Miami, Florida, might be known as a summertime getaway, but that doesn't mean that the city closes down in the winter months. On a good day in January, you can still head out to South Beach for a day in the sun. But don't worry: If it gets too chilly on the beach, there are still plenty of things to do.
January is a busy month for art lovers in Miami. The Beaux Arts Festival Miami's oldest juried arts show, and it's held every year on the second weekend in January on the University of Miami campus. In addition to the show itself, the Beau Arts Fest also provides activities for children and lots of tasty food. The annual Miami International Art Fair also occurs in January, featuring contemporary art exhibits from galleries all over the globe.
The annual Art Deco Weekend is a three-day event held in the middle of January in Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District. Art Deco Weekend draws thousands of people each year for a wide variety of events, including lectures, films, dance and theater performances, walking tours of the area, and a street festival. It's sponsored by the Miami Design Preservation League.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national holiday observed on the third Monday in January, and you should consider yourself lucky to be in Miami for the yearly festivities. Miami's annual Martin Luther King Parade and Festival is one of the largest in the nation, attracting hundreds of thousands of people a year. The parade route snakes through the city, eventually ending at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, where the main festival is held. The entertainment and events differ each year, but there is always live music and good food.
One of the biggest events of the year in Miami, the Orange Bowl BCS college football championship occurs the first week in January. If you can't get a ticket to the game itself, there's still plenty of fun to be had, and you don't even have to be a sports fan to enjoy the entertainment. Traditionally held the day before the game itself, Miami's Orange Bowl Fan Fest is a day-long celebration with food, games and lots of live music from some big name performers.
