Wednesdays is the most daunting day of the week; because Mondays have drained you of life and…read moreFridays are too far in the future to lift your spirits... That's until the Jazz in the Gables concert series came along. Put a little hoodoo into your humpday from January through April. Piano priests, drum doctors, and saxophone shamans cast musical spells that compel you to evacuate the office and liven up your lunchtime. For five consecutive seasons, The Miami Jazz Cooperative has summoned a cast of entertainers that includes the likes of the buoyant Brian Murphy Trio, flashy FIU Jazz Ensemble, and nouveau New World School of The Arts' Jazz Quartet. For those who can't make midday escapes, there are occasional soul-shaking performances Sunday afternoons. Make music part of your weekly ritual at 12:15 p.m. each Wednesday.

This temporary art installation is a must while visiting the Miami/Coral Gables area. I had no…read moreclue about these umbrellas until my sister really wanted to go. She loves art and photo-taking. It worked out very well for us since we got to spend the whole day together. We went on a weekday and it was not that busy. But on weekends and night time, I heard it's more busy with the amount of people trying to take selfies. In my Instagram account, my local friends asked me where this is exactly located. It is in Giralda Plaza of Coral Gables. There are restaurants and shops on both sides of the umbrellas. This art installation is by Portugal agency Sextafeira. They have done other such installations in other parts of the world. I did see some umbrellas in the sky in Lisbon while I visited. It was nice to see more in SOFL. Side Note- Metered parking options are all around this area. - The umbrellas will come down most probably tomorrow or in a few more days, so if you want to go, go today.

Found in Giralda Plaza, the Umbrella Sky Project is here to stay forever imprinted on Instagram…read more As far as how long the actual art installation will be around, I believe it's mid-September, so if you haven't already, go and get your cameras ready! Now, a few things to note: -The best place is to park nearby is in the parking garage next to Bocas House. That is, of course, you're going solely to visit this spectacle. -And yes, I mean, spectacle as the secret's out! Everyone and their mother will be there taking photos. -This is free and no one is monitoring anything, so first come, first serve. -Aside from the hanging umbrellas, there is a backdrop saying Umbrella Sky with more umbrellas. There's also some by a restaurant that you can grab. -Expect to spend fifteen or so minutes there. This is cute, but the novelty and crowds will eventually turn you off. If not that, then definitely the heat or the rain. So essentially, you do this once for a photo to say you've been there, done that. That's all there is to it.

The Coral Gables Festival of the Arts happened last weekend and I checked it out on Sunday. In the…read morepast, I believe you had to pay for admission but it's now free, which made for a nice activity with my husband and baby when we found ourselves nearby anyways. I stopped by during lunchtime with hopes that they had a wide selection of eats and was not disappointed. There were a number of food vendors set up in the middle of the festival. I went with a barbacoa quesadilla from the taco truck which ended up being a little blah, but also tried a lamb gyro wrap that my husband got from a different vendor that was a little better. Besides food, there were plenty of other tents lining Alhambra featuring everything from local makers selling jewelry, apparel, and more, to artists of all kinds... I recognized a lot of the same folks from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival which happens the following weekend. I assume many artists take advantage of the fact they're close together and display in both. There were also a lot of kid and dog related activities and businesses onsite. While not huge, it was fun to walk around and also listen to live music. I would definitely swing by again the next time it pops up in the neighborhood.

This festival doesn't really seem to know what it wants to be. There was (some) art on display, but…read morealso sections catering to children (and their parents), and businesses. Walking through the business sector, the representatives were on the verge of pushy as they tried to hawk their wares and services. The food was just standard carny fare. Thank goodness the Cuban Guys food truck was there. I got to support local business and have a good media noche! Also, while the festival was in progress, they were setting up for a food and alcohol event with controlled access for later in the evening. The inconvenience of having to negotiate around barricades and tents being put up was off-putting. The only positives: The weather was perfect, and it's free (although you have to pay like always in the Gables for parking)

Always a fave. Year…read moreafter year it's an art event ya gotta go to. Great, creative methods and artists. A party, band stage, food like you never saw. A true Grove event.

I love the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. The Grove is my favorite neighborhood, and this weekend of…read morethe festival is a celebration of what it means to be a Groveite - you have a reason to be outside, you can enjoy drinks, and you can experience local art, as well as art from folks around the country. This festival takes over a good chunk of the grove, lining the streets from Main Hwy and Peacock park all the way to City hall. Tickets have increased in price but as a Grove resident you get them for $20 versus $35. Over the years I have purchased a bunch of fun prints at this festival, and I love that they have affordable art. They of course, have items at a higher price tag if you are looking for original pieces as well. Even if you don't buy anything, it's a great excuse to stroll with friends and a cold drink in hand. The festival also does a really good job at curating live entertainment throughout the day. While it runs from Saturday - Monday of the long weekend, going on a Sunday is the perfect Grove Sunday Funday since the rest of the Grove is bustling with activity from everyone being at both this festival, and the St. Stephens festival which runs alongside it (for free).

I was genuinely excited to attend the 2026 Mango Fest, but unfortunately the event was one of the…read moremost disorganized experiences I've ever attended. To begin with, the website does not provide enough information about what to expect, where to park, how entry works, or which activities require additional tickets. Had that information been clearly communicated beforehand, it would have prevented a lot of confusion and frustration. The problems started with parking. There appeared to be only one person directing traffic, and he looked completely overwhelmed. After sitting in the parking garage for about 15 minutes, security began telling vehicles to turn around. Fortunately, I didn't leave and eventually found a parking space. Once we reached the elevators, there were what looked to be well over 100 people trying to enter at the same time. There were no cones, barricades, or organized queue lines. People were cutting in front of one another, tensions were rising, and everyone was becoming frustrated. It took us approximately one hour just to get inside. Our tickets cost about $32 per person, nearly $100 for three people. However, even after finally entering the building, we had to stand in yet another long line just to receive wristbands. Eventually the staff appeared to give up on checking tickets altogether and simply handed out wristbands. Unfortunately, the confusion continued once inside. There was no guidance explaining how the event worked or where to go. Based on the advertising, I assumed mango tastings were included with admission. After waiting another 25 to 30 minutes in line, I discovered that the mango tasting required the purchase of a completely separate ticket. This was never made clear when purchasing admission. When I went to purchase the additional tasting ticket, I was told they were no longer selling them for another hour and a half because the lines were too long. During my entire visit, I spent almost all of my time standing in lines instead of enjoying the festival. I was only lucky enough to taste two mangoes. Considering the size of the crowd, there were surprisingly few vendors or activities. The event simply did not seem prepared for the number of attendees. What concerned me most was trying to speak with someone about these issues. I spoke with a volunteer named Ritu and politely asked who was in charge. She told me there was a director walking around somewhere but said she didn't know the director's name. I asked how I could identify or contact them, and every response was, "I don't know." She couldn't provide a name, description, or any way to reach the person responsible. That left me wondering how attendees are supposed to report concerns or resolve issues if volunteers don't know who is managing the event. I truly wanted this event to be successful because it has great potential. However, much better planning is needed. Clear communication before the event, organized parking, structured entry lines, better crowd management, more signage, clearer explanations about what admission includes, and staff who know who to contact when problems arise would dramatically improve the experience. I hope the organizers take this feedback seriously because Mango Fest could become an incredible annual event with better organization.

This is my third mango festival at Fairchild. I highly recommend the mango festival. It's a…read morecelebration of this wonderful fruit that grows here in South Florida, soaking up the ample sun and warmth of this tropical climate, producing something divine. The mango is a gift, with its natural sweetness and the joy we experience when eating it. Why did I give the festival a 3/5 if I love this fruit so much and return to it every year? Mostly because me and my group expected to actually TASTE real live varieties of mango. Mangos were indeed sold but most of the ripe ones were gone as early as noon the first day and none were offered freshly sliced for tasting. I mean, you go to a wine festival and you taste wines, you go to a craft beer festival and you taste craft beers, but at this mango festival I think the entire time we got to eat one piece of fresh mango . Makes no sense. We bought tix to the Mango Spectrum expecting a curated mango tasting; instead, it was a few samples of tequila, rum, one piece of mango, and chocolate. It was good, don't get me wrong, but I thought it could have been described better in the festival email so that our expectations would have matched. I also would have appreciated a listing of the different lectures ahead of the festival so they we could plan the day better. Still, just being at Fairchild Tropical Gardens is alone a justification to attend this yearly festival. The grounds are a lush tropical paradise and you can wander beyond the festival to explore the botanical areas. This year the parking was much better, I think because we got there a bit earlier in the day.

Once again this was a wonderful Art Festival, sponsored by the Rotary Club, was an amazing idea to…read morespend our Saturday afternoon. They host this event every year here in South Miami, with the partnership of talented artists and food vendors to make this festival appealing to people of all ages. Both my daughter and I enjoyed it very much, we loved the background Jazz music, of a band playing live for all of us. Thank you for a great day! Una vez más, este fue un maravilloso Festival de Arte, auspiciado por el Rotary Club, fue una idea increíble para pasar nuestro Sábado por la tarde. Ellos organizan este evento todos los años aquí en South Miami, con la asociación de talentosos artistas y vendedores de comida para hacer este festival atractivo para personas de todas las edades. Tanto mi hija como yo lo disfrutamos mucho, nos encanto la música jazz de fondo, de una banda tocando en vivo para todos nosotros. Gracias por un gran día!

I have attended this pocket of an art festival twice and it's an "ok" way to while away a…read moremid-winter Saturday afternoon. They close off Sunset Dr. between Red Road and US 1, so it's about 2 blocks long. There aren't nearly as many artist booths as the Coconut Grove Art Festival, so in no time, you've seen them all. The food is standard festival fare, nothing especially stood out. I do enjoy the Rotary Club beer booth. The beer is served extremely cold at a decent price, and the money spent goes to a good cause. They also manage to always have a decent jazz quartet providing entertainment. Unfortunately, you'll probably have to stand while you listen, as seating is VERY limited. Parking is difficult (like always). I worked out a deal with a restaurant valet with the promise (which i kept) that I'd have lunch there! Basically just a "so-so" event, but, hey, it's free...

Opa! Just enjoyed an amazing day at the Greek Festival in Miami!…read more The food was beyond delicious--fresh gyros, baklava, and so many Grecian specialties. Between the music, dancing, and warm community spirit, it felt like a true taste of Greece right here in Miami. If you love great food and culture, this Grecian celebration is a must!

1 Star - Overpriced and Horrible Customer Service…read more If I could give zero stars, I would. This Greek festival was an absolute disappointment. First, you have to pay an entrance fee just to get in--only to be met with ridiculously overpriced food and some of the rudest customer service I've ever encountered. Ordering food? Don't bother. They'll give you whatever they feel like, regardless of what you actually asked for. When I pointed this out, I was met with an attitude instead of an apology. The staff clearly couldn't care less about customer satisfaction. No seating available, so you're forced to stand and eat. And for some reason, the place was swarming with cops, which just made the whole experience feel even more unwelcoming. To top it all off, after paying an entrance fee and overpaying for food, they had the audacity to ask for a tip. Laughable. Prepare yourself to pay an entrance fee and get asked for a tip. This place is not a true representation of Greek people or their food. If you're looking for authentic Greek food with great service, skip this mess and go to Meraki in Coconut Grove instead. In and out in 38 minutes.

Finally was able to go to this chocolate festival at the wonderful place that it is a Fairchild…read moreTropical Botanic Garden. I went with my sister and her kids and we all enter for free thanks to the membership that I have. It turns out that with the membership you can enter for free to most of the festivals in here. They had many vendors. They had different stations for free so the kids can play and my nephews had a great time. The weather was perfect and the organization of everyone working here was awesome. I definitely recommend did you guys get the membership because it's totally worth it just to be able to enter here and enjoy events like this.

Year after year, I've wanted to go to the International Chocolate Festival. Year after year,…read moresomething ALWAYS happens that prevents it. I forget when the festival is, I don't have the time or funds, I have alternate plans, an Oompa-Loompa knocked me out after they deemed that I was using them for slave labor - you get the idea. Now we all know that the only plausible explanation for finally attending is that I, in a moment of glory, escaped the dreaded Oompa-Loompa. Bwahahaha! Ahem. Anyway. We went on the last day of the festival. A Sunday. There weren't a lot of people, but then again, we hit this place up early. Admission per person for the event was $25.00. It gives you access to everything a chocoholic dreams of, as well as access to the exhibits at the museum itself. Hence, you definitely have options on things to do and that in itself is a marvelous thing. Unfortunately, chocolate is not. Marvelous, you know? I know that sounds blasphemous, but despite the limited amount of vendors (folks, this DOES NOT compare to the Mango Festival at all), you will end up overdosing on chocolate. They have a private room for the vendors. Makes total sense as this is Florida and it's hot, scorching hot, flamethrower hot, and we don't need an avalanche of chocolate all over the place. Room is cool, well organized, and filled with vendors. Mind you, there are vendors outside as well, but none of these vendors sell chocolate. Ended up gorging ourselves with Susilicious and Románicos that we bought, as well as sampling some new vendors: Exquisito with their DNA shirt comes to mind, plus Cao Chocolates that were featured at MDC. Case and point: go at least once. Plan food accordingly after. Unless you somehow possess the sweet tooth that I don't have, this isn't an all day event. I much prefer the Mango Festival.