Miami City Guide

When to visit Miami

You can't get much further south in the US than Miami, so when it gets hot, it's searing; consequently winter is the peak season. The city bulges at this time: most of the US squeezes in while the rest of the country freezes their Fanny-Maes off. The 'in-between' months, especially August through to November, see a range of enticing festivals so reservations come in handy at this time. The Calle Ocho Festival in March and the White Party in November especially draws the crowds.

Weather

Weather in Miami

South Florida's warm weather was the only reason anyone ever thought of inhabiting the area in the first place. Ideal conditions on Miami Beach exist between December and May, when temperatures average between 15°C (60°F) and 30°C (85°F), and rainfall is scant. Summer is very hot and humid, with thunderstorms rolling in during the late afternoon. June is the rainiest month, August the hottest, and hurricanes hit from July through September. Because of the humidity, Miami heat can often feel a lot hotter than the temperature reading suggests, but ocean breezes help clear the sultry air.

Events in Miami

There are special events all the time in Miami, a city known for its partying, though during the summer months the pickings are slim. The biggest event of them all is the Carnaval Miami, a nine-day festival at the beginning of March, which includes a Miss Carnaval contest, Carnaval Night concerts at the Orange Bowl, an inline skating contest, jazz concerts, a Latin drag show, and a Calle Ocho cooking contest. The Calle Ocho Festival is the culmination of Carnaval Miami and a great time to be in Little Havana, since there are lots of concerts, giveaways and Cuban food.

The International Hispanic Theater Festival from late May to mid-June is one of the largest Hispanic theatre events in the US, featuring US, Latin American, Caribbean and European theatre companies at the El Carrusel Theater in Coral Gables. The Annual Miami Reggae Festival in early August is a huge celebration of the music, held at Bayfront park.

Literary types might want to make it to the Miami Book Fair, held during the second week of November. This international book fair is among the most well attended in the US, with hundreds of nationally known writers joining similar numbers of publishers and hundreds of thousands of visitors.