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Florida Events, May 2008
Florida Events Calendar for May 2008
This year, Memorial Day falls on May 26 so you can expect large crowds at the theme parks around this time.
May is Florida State Parks month. The state park system in Florida is one of the largest in the US with 159 parks covering over 723,000 acres and 100 miles of sandy beaches.
May is also a great month for festivals, particularly if you like seafood such as shrimps.
As well as all the Florida events for May 2008 listed on this page, why not also check out our Florida Things to Do pages for more great ideas of what to do on your Florida vacation.
US National Holidays & other notable dates |
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| 11th | Mother's Day is on Sunday, May 11 so look out for special Mother's Day promotions. |
| 26th | May 26 is Memorial Day held on the fourth Monday in May and is a commemoration to America's War Dead. It is originally started after the American Civil War. |
Theme Park Events |
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| various dates |
Disney's Pirate & Princess Party continues in 2008 on selected nights through April,
May and June at the Magic Kingdom.
Next parties are on May 2, 9, 16, 21, 26 and 31 and finally June 4. 2008, 7:00 pm - 12:00 am
The party starts each night at 7:00 pm and finishes at midnight.
You can hunt for chocolate doubloons, see Disney's Enchanted Adventures Parade, watch the Magic, Music and Mayhem fireworks spectacular and the Dream Along With Mickey castle stage show. Selected attractions will remain open and you can come in costume if you wish. Tickets cost US$43.95 for adults and US$37.95 for children if bought in advance or US$45.95 for adults and US$39.95 for children if bought on the day (all prices plus tax). |
| March 9th to June 1st | The 15th Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival has
increased from 60 to 75 days this year and features over 30 million blooms, gardens and
some 70 topiaries.
To coincide with the Magic Kingdom's Pirates and Princesses parties, Epcot have Peter Pan's Neverland Garden with Captain Hook's pirate ship created in topiary where you will be able to spot some of your favourite Disney characters in special Pirate and Princess costumes. You can meet top horticulturists at the new Garden Odyssey Festival Center or enjoy evening Flower Power Concerts in the American Gardens Theatre at 5:45 pm, 7:00 pm and 8:15pm. The schedule of performers from May onwards includes Arlo Guthrie (May 1 to 3), The Searchers (May 4 to 5), The Tokens (May 6 to 10), Davy Jones (May 11 to 15), Jose Feliciano May 16 to 17), Felix Cavaliere's Rascals (May 18 to 20), Gary Puckett (May 21 to 24), The Cowsills (May 25 to 27) and Tony Orlando (May 28 to June 1). Included with standard admission ticket (disneyworld.disney.go.com). |
| various dates | On May 17 it is Endangered Species Day at Gatorland and then from May 31 to June 2 they are hosting their Roarin' Rodeo (www.gatorland.com). |
| May 17th to September 7th | At Silver Springs, the travelling exhibit Tusks: Mammoths & Mastodons, will show you about pre-historic American Mammoths and Columbian Mastodons that roamed across the North America continent during the last Ice Age. There are also other fossils including carnivores, birds and reptiles (www.silversprings.com). |
Sporting Events |
|
| various dates | There are a number of yacht races this month
(www.catsailor.com)
|
| various dates | The Florida Keys host a series of angling competitions (Dolphin fish are Mahi Mahi by
the way)
(www.fla-keys.com)
|
| various dates | There is Disney's Slo-Pitch Slam on May 2 to 4 and then Disney's Sun & Surf Baseball Bash on May 23 to 26 at Disney's Wide World of Sport complex (www.disneysports.com). |
| 8th to 10th | The Gulf Coast Triathlon at the Boardwalk Beach Resort, Panama City Beach is the southeast's largest 1/2 Ironman distance race and 1,800 athletes from the USA and Canada will be competing. The actual race starts at 6:15 am on May 10 and consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride and a 1/2 marathon run (13.1 miles) (www.gulfcoasttriathlon.com). |
| 180th | Walt Disney World hosts the 2008 Ford Ironman 70.3 Florida Triathlon at Fort Wilderness. There is a 1.2 mile swim around Bay Lake followed by a 56 mile bike race through western Orange Country and finally a 13.1 mile run on the bike paths and canal roads of Fort Wilderness (www.floridahalfironman.com). |
Concerts |
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| April 30th to May 4th | The Sunfest 2008 at West Palm Beach is billed as Florida's largest music, art and waterfront festival, featuring over 50 musicians from across the US including Sheryl Crow, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Good Charlotte, Fergie, Little River Band, The Black Crowes, Natasha Bedingfield, Stephen Marley and John Legend (www.sunfest.com). |
| 10th to 11th | Universal Orlando are hosting their annual Bob Marley Reggae Fest
at Universal CityWalk®. A Jamaican festival featuring live music from Inner Circle, Maxi Priest
Toots & The Maytals and Stephen Marley plus Steel Drummers, DJs, Local Reggae Bands,
Caribbean Food, Speciality Drinks and over 20 African and Jamaican vendors.
A one day ticket will cost $25.00 plus tax and a two day ticket, $35.00 plus tax and provides free admittance to selected CityWalk venues (www.universalorlando.com). |
| 16th to 17th | The Hawkshaw Music Fest takes place on Jefferson Street in downtown Pensacola. |
| 23rd to 25th | The 56th Annual Florida Folk Festival at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park at White Springs celebrates Florida's diverse culture and history. You can visit a Seminole family camp, watch a fiddling contest and try ethnic food or listen to folk singers including Charlie McCoy, Amy Carol Webb, Ben Prestage, Jeanie Fitchen, Mindy Simmons and Haitian Voodoo Pop by Papaloko (www.floridastateparks.org). |
| various dates | Hot on the heels of Bud & BBQ, comes Viva La Musica
at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Africa over four weekends starting April 19 and
ending May 11 with delicious Hispanic cuisine and dancing to Latin American music and bands.
On Saturdays at SeaWorld in May you can see Luis Fonsi (May 3) and Gilberto Santa Rosa (May 10). Meanwhile on Sundays at Busch Gardens you can watch Grupo Niche (May 4) and Willie Colón (May 11) (www.buschgardens.com). |
| various dates | The Historic Bok Tower Sanctuary are hosting their 18th Annual
Concert Under the Stars on May 3 at 7:30 pm.
This yearŐs theme is "Best of the Best... a Season's Reprise."
The concert features the Sanctuary carillonneur, William De Turk and the Imperial Symphony Orchestra.
On May 11, there is an Afternoon Soiree Honoring Mothers at Pinewood Lawn and garden between 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Both of these events are by special ticket only. There are also two concerts commemorating the military as part of the daily afternoon carillon concerts. On May 17, it is the Armed Forces Day Concerts and on May 28, the Memorial Day Concerts (http://www.boksanctuary.org). |
| various dates | Cypress Gardens continue their new series of weekend concerts including
Ismael Miranda (May 9), Tito Nieves (May 10) and Lynyrd Skynyrd (May 24).
All are included in the standard park admission, though reserved seats can also be purchased (www.cypressgardens.com). |
Art and Film Festivals |
|
| 17th to 18th | The Summer Craft Fair at Cocoa Village features over 175 crafters and artists, a food court, children's amusement area (www.cocoavillage.com). |
Car, Motorcycle and Boat Shows |
|
| 1st to 4th | The 10th Annual Thunder Beach Spring Rally is the southeast's largest Spring motorcycle rally and takes place at five different venues around Panama City Beach and features concerts from Atlanta Rhythm Section, Slow Ride, ELI, Geneva and The Dan Lawson Band plus a custom bike show and bike parade. Over 20,000 motorcycle enthusiasts can be expected (www.thunderbeachproductions.com). |
Airshows and Rocket Launches |
|
| April 28th to May 4th | Fleet Week runs from April 28th to May 4th but this year the Annual McDonald's Air & Sea Show which normally takes place at Fort Lauderdale Beach has been cancelled (nationalsalute.com). |
| 3rd to 4th | The MacDill AFB Air Show 2008 near Tampa will feature the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, US SOCOM Jum Team, T-6, F-18 Hornet, F-15 Strike Eagle Team, F-4, P-51 and F-15 Heritage Team, F-104 Starfighter, other warbirds including a P-51, T-33, B-25 and T-28 plus flyovers by a KC-135 tanker, P-3 Orion and C-47 (www.macdillsairfest.com). |
| 10th | The American Heroes Air Show is at the Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville. It is the premier, helicopter-only air show. This year's theme is "Courage... At The Speed Of Flight" (www.heroes-airshow.com). |
| 16th | Possible United Launch Alliance Delta 2 mission to launch the GLAST (Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope) from launch pad SLC17-B between 11:45 am and 1:45 pm EST, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Read more on all launches.... |
| 31st | Possible launch of the Shuttle Shuttle Discovery (STS-124) on the 26th mission to the International Space Station. Launch time is set for 5:01 pm EST from launch pad 39A Read more on all launches.... |
County Fairs & Festivals |
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| 2nd to 4th | The 45th Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival at Fernandina Beach attracts over 130,000 visitors to the arts, craft and antique booths, regional and local live music, shrimp and seafood dishes. The are two invasions by pirates plus a parade and fireworks (www.shrimpfestival.com). |
| 2nd to 4th | The 24th Annual Pensacola Crawfish Creole Fiesta is held in Bartram Park and celebrates the Cajun influence in Northwest Florida with authentic bayou country food and entertainment (fiestaoffiveflags.org). |
| 4th | The Taste of Mount Dora offers an evening of culinary delights prepared by Mount Dora's finest restaurants (www.mountdora.com). |
| 9th to 11th | The Cotee River Seafood Festival & Bright House Networks Boat Show is held at New Port Richey and features arts and crafts, live Blues music, seafood, boat tours and a fishing demonstration (www.nprmainstreet.com). |
| 17th | The 25th Annual Heritage Village Skirmish re-enacts the Civil War Days at the Heritage Village, Pinewood Country Park, Largo (www.pinellascounty.org). |
| 24th to 25th | The Annual Zellwood Sweet Corn Festival this year features music by John Anderson, Blake Shelton and Steven Curtis Chapman plus an arts and crafts show, a car and bike show and of course as much sweet corn as you can eat (www.zellwoodcornfestival.com). |
| 23rd to 26th | The 20th Annual BeachFest on the Space Coast takes place on Cocoa Beach Pier and features family activities, live music, food, sand sculpture demonstrations, military exhibits and athletic competitions (www.cocoabeachpier.com). |
Also, why not download our free monthly Florida Desktop calendar/wallpaper to remind yourself of a Florida vacation past or yet to come and subscribe to our free monthly Florida newsletter which brings you all the latest news from the Sunshine State on the first of every month.
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