Miami Events - December 2012

A look ahead at what December has in store.

December 2012 Highlights

Art Basel Miami Beach

Dec. 6-9  
Where: Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach and various galleries and museums around the city.
miamibeach.artbasel.com

Deemed one of the most important art shows in the United States, Art Basel Miami Beach is both a cultural and a social highlight. Art Basel Miami Beach gathers internationally acclaimed artworks from the world’s top galleries, artists, and collections for its highly anticipated exhibitions. In addition to its premier showcases, Art Basel features exclusive parties and events and has spawned satellite events throughout the city that feature film screenings, music performances, and architecture and design displays.

Tied to the world’s most prestigious art show, Art Basel Switzerland, Art Basel Miami Beach boasts exclusive selection of over 260 prominent art galleries from around the world with 20th and 21st century artworks by more than 2,000 artists. Performance art, public art projects, and video art are among the many cutting-edge mediums embraced by the galleries hosting Art Basel – which range from internationally renowned artists to promising newcomers in the art world.

Design Miami/
Dec. 5 - 9
Where: Meridian and 19th Street, adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center
www.designmiami.com

Design Miami/  brings together the most influential collectors, gallerists, designers, curators and critics from around the world in celebration of design culture and commerce. The event occurs alongside the Art Basel fair to showcase  museum-quality exhibitions of 20th and 21st century furniture, lighting and objets d’art. The event presents collaborations with designers and design institutions, panels and lectures with luminaries from the worlds of design, architecture, art and fashion, and unique commissions from the world’s top emerging and established designers and architects.

Art Miami and CONTEXT
Dec. 4-9
Where: The Art Miami Pavilion in Miami Midtown Arts District – Midtown Blvd (NE 1st Avenue) between NE 32nd & NE 31st Street, Miami.
www.art-miami.com

Art Miami celebrates its 23rd year of showcasing top-notch modern and contemporary art from 125 galleries and art institutions worldwide. The event presents participants and viewers with the opportunity to experience premier works in the global contemporary art movement. Coinciding with Art Miami is CONTEXT, a new addition to the Art Week madness that features trendsetting galleries from around the globe exhibiting in a state-of-the-art pavilion directly adjacent to Art Miami. CONTEXT will feature a curated group of 50 galleries representing exceptional emerging and mid-career artists, including solo artist installations, immersive environments, curated projects and multimedia exhibits.

Butterfly Days at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Dec. 8-9
Where: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables; 305-667-1651
www.fairchild.org

Discover the world of butterflies at this weekend event dedicated the lovely winged insects. Find out which plants attract butterflies, take a butterfly walk through the garden, learn to identify local butterfly species and talk with butterfly experts. There are also a host of kid-friendly activities throughout the weekend.

Winterfest Boat Parade
Dec. 15
Where: Birch State Park (for viewing) – 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, boats will be on the Intracoastal Waterway.
www.winterfestparade.com

Winterfest Boat Parade is a highly anticipated annual event that allows both viewers and sea-bound participants with a chance to watch the many gorgeous boats glimmering across Fort Lauderdale’s renowned waterway in an elegant, colorful spectacle.  The viewing “Grandstand” will be in Birch State Park (3109 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) and the participating boats will be organized in the Intracoastal Waterway. Boat entry applications and pricing as well as viewing tickets are available on the Winterfest Parade’s website.
 
George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
Dec. 14-16 and 20-24
Where: Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale (Dec. 14-16); Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami (Dec. 20-24).
www.miamicityballet.org

Just in time for the holiday season, Miami City Ballet brings its production of the famed George Balanchine's 'The Nutcracker' with a cast of more than 100 dancers, glorious sets and costumes, magical special effects, beautiful music, and exceptional dancing by international stars.

King Mango Strut
Dec. 30
Where: Downtown Coconut Grove, parade begins at the corner of Commodore Plaza and Main Highway
www.kingmagostrut.com

What started years ago by a group rejected from the King Orange Bowl Parade has become one of South Florida's favorite and wackiest traditions. The annual King Mango Strut is a parade of quirkiness, satire, and comedic entertainment through the downtown streets of Coconut Grove filled with zany costumes, loud music, and family-friendly humor. The parade revels in the art of parody for the pure purpose of silliness and a good time. The crazy fun starts at 2 p.m. and viewers are asked to merely bring a lawn chair and prepare themselves for a good laugh and plenty of knee slaps.

New Year's Eve
Dec. 31
Where: Various venues throughout South Florida

From fireworks displays at Bayfront Park, to a Pitbull concert at the AmericanAirlines Arena, to VIP open bar parties at South Florida's hottest nightclubs, New Year's Eve presents South Floridians with options for all ages. Check out listings at events.miami.com.

A look at Art Basel 09's Vernissage and Preview at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Photo: Tomas Loewy