by Megan Massion | July 5, 2019
Things To Do in Florida: The Tide Summer 2019
NORTH FLORIDA
JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP GAMES
JACKSONVILLE
APRIL 4—SEPT. 2
Hungry for baseball? Join Minor League Baseball’s crustacean nation and root for the Jumbo Shrimp at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. Nearly every home game unfolds with a fun-loving theme or promotion. Roll your windows down and cruise into the stadium to experience the world’s largest drive-thru in honor of National Drive Thru Day, bust out your chopsticks for the 4,000th anniversary of ramen noodles or pay homage to Florida Man by breaking a weird Florida law each inning of the game. Other themed game nights throughout the season include Canines and Crustaceans Dog Days, where pups accompany their owners, and a Say Yes to the Dress night in which fans race across the field wearing wedding gowns. Wash down your cocktail sauce with dollar beers on Thirsty Thursdays, enjoy postgame fireworks on Fridays and take home free swag on Saturdays. Don’t leave without snapping a photo with the team’s mascot, Scampi. milb.com/jacksonville
SCALLOP SEASON
North Florida Gulf Coast
June 15–SEPT. 24
Dive for Florida “Easter eggs” (aka Florida bay scallops) in the grass flats of the Fenholloway River, Suwannee River or Steinhatchee River. To collect your daily limit (2 gallons whole scallops in the shell per person), all you need is a fishing license, a snorkel and a dive flag. Season dates vary by county. myfwc.com
EMERALD COAST BLUE MARLIN CLASSIC
Miramar Beach
June 19–23
This fishing tournament awards $2 million in prizes to anglers who catch the heaviest blue marlin. Festivities include exciting weigh-ins, live entertainment, food and fireworks at Baytowne Marina.
fishecbc.com
PENSACOLA BEACH AIR SHOW
Pensacola
July 13
The Blue Angels showcase six F-18 Super Hornets in a 45-minute aerobatic routine over the Gulf. Other performances include stunt planes, vintage World War II Stearmans and a helicopter demonstration. visitpensacola.com
SWAMP STOMP
Tallahassee
July 13
This Americana music festival unfolds under a canopy of oak trees at the Tallahassee Museum. A signature event for the Big Bend region, the concert brings together folk, blues and acoustic musicians. tallahasseemuseum.org
GREATER JACKSONVILLE KINGFISH TOURNAMENT
Jacksonville
July 15–20
Land the largest kingfish for a chance to win bragging rights and cash prizes. This annual event includes entertainment, a junior offshore tournament and a redfish tournament. kingfishtournament.com
GULF COAST JAM
Panama City
AUG. 30–SEPT. 1
Country legends Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean and Kid Rock headline this music festival at Frank Brown Park over Labor Day weekend. A portion of proceeds from every ticket sold will benefit Hurricane Michael relief for the Panhandle. gulfcoastjam.com
CENTRAL FLORIDA
FLORIDA PRIZE CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION
Orlando
May 31–AUG. 18
The Orlando Museum of Art lauds 10 of the most progressive visual artists working in the state in a showcase of installations that embody Florida’s vibrant culture through various mediums including sculpture, painting and photography. The annual exhibition, now in its sixth year, features both
up-and-coming and established artists, and the winner receives a $20,000 prize. This year’s finalists are Amer Kobaslija (whose work Lowe’s Tubes, Ichetucknee is pictured above), Robert Aiosa, Joe Fig, Lilian Garcia-Roig, Lola Gomez, Pepe Mar, Anja Marais, Edison Peñafiel, Vickie Pierre and Sri Prabha. Each artist will be represented by a recent or site-specific body of work that best reflects their overall vision, style and methods. The Florida Prize winner will be announced at the opening night preview party on May 31. Local chefs will contribute culinary creations with dishes inspired by the Florida Prize contenders’ works during the VIP hour from 6 to 7 p.m. omart.org
OLD SALT LADIES FISHING TOURNAMENT
Madeira Beach
June 20 and 22
Ladies compete for cash prizes and the Master Angler title, casting for red grouper, gag grouper, snapper, kingfish, sea trout, redfish, snook, flounder and sheepshead. oldsaltfishing.org
MASCOT GAMES
Orlando
June 21–22
About 30 MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and Arena Football League mascots face off in gladiator style games. Fans mingle and take pictures with their favorite furry cheerleaders. Proceeds will benefit New Hope for Kids. mascotgames.org
ST. PETE PRIDE WEEK
St. Petersburg
June 21–23
Celebrate the LGBTQ community at one of the state’s largest pride events, featuring the SP2 concert, a parade along downtown St. Pete’s Bayshore Drive and a festival covering Central Avenue’s Grand Central District. stpetepride.com
BODY MIND AND SPIRIT EXPO
TAMPA
June 22–23
Become more mindful while learning about holistic medicine and alternative healing through experiences such as guided meditations and seminars about crystal healing, the science behind yoga and the benefits of CBD extract. bmse.net
STETSON LEGACY WEEK
DeLand
July 13–20
Tip a hat to John B. Stetson, also known as Florida’s first “snowbird.” Family heirlooms and films of the famous hatmaker will be on display at the Stetson Mansion. Tickets to the event include a voucher for free wine, beer, or sweet treats in downtown Stetson! stetsonmansion.com
APOLLO 11 HISTORIC LAUNCH FLASHBACK, 50 YEARS LATER
Merritt Island
July 16
The Kennedy Space Center commemorates the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 mission by recreating the groundbreaking launch, which carried astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins on a mission to the moon. Other events like the One Giant Leap Celebration and the Welcome Home Apollo 11 Celebration will take place throughout the following days. kennedyspacecenter.com
HARVEST GRAPE STOMP
CLERMONT
AUG. 17–18
As they gear up for this year’s harvest, Lakeridge Winery prepares to celebrate the grape stomp tradition dating back 25 years. Take off your shoes and compete for prizes by stomping vats of fine-ripened grapes—and, of course, imbibe the latest vintage. lakeridgewinery.com
SOUTH FLORIDA
HEMINGWAY DAYS
Key West
July 16–21
Only in Key West will you find hundreds of rotund white men with white hair and white beards parading down Duval Street in cable-knit sweaters, riding wooden cattle for a chance to win a bust of their hero, Ernest Hemingway, and be crowned the festival’s Papa. Hemingway enthusiasts descend on the famed Sloppy Joe’s Bar for the annual look-alike contest. There’s a running of the bulls reenactment in honor of the late author’s novel The Sun Also Rises. Other events include poetry readings, symposium presentations, a film screening, running and paddleboard races and a street fair. Hemingway lived in Key West during the 1930s, and the home in which he wrote Death in the Afternoon and To Have and Have Not stands today as a museum on Whitehead Street. This six-day extravaganza takes place during Hemingway’s birthday week and culminates with a party on the author’s birthday, July 21. fla-keys.com
SARASOTA MUSIC FESTIVAL
Sarasota
June 1–22
The three-week classical music celebration is marked by performances from the world’s best professional and student musicians. Classical violin, cello and piano players preform alongside acts like the Pacifica Quartet and the Montrose Trio. sarasotaorchestra.org
VERO BEACH WINE AND FILM FESTIVAL
Vero Beach
June 6–9
There’s something to sip and see for everyone, with screenings of more than 75 independent films by some of the industry’s most lauded directors and food by celebrity chef Norman Van Aken. vbwff.com
AMERICAN BALCK FILM FESTIVAL
Miami Beach
June 12–16
Thousands of filmgoers convene for one of the nation’s largest black film and television events, known for premiering early work of A-listers like Kevin Hart. See screenings, hear celebrity talks and attend parties. abff.com
KEY LIME FESTIVAL
Key West
July 4–7
Defy gravity at the key lime pie drop, throw back beverages at the key lime cocktail sip and stroll, and devour an entire 9-inch dessert at the World Key Lime Pie Eating Championship. keylimefestival.com
SARASOTA POWERBOAT FESTIVAL
Sarasota
July 5–7
Rub fenders with the who’s who of powerboat racing from around the world at the Boats on Main block party. Then watch more than 30 teams race at speeds exceeding 100 mph in the waters off Lido Beach. sarasotapowerboatgrandprix.org
MANGO AND TROPICAL FRUIT FESTIVAL
Coral Gables
July 13–14
Go fruity for hundreds of rare tropical mango species. See the world’s largest mango and tropical fruit collections. Enjoy mango tasting and cooking workshops or buy a fruit tree to take home. fairchildgarden.org
HEMINGWAY 5K SUNSET RUN & PADDLEBOARD RACE
Key West
July 20
Honor Ernest Hemingway’s athletic side by standup paddling or running from Key West’s Southernmost Point all around the historic city. Each race concludes, and rightly so, with awards and libations. keywesthalfmarathon.com
INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL
MIAMI BEACH
July 27–AUG. 18
The world’s most prestigious ballet companies and dancers convene for three weeks of galas featuring young artists, contemporary dance companies, and classical and neo-classical ballet performances. internationalballetfestival.org
JUPITER MEDICAL CENTER LOGGERHEAD TRIATHLON
Jupiter
AUG. 3
Swim 0.375 miles in the ocean, bike 13 miles and run 3.1 miles along the ocean in one of the state’s longest-running triathlons. More than 600 athletes make the pilgrimage to Jupiter in what has become a must-do event in the Southeast. pbnchamber.com
KEY WEST LOBSTERFEST
Key West
AUG. 8–11
Bring a bib and dig into sweet and tender Florida lobster, served boiled or steamed at the iconic street fair. Other activities include a Reef & Rita’s snorkel trip and First Flight Island Restaurant & Brewery’s lobster brunch. keywestlobsterfest.com
