Annual Events
Mark your calendar with festivities celebrating culture, music, and more
February
Harambee Festival
Hosted by FAMU, the Harambee festival
seeks to inspire “unity in the community.” This is an all-day event featuring live music, African drum and dance, spoken word, international food and vendors from across the region. On FAMU facebook.com/FAMU1887
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory Open House
The “Mag Lab” is a research facility housing the world’s largest, most powerful magnets. The popular open house offers tours, demonstrations, displays, hands-on activities, and more. Free. Innovation Park, 1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive. (850) 644-0311, nationalmaglab.org
Opening Nights
Florida State University hosts the Opening Nights Performing Arts Series throughout the year, with a concentration of performances in February. The artists include nationally and internationally renowned musicians, authors, actors, dancers, and others, performing at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall and other venues throughout the area. Fees. (850) 644-6500, openingnights.fsu.edu
Shakespeare in the Park Festival
Come out to Cascades Park to enjoy a three-day celebration of the works of William Shakespeare. This festival features a full-length production
of one of Shakespeare’s plays, fencing demonstrations, readings, food, and more! Free. 1001 S. Gadsden Street. southernshakespearefestival.org
Tallahassee Marathon
Starting in downtown Tallahassee, the USA Track & Field-sanctioned marathon and half-marathon wind through local parks and districts, past local landmarks, and back to the permanent finish line at Kleman Plaza. It also is a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. Fee to run. tallahasseemarathon.com
March
Downtown Marketplace
In Tallahassee’s downtown historic district, Saturdays come alive with local produce, entertainment, arts and crafts, and special programs. Saturdays through November, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Free. Downtown, Ponce de Leon Park. (850) 224‑3252, tlhdowntown.com/downtownmarket
Jewish Food & Cultural Festival
Grab your fill of pastrami and falafel, but save room for hamantaschen and rugelach. Savor and learn about Jewish customs, both culinary and cultural, including arts and crafts, dancing, and live music. Free. Temple Israel, 2215 Mahan Drive. (850) 877-3517, templeisraeltlh.org
Springtime Tallahassee
The Capital City’s premier festival, a rowdy celebration of springtime and Tallahassee heritage, includes the Grand Parade, entertainment, and arts and crafts. Free. Downtown Tallahassee and Cascades Park. (850) 583-9613, springtimetallahassee.com
Tallahassee Wine Mixer
Red, white, or rosé, enjoy unlimited samples
as you wine and dine your way with over 50,000 ounces of wine to taste. Fee. Madison Social, 705 S. Woodward Avenue. (850) 894-6276, madisonsocial.com
April
Flying High Circus
Florida State University students perform daring high-wire acrobatics and precision stunts on trapeze and ropes under the big top. Fee. FSU campus,
269 Chieftan Way. (850) 644-4874, circus.fsu.edu
LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival
More than 100 artists from around the nation exhibit their sculptures, paintings, photography, and other media under the oaks in this downtown event presented by the LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts. Free. (850) 222-8800, chainofparks.com
Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival
Hear jazz, blues, and gospel performed by local musicians on the museum’s outdoor stage. Fee. Tallahassee Museum, 3945 Museum Drive. (850) 575-8684, tallahasseemuseum.org
Tour of Gardens
Guided tours of select private and public gardens in the area. Special speakers. Fee. Alfred B. Maclay Gardens, 3540 Thomasville Road. (850) 487‑4556, friendsofmaclaygardens.org
Usta Tallahassee Tennis Challenger
Competitors from around the globe find their way to Tallahassee to play pro-circuit tennis while supporting the Vogter Neuro-Intensive Care Unit and the Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. Fee. Forest Meadows Tennis Complex, 4750 North Meridian Road. (850) 891-4979, tallahasseechallenger.com
Word of South
The Word of South Festival of Literature and Music is a three-day celebration of literary arts and musical performances. The lineup features poetry and prose readings by emerging and established authors, concerts by national artists, writer/musician mashups, interviews, Q&A sessions, conversations with Florida Book Award winners, and a children’s story fort. Free. Some concerts require tickets. Cascades Park. wordofsouthfestival.com
May
Emancipation Celebration Temporarily closed
The first time the Emancipation Proclamation was read in Florida, it was 1865 and the reading was done on the steps of the Knott House in Tallahassee. Each May 20, the historic event is re-enacted on those same steps with military decorum followed by gospel music, dancing, an African American historic-site tour and lunch in the park. Free. Knott House Museum, 301 E. Park Ave. (850) 681-7881
June
Big Bend Model Railroad Show
Check out the layouts, test, and buy model trains, themed paraphernalia and more at this fundraising event sponsored by the Big Bend Model Railroad Association. Fee. North Florida Fairgrounds. (850) 524-4399, bbmra.org
July
Tallahassee Celebrates America
In honor of Independence Day, the city presents the area’s largest fireworks display, activities, arts and crafts, music, food, free shuttle service, and more. Free. Tom Brown Park, off Conner Boulevard. (850) 891-3866
Infinity Con
This family-friendly comic book and pop culture convention features major and independent comic books, video and tabletop gaming, anime, plus events and entertainment for all ages all weekend long. Fee. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola Street. infinitycontally.com
Swamp Stomp
Bluegrass, folk, and acoustic music on the Tallahassee Museum’s outdoor stage, plus folk tales, cloggers, old-timey games, and more. Fee. 3945 Museum Drive. (850) 575-8684, tallahasseemuseum.org
August
Tallahassee Beer Festival
Sample over 200 different beers, ciders, ales, meads, and sparkling sodas from more than 75 home brewers and breweries. Fee. Tucker Civic Center, 505 West Pensacola Street. tlhbeerfest.com
Grape Harvest Festival
Featured activities include a grape-stomping contest, grape throwing, grape and wine sampling, and a 2K/5K vineyard run. FAMU Center for Viticulture and Small Fruit Research, 6361 Mahan Drive. cafs.famu.edu
Caribbean Heritage Music Festival
A two-day event that celebrates Caribbean culture, music, and community with food, vendors, and live performances. purplenotemedia.com
September
Experience Asia Festival
The Asia Festival showcases the cultures of Asian and Pacific communities within the Tallahassee area. Featured performances include EPCOT’s
Matsuriza Taiko Drummers, with Japanese dancing, live music, arts and crafts, and cultural food. In Tom Brown Park. asiantlh.org
October
Greek Food Festival
Whether you are Greek by birth or just Greek for a day, enjoy pastries, gyros, spanakopita, and moussaka, along with wine, ouzo, music, and dancing. Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church, 1645 Phillips Road. (850) 878-0747, tallahasseegreekfoodfest.com
Oktoberfest
Don your lederhosen, practice your chicken dance, and join in for a barrel of fun at Oktoberfest, featuring traditional German food and a biergarten, beer tasting, silent auction and live entertainment. The fundraiser supports the work of Elder Care Services. Fee. Cascades Park. (850) 921‑5554, eldercarebigbend.org/oktoberfest
Zoobilee
Spend an evening at the Tallahassee Museum enjoying an open bar, AYCE food from 20-plus local restaurants, and live dance music performed on the outdoor stage at this festive benefit. Fee. 3945 Museum Drive. (850) 575-8684, tallahasseemuseum.org
November
Best of Tallahassee
Tallahassee Magazine readers vote, and the best of the best are honored at the Best of Tallahassee event. More than 100 winners are honored in the categories of entertainment/people, food and beverage, shopping, services and online. The evening’s guests also enjoy food, live auctions, and raffles. Fee. tallahasseemagazine.com
Bradley’s Fun Day
Famous homemade sausage, grits ground on-site, arts and crafts, syrup making, Model A rides, and more. Free. Bradley’s Country Store, 10655 Centerville Road. (850) 893-4742, bradleyscountrystore.com
North Florida Fair
The area’s largest agricultural fair includes Nashville stars, giant midway rides, games, and food. Fee. North Florida Fairgrounds, 441 Paul Russell Road. (850) 878-3247, northfloridafair.com
December
Market Days
The Southeast’s largest curated arts and crafts show and sale, just in time for holiday shopping. An event by and for the Tallahassee Museum. Fee. North Florida Fairgrounds, 441 Paul Russell Road.
(850) 575-8664, marketdays.org
The Nutcracker
The Tallahassee Ballet brings the treasured Christmas classic to life to delight all ages. Fee. Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, FSU Campus. (850) 224-6917, tallahasseeballet.org
Winter Festival
Celebrate the winter holidays by joining locals and guests downtown for the lighting of the oak trees, the Jingle Bell Run, a twilight parade, live music, and wonderlands of fun. Free. Downtown in and around the Chain of Parks. (850) 891-3866, talgov.com/parks/winter_festival
Visit VisitTallahassee.com and the Council on Culture & Arts at TallahasseeArts.org for your local event needs.
Photo by Bob Howard
