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Holsum Bakery: A Beloved South Miami Holiday Tradition

Riviera Theater Image Courtesy Cinema Treasures

Holsum Bakery: A Beloved South Miami Holiday Tradition

Merita Bread sign courtesy Orlando Magazine
The Merita Bread sign that greeted I4 travelers through downtown Orlando. If you were lucky, bread was baking and the smell was incredible. Image courtesy Orlando Magazine

The smell of baking bread. Almost everyone loves that fresh baked smell. When you have a large professional bakery nearby it can be even more overwhelming. Just ask those who drove I-4 in Orlando during the days when Merita Bread operated a nearby bakery.

The same was true for residents of South Miami when Fuchs Baking Company, later known as Holsum Bakery, was in business on U.S. 1 in the growing community.

Riviera Theater

The Holsum Bakery building was located at 5750 S. Dixie Highway (U.S. 1). The bakery was housed in a large building that was originally constructed in 1925 as the Riviera Theater.

In 1910, brothers Robert and Harold Dorn left the cold winters of Chicago settling in an area known at the time as Larkin. Their plan was to make their fortune in the fruit business, selling locally and shipping fresh citrus north.

Robert especially bought into the hype of 1920s Florida real estate, building several commercial properties. His largest and most elaborate project was the Riviera Theater, completed in 1926.

Riviera Theater Image Courtesy Cinema Treasures
Riviera Theater Image Courtesy Cinema Treasures

The exterior of the building featured a wide and inviting staircase with arched entries. Attentive theater goers would have seen many decorative carvings, coat of arms displays, and decorative, yet functional lighting fixtures. The barrel tile, hip roof showcased the Mediterranean influence popular in Miami during the period.

The theater was built of steel and concrete. The ceilings reached a whopping thirty-seven feet high, supported by hand painted beams. Columns lined the aisles along the gently sloping floor which led to the stage area.

Facing the stage to the left was a large Wurlitzer organ with pipes installed on both the left and right hands sides of the stage. Seating was divided into three sections with two aisles creating left, center, and right sections. Total seating was around 1,000.

Actress Laura LaPlante image courtesy Wikipedia
Actress Laura LaPlante Image courtesy Wikipedia

The theater opened to much fanfare, and with the September 4, 1926, opening showing of Her Big Night, starring Laura LaPlante, the theater looked poised to become a grand success. However, the Riviera was a victim of circumstances beyond the control of the Dorn brothers.

In mid-September 1926, hurricane tracking and forecasting were still a thing of the future. In the days before satellite imaging, hurricane tracking planes, and computer models, residents relied on reports out of Washington D.C. The problem being, Washington relied heavily on reports from ship captains. The Weather Bureau of the day knew of the storm but Richard Gray, head of the Miami branch of the Weather Bureau was unaware of what was barreling through the Atlantic that second week of September. It was not until the late evening of September 17, less than twelve hours before landfall, that hurricane warnings were posted. The deadly 1926 hurricane would be like nothing anyone there had ever witnessed.

Robert Dorn and his family were attempting to take a few days of vacation when they were caught in Palm Beach by the dramatically dangerous weather. The Sunday paper highlighted the damage to the region and Dorn had no idea the condition of the Riviera.

Candy You Ate As A Kid

Fighting road flooding, traffic congestion, and bridges of uncertain stability, the family made it safely to their home which had miraculously survived. Dorn was to find the Riviera suffered little damage and he was able to have the theater put back in working order quickly. Unfortunately for Dorn, electric service took several weeks to be repaired. Theater goers, eager to escape the realities of life for a couple of hours, were forced to wait for repairs.

Despite having defied the ravages of a category four hurricane, the Riviera could not withstand the onslaught of the bursting of the Florida land boom and the coming of the Great Depression. Many residents found themselves in dire straits financially, and a night at the movies was no longer in the budget, as they tried to wait out the bust.

The Riviera was a casualty of the crashing of the Florida land boom, closing some time in 1927. Dorn entertained several ideas to reopen the facility, such as creating a nightclub, but the financial realities kept the facility closed for many years before, in 1934, the Riviera found a new life.

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Fuchs Bakery/Holsum Bread Company

When Charlie Fuchs, Sr. arrived in south Florida during the early 1910s, he and his family opened a small bakery, cooking and selling out of their Homestead home. Quickly finding success, Fuchs purchased the local Noble Bakery in order to expand. With the help of a hired baker, and Charlie, Jr. returning from service in the Great War, the business thrived.

With the addition of a new bakery located near the Redland Hotel and having opened an ice cream parlor, the Fuchs were working hard, but showing meaningful results. Charlie Jr., drove a delivery truck, helping not only deliver bread, but spreading the Fuchs Bakery name across the region.

Charlie Sr. retired from the business in 1924. Needing to further expand, Charlie Jr. initiated talks to acquire the Riviera Theater building from the Dorn family. The building had been sitting vacant for nearly a decade and Robert Dorn believed selling the property was the best option.

Major interior alterations were made to the structure but the exterior, including the large open stairway leading to the arched entrances was preserved. Over the years, the name changed, eventually settling on Holsum Bread Company, often just called Holsum Bakery.

The Fuchs family did much to ingratiate themselves to the community. Not only did they sell bread right out of the oven to walk in customers, they delivered their fresh made bread throughout south Florida. One report states that they even shipped bread to Puerto Rico and Cuba. A newspaper account from 1949 made the claim the bakery had the capacity to turn out 10,000 loaves of bread per hour.

Annual Holiday Exhibit

While Holsum Bakery and Fuchs Bakery were best known for their bread, they were also famous for their annual Christmas exhibits. These exhibits drew thousands of spectators each year and were never the same, so there was always a reason to return each year.

Just when these exhibits started is open for debate. In trying to research this question, I have come up with published dates of 1937, 1939, and 1940. I suppose for our purposes here, if we were to say, “around 1940,” I think we would be quite safe.

Below, I present to you a series of postcard images I have collected featuring the Holsum Bakery annual Christmas exhibits from 1949 through 1958. I have seen a card featuring the 1948 exhibit but I have yet to add this one to my collection. If there are postcards before 1948 or after 1958, I have not seen them.

Holsum Bakery 1949 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1949 Christmas Display

 

Holsum Bakery 1950 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1950 Christmas Display

 

Holsum Bakery 1951 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1951 Christmas Display–notice the water tower in the left rear of the image not shown in other images

 

Holsum Bakery 1952 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1952 Christmas Display

 

Holsum Bakery 1953 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1953 Christmas Display

 

Holsum Bakery 1954 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1954 Christmas Display

 

Holsum Bakery 1955 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1955 Christmas Display

 

Holsum Bakery 1956 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1956 Christmas Display

 

Holsum Bakery 1957 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1957 Christmas Display

 

Holsum Bakery 1958 Christmas Display
Holsum Bakery 1958 Christmas Display

 

Focusing on the restoration of movie theaters in Atlanta, Biloxi, Birmingham, Durham, Memphis, and Tampa, Janna Jones provides a record of the architectural history and preservation of the opulent urban picture palace. Reflecting our fascination with the past, she re-creates the magic of the early years of theaters throughout the southern United States, their demise in the mid-20th century, and their renaissance in the 1970s as the preservation movement swept across the country. Click the photo or THIS LINK to learn more and order your copy of The Southern Movie Palace. 

1941 Orange Bowl Parade

In keeping with the holiday theme, the Miami Dade Public Libraries Special Collections has these two images from the 1941 Orange Bowl Parade. It is interesting to note, the one photo is taken in front of a theater building, showing a Boris Karloff film, The Ape, something that only a few years prior might have showed at the Riviera. Be sure to note the parade watchers in the windows high above ground level.

1941 Orange Bowl Parade Image Courtesy Miami Dade Public LIbraries Special Collections
1941 Orange Bowl Parade Image Courtesy Miami Dade Public Libraries Special Collections
1941 Orange Bowl Parade Image Courtesy Miami Dade Public Libraries Special Collection
1941 Orange Bowl Parade Image Courtesy Miami Dade Public Libraries Special Collections

Fuchs Family

Charlie Fuchs, Sr. passed away in 1940. An online memorial may be found using THIS LINK.

Charlie Fuchs, Jr. passed away either in 1949 or 1956 depending upon the source. He was killed in a hunting accident on an airboat while in the Everglades. In 1956, the city of South Miami renamed Blue Water Park, Fuchs Park, in honor of Charlie, Jr. An online memorial for Charlie, Jr. may be found using THIS LINK.

The Building in Recent Years

During the early 1980s, the Holsum Bakery moved operations to Medley, FL leaving the building empty and at the hands of real estate developers. The property was purchased, and the Riviera/Holsum Bakery demolished in 1986, replaced by a shopping mall. Property owners attempted to pay homage to the history of the property, naming the mall, Bakery Center with the AMC Bakery Center 7 Theatres as a tenant.

Bakery Center proved short lived and by 1996 this too was demolished to make way for the Shops at Sunset Place. According to Cinema Treasures, the rear portion of LA Fitness and the western edge of the parking garage are located where the Riviera once stood.

A Different Riviera Theater

The name Riviera Theater is certainly not unique and in 1956 another Riviera Theater was opened in south Florida. Located in Coral Gables, the theater seated 1,281. The theater was turned into a twin plex in 1974, before becoming a five plex in 1986. The theater ultimately closed in 1999. It appears the building was demolished in 2021. Several interesting images may be found on the Cinema Treasures website. If you click the link, be sure to scroll down to the comments for additional photos.

 

If you have photos or stories of the Riviera Theater, the Dorn or Fuchs family, or the South Miami Holsum Bakery facility I would love to see them and with your permission, add them to this post or create a new post for your material. Please feel free to comment on this post, or send me an email.

 

Sources

Cinema Treasures.

Florida Master Site file

“The Holsum Bakery Building.” Historical Association of Southern Florida Update. Volume 5 No. 2 (December 1977).

Miami Dade Public Library System. “Capacity 10,000 Loaves an Hour.” Article dated September 20, 1949. Miami Vol. 54: 1949-1950 Agnew Welsh Scrapbooks. 36.

Miami Dade Public Library System. “Florida’s Tallest Yule.” Article dated December 17, 1950. Florida Vol. 66: 1950 Agnew Welsh Scrapbooks. 75.

Miami Dade Public Library System. Untitled article. Dade County Vol. 22: 1951 Agnew Welsh Scrapbooks. 19.

South Miami Magazine.

 

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are never influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors providing products.  

 

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September 2023 The Best Events and Festivals in Florida

The Best Florida Events and Festivals

The Best in Florida Events and Festivals September 2023

Florida hosts some amazing events and festivals. Each month I hope to take a look at a dozen or so of these in hopes of bringing you fun, exciting, and unexpected ways to enjoy our state.

If you have an event or know of one coming up that you feel should be highlighted, please drop me a line with as much information as you can, including a website. I’ll be glad to include your suggestions in future posts.

Events are listed in date order.

Create My Map

September 1-10              Miami International Auto Show       Miami Beach

Our show provides an excellent opportunity for consumers to view the latest models and newest technologies within the auto industry. The focus for the show in 2023 will mirror that of the industry with a special emphasis on electric vehicles and sustainability.

Several indoor EV tracks will introduce South Floridians to the newest electric vehicles on the market. For the first time in the Auto Show’s history, the Camp Jeep activation will be moving inside the Convention Center. The vehicles on the thrill-ride tracks will be electric.

Admission is $15 for adults. Several discount programs are available. Check the website for details.

Subscribe to Car and Driver magazine at a great savings price. Click the image for details.
Subscribe to Car and Driver and save by clicking THIS LINK or the image.

 

September 7-10              Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival          Islamorada

REEF’s 14th annual event will include two full days of lionfish fishing, followed by a family-friendly festival at picturesque Postcard Inn Resort & Marina. The festival is open to the public and will include lionfish scoring, fillet and dissection demonstrations, lionfish tastings, lionfish games and crafts, raffle prizes, plus booths from environmentally-minded vendors. Chefs will be providing lionfish cooking demonstrations and special dishes and drink specials will be available.

While in Islamorada, you don’t want to miss out on the incredible snorkeling and diving, where you can experience coral reefs, tropical fish, and other marine life. Relax on this two-hour guided catamaran tour and enjoy all that Islamorada has to offer. Click THIS LINK for details and to book the snorkeling adventure of a lifetime.

Emerald Coast Beer Festival September 8, 2023 in Pensacola.September 8     Emerald Coast Beer Festival   Pensacola

Emerald Coast Beer Festival returns for our 27th year on September 8th, 2023 at Seville Quarter in Pensacola, Florida. There are 50+ microbreweries present and another 50-100 represented by their distributors. In addition to the microbreweries, there are generally 10+ homebrew clubs providing beer.

Online ticket prices start at $35.

 

 

 

Founder's Day in St. Augustine September 9, 2023.September 9     Founder’s Day    St. Augustine

Pedro Menendez and his troops landed in St. Augustine on September 8, 1565, and the city celebrates each year with a Founder’s Day Commemoration. For the 458th anniversary, the observance is on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Activities start at 10:00 a.m. at the Mission Nombre de Dios and continue at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, concluding at 5:00 p.m.

Admission to Nombre de Dios is free.

Admission to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is $19.95 for adults and is free on Founder’s Day for residents of St. Johns County with valid ID.

 

I Like it Hot Festival in Largo, FL September 9-10

September 9-10              I Like it Hot Festival                Largo

The Largest Hot Sauce & Taco Festival in Florida!

Amateur hot sauce competition, amateur bbq sauce competition, amateur salsa competition, jalepeno eating contest, live music, food vendors, and more.

Worldwide Hot Sauce Cookbook--click to order
Click THIS LINK or the photo to order your copy of The Worldwide Hot Sauce Cookbook! 150 recipes from all over the world selected for true hot sauce fans.

 

September 15 & 16        Florida Fin Fest   Jacksonville Beach

Florida Fin Fest is a FREE two-day Ocean Conservation, Education, and Music Festival happening in Jacksonville Beach, FL on September 15th & 16th, benefiting OCEARCH.

Education, music, food trucks, and more.

 

Jax Taco Fest September 16-17, 2023September 16-17       Jax Taco Fest            Jacksonville

Mucho fun, tacos, and beer!

Get ready for an action-packed day filled with a variety of tacos, margaritas, delicious churros, guacamole, elotes, live entertainment, KIDS ZONE and Other Taco themed activities! Plus upgrade your admission to VIP to get access to the Restricted VIP Area with hard drinks and margaritas for purchase.

 

September 16       SWFL SteamCon           Cape Coral

SWFL SteamCon is a small-scale Steampunk & Fantasy convention in Fort Myers, FL featuring authors & craft makers, steampunk themed activities, costume contests, live music and more! Attendees are encouraged to dress up and have fun. This is a family friendly event, fun for all ages!

September 22       Orlando Salsa Festival             Orlando/Amway Center

Get ready for the ultimate salsa extravaganza! The Orlando Salsa Festival is coming to Amway Center on September 22, featuring the legendary Willie Colón and El Gran Combo! Prepare to dance the night away to the electrifying rhythms of salsa and experience a once-in-a-lifetime concert event. Tickets are on sale now!

CLICK HERE to find tickets at the best prices.

Sip mojitos and enjoy tasty bites while learning to dance Salsa and Bachata in Miami. After the Salsa experience guests ages 21 and over are invited stay for the nightclub and enjoy live music, tropical performances, and dancing all night. This is a fun activity for singles, couples and groups and perfect for celebrating your birthday, anniversary, bachelorette party or vacation. Click the photo for details and to purchase
Sip mojitos and enjoy tasty bites while learning to dance Salsa and Bachata in Miami. After the Salsa experience guests ages 21 and over are invited stay for the nightclub and enjoy live music, tropical performances, and dancing all night. This is a fun activity for singles, couples and groups and perfect for celebrating your birthday, anniversary, bachelorette party or vacation. CLICK HERE or the on the image for information and to book your incredible night out in MIAMI!

 

 

September 29-October 1         Pensacola Seafood Festival          Pensacola

This free festival takes place in downtown Pensacola. THIS IS NOT A PET FRIENDLY EVENT!

Arts and crafts, commercial vendors, food vendors, and food trucks will all have items available for purchase. REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A PET FRIENDLY EVENT!

St. Augustine Songwriters Festival September 29-October 1, 2023

September 29-October 1         St. Augustine Songwriters Festival   St. Augustine

Get ready to immerse yourselves in a musical extravaganza at the St. Augustine Songwriters Festival. Picture yourself amid captivating performances, where top-notch hitmakers come together to unravel the untold stories and inspirations behind their sensational chart-toppers. From heartwarming anecdotes to unexpected twists, this festival is a treasure trove of secrets that will leave you enchanted and craving for more.

September 30       Lake Nona VegFest        Lake Nona

Plant-Based + Wellness Festival where you can enjoy food, drinks, free fitness and yoga classes and more

This completely vegan festival will have over 60 vegan vendors including local businesses and special guests from out of town. You can expect live music, speakers, dance classes, yoga classes and other entertainment all free.

This is a family and pet friendly event where all are welcome.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are never influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors providing products. 

 

 

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August 2023 The Best Events and Festivals in Florida

The Best Events and Festivals in Florida

The Best in Florida Festivals and Events August 2023

Florida hosts some amazing events and festivals. Each month I hope to take a look at a dozen or so of these in hopes of bringing you fun, exciting, and unexpected ways to enjoy our state.

If you have an event or know of one coming up that you feel should be highlighted, please drop me a line with as much information as you can, including a website. I’ll be glad to include your suggestions in future posts.

Posts are listed in date order.

 

New Smyrna Beach Shrimp and Seafood Festival on Flagler AvenueAugust 3     New Smyrna Beach Shrimp and Seafood Festival            New Smyrna Beach

The best restaurants in New Smyrna Beach will be offering sample size portions priced at an economical $5-$8 each, allowing you to try all your favorites. No admission fees.

 

 

August 4th-6th        DanceAfrica Miami       Miami

Includes West African dance and drum instruction, concerts, food trucks, a kid’s village and more. Performers from Senegal, Haiti, Congo, and more are anticipated to participate.

DanceAfrica Miami August 4-6, 2023

August 4th-6th        Jurassic Quest                Daytona Beach

The largest and most realistic Dinosaur Exhibit on tour, featuring true-to-detail (and size!) dinosaurs, including a 60 foot long, sky-scraping Spinosaurus, the 80-foot-long Apatosaurus, and the gigantic LIFESIZE T. Rex.

 

Key West Lobsterfest August 10th-13th      26th Annual Key West Lobsterfest           Key West

Seafood lovers can chow down on Florida’s clawless lobster during a tasty “feast-ival” with a savory and packed schedule of events ranging from a traditional lobster boil to special dinners, and a lively street fair. The flavorful festivities celebrate the bounty of the Florida Keys lobster season that opens Aug. 6.

August 11-12        Fernandina Beach Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo     

With many of North Florida’s big fishing contests held in June and July, Fernandina’s annual family-friendly event also includes an inshore fishing contest. The Kingfish division pays out $10,000 for first place, the inshore Fishing Rodeo pays out for four species: flounder, sea trout, redfish and sheepshead. There are also contests for female and junior anglers.

 

August 12   16th Annual Parade & Commemoration of the 2nd Seminole War             St. Augustine

From 9 a.m.-2 p.m., the Florida National Guard will host the 16th annual Parade & Ceremony commemorating the end of the 2nd Seminole War and those who perished. Free and open to the public, at 10:45 a.m. historians will march to the National Cemetery where the commemoration ceremony will take place at the pyramids and Dade Monument.

 

August 19      Plaid in the Park        Mount Dora

Mount Dora’s beautiful Sunset Park transforms into a scene of Celtic revelry as bagpipe bands, drummers and dancers celebrate the city’s Scottish heritage. Don your kilts and tartans and head downtown for an evening of entertainment, vendors selling teas, jams, pastries and gifts, and other food and drinks for sale. It’s a great way to experience this cute Florida small town and feel immersed in a faraway culture while also supporting small businesses in the downtown district.

 

 

August 19th-20th    Central Florida Home Expo    Orlando

The Central Florida Home Expo features exhibitors with fabulous ideas for consumers. At this show you’ll find the latest in products and services for home improvement. Visitors meet with professionals to make your next remodeling, renovation, landscaping, patio, or decorating project a big success. Free admission.

August 26   Coke Zero Sugar 400      Daytona Beach

The regular season finale before the Chase for the Cup starts, provides that last chance for drivers to qualify for the biggest prize in NASCAR.

Click the link to get your Coke Zero 400 tickets
Get your Coke Zero Sugar 400 tickets now at the best prices. Click the photo or THIS LINK.

 

August 26   FAMU Florida Grape Harvest Festival      Tallahassee

Celebrate family, food, fun, and agricultural discovery in recognition of FAMU’s role as a national leader in viticulture research. Featured activities include the vineyards trailer ride, grape and wine sampling, popular grape stomping contest, water slides, a grape throwing competition, a hula hoop competition, live entertainment, fun vineyard run and walk-a-thon (MAP), grape picking, a health fair, and more than 60 community exhibitors and vendors.

 

August 26   12th Annual Greater St. Pete Cupcake Contest    St. PetersburgSt. Pete Cupcake Contest

The Morean Arts Center invites you to our city-wide search for St. Petersburg’s BEST CUPCAKE!

The contest will be hosted at the Morean Center for Clay located in the Warehouse Arts District at 420 22nd Street South.

Tallahassee Beer Festival August 26, 2023August 26   Tallahassee Beer Festival         Tallahassee

General Admission: GA grants you access to the two main sample rooms. And by rooms we mean the entire arena and exhibit space at the Tuck. Beer is everywhere. Soft drinks and water are available for free. Food available for purchase.

 

August 31-September 4   Key West Brewfest         Key West

Brewfest is a multi-day festival hosted by Southernmost Beach Resort! It includes beer pairing dinners, pool parties, tap takeovers, and culminates with a signature tasting event with over 150 beers available for tasting. Events take place at many restaurants, hotels, and bars around town making Brewfest a great way to experience Key West!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are never influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors providing products. 

Nomatic

 

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July 2023 The Best Events and Festivals in Florida

U.S. Navy Blue Angels

The Best in Florida Events and Festivals July 2023

Florida hosts some amazing events and festivals. Each month I hope to take a look at a dozen or so of these in hopes of bringing you fun, exciting, and unexpected ways to enjoy our state.

If you have an event or know of one coming up that you feel should be highlighted, please drop me a line with as much information, including a website, as you can. I’ll be glad to include your suggestions in future posts.

Posts are listed in date order.

June 30-July 4      Key Lime Festival          Key West

2023 is shaping up to be the best Key Lime Festival yet. We’re pleased to offer a full 5 days of culinary events for every taste, including favorites from past years like the Key Lime Cocktail Sip & Stroll and Key Lime Pie Hop and new favorites for Key Lime lovers! We’ve also added a few intimate culinary events for our VIP Key Lime lovers!

 July 1-July 5         Key West Mermaid Festival    Key West

Welcome To the home of the 2023 Key West Mermaid Festival!

Join Key West native, Mermaid Kristi Ann, her Pod, and her crew, for 4 days of splish-splashing mermaid fun! Come swim with us as mermaids from around the nation take over the enchanted island of Key West.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels
U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Image courtesy https://www.blueangels.navy.mil/media/

July 5-July 8         Pensacola Beach Air Show      Pensacola

Locals and visitors from all over look forward to the annual Pensacola Beach Air Show held in the summer. The show highlights our hometown heroes — the Blue Angels — the U. S. Navy’s flight demonstration squadron stationed at Forrest Sherman Field aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.

The Blue Angels hold several practice sessions along the beach in the days leading up to the big event on show day.

You can follow the Blue Angels on their YouTube channel HERE or sample their videos through the embedded video below.

July 8-July 9         Mango Festival     Miami

Fairchild Garden is home to The Tropical Fruit program and the world’s largest mango collection. Our annual Mango Festival is a celebration of the more than 400 varieties of mangos in our prized collection, and it all culminates in a dazzling weekend filled with mango madness.

You can keep up with Fairchild Garden on their YouTube channel HERE.

 

July 14-July 16     Trailblazer Country Music Festival           Elkton

A celebration of all things country from crafts to music to food, the festival will present exhibitor booths featuring exhibits, crafts, fashions, truck art, and food. The Trailblazer Country Music Festival includes the Trailblazer Craft Beer Fest. Those who purchase a ticket for this festival within a festival may enjoy unlimited samples of beer, wine, and spirits.

 

Hemingway Days 2023 in Key West, FLJuly 18-July 24     Hemingway Days           Key West

The annual celebration salutes the Nobel Prize–winning author’s writing achievements, sporting pursuits and enjoyment of the island’s easygoing lifestyle.

The festival’s undisputed highlight is the Hemingway® Look-Alike Contest at Sloppy Joe’s Bar, 201 Duval St., a frequent hangout for the writer during his 1930s residence in Key West.

Looking for that perfect Hemingway book for yourself or as a gift? Look no further, click HERE to find everything Hemingway.

 

Rolling Loud Miami July 2023

July 21-July23     Rolling Loud        Miami

Everything is bigger for this Miami festival. Featuring 100+ of your favorite hip-hop artists from all over the world. This is a festival lineup built uniquely for our fans.

Find the best prices and get your tickets to the Rolling Loud Miami festival by click the image above or using THIS LINK.

 

July 22-July 23     Cool Art Show     St. Petersburg

The Professional Association of Visual Artists was formed in 1988, when a group of artists on a social outing, discussed the idea of hanving an indoor art festival to pass the time in the hot Florida summer. On a couple of cocktail napkins, the Cool Art Show was born.

July 28-July29      Caladium Festival          Lake Placid

While caladiums are the heart of our popular Caladium Festival, the event also highlights our creative community as well as our local heritage and culture.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. All views and opinions provided are my own and are never influenced by affiliate programs or sponsors providing products. 

Key Lime Bike Tours, a 3 hour guided bike tour highlighting the best Key West has to offer. Close out your tour with a slice of key lime pie! Click the image for more details and to book your tour.
Visiting Key West for one of these great festivals? Why not take a 3-hour guided bike tour and close the tour with a delicious slice of Key Lime Pie? Click HERE or the image above for more information and to book your tour.