South Florida’s Events in April
MUSIC
Ocean Tortuga Music Festival
April 15-17 at Fort Lauderdale Beach
Tortugamusicfestival.com
For a weekend in mid-April, The sandy shores of Fort Lauderdale will be transformed into an oceanfront multi-stage festival for country music lovers. Though only in its fourth year, the festival has garnered big acts like Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw and Sam Hunt.
Redlands Blues & Barbecue Festival
April 23-24 at the Fruit & Spice Park, Homestead
Music and food lovers will convene at the Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead for a weekend of blues and country music and award-winning barbecue. Aside from BBQ and music, there will be a Miccosukee Indian alligator show, interactive Homestead Miami Speedway zone, bungee jumping, rock climbing and pony rides.
Sun Fest
April 27-May 1 in Downtown West Palm Beach
Sunfest.com
This year is the 34th year of SunFest, one of South Florida’s biggest music festivals. Held on the waterfront of downtown West Palm Beach, this year’s lineup includes over 50 performances by some of today’s most popular bands and musicians like the Alabama Shakes, The Roots, Meghan Trainor and Steve Aoki. This year’s festival will feature delicious food curated by the organizers of the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival. Other events during the weekend include a juried arts and crafts show, fireworks and kids activities.
CULTURE
Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction
April 8-10 at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach
barrett-jackson.com
The Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction is one of the nation’s premiere auctions for prized and pricey car classics. Each year, thousands of viewers visit the show to get views of the collection of rare and beautiful cars that are on display and up for auction. Other displays include rare and vintage car memorabilia like dealership signs, gas pumps and racing posters.
Miami Beach Gay Pride
April 8-10 on Ocean Drive on Miami Beach
miamibeachgaypride.com
Last year’s weekend-long annual event brought in more than 60,000 attendees to South Beach’s famed Ocean Drive. This year’s event will include more than 125 LGBT-friendly vendors, exciting celebrities, musical performances, parties, parades, refreshments, food and a family-friendly play area. This year’s festival Grand Marshal is the actor, Elvis Duran.
34th Annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration
April 22- May 1 at various locations and venues Key West
As a tribute to Key West “seceding” from the United States and becoming the Conch Republic in 1982, each year Key West organizes ten days of quirky events to help the community stay true to their zaney ways. Events include a drag race (featuring queens, not cars), a bed race, and a sea battle featuring schooners and tall ships that bomb the “enemy” with water guns and biodegradable toilet paper.
SPORT
2016 Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami Beach
April 7-9 at Collins Park, Miami Beach
globalchampionstour.com
The Longines Global Champions Tour is an equestrian event that transforms Collins Park into one of the most poshe spots in Miami. Held steps away from the Atlantic Ocean in the sand, the three-day event, which is the first event in the 2016 Longines Global Champions Tour, features some of the world’s best English-riders and their horses. Two of the weekend’s biggest events are the 44th American Invitational and the $600,000 Grand Prix.