Must-See Events in Florida

Every Memorial Day weekend Orlando locals, visitors, and musical acts from all over the world come together to celebrate Carnival. Expect three fun-filled days of parades, costumes, games, Caribbean themed music, and mouthwatering food.

This noon to 5 p.m. party is a family-friendly New Years celebration designed for little ones with early bedtimes. Five hours of games, bubble wrap fireworks, creative food, and dance parties will delight the kids as you ring in the New Year as a family.

Just in time for Easter, the Easter Bunny and a bunch of his friends visit the Miami Seaquarium to say hello to the kids. The two-day event features an Easter egg hunt, parade, Kid's Foam Zone, inflatable castles, and slides. Tickets for the festival include entry to the Seaquarium and all of their shows and exhibits.

This week-long tournament takes place every July in support of Jacksonville Marine Charities, Inc. The tournament, divided into general and junior anglers, is one of the largest fishing tournaments in the U.S. and attracts anglers from all over the country. The accompanying festival features food stalls, demonstrations, the Boatique merchandise shop, and hundreds of exhibition booths to peruse.

In 1982, the presence of U.S. Border Patrol and a newly established checkpoint caused a skirmish which led the sitting mayor of Key West and some of his supporters to secede from the United States and declare an independent Conch Republic. Federal authorities never acknowledged the secession, and the Border Patrol swiftly moved on from Key West, but that didn't stop this funky little town and its residents from creating an annual celebration of independence.

This is quite simply the perfect place to indulge in the fruits of the sea. The top restaurants from Siesta Key and Sarasota come together to present festival goers with the very best seafood Florida has to offer. For two full days in December, you can enjoy seriously fresh seafood, sip on expertly crafted cocktails, and dance to the rhythms of South Florida's best musicians. General admission is free but a reasonably priced ticket will get you into the VIP tent for the AYCE raw bar.

For more than 20 years downtown Miami has been the setting for what is widely regarded as the world's most important celebration of electronic dance music. Every March, 70,000 EDM fans descend on Bayfront Park for a three-day extravaganza with eight stages filled with international talent, pyrotechnics, and lasers.

The Tortuga Music Festival brings together some of the most celebrated artists in country, rock, and rap for a three-day multi-stage event on the stunning beaches of Fort Lauderdale. Taking place every April, the event has attracted many world-renowned acts, such as Grammy-winning country artist Keith Urban and rap's Billboard topping superstar Snoop Dogg. As if that wasn't enough, the festival also raises awareness and funds for marine conservation.

If you're looking for a Labor Day weekend party then look no further than the gorgeous shores of Panama Beach. The annual Gulf Coast Jam is a three-day country music festival with two stages that has featured some of country music's premier acts, including Blake Shelton, Scotty McCreery, and Carrie Underwood. Top names, a great setting, and an electric atmosphere make this unmissable.