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The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is one of the oldest, largest and most diverse in the USA. Despite its tremendous growth since its birth in 1963, the emphasis is still on one-to-one chat between exhibitors and art lovers.

The International Boat Show is a beacon for Miami's movers and shakers. Boats, accessories and clothing are for sale at Miami Beach Convention Center and there are supporting events at the Sea Isle Marina and Miamarina at Bayside Marketplace.

The South Beach Comedy Festival brings an impressive line-up of comedians to a number of venues in Miami, including the Jackie Gleason Theater. The festival also includes free entertainment at Lincoln Road Mall.

Miami International Film Festival is ideal for catching the best in world cinema. Held annually at the Miami-Dade Community College, the festival welcomes over 250 international films from around 40 countries alongside outreach events and press screenings.

The Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami hosts the CA Championship, part of the World Golf Championships and one of the biggest tournaments in the world. Games are played for a period of five days.

Miami's Calle Ocho Cuban carnival is one of the world's largest street parties and spreads over 23 blocks of Little Havana. Thirty stages at intersecting avenues blast out salsa, merengue, pop and Caribbean music to more than a million people.

Taking place in the gay mecca that is South Beach, Miami, the famed Winter Party benefits the Dade Human Rights Foundation. Various South Beach locales present six days of dancing and entertainment.

Florida's Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Tournament is a magnet for deep sea fishermen. With over US$238,000 to be won, it's well worth entering. The docks at the Miami Beach Marina come alive with music and the weighing of prize catches.

One of the largest fashion events in the US, Miami Fashion Week showcases the work of established and new designers from Latin America and the Caribbean at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Highlights include designer shows and model castings.

Yes, it's that time again. The annual Miami Winter Music Conference - a week of debauched partying thinly disguised as a conference - is upon us. The festival welcomes over 6500 music industry "professionals" and enthusiasts from around the world.

The closing event at Miami's Ultra Music Festival fills Bicentennial Park for a weekend in March. Around 50,000 people celebrate Spring Break, with 50 of the world's best DJs and bands providing more than 20 hours of great live music.

Bringing together 50 specialist galleries, Arteaméricas at the Miami Beach Convention Center is the country's largest Latin American art fair. The fair is great for those who wish to get into collecting Latin American art.

The world's top tennis players compete in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami's Crandon Park, part of the globetrotting ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Series. The most important three set series in the world, matches are always hotly contested.

Miami-Dade County Fair and Exhibition brings together the best of Florida's agricultural industry at the Fair Expo Centre in Miami. Local high school performers rub shoulders with prize livestock at the event that unites more than 50,000 exhibits.

Miami's Deauville Beach Resort is transformed into a hotbed of Latin talent in April/May for the annual International Hustle and Salsa Competition. Salseros (or salsa lovers) of all abilities can shake their bodies in various levels of competition.

Around 15,000 men and women descend on decadent Miami during White Party Week for six days of pleasure with a conscience - raising money for South Florida's HIV/AIDS services. The extravaganza culminates with the White Party held at Villa Vizcaya.

Miami is a city of bon viveurs, and the Village of Merrick Park pulls out the stops for the annual Miami Wine and Food Festival. Drinks receptions, auctions and tastings with leading chefs at the helm are the main highlights.

The Miami Heat play their NBA basketball games at the American Airlines Arena. The regular season runs from October until April. Please visit the NBA website for full details of all fixtures.

The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival sees more than 10,000 visitors descend upon the hedonistic haven of South Beach every year. The event screens films and videos by, about and of interest to the LGBT communities.

The Tango Fantasy Festival, at the Deauville Beach Resort in Miami, boasts 64 masterclasses with world leading experts and several dancefloors catering for enthusiasts of all levels. A Masters of Tango show shows aspiring dancers how it should be done.

Located on the International University of Florida's campus in Miami, the Patricia & Philip Frost Art Museum is internationally recognised. Founded in 1977, the museum specialises in Latin American and 20th-century American art.

The Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival has been dubbed the largest black heritage festival in the US, celebrating Coconut Grove's original Bahamian roots. Both on the street and on stage, the words of rappers compete with the music of steel bands.

Miami Beach joins the rest of the United States to celebrate Independence Day in style. This beach party reflects the area's diverse cultural heritage. Latin and tropical bands perform and the evening closes with an impressive pyrotechnic display.

The juried American Black Film Festival is a unique opportunity for black filmmakers, actors, producers, journalists and film fans to get together to watch the best new releases, network and party. The festival includes chaired panel discussions and writers' workshops.

Miami's Fairchild Tropical Gardens honours the humble mango. Experts advise on how to cook and eat the juicy fruit through displays, exhibitions, workshops and tastings, and there's even a mango auction. Make sure you arrive with an empty stomach.

Miami's sizeable Colombian community turn out in force to celebrate their heritage during the annual Colombian Festival. The event features music, dancing, food and exhibitions at the Fair Expo Centre.

IFE-ILE's Afro-Cuban Dance Festival attracts thousands of revellers to the streets of Miami for a celebration of all aspects of Afro-Caribbean and Cuban culture. The festival also features drumming classes, bilingual discussions and dialogues on Cuban arts.

Florida's year-round good weather makes it an ideal host for the Dig The Beach beach volleyball series. The climax of the state championships takes place on glamorous Miami Beach and the supporting activities include free clinics for budding players.

Brazilian Film Festival of Miami showcases acclaimed films and allows directors, producers, actors and distributors to socialise. The opening night features screenings on the beach, and the week continues with films at a variety of venues, including Miami Beach Cinematheque.

Miami's Home Design & Remodeling Show offers a wealth of ideas for internal and external beautification. Visit the Miami Beach Convention Center to discover the latest trends, many showcased through special vignettes created by award-wining interior designers.

Be floored by talented dancers at the Annual International Ballet Festival of Miami which reflects the city's multicultural status. The festival takes place at various venues and is presented by the Miami Hispanic Ballet.

The Adrienne Arsht Center hosts the International Ballet Festival, under the directorship of Pedro Pablo Peña, founder of Miami's Hispanic Ballet Corps. More than 120 dancers and 25 different companies from the USA and overseas are invited to perform.

Dolphins Stadium is home to the Florida Marlins Major League Baseball team and stages regular games from April to October. The Marlins compete in the tough National League East, which includes the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals.

Miami's finest restaurants offer special dishes, free desserts and tasting menus at a significant discount during Miami Spice. This two month-long event provides diners with amazing deals at more than 100 establishments all over the city.

The Miami Carnival is one of the largest street festivals in the US. The highlight is the carnival parade and festival on the final day at Sun Life Stadium, but the whole city buzzes for two weeks with numerous supporting events.

Broward Carnival is an explosion of colour, music and culture. The day-long event takes over Bicentennial Park in Miami with parades, bands, food, folklore, dancing and plenty of dressing up by both adults and children. 

During Miami Fashion Fest, Miamians and visitors can experience top designer personal appearances and runway shows, styling clinics, in-store retail promotions and photo shoots. America's capital of laid-back cool comes alive during the event.

Festival Miami is an exposition of the city's cultural life. Hosted by the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, it presents around 20 concerts of symphonic, chamber music and jazz. Each of the five weeks has a unique theme.

The South Florida International Auto Show presents brand-new and classic cars at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Top national and international manufacturers showcase their latest models and innovations alongside accessories and services relating to the car industry.

A garden festival that is over half a century old, Ramble celebrates outdoor living at the Fairchild Tropical Gardens. Events include a huge plant show and sale, music, food and unique gifts.

Dragon Boat racing originated in the Far East, but once a year Miami hosts its own festival. The 250-metre races take place off the coast of Claughton Island between boats containing 20 paddlers each.

Beautiful Bayfront Park hosts the annual Bayside Rocks Festival, a celebration of music's ability to bring people together. Music from across the spectrum, from world music to reggae and rock entertains the crowd and raises awareness for local charities.

This week-long book fair at Miami-Dade Community College is one of the largest literary events in the US. Over 200 authors gather to give lectures about their work, read extracts from their latest books and host signings.

The backdrop to numerous films, Miami is a truly cinematic city. The Miami Short Film Festival presents some of the best international shorts of the past year at cinemas all over the city, with a party on the final day.

Art Miami is an annual exposition of modern and contemporary art featuring over 100 international galleries, held in the Wynwood Art District. The centre of the action is a giant pavilion at NW 2nd Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Streets.

The MAM Ball is Miami Art Museum's annual fundraiser. The event welcomes civic leaders, art patrons and international guests to dine, dance the night away and raise money in support of the museum's public programmes and exhibitions.

The sister event to Switzerland's Art Basel, Art Basel Miami Beach claims to be the biggest contemporary art event in the United States. Over 250 leading galleries bring their paintings, drawings, sculptures and more to the Miami Beach Convention Center.

A truly off-beat procession, Coconut Grove's King Mango Strut is the only way to prepare for the New Year. Eschewing the classic trappings of an American street parade, the strut's only goal is to have fun with a capital "F".

Ring in the New Year at Miami's Bayfront Park with a free party and concert. A massive orange (symbolic of Florida) climbs the side of The Hotel Intercontinental to mark the countdown to midnight, welcomed with a huge firework display.

The Miami Dolphins play their NFL games at the Dolphins Stadium. The regular season runs from September until January. The NFL league sees 32 teams battle for the chance to be a finalist on Super Bowl Sunday.