The Winter Music Conference has been a Miami Beach staple since 1985. The event attracts 100,000 fans, performers and industry insiders to the city every March. The 10-day conference features seminars, workshops, parties and performances by over 1,400 artists. The event concludes with the annual International Dance Music Awards show. If you plan to attend the Winter Music Conference, make certain that you register early for the best admission prices and access to special events.
Busch Gardens opens its gates year-round, but the Tampa Bay amusement park offers three special holiday programs during the winter: Christmas on Ice, Christmas Celebration and Christmas from the Heart. All shows feature performances of classic holiday music. You'll also get to enjoy the park's transformation into a winter wonderland with festive holiday lights and decorations. The special shows begin in November of each year and end the following January.
The city of St. Augustine turns on its holiday lights in November and lights them every night until mid-January. The lights drape the city's Christmas tree, located in the historic Plaza de la Constitución section, as well as city parks, gardens and public buildings. Guides dressed in period clothing lead visitors on evening walking tours of historic buildings. The 30 art galleries in town provide free refreshments and host art walks on the first Friday of both December and January. The Lights of St. Augustine have shined in the city since 1993.
If you enjoy strawberries, some Florida farms allow you to pick your own during the winter. Hillsborough County grows most of the state's strawberries, but Dade, Collier, Pasco, Manatee and Polk counties also produce the fruit. Toward the end of winter, Plant City hosts the annual Florida Strawberry Festival. The event attracts nearly 500,000 visitors each year and features livestock competitions, entertainment, amusement rides, and the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen beauty pageant.
