The Miami Blog

The 36th annual Miami Bahamas Goombay Festival on June 1-3, 2012 will offer a much-anticipated taste of Bahamian culture. The festival takes place in Coconut Grove which is the home of 1890s Bahamian immigrants and Miami’s oldest black community.

The annual festival is as colorful and vibrant as the Bahamas, transforming Grand Avenue into a vibrant Caribbean party. The Bahamian-style festival occurs each year on the first weekend of June and is dedicated to the preservation of the early black settlers of Coconut Grove.

Thousands of visitors arrive in Miami for this festival celebrating the Bahamian influences. Three stages give the festival attendees plenty of reasons to enjoy Caribbean style music, but perhaps one of the biggest attractions is the 55-member Royal Bahamas Police Band.

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Unlike other similar celebrations, the annual Miami Wine & Food Festival offers four non-overlapping events from April 18-21, 2012. The four culinary events are held on consecutive dates allowing guests to attend one or all four without any conflicting of program times. The festival occurs across three venues in Miami: Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Mary Brickell Village and Village of Merrick Park featuring headliners Bravo’s Top Chef Season 7 winner Kevin Sbraga and Fontainebleau’s Executive Chef, Thomas Connell.

The opening Miami Wine & Food Festival craft beer tasting event, Brews & Bites, debuted last year. This year’s popular event will be held on Wednesday, April 18 at Mary Brickell Village. Beer lovers attending Brews & Bits will be in brew heaven with 50 craft beers and microbrews paired with dishes from 30 local restaurants. Cost: VIP tickets $75, General Admission $55.

Thursday’s Taste & Taste Fine Wine is an outdoor celebration of wine at the Village of Merrick Place. During this evening event, festival attendees have the opportunity to assemble with more than 65 wine producers and importers and enjoy highlights of more than 200 global wines with 35 local restaurants pairing some of the best culinary tastes in Miami. Wine producers and chefs will also answer questions. Cost: VIP Tickets $150, General Admission $75.

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