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With all of the concerts, art exhibits, a festival of lights and family activities we have to choose from, making a decision regarding which events to attend over the next two weeks will surely be more challenging than putting together your holiday gift list.
Nights of Lights
December 10-January 2 from 6-9 p.m. (closed on December 18)
Tickets: $20 for adults 18 and over and $15 for children 2-17. Children under 2 enter free.
Every night, Pinecrest Gardens will transform into a winter wonderland dotted by tens of thousands of twinkling lights that meander through and around the botanical landscape.
This year the botanical garden is adding more sections of sparkling holiday lights and a bigger than last year’s holiday-themed maze in the gardens. Eat yummy treats, have a signature Pinecrest Gardens cocktail and enjoy magical Story Time with Mrs. Claus. There are pony rides, holiday music piped through the park and, of course, Santa Claus special appearances. On select evenings, your price of admission includes a holiday concert performance in the historic Banyan Bowl. Parking is free.
Schedule of Events at the Banyan Bowl:
Friday, December 10, Greater Miami Youth Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, December 11, Maria Verdeja School of the Arts
Monday, December 13, Dance Empire
Tuesday, December 14, Encore Academy of the Arts
Wednesday, December 15, Miami Royal Ballet
Thursday, December 16, Alhambra Orchestra, Electric Strings
Friday, December 17, MC Dance
Monday, December 20, Homestead Miami Mariachi Conservatory
Tuesday, December 21, Palmetto Elementary School Jazz – Oliver Diaz
Wednesday, December 22, Alouettes Academy of the arts
We are open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day…New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day for the festival as well.
South Motors Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens presents
The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra Saturday, December 18 at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $45 & $50 plus a $5 service fee.
In the history of Jazz music, there is only one bandleader that has the distinction of having his orchestra still performing sold out concerts all over the world, with members personally chosen by him, for over 30 years after his passing. Pianist and bandleader William James “Count” Basie was and still is an American institution that personifies the grandeur and excellence of Jazz. The Count Basie Orchestra, today directed by Scotty Barnhart, has won every respected jazz poll in the world at least once, won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for Kings, Queens, and other world Royalty, appeared in several movies, television shows, at every major jazz festival and major concert hall in the world.
The latest honors are the 2018 Downbeat Readers Poll Award as the #1 Jazz Orchestra in the world, and a Grammy Nomination for their 2018 acclaimed recording, All About That Basie, which features special guests Stevie Wonder, Jon Faddis, Take 6 and Kurt Elling among others. It follows their critically acclaimed release in 2015 of A Very Swingin’ Basie Christmas!, the very first holiday album in the 80-year history of the orchestra. Released on Concord Music, it went to #1 on the Jazz charts and sold out on Amazon! Special guests include vocalists Johnny Mathis, Ledisi, our own Carmen Bradford and pianist Ellis Marsalis.
A BBC TV produced documentary on Mr. Basie and the orchestra entitled Count Basie: Through His Own Eyes premiered on PBS in the US and UK in 2019 coinciding with the orchestra’s 85th Anniversary. It features interviews by Quincy Jones, Scotty Barnhart, Dee Askew, John Williams, and several other important members and associates of Mr. Basie and the orchestra.
The concert will be a night to remember!
