It's always a good thing to stop by and listen to some free live music. If you have to pay tolls,…read moretaxes, fees, etc, this is a good way to get some retribution from the city. Coral Gables always makes this a great event, although the performers have become more local than previous years, with out-of-town talent filling the bill. It's all good, let's promote the locals.

I love Carnaval on the mile! This street festival happens every year for 2 days. It's hosted by…read moreKiwanis and very well organized. The vendors and music stages are depicted on their website making it very easy to know where things are and at what time artists are set to perform. Great vibes, great food, great music, plenty of street fair food and shops to keep you entertained. The artists and vendors who work the booths are always nice and in a great mood. The Carnaval is located in Miracle mile, close to several street parking and parking garages, like we used. I particularly love the location of this festival because its on a fabulous street filled with restaurants on each side of the street. Allowing for more options if you choose you not to eat street food. There are plenty of options like arepas, fresh squeezed juices, pinchos, sandwiches, turkey legs, funnel cakes, Gilbert's bakery, pizza, gelato, and more. We decided to eat lunch at Morton's to break up the day a little from walking, then we continued our day throughout the festival. I did a little shopping at Essence Boutique, which I love to come to when I'm in this area of Coral Gables. I also bought some dips and other trinkets from the festival. I look forward to this festival every year and am so glad I was able to make it this weekend.

The Somi Art Fest has always been so special to me. It's not very large, which is good if you want…read moreto bring your dog and have a nice day out. The art festival this year was awesome, 3 stages with different music and all the bands were great. There were a lot of food trucks & individual food vendors to choose from. However, we chose to sit and eat at a nearby restaurant so we wouldn't have to stand since we were with the family and dogs. The weather cooperated perfectly, and the Festival was a hit. Lots of people brought their dogs, and it was so nice to be able to see them all socialize. There were booths specially geared towards dogs with treats, toys, and accessories. The only thing sad was seeing dilapidated Sunset Place next to the festival, but that soon will get demolished and will be something beautiful again. This festival is very relaxed and the people that attend are also this way, adding to a wonderful overall experience.

Something different to enjoy. Small art festival with some really nice affordable pieces and…read morejewelry. There's something for everyone. They did include a pet lounge for the fur babies. Event was also animal friendly.

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).

The Fairchild grounds were great as always, but mango festival itself was a bit underwhelming. Only…read morea couple of vendors had mango themed items which is disappointing for an event celebrating the king of fruits. It was cool seeing the vast varieties of mangos, but would have been better if you actually got to try them. Maybe the brunch event is better. Probably won't go again unless I'm looking to buy a mango tree.

Mango, mango, mango à la Marcia, Marcia, Marcia…read more Seriously speaking, it was mango galore. Mango shaved ice, mango beer, mango bread, mango iced tea... you see where I'm going with this, right? If your dreams are made of mangos, here you can make those dreams a reality! And that I did, thanks to Yelp giving me and my lucky +1 free tickets to this glorious paradise. Cough - I *really* love mangos! Anyway, about the event... free parking and quite organized at that. Many volunteers. Going in at will call was a breeze and the event had many booths, including a tasting room, as well as open butterfly fields and gardens. Spent two or three hours of the day there. Weather was crazy hot. Thank goodness for the vendors giving free samples, alcoholic and non-alcoholic alike. My preferred vendor was Susilicious. Never had heard of her and now I'm obsessed with her bread (surprisingly not the mango one, but then again, I tried one of her non-mango ones). Desperately want more mango fun and apparently there's another festival coming up soon in South Beach. Might have to hit that one up, too. If it's like this one was, I can expect lots of yummy treats.

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.