BREAKING NEWS - FLORIDA FESTIVALS AND EVENTS


PENSACOLA – Starting in January, The National Aviation Museum hosts numerous special events and exhibits to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of naval aviation. With more then 150 vintage aircrafts and weekly flyovers by the world-famous Blue Angles, this museum is one of the largest air and space museums in the world. http://navalaviationmuseum.org/

AMELIA ISLAND (near Jacksonville) – Beginning on Feb. 24 the newly created Amelia Island Film Festival will celebrate three days of local and regional filmmakers in venues throughout historic downtown Fernandina Beach. The program provides an excellent atmosphere for festival goers to meet and greet with film makers, writers, artists, songwriters and more. www.filmamelia.com

TAMPA – Calling all chocolate lovers. The Museum of Science and Industry will be hosting The Festival of Chocolate from Jan. 15-17. Enjoy Florida’s only all-chocolate themed festival by sampling different types of the sweet treat, while experiencing interactive events that showcase the science, history, fun and romance associated with one of our favorite candies. http://www.mosi.org/what-to-do/the-festival-of-chocolate.aspx

FORT MYERS – This winter, experience the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the world-famous Rockettes in a glittering, grand performance in Southwest Florida. Take a magical trip to the North Pole during this exciting and memorable performance until Nov. 28. http://www.bbmannpah.com/

MIAMI – Visitors and residents alike can commemorate the opening of the ArtSoBay Exhibit during the 2011 SoBay Festival of the Arts. The two week long series of events begin on Feb. 4, and celebrates the literary, performing and visual arts that have inspired the culture of South Florida. The festival concludes with a concert featuring Victor Espinola, a multi-instrumentalist and singer. http://www.deeringestate.org/pages/SoBay-Festival-of-the-Arts.aspx

Exhibits & Shows
TAMPA – Coming to the Museum of Science and Industry this February is the premiere of their new spring exhibit, Harry’s Big Adventure: My Bug World, sponsored by Terminix. This exhibit offers guests a chance to get up close and personal with insects from all over the world! http://www.harrysbigadventure.com/

PLANT CITY (Near Lakeland) - Dinosaur World welcomes the arrival of the new baby dinosaurs exhibit including the Maiasaurs, Torosaurs and Igunadons species. The grouping of dinosaurs in their herds is an important aspect of Dinosaur World’s exhibits where you will find over 150 of these life size dinosaurs along with interactive exhibits. Activities include the Fossil Dig, where you can search through sand looking for fossils to take home; and at Boneyard, you can uncover a life-size skeleton waiting for visitors. www.dinosaurworld.com

PALM BEACH - Watch a once in a lifetime circus extravaganza presented by The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey as they bring you though a fantasy-filled world during A Magical Holiday Circus Spectacular. From Dec. 28 - Jan. 2, experience the wonderment and holiday magic intersected with unparallel powers of imagination. http://www.ringling.com/

MANALAPAN (Near West Palm Beach) – The Florida Stage announces the World Premier of Goldie, Max & Milk from Dec. 15 - Jan. 16 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Celebrating the company’s first season at the Kravis Center, this comedy, mixing humor and beauty is one of the four new plays the company will introduce this season. Call (561) 515 – 6372 to reserve your seats, or visit http://www.floridastage.org/

Activities
ST. AUGUSTINE – The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum opens Nov. 2010 and is located just a short walk from the Castillo de San Marcos, marking the historic battle grounds for Spanish soldiers’ centuries ago. This interactive, educational attraction features archeological finds, replica pirate ships, and pirate artifacts. www.thepiratemuseum.com

DUCK KEY (Florida Keys) – Learn to ride the waves or paddle the crystal clear waters around Hawks Cay Resort. They recently added Stand-Up Paddleboarding to its list of activities, which lets new and experienced visitors see dolphins, fish, homes and boat shows from a never seen perspective. Call (305) 743-7000 or check out www.HawksCay.com

KEY LARG0 – Scuba Divers can now explore more of the dive capital of the world with the Key Largo Scuba Shack. The Scuba Shack now offers dive vessel service in their Burpee dive vessel that accommodates six to ten divers. The vessel also allows them to customize a planned charter for morning, afternoon or night dive excursions. For more information, call (305) 735-4313 or visit www.keylargoscubashack.com

Openings & Renovations
PENSACOLA - The Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach will open in February 2011. The 206-room property will feature gulf front rooms, a full-service restaurant, 10,000 square feet of meeting space, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and lazy river pool with cascading waterfalls. Located on the sugar white sands of the Gulf of Mexico, this resort is footsteps away from restaurants with excellent local flavor and many night spots for all ages. http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/rs/1/en/hotel/pnspb

JACKSONVILLE – Starwood hotels will open the Aloft Jacksonville –Tapestry Park in January 2011, featuring approximately 3,600 square feet of meeting space. The meeting space will be located in an attached building and can be separated into three smaller spaces for various events. The new hotel has been deigned to meet criteria to receive a LEED Green Building Rating System. The hotel is located next to a recently opened III Forks Steakhouse, providing guests a exceptional fine dinning experience steps from their guestroom. http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/index.html

JACKSONVILLE – Coming to the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) in November will be Florida’s largest digital planetarium. This new addition will include a 60-foot dome theatre offering a total-immersion entertainment experience. Not a science guru? The programming will reach beyond astronomy to include history and natural science, blockbuster films and documentaries. www.themosh.org

ST. PETERSBURG – Set to open Jan 11.11 The Dali Museum will hold the largest collection of Salvador Dali’s work in the world, outside of Spain. The gallery will display works of art from a 2,140 piece collection, including 96 oil paintings. The exterior of the building is a work of art, featuring more then 900 triangular-shaped glass panels, wrapping around the building like a Dali Clock. www.thedali.org

PALM BEACH – The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach plans to unveil new guestrooms in January 2011 that feature a spa-inspired sensibility, combining the sophistication and natural beauty of the nearby waterfront in the resorts 210 rooms. Behind the transformation is designer Brian Glukstein, a well-known Canadian interior designer who plans to combine a contemporary look with a casual sophistication, comfort and understated elegance. http://www.fourseasons.com/palmbeach/

PALM BEACH – Re-opening this season at The Breakers is L’Escalier, the crown of their dining collection, serving contemporary French cuisine in a refined atmosphere of Versace china, Christofle silver, Riedel crystal and talented service staff presenting each dish in a classic European style. http://www.thebreakers.com/

PALM BEACH GARDENS – VERDEA, opening in December at The Embassy Suites Palm Beach gardens will provide an elegant natural gourmet dining experience. The restaurant emphasizes flavor and simplicity by blending local, seasonal and organic ingredients to create a new and exciting environment for all guests. To reserve your table, call (561) 691-3165 or visit www.palmbeachgardens.embsuites.com.

MARATHON (Florida Keys) - The Holiday Inn Express & Suites is Marathon Key’s newest lodging addition accommodated guests for the first time on Nov. 5. The hotel has 134 rooms with amenities including a marina with docks for guests, a large outdoor pool facility, a 5,000 square-foot tiki bar and 24-hour fitness and business centers. The resort also offers free wireless high-speed internet access in rooms and throughout the resort. For reservations, call 888-465-4329 or visit http://www.hiexpress.com/

News from VISITFLORIDA

Photos copyright Anne Gordon

Posted by Anne Gordon on Saturday, 18th December, 2010.