The South Miami Rotary Art Festival returns for its 27th year on the weekend of February 26-27, running each day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The annual show continues to be one of the most popular and best attended events in the city of Pleasant Living.
Located near the Shops of Sunset Place, the festival is held in the heart of South Miami on Sunset Drive between South Dixie Highway and Red Road (SW 57 Avenue). Each year, art lovers and weekend adventurers enjoy the chance to see the work of hundreds of artists and crafts people from around the country, eat at the multinational food court, listen to live music, and much more. Admission is free to this great family event, so bring the kids. Even pets are welcome, and there are watering stations at the South Miami Rotary Club Coke booths.
You can come by Metrorail—it’s only a block from the South Miami station. If you come by car, on street parking is available and in the city’s municipal garage half a block south of Sunset on 58th Court.
Children’s Alley, located on SW 57 Avenue just around the corner from festival headquarters at First National Bank of South Miami, features educational and interactive activities for children provided by local non-profits such as Aero Modelers of Perrine, who this year hope to fly a miniature helicopter. Other groups include Friends of Greyhounds, Miami Dade Public Library Systems and the Southern Cross Astronomical Association. And there will be free giveaways.
First National Bank of South Miami is the founding and presenting sponsor of the show. The Children’s Alley is being sponsored this year by South Miami Hospital Center for Women and Infants. Williamson Automotive is the other major sponsor, and they will have cars on display.
Portable rest room facilities are located on SW 59 Avenue just north of the food court and behind Chase Bank.
First aid services provided by South Miami Hospital are located north of the food court as well and are staffed throughout show hours by qualified personnel to help or refer you for services elsewhere as needed.
South Miami Police will be on the premises at all times, including overnight surveillance. ATM’s are located at major institutions and most artists accept credit cards. Since the festival is always a family-friendly event, no alcoholic beverages are sold within the festival site.
The Art Festival is produced entirely by volunteers of the South Miami Rotary Club. All proceeds fund an annual college scholarship for a South Miami student, free dictionary and atlas giveaways to South Miami 3rd and 5th graders as well as at-risk students throughout Miami-Dade, and the Rotary’s other local and international community service projects.
For more about the festival, go to their website at www.southmiamiartfest.org.
