Events

#1 Art & Design Event
Founded by a few enthusiastic gallery owners in 1970, the international art phenomenon now has events in Switzerland, Hong Kong, and Miami Beach, with the South Florida iteration attracting 50,000 people in 2013. Next: December 5-8, 2013

#2 Art & Design Event
The forum for innovative design ideas takes place at the same time as Art Basel but has become established enough in its own right that there is now a Design Miami spinoff event during Art Basel in Switzerland. Next: December 4-8, 2013

#3 Art & Design Event (up from #4)
The third of the big three events that set up shop during Miami’s Art Week, the contemporary and modern art fair shows off pieces from 125 different galleries, with more than 60,000 visitors in attendance. Next: December 3-8, 2013

#4 Art & Design Event
Hosted by the Miami Design Preservation League, the event sees more than 300,000 people turn out for a three-day celebration of art, music, movies, and more. Next: January 17-19, 2014

#5 Art & Design Event
The 50th anniversary edition of the wide-ranging art fair attracted 100,000 people to Coconut Grove this past Presidents’ Day weekend. Next: February 15-17, 2014

#6 Art & Design Event (new to the list)
A who’s-who of interior design names turn out for the D.C.O.T.A. award ceremony—part of its annual Winter Market—which honored Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan, among others, in 2013. Next: January 2014

#7 Art & Design Event
More than $20,000 in prizes is handed out at the art show, which features more than 200 juried entrants. Next: January 18-19, 2014

#8 Art & Design Event (new to the list)
Art Miami’s February art fair reeled in more than 26,000 visitors in its second outing and will return with works from 70 galleries this winter. Next: February 13-17, 2014

#9 Art & Design Event
Miami New Times’s eccentric arts showcase, presented by Miracle Mile and Downtown Coral Gables, hosts a range of artists, musicians, and fashion designers at the Coral Gables Museum. Next: Winter 2014

#1 Music, Theatre & Dance Event
The 28-year-old event has expanded to 400 concerts and gatherings across Miami, with 100,000 guests and a bevy of sponsored lounges and activations in recent years. Next: March 21-30, 2014

#2 Music, Theatre & Dance Event
The outdoor electronic musical festival saw record-breaking attendance of 330,000 in 2013. The show will return for a 16th outing next spring, although plans to repeat the two-weekend format are pending approval from the City of Miami. Next: March 28-30, 2014

#3 Music, Theatre & Dance Event
Miami Hispanic Ballet’s 18-year-old celebration of dance brought artists from more than 20 companies around the world to town in 2013. Next: Summer 2014

#4 Music, Theatre & Dance Event
A diverse array of artists—from classic rockers Cheap Trick to Miami-based reggae act Shifta—brought more than 270,000 attendees to West Palm Beach’s biggest music festival in 2013. Next: April 30-May 4, 2014

#5 Music, Theatre & Dance Event
Comedian D.L. Hughley will host the ninth annual edition of the two-day concert, which features a lineup of well-known artists in the realms of soul, R&B, and, of course, jazz. Next: March 15-16, 2014

#6 Music, Theatre & Dance Event
City Theatre and the Adrienne Arsht Center co-present the festival of short plays from well-known writers and up-and-coming talent. Next: June 12-July 6, 2014.

#8 Music, Theatre & Dance Event (up from #9)
Created by the nonprofit Rhythm Foundation in 2003 as a way to promote world music, Transatlantic scored a coup in 2013 by luring Arcade Fire for a show at the Little Haiti Cultural Center. Heineken is the festival's title sponsor. Next: April 2014

#1 Parade & Festival
The sprawling festival of Latino pride includes a domino tournament, golf classic, and Latin jazz street festival, culminating with the colorful Calle Ocho music festival. Next: February 8-March 9, 2014

#2 Parade & Festival
The fund-raiser for H.I.V./AIDS research, founded in 1985 as an intimate local event, has blossomed into a week’s worth of parties with top DJs from around the world. Next: November 27-December 2, 2013

#3 Parade & Festival
Showcasing arts, crafts, and food vendors along 12 blocks of downtown Delray, the famously eclectic fest attracts some 250,000 attendees. Next: April 25-27, 2014

#4 Parade & Festival
Hosted at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the region’s largest holiday parade attracts one million spectators for a waterborne spectacle of lights. Next: December 14, 2013

#5 Parade & Festival
Marking its 30th year in 2013, the country’s largest book fair brings 250,000 people to the streets of downtown Miami for eight days of readings, book signings, and literary events. Next: November 17-24, 2013

#7 Parade & Festival
Launched 22 years ago as a one-weekend event, the celebration of all things medieval now spans two separate weekslong engagements in Deerfield Beach and Miami. Next: February 8-March 16, 2014, and March 29-April 13, 2014

#8 Parade & Festival
One of the area’s fastest-growing gatherings, the five-year-old event now attracts some 80,000 attendees for concerts, parties, and presentations from 125 L.G.B.T.-friendly businesses. Next: April 11-13, 2014

#9 Parade & Festival
TV stars such as Tracy Morgan, Sarah Silverman, and Seth Meyers led the lineup at Comedy Central’s live laugh-in this year. Next: April 2014

#10 Parade & Festival
Florida’s largest fair welcomed 575,000 guests for 18 days of carnival rides, funnel cakes, and live performances in 2013. Next: March 13-30, 2014

#12 Parade & Festival
One of South Florida’s most recognizable year-end traditions, the satirical parade entertains some 10,000 spectators on the last Sunday in December. Next: December 29, 2013

#13 Parade & Festival
The 65-year-old tradition brings several thousand young people to downtown Coral Gables for a showy spectacle that kicks off the events leading up to college football’s Orange Bowl. Next: December 1, 2013

#14 Parade & Festival
The four-year-old celebration of Caribbean culture culminates with more than two miles of colorful parading contained within Sun Life Stadium. Next: October 2014

#1 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Consistently the most buzzed-about foodie festival in the country, the annual gathering of 60,000 chefs, Food Network stars, and gourmands always includes an impressive array of brand activations and insiders parties. Next: February 20-23, 2014

#2 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #3)
Florida’s smelliest shindig marks its 15th year in 2014. The affair offers cook-offs, musical acts, and other attractions amidst a maze of everything from garlic hot sauce to garlic ice cream. Next: February 7-9, 2014

#4 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #5)
Share Our Strength’s tasty fund-raiser brought in $160,000 in 2013, while entertaining guests with bites and sips from 50 of the area’s top restaurants. Next: July 2014

#5 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #6)
Some 25,000 people flock to Pompano Beach each spring for Florida’s most venerable homage to the fruits of the sea. Next: April 25-27, 2014

#6 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #7)
The upcoming 10th annual edition of the bayfront music and food fest benefits the Deering Estate Foundation, with proceeds used for preservation of and programming for the historic estate. Next: March 30, 2014

#7 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #8)
Formerly the United Way Miami Food and Wine Festival, the event gathers 3,000 foodies for four days of interactive dinners, wine tastings, and craft beer showcases. Next: April 9-12, 2014

#8 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #12)
Fort Lauderdale’s 18-year-old fund-raiser for the American Lung Association in Florida-South Area has become a must-attend event for food and wine lovers in the region. Next: May 2, 2014

#9 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (up from #11)
The 18th annual fund-raiser brought in more than $190,000 in 2013, entertaining 2,100 guests with tastings from 44 South Florida restaurants. Next: April 4, 2014

#10 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (new to the list)
Anchored by one of the most successful wine auctions held anywhere, the three-day Naples event has reported raising $110 million for at-risk children since 2001. Next: January 24-26, 2014

#11 Food & Restaurant Industry Event
Held at downtown Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, the hip cook-off and grand tasting pairs the area’s hottest chefs with live bands and a rollicking after-party. Next: Summer 2014

#12 Food & Restaurant Industry Event (new to the list)
Culinary world celebrities like Ted Allen, Daniel Boulud, and Todd English will anchor the charity event this year. Next: December 13-17, 2013

#1 Film & Media Event
Marking its 30th anniversary this year, the film festival presented 100 films from around the world and attracted some 70,000 spectators. The weeklong event has grown to include mini festivals such as Culinary Cinema, Chinese Cinema, and the Latin America-focused Encuentros. Next: March 7-16, 2014

#2 Film & Media Event
Actor James Franco accepted the Ally Award at the 15th edition of the 10-day festival in 2013, which saw ticket sales grow almost 10 percent for its 65-film lineup. Next: April 25-May 4, 2014

#3 Film & Media Event
Presented by the Society of Professional Journalists South Florida chapter, the prestigious award event for print, broadcast, and online journalism will mark its 20th anniversary next year. Next: July 2014

#4 Film & Media Event (up from #5)
The largest event outside Brazil dedicated to films from that country, the annual showcase features an award competition, open-air screenings, and a marketplace. Next: August 2014

#5 Film & Media Event (new to the list)
More than 800 media, marketing, and advertising professionals gathered at the Fountainebleau Miami Beach hotel in 2013 for the fourth annual edition of the conference, which focuses on creative approaches to reaching audiences in the Latin American market. Next: Fall 2014

#6 Film & Media Event (up from #7)
The spinoff of the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival marked its fifth year as a standalone festival, taking place at the newly remodeled Classic Gateway Theater and screening 37 films from 10 countries. Next: October 9-12, 2014

#7 Film & Media Event (new to the list)
Nearly 100 marketing executives from many of the world’s biggest brands—from JetBlue to BlackBerry to Allstate—converged at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Miami for the ninth annual gathering of chief marketing officers. Next: October 2014

#8 Film & Media Event
Established in 2002, the Coconut Grove-based festival dedicated to movies less than 20 minutes long has grown into an eight-day event that hands out awards in 10 categories. Next: November 8-15, 2013

#1 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
With three million square feet of exhibit space covering six different locations, the event is considered the world’s largest boat show. This year’s expo added glitzy new attractions like SeaFair, a restaurant/bar/art exhibit housed on a 228-foot yacht, and Sailfish Pavilion, an indoor-outdoor area complete with an offshore racing boat and a fishing pond. Next: October 30-November 3, 2014

#2 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
Formerly the South Florida International Auto Show, the 43-year-old event revamped its name and look in 2012, with new features like the “Topless in Miami” outdoor convertible showcase. After a 16 percent increase in attendance, the show was set to return with more than 40 manufacturers exhibiting 1,000 car models this year. Next: November 8-17, 2013

#3 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
Spanning the Miami Beach Convention Center, Sea Isle Marina, and Miamarina at Bayside, the region’s second-largest boat show is no slouch either, with more than 100,000 attendees each year. Next: February 13-17, 2014

#4 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
With two annual shows in Miami and another two in Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s leading home show features interactive exhibits on remodeling, home improvement, and interior design. Next: November 15-17, 2013

#7 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
Featuring more than 1,000 dealers, the world’s largest indoor antiques show will return to the Miami Beach Convention Center for a 53rd edition this winter. Next: January 30-February 3, 2014

#8 Trade Event, Expo & Convention (up from #11)
One of the region’s fastest growing shows, the celebration of comic books, animation, video games, fantasy, and sci-fi will move from the Miami Airport Convention Center to the Miami Beach Convention Center next year to accommodate larger crowds. Next: July 3-6, 2014

#9 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
The newly rebranded wellness expo—replacing the NBC 6 & Telemundo 51 Health & Fitness Expo—brought exhibitors focused on antiaging, stress reduction, and overall health to the Broward County Convention Center. Next: Fall 2014

#10 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
After seven years in Miami Beach, the 20,000-person pornography industry event relocated to the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale this year. Next: Spring 2014

#11 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
With 93 new exhibitors boosting the total number to more than 900, the cruise industry showcase attracted 11,000 attendees in 2013 and will mark its 30th anniversary this winter. Next: March 10-13, 2014

#12 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
More than 500 exhibitors from 28 different countries showcased new food products and services for 9,000 food and beverage industry buyers in 2013. Next: Fall 2014

#13 Trade Event, Expo & Convention
Presented by Hospitality Design magazine and produced by the Hospitality Design Group, the newly rebranded conference features presentations from an array of luxury lighting, international furniture, high-end art, and other design producers. Next: September 16-17, 2014

#14 Trade Event, Expo & Convention (new to the list)
Offering three annual shows at the Miami Beach Convention Center, J.I.S.’s largest showcase, in October, attracts 12,000 attendees. Next: January 11-13, 2014

#1 Benefit (up from #3)
The Best Buddies nonprofit welcomed 850 guests to Marlins Park for an epic gala last year, building two separate rooms on the stadium’s field for a reception and concert in which LMFAO performed. The event raised $2 million. Next: November 22, 2013

#2 Benefit
A must-attend event on the Miami socialite calendar for 19 years now, this year’s Make-a-Wish Ball featured a vaudeville-inspired fashion show, a performance by American Idol veteran Adam Lambert, and a record-breaking haul of more than $2 million. Next: November 2014

#3 Benefit
The longstanding Palm Beach affair marked its 58th outing in 2013 with a move back to its one-time home at the Breakers. As always, many ambassadors and dignitaries were among the 450 guests in attendance. Next: February 7, 2014

#4 Benefit (up from #6)
One of the most venerable events in the Top 100 list, the 57-year-old Vizcayan Ball is still a must-attend for a broad spectrum of social-minded Miamians. This year’s ball will feature a Venetian masquerade theme, complete with masked attendees. Next: November 23, 2013

#5 Benefit
A Brazilian carnival theme, a performance by singer Juanes, and a bevy of large gifts helped the hospital boost its fund-raising take to more than $5 million at the 2013 outing of the Diamond Ball. Next: October 2014

#6 Benefit (up from #7)
Lea Black of Real Housewives fame has helped make the annual bash she throws with husband Roy a nationally covered event, with presenting sponsor Grey Goose and a guest list in 2013 that included celebrities like Lance Bass, Dennis Rodman, and Taylor Hicks. Next: Spring 2014

#7 Benefit (up from #8)
Singer Barry Gibbs is booked to bring extra panache to the 40th anniversary edition of the black-tie gala. Next: February 15, 2014

#8 Benefit (up from #9)
The largest annual fund-raiser for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County had a “Magic of Motown” theme in 2013, welcoming more than 400 guests to new venue Hard Rock Live in Hollywood. Next: Fall 2014

#9 Benefit (new to the list)
For its 25th anniversary event in 2013, the symphony projected scenes from West Side Story onto the exterior of its new Frank Gehry-designed building, while 600 guests helped raise more than $1.3 million. Next: February 8, 2014

#10 Benefit (up from #11)
Baptist Health South Florida’s reconfigured annual event was a hit with a “Mad for Mod” 1960s theme in 2013 and will return to the U.S. Century Bank Arena at Florida International University this spring. Next: May 17, 2014

#11 Benefit (up from #12)
The National YoungArts Foundation honored choreographer Debbie Allen, violinist Joshua Bell, and actor Adrian Grenier in 2013, helping raise more than $1 million for youth arts programs. Next: January 11, 2014

#12 Benefit (up from #13)
Formerly the Miami Art Museum Gala, the event has been renamed to commemorate the opening of the new Herzog & de Meuron-designed building and is expected to be one of the marquee draws of Miami Art Week. Next: December 7, 2013

#13 Benefit (new to the list)
The museum’s 12-year-old benefit has taken a place in the spotlight with the announcement of a new $275 million facility on the way—with its opening date to be unveiled at the 2014 gala. Next: March 15, 2014

#14 Benefit (up from #15)
More than 400 guests helped Deliver the Dream—a nonprofit that organizes retreat programs for families facing serious illness and crisis—mark its 10th anniversary with blue jeans and caviar in 2013. Next: Fall 2014

#15 Benefit (up from #16)
The Bass Museum of Art’s fourth annual fund-raiser included a private preview of the "From Picasso to Koons: the Artist as Jeweler" exhibition for some 500 guests. Next: March 12, 2014

#16 Benefit (up from #20)
Former Miami Dolphin’s coach Don Shula was honored at St. Jude’s 11th annual event in 2013, with co-founder Daisy Fuentes making a special appearance to greet the 900 gala guests. Next: Spring 2014

#17 Benefit (up from #18)
Some 500 Miami V.I.P.s and their furry friends helped bring in more than $550,000 at the fifth outing of the four-legged fund-raiser for the Humane Society of Greater Miami. Next: January 24, 2014

#18 Benefit (up from #19)
A comprehensive roster of Miami chefs appeared at the 24th edition of the food-focused fund-raising extravaganza on November 6. Next: Fall 2014

#1 Sports Event
College football’s 80-year-old tradition returns to Sun Life Stadium this January. More than 72,000 fans turned out last year to see Florida State close out its season with a victory over Northern Illinois. Next: January 3, 2014

#2 Sports Event
Having welcomed more than 300,000 spectators to the marquee men’s and women’s tennis tournament for each of the past four years, the Open will launch a $50 million project to expand and improve its home at the Crandon Park Tennis Center following the 2014 event. Next: March 17-30, 2014

#3 Sports Event
Held at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the final race weekend of Nascar’s season features championships in all three of the sport’s major series, with a live national TV broadcast. Next: November 15-17, 2013

#4 Sports Event
Tiger Woods capped his comeback to golf’s upper echelon with a 2013 win at the P.G.A. Tour event, which invites the top 50 ranked players to Trump National Doral. Next: March 6-9, 2014

#5 Sports Event
The ninth annual Polo World Cup changed title sponsors, adding La Martina in 2013. The event welcomed fans to the sands of South Beach for three days of men’s and women’s matches, along with a fashion show and plenty of parties. Next: April 23-27, 2014

#6 Sports Event
The country’s most prestigious polo championship marks its 100th anniversary in 2014 with a monthlong series of matches at the International Polo Club Palm Beach. Next: March 30-April 20, 2014

#7 Sports Event
One of the country’s fastest growing marathons, the Miami winter tradition has, since its first run in 2003, blossomed into a race that attracts more than 25,000 runners. Next: February 2, 2014

#10 Sports Event (new to the list)
With nearly $4 million raised for the fight against cancer, the fourth annual edition of the charity cycling event was by far its biggest yet, with some 2,000 participants biking across the tri-county area. Next: November 2014

#12 Sports Event (new to the list)

Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Pat Riley, and the rest of Miami's beloved basketball franchise turned out for the 16th annual charity benefit in 2013, where musical performances, one-on-one hoops, and fan photos with the N.B.A. championship trophy all took place outside AmericanAirlines Arena. Next: Spring 2014

#1 Fashion Industry Event
Five days of designer runway shows and associated after-parties make Fashion Week Swim the country’s definitive annual event for the swimwear industry. Mercedes-Benz currently serves at the event's title sponsor. Next: July 2014

#2 Fashion Industry Event
The populist alternative to IMG Fashion’s elite showcases—Funkshion’s lineup always includes free-to-the-public shows—the event includes new lineups every spring, summer, and fall. Next: March 2014

#3 Fashion Industry Event
The three-decade-old show upgraded in 2013, adding 400,000 square feet of exhibition space and attracting 2,500 buyers from 60 different countries. Next: July 19-22, 2014