture whereby the guest is guided towards quick and easy user-friendly apps such as Explore Miami Beach and the MBVCA’s Experience Miami Beach, and EXPMiamiBeach. Additionally, the Center offers bus and boat tours through local tour companies and offers a variety of industry brochures, pamphlets, publications and other promotional materials on events and tourist attractions in Miami Beach
October 2024
The South Beach Seafood Festival celebrating its 12th year, will be taking place Wednesday, October 23 through Saturday, October 26, 2024. The festival is a curated event week that celebrates the best chefs and restaurants of South Florida by hosting a variety of events for a diverse group of attendees. A total of 15,000 people are expected, of which 35% (5,250) are expected to be tourists. This annual seafood festival attracts guests from all over and kicks off Miami’s famed Stone Crab season in October. The events range from intimate dinners to beach bash competitions and all-day pop-up cafes including the Crabs, Slabs and Cabs 6-course dinner and Chef Showdown. The event also showcases the talents of South Florida’s leading chefs and culinary leaders, and the event’s proceeds ultimately benefit the EAT SMART program which provides healthy meals and nutritional guidance to Florida’s youth through programs at Miami Dade Public Schools.
Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon Freaky 4-Miler
The Miami Beach Halloween Half Marathon & Freaky 4-Miler is an annual event that has put a creative twist on the traditional running event. The event invites participants to dress in full costume while running the course and have some Halloween fun. Marking its 16th year, the event has steadily grown in size and popularity and caters to both runners and walkers, attracting a diverse audience of participants. The event is set to take place from Friday, October 25 – Saturday, October 26, 2024 and is a favorite “must-do” event on Miami Beach. The event consists of 7 components including a post-race party in Lummus Park, an Awards Ceremony, a Trick or Treat Kids Dash, and Adult Happy Hour at South Beach Group Host Hotels on Saturday.
November 2024
No Vacancy, Miami Beach, taking place over 4 weeks beginning Thursday, November 14 through Thursday, December 12, 2024, is a contemporary art experience that celebrates artists, provokes critical discourse, and invites the public to experience Miami Beach’s famed hotels as destination art spaces by turning hotels into temporary cultural institutions – the very definition of Cultural Tourism. Art will be exhibited throughout twelve (12) hotels in Miami Beach, where lobbies, restaurants, lounges, patio areas, rooms, balconies and swimming pools may serve as a canvas. A total of 74 artists have expressed interest in participating in the program, as of the application submission date. No Vacancy, Miami Beach is committed to providing art experiences that are accessible to everyone, free and open to the public as well as reinventing Cultural Tourism on Miami Beach
2024 Urge Miami Thanksgiving Festival
One of the world’s biggest LGBTQ events returns to Miami and Miami Beach for an ultimate weekend holiday event. This event will take place from Friday, November 29 through Monday, December 2, 2024, during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, with a total of 5 events on Miami Beach and 4 others on the mainland. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Winter Party and Miami Beach Gay Pride (non-profit). There will be three significant evening events, a Sunday Beach party and a Monday morning after-hours event. Off-beach event venues will include Studio A and LVL in Miami
Boot Camp in Paradise: WW2 in Miami Beach
The Boot Camp in Paradise: WW2 in Miami Beach will be an extended exhibition kicking off on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2024 through Thursday, January 30, 2025. The exhibit is designed to honor the time when Miami Beach became a training ground for soldiers headed to fight in World War 2 and will consist of the Ocean Drive Outdoor Gallery entitled “Boot Camp in Paradise” with a total of 19 displays: 14 printed on two sides and 5 with prints on three sides. A collection of evocative photographs, documents and Infographics will be displayed that capture the essence of Miami Beach during WW2. There will be online multi-media content integrated that will include videos accessible via a QR code. Educational Outreach programs will be able to utilize the exhibits for guided tours, lectures, and interactive sessions led by historians and other experts to cultivate a deeper understanding of the historical significance of Miami Beach during WW2 for all ages.
December 2024
SCOPE Miami Beach 2024 will be celebrating its 23rd edition beginning Monday, December 2 through Sunday, December 8, 2024. The Fair is estimated to attract 100,000 attendees, of which 60% (60,000) are expected to be tourists. This event has generated a total of >$1 billion in sales with over >1.5 million in attendance in its history thus far. SCOPE Miami Beach features a wide range of curated projects, sponsor programs, VIP tours, Wellness and Educational programming as well as exciting nighttime events that attract a mix of seasoned collectors and tastemakers. An experiential multidisciplinary program, The New Contemporary, will be returning to the SCOPE pavilion this year and will feature daily programming that showcases large -scale installations, music performances and panel discussions.
The College Football Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl Game will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday, January 9, 2025, with the ancillary events taking place between Saturday, December 7, 2024 and Thursday, January 9, 2025 throughout South Florida. This year, a 12-team bracket will be announced on December 8, 2024 after which the Orange Bowl Committee will embark on a national and regional marketing effort to encourage fans to travel to South Florida for the game. The Orange Bowl features a week of exciting events including the Welcome Receptions, Team Beach Parties, Spouses’ outings, Coaches Dinners, AvMed Orange Bowl Beach Run, Bacardi Orange Bowl Rhapsody, Media Party, Game Officials Dinner, and Capital One Orange Bowl Pep Rally. A total of 14 events are scheduled, of which 7 are scheduled to take place on Miami Beach.
Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights
The Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights will make the holiday season a bit brighter with a blend of music, lights, and projection mapping displays that celebrate the rich tapestry of international holiday traditions intended to captivate audiences of all ages. Taking place from Wednesday, December 11, 2024 – Wednesday, January 1, 2025 and presented by the Miami Music Festival. Now in its second year, the festival will feature a series of live performances spanning a variety of genres and will include appearances by holiday characters such as Santa Claus, Elsa (Frozen) and the Grinch. The innovative use of projection mapping technology combined with music will create exciting and memorable experiences for all to enjoy. The technology creates vibrant imagery onto 5 consecutive buildings along Ocean Drive including the Betsy.
January 2025
Wodapalooza Miami is a major annual fitness and CrossFit festival that has taken place in the greater Miami area for over a decade. This year for the first time the festival is moving from Downtown Miami to Miami Beach as its permanent home. This event will take place over four days beginning Thursday, January 23 - Sunday, January 26, 2025 and will be situated just off Ocean Drive and 10th Street. The Festival attracts athletes and fitness enthusiasts from around the world for four days of competition, brand exhibitions, education on health and wellness, workouts and community events. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, Wodapalooza features divisions for athletes at all levels from beginners to elite competitors and includes live music, vendor booths, and various activities along Miami Beach’s waterfront. It has become one of the biggest CrossFit events worldwide celebrating health, fitness, and an active lifestyle.
Miami Billfish Tournament of Champions
This 3-day fishing event is an elite sailfish tournament, taking place Thursday, January 30 – Saturday, February 1, 2025. It is in its 4th year as the Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament of Champions. This VIP experience kicks off the sailfish season locally, allowing the public to see and enjoy an incredible weekend of competitive sportfishing as teams pursue an estimated $400,000 purse and coveted Championship Cup. The kickoff event will take place Thursday night before hitting the waters on Friday and Saturday. Event producers work with local restaurants to create a VIP Hospitality experience for participants with nightly dinners at Red the Steakhouse South Beach, Joe’s Stone Crab, Lobster Shack, Pizza Bar, among others.
The Miami Grit Classic is a USA Gymnastics sanctioned sporting event where children ages 4 to 18 will compete on Olympics-style Apparatus. The event, taking place Friday, January 31 through February 2, 2025 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, is expected to attract athletes from out-of-state as well as international teams whose scores will count toward qualification to their state’s Championship meet.
The Miami Marathon and Half Marathon
The Miami Marathon and Half Marathon will take place Friday, January 31 through Sunday, February 2, 2025 and is a favorite “racecation” for runners from around the world. The event consists of 3 components including a Health and Fitness Expo at the Miami Beach Convention Center, a Saturday Tropical 5k race (3.1 miles) which takes runners by the cruise port, the Art Deco District, and ends at Nikki Beach. All events lead up to the signature Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday. The Kids Run Miami Program will also be continued this year, where 1,200 Miami Dade Middle Schoolers will be able to run 1 mile.
February 2025
This three-day event is set to take place Saturday, February 8 - Sunday, February 9, 2025, at the Miami Beach Bandshell. This festival delivers an immersive, authentic, and optimal experience for both musicians and fans. This event has been named by the New York Times as one of the Top 10 Definitive Moments of the Decade in Music. It has attracted attendees from 49 states and 54 countries since its inception in 2017. The production features masterclasses and other interactive events followed by two daily open music sets culminating in a full-length Snarky Puppy show, as well as a Family Dinner show with Snarky Puppy acting as a backup band for 5-7 world-renowned artists as they reinterpret their music with original arrangements.
Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
This 4-day Festival, set to take place on Thursday, February 20 – Sunday, February 23, 2025, showcases Miami Beach as a first-class destination that offers a wealth of culture, arts, beaches, and nightlife. The Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival will showcase celebrities and top names in the culinary, wine and spirits industries. The Festival will hold 111 separate events of which 57 will take place in multiple venues throughout Miami Beach, highlighting new events to include a Champagne & Caviar Happy Hour, Alex vs. Miami, Tournament of Champions, Bacardi Late Night Party, Taste of Paradise, A Dozen Eggs and a Dream: A One Man Show, and many more.
The National LGBTQ Task Force’s Winter Party Festival is an annual, world -renowned week-long celebration held at various locations throughout Miami and Miami Beach for members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer community, and its allies. The 2025 festival marks the 32nd anniversary of the festival and will take place Wednesday, February 26 – Tuesday, March 4, 2025. The 2025 festival will be hosted at the Royal Palm South Beach Hotel with overflow and staff production rooms at the nearby Axel Beach hotel
Open House Miami returns in 2025 for its second iteration. Open House Miami is part of a global network of 60 non-profit organizations from New York to Seoul, Buenos Aires to Maputo, San Diego to Miami, which is now the 4th city in the US to participate. The three-day festival will give attendees access to workshops, behind-the-scenes building tours, and opportunities to meet some of Miami’s world-renowned architects promoting unparalleled access to the city including places, projects, systems, and ideas that define Miami and its future. Over 40 events are projected in Miami Beach alone and will be confirmed in December 2024. The event is scheduled to take place Friday, February 28, 2025 - Sunday March 2, 2025
March
Model Volleyball will take place on the beach Saturday, March 28 - Sunday, March 30, 2025. Now celebrating its 15th year, the event will feature over 250 models and 14 agencies in this 2-day tournament. The event is free and open to the public with the exception of the VIP hospitality tent with access only to models, media, sponsors and celebrities.
April
HYROX is the fastest growing mass-participant event in the world. Originating in 2018, it now hosts over 60 events annually across dozens of countries. Events are owned and produced through a combination of HQ owned events and licensees. The competition starts with a 1 km run, followed by 1 functional workout, repeated 8 times. The combination of functional strength exercises, high-intensity interval training and endurance makes HYROX unique. Being the originator of HYBRID racing, HYROX has paved the way for a much larger industry, maintaining its position on the cutting edge of both events & fitness and required constant innovation from all. This event will take place on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Miami Beach Convention Center
May
National Salute to America’s Heroes
The National Salute to America’s Heroes presented by Hyundai is set to take place on Miami Beach during Memorial Day weekend; Thursday, May 22 – Sunday, May 25, 2025. Recognized as one of the world’s largest events honoring our National Heroes, this annual event is anchored by the Air and Sea Show, Army Salutefest, Music Explosion and a start-spangled fireworks extravaganza shared with a national primetime television audience.The main component of the event is the world-class Hyundai Air & Sea Show that showcases the men, women, technology, and equipment from all six branches of the US Military as well as our first responder agencies. The two-day event also features US Military Aerial Demonstrations, US Customs and Border Patrol Drug Interdiction Exercises, US Army Special Operations capability exercises, Military parachute Team Demonstrations and more.All weekend, guests can enjoy the free to the public Patriot Display Village spanning 5 city blocks including interactive exhibits that feature military equipment including tanks, helicopters, rifle ranges, tactical gear and simulators. Families can also enjoy an Action Zone, a Kid Zone, extreme sports demonstrations, live music, a food court, and more, all on the shores of Miami Beach.
Paraiso Miami Beach/Swim Week Miami
This 4-day event, taking place Wednesday, May 29 - Sunday, June 1, 2025, is considered the world’s largest marketing event for swimwear and resort wear industry in the world. It is a dynamic celebration of innovation and style and gathers designers, buyers, influencers, and celebrities to celebrate swimwear and resort collections from around the world. The event consists of a series of fashion shows along with wellness-related events and panels. PARAISO is the global leader in bridging brands, media, trade and consumers, and a destination that invites the discovery of new brands as well as meeting like-minded people to immerse themselves in highly curated lifestyle and fashion events that embrace the spirit, body, and beauty.
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