Things To Do in Florida: The Tide Fall 2018
Road-trip-worthy events and things to do in Florida
North
SING OUT LOUD FESTIVAL
st. augustine
sept. 1–23
At the Sing Out Loud Festival, one of the largest free concert series in North Florida, hundreds of national and local bands will take the stage in St. Augustine. Sway to the sounds of country, bluegrass, indie, pop, folk, rock and more at dozens of live music venues scattered across America’s oldest city, known for its Spanish colonial charm and spacious sandy beaches. Highlights include a show by indie duo Rising Appalachia and a performance on the final Saturday night by headliner Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, located on the edge of picturesque wildlife sanctuary Anastasia State Park. Last year, Isbell’s band won a Grammy award for best Americana album (shared with Isbell, who also took home the award for best American roots song). Their performance is the only ticketed event during the Sing Out Loud Festival, and for a minimum donation of $25, concertgoers score reserved seating or pit tickets. And it’s all for a good cause. Proceeds benefit domestic violence victims in St. Johns County. The Sing Out Loud Festival draws a crowd, so make sure you check the lineup and get there early. singoutloudfestival.com
RENDEZVOUS FILM FESTIVAL
Amelia Island
Sept. 20–22
Filmmakers, artists and moviegoers turn out for showings and awards ceremonies for projects including films shot in Florida which are grouped together, as are shorts, features and student work. rendezvousfilmfestival.net
DESTIN SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
Destin
Oct. 5–7
This culinary fest, brimming with fresh-caught Florida fare from local purveyors, live entertainment and activities for kids, makes for a weekend. destinseafoodfestival.com
AUGUSTA SAVAGE: RENAISSANCE WOMAN
Jacksonville
Opens Oct. 12
Displaying nearly 50 works by Savage, a sculptor active during the Harlem Renaissance, the exhibit is the first to take a comprehensive look at the life, work and impact of the influential Florida artist. cummermuseum.org
STRUMMIN’ MAN UKULELE
Festival Panama City
Oct. 12–14
A rollicking acoustic weekend with local and national ukulele groups such as the Ukulele Orchestra of St. Andrews performing concerts and workshops. standrewsukes.org
FLORIDA VS. GEORGIA WEEKEND
Jacksonville
Oct. 24–28
Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs convene for a weekend of tradition and football in what’s still known as the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party at TIAA Bank Field. flgajax.com
ART REPUBLIC
Jacksonville
Nov. 1–10
Mural installations around Jacksonville’s urban area by local and international artists distinguish this public art showcase, along with an artist lecture series and fashion show. artrepublicglobal.com
FOO FOO FESTIVAL
Pensacola
Nov. 1–12
This 12-day cultural event brings together exceptional, talented and creative artists from all over the Southeast. foofoofest.com
FLORIDA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
Apalachicola
Nov. 2–3
Watch the blue crab races and parade from underneath the shady oaks of Battery Park, shop for art and, oh yeah, eat as many Apalachicola oysters as humanly possible. floridaseafoodfestival.com
GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL
Pensacola
Nov. 2–4
With live music and ballet performances, hundreds of craft and graphic artists, painters, sculptors and jewelers exhibit their works in historic Seville Square. ggaf.org
FRANK BROWN SONGWRITER’S FESTIVAL
Perdido Key & Pensacola
Nov. 8–18
Named for the night watchman at the Flora-Bama bar on the Florida-Alabama state line, the 11-day event brings out some of America’s best songwriters. frankbrownsongwriters.com
AMELIA ISLAND WELLNESS FESTIVAL
Amelia Island
Nov. 9–11
Renowned yoga guru Gurudev Shri Amritji leads a weekend of yoga, meditation, mindfulness sessions and gourmet culinary experiences at The Ritz-Carlton.ameliaislandwellnessfestival.com
ART & ANTIQUES SHOW
Jacksonville
Nov. 30–Dec. 2
Shop from more than 40 international dealers. Enjoy lectures led by celebrity designers and a children’s fashion show benefitting Wolfson Children’s Hospital. womensboardwolfsonchildrenshospital.com
Central
SARASOTAMOD WEEKEND
Sarasota
Nov. 9–11
Whether you’re an artist, an architecture aficionado or a fan of the hit TV series Mad Men, you can appreciate that the fifth annual SarasotaMod Weekend celebrates midcentury modern design and the spirit of an era that lives on today. This year marks the centennial of Sarasota School of Architecture pioneer Paul Rudolph’s birth, and the Sarasota Architectural Foundation’s festival will celebrate the occasion with lectures, film screenings, an art exhibition, house tours and more. A design aesthetic, midcentury modern architecture produced homes with wide open spaces, large glass windows and flat planes. Popularized by a generation of modern architects who fled to the city during the rise of Nazi Germany, the style focuses on simplicity, integrated with natural elements and stunning style. On Florida’s west coast, the movement helped transform Sarasota into a cultural and artistic hub, establishing a lasting legacy in architecture and design. Highlights of the weekend include a catered dinner at the Umbrella House, one of Paul Rudolph’s most iconic masterpieces in Sarasota, as well as the opportunity to meet Paul Goldberger, an award-winning architectural critic. sarasotamod.com
NEW SMYRNA BEACH JAZZ FESTIVAL
New Smyrna Beach
Sept. 20–23
The four-day musical celebration features concerts by local and regional performers, delicious food and the lively atmosphere of Flagler Avenue. nsbjazzfest.com
CITY: FASHION + ART + CULTURE
Tampa
Sept. 22
The Tampa Museum of Art hosts this fashion fundraiser highlighting the creations of designer Marc Bouwer, worn by Beyoncé, Oprah and more. tampamuseum.org
MOUNT DORA BICYCLE FESTIVAL
Mount Dora
Oct. 4–7
Starting with a “Think Pink” social ride for breast cancer, this four-day cycling event offers 16 routes and an reunion party with live music on Friday night. mountdorabicyclefestival.com
SHINE MURAL FESTIVAL
St. Petersburg
Oct. 6–14
Witness artists painting vibrant murals that bring the streets of St. Petersburg alive. This art project aims to engage the local community through the power of creativity. stpeteartsalliance.org
FLORIDA BIRDING & NATURE FESTIVAL
Tampa
Oct. 11–14
An exploration of west Central Florida’s wildlife, this four-day fest includes field trips, boat excursions and keynote speakers such as Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jack Davis. floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org
AUTUMN ART FESTIVAL
Winter Park
Oct. 13–14
Now in its 45th year, this sidewalk show selects 180 Floridian artists to exhibit their paintings, pottery, jewelry and other crafts, offering fun for the whole family. winterpark.org/autumn-art-festival
ST. PETERSBURG FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
St. Petersburg
Oct. 19–28
The lineup of performances throughout the week displays the spectrum of fine arts found in St. Pete, with acts ranging from jazz and dance to opera, improv theater and more. stpeteartsalliance.org/spf-festival
JOHN’S PASS SEAFOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
Madeira Beach
Oct. 25–28
At this seafood fest on the East Coast, tourists enjoy fresh Gulf fare, listen to live music and partake in reclaiming the world record for largest Bloody Mary toast. johnspassseafoodfest.com
JERSEY BOYS
Orlando
Oct. 30–Nov. 4
The Tony award–winning musical about the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons comes to Walt Disney Theater this fall. See a show before they say “Bye, Bye, Baby.” drphillipscenter.org
CLEARWATER BEACH UNCORKED
clearwater beach
Nov. 3–4
The two-day foodie fest features tastings and cooking demonstrations, showcasing the Tampa Bay area’s best culinary fare, craft beer and wine. clearwaterbeachuncorked.com
RENNINGER’S ANTIQUE EXTRAVAGANZA
Mount Dora
Nov. 16–18
For this three-day retail immersion, nearly 800 vendors convene from across the nation, selling anything imaginable: vintage clothing, books, homewares, antique furniture and other treasures. renningers.net
BARBERVILLE PIONEER SETTLEMENT’S FALL COUNTRY JAMBOREE
Barberville
Nov. 3–4
Set in a 30-acre, oak-hammock park, this old-fashioned family event includes a sugarcane boil, blacksmithing and living history demonstrations. pioneersettlement.org
ORANGE BLOSSOM REVUE
Lake Wales
Nov. 30–Dec. 1
Floridians flock to the center of the state to experience the tranquil town’s transformation into a jubilee of barbecue, beer, artisans and regional musicians. orangeblossomrevue.com
South
SURROUNDED ISLANDS
Miami
Opens Oct. 5
Decades ago, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, a pair of married artists, draped 11 islands in Miami with 6.5 million square feet of floating hot pink fabric. Quite a sight to behold, the neon fabric harmonized with the aquamarine waters of Biscayne Bay and the lush green vegetation of the islands for two weeks, exuding a tropical design aesthetic that has stuck with the Magic City since the artists’ big reveal in 1983. Because their undertaking was of such massive proportion, especially for such a short duration, critics say Christo and Jeanne-Claude were the catalysts for Miami’s explosion onto the international art scene, paving the way for the birth of cultural institutions in the region, as well as high-profile events like Art Basel Miami Beach. Located on the downtown waterfront in a striking Herzog & de Meuron–designed structure, Pérez Art Museum Miami is commemorating the 35th anniversary of the installation with Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Surrounded Islands, Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida, 1980–83: A Documentary Exhibition. Christo and Jeanne-Claude created other large-scale visual works with fabric and other materials around the world fom Paris and Berlin to New York and Sonoma. pamm.org
MIAMI FASHION FILM FESTIVAL
Miami
Sept. 20–22
At the intersection of fashion and film, the fest presents movies by local and international filmmakers, highlighting the industry and offering panels and parties. miafff.org
STONE CRAB FESTIVAL
Naples
Oct. 26–28
For its ninth year on the waterfront, the iconic fest offers seafood eats, live music, craft vendors, games for kids, an ice cream–eating contest and, of course, plenty of stone crab. stonecrabfestival.com
FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW
Fort Lauderdale
Oct. 31–Nov. 4
Displaying more than 1,500 boats from 52 countries, this event in the “Yachting Capital of the World” gives the full nautical experience, complete with fine dining and a kids fishing clinic. flibs.com
SEED FOOD & WINE WEEK
Miami
Nov. 7–11
The weeklong culinary festival features tastings of plant-based food, a veggie burger battle, a cruelty-free fashion show, a 5k run, yoga practice and an after-party finale. seedfoodandwine.com
SIESTA KEY CRYSTAL CLASSIC
Siesta Key
Nov. 9–12
This festival takes sandcastle building to a whole new level. Watch in amazement as the beach of Siesta Key transforms into an outdoor gallery of the most intricate and elaborate sand sculptures. siestakeycrystalclassic.com
MIAMI BOOK FAIR
Miami
Nov. 11–18
Readers and writers fill the streets of Miami for an eight-day literary party, where more than 450 internationally renowned authors discuss and read their work. miamibookfair.com
KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL
Key West
Nov. 14–18
This five-day celebration of the best storytelling in film draws filmmakers and fans alike to hear critics speak, attend film master classes and soak up the Key West sunshine. kwfilmfest.com
STORIES OF THE PARADISE COAST
Naples
Nov. 17–18
A diverse group of local storytellers, authors and artists convene at the Collier Museum to share their stories through performance readings, along with food vendors, craft artisans and art exhibits. colliermuseums.com
THE MUSIC MAN
Sarasota
Nov. 17–Dec. 29
The Music Man was a Broadway sensation when it opened in 1957. More than 60 years later, it’s still a hit with one-of-a-kind music, choreography and costuming. The show comes to the Asolo Repertory Theatre this fall. asolorep.org
ART IN THE PARK
Stuart
Nov. 24–25
This family-friendly event showcases up to 80 local and national artists in Stuart’s Memorial Park, supplemented this year by live music and a kids arts-and-crafts area. artandcraftfestival.com
