With only one week for spring break, sometimes students cannot get away. However, once students get out of school on March 11, they are surrounded with plenty of events to keep any Miamian entertained.
Along with the sunny weather and clear beaches, Miami has several music festivals. The 18th annual 9 Mile Music Festival, also known as the Caribbean Festival, is one of the longest running reggae shows in South Florida. The event, dedicated to celebrate the legendary Bob Marley, also features a variety of entertainers, international food and a marketplace for arts and crafts. The event will be held at the Bayfront Park on March 12 and the only items needed for entry are an admission ticket and four canned goods.
“The music and the overall feel of the 9 Mile Music Festival gives me a sense of being on the Islands. It hits close to home since both my parents are from there,” senior Beonica Taylor said. “I can’t wait to go. It makes my summer trip to Jamaica feel that much closer.”
Millions of people come together for 23 blocks of activities on Calle Ocho. The event started in 1978 to celebrate Cuban culture and has expanded into one of the largest Hispanic festivals with a variety of ethnic foods, top Latin musicians and shopping. The event takes place every March in Miami’s Little Havana.
“Because I am Hispanic, I try to go every year to support my Hispanic culture,” senior Alexa Rivas said. “On Calle Ocho there are different types of foods and people walk around with different type of flags as they come together to throw one big party.”
Festivals surround South Florida during spring break, including the 47th annual Key Biscayne Art Festival. The outdoor event features work by 200 artists. It will be held on March 19 and 20 at the Village Green Park in Key Biscayne. The festival features classics and contemporary pieces; the public will be able to enjoy the variety of sculptures, paintings, jewelry, photography and all kinds of artistic pieces.
“In the past, the art festival has been enriching and it opened my eyes to a lot of different styles. It was very nice,” junior Bridget Huston said. “I will go again this year because I feel there will be new styles that I could be exposed to.”
The Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, also known as “The Fair,” is an 18-day event that begins on March 17. It is the largest fair in Florida and it attracts thousands of visitors annually; elephant ears, carnival games, rides and live entertainment are all in one place.
“The rides are exhilarating, but the best part of going to The Fair is being able to enjoy the powder-filled elephant ears; they’re scrumptious,” junior Jaime Marrou said. “I’m definitely going again this year with a huge group of friends.”
Whether students want to take advantage of these events or spend a long day at the beach, Miami’s trendy restaurants and non stop partying will keep them busy all week.