If you’re dreaming of a cultural destination with ocean breezes, sunshine, and a thriving arts scene, look no further than The Palm Beaches: a place where year-round arts and cultural festivals abound. A place where you can stroll along tree-lined downtown streets and watch artisans refining their craft, sway to music by a famous band at a waterfront amphitheater or admire masterpieces created with chalk at a renowned street-painting festival.
Aptly named Florida’s Cultural Capital, The Palm Beaches offer visitors a dynamic vacation experience that can’t be found anywhere else. In addition to theaters, museums, botanical gardens and eco-tourism adventures, we’ve chosen eight top picks for stunning festivals throughout the year. Visit soon and enjoy every minute of fun!
Lake Worth Beach Street Painting Festival
Photo courtesy of the City of Lake Worth Beach
The largest festival of its kind in the country, the Lake Worth Beach Street Painting Festival draws more than 100,000 art lovers each February to walk the seaside municipality’s downtown streets and marvel as more than 600 artists put chalk to asphalt to create expansive temporary works of art. A dazzling display of outdoor living galleries, the works feature everything from replicas of famous paintings to three-dimensional illusions that create mesmerizing spaces and places. Presented by the City of Lake Worth Beach, this annual free public festival also features a mainstage with lively music performances, a food court, eclectic vendors, family activity areas and more.
Photo by Zsolt Meszaros
A 10-day open-air celebration of exciting performances and author events, Festival of the Arts BOCA’s annual gathering at Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton each March is renowned for its diverse cultural offerings and intellectual fare. Since its inaugural year, the festival has been heralded as an unprecedented cultural arts festival for The Palm Beaches, attracting more than 15,000 attendees each year and drawing world-class artists and speakers to the region. With a commitment to education, the festival also offers an array of master classes, school visits, lectures and open rehearsals for young people. Come experience the magic of this extraordinary tradition in the heart of Boca Raton.
Celebrating 40 years under the sun, the iconic annual arts and music festival SunFest takes place at the downtown West Palm Beach waterfront the first week in May. The event features national music performances on two main stages, a community stage for local acts and an Art Village made up of tented booths where artists sell their work. Attracting more than 85,000 visitors per year, the festival features beloved food vendors, interactive art, and has become synonymous with the start of summer in The Palm Beaches. Slated for May 3 – 5, this year’s festival will feature musical acts Nelly, Cole Swindell, Rebelution, Third Eye Blind, Billy Idol, and more.
Each February, more than 10,000 guests flock to Juno Beach’s Loggerhead Marinelife Center for TurtleFest. This free, family-friendly event promotes ocean conservation through interactive educational exhibits about marine life, as well as music, art, games and other family-friendly activities. Guests can get an up-close view of the sea turtles currently being treated in the center’s hospital, nosh on festival food and drinks, listen to music and shop for artwork created by Palm Beach County-based professional artists. For future scientists, the Junior Veterinary Lab offers the chance to learn how to rescue, treat and release an injured sea turtle.
Photo by Aladberto Boyer
The largest annual Hispanic multicultural and art festival in The Palm Beaches, Fiesta de Pueblo takes place each January and celebrates Three Kings Day, or the Three Wise Men. Drawing thousands of visitors to Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park in Greenacres, this free event provides a unique, cross-cultural celebration of Hispanic culture through music, food, art and commerce. The event includes representation from more than 21 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. With parades, games, amusement park rides, regional cuisine and live entertainment, attendees can shop for artwork and goods from Palm Beach County-based artisans at the event’s business expo. Join the fun at this annual cultural event!
Photo courtesy of Tracey Benson Photography
In four decades, ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival has grown from a small, local art show to a nationally recognized fine arts festival attracting tens of thousands of art lovers and collectors. The festival takes place each February over President’s Day weekend in Palm Beach Gardens. Produced by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, ArtiGras has been named one of the top 70 fine art festivals in the country and showcases a juried exhibition of gallery-quality art from 300 artists. ArtiGras also features a youth art competition, kids zone and live entertainment. A portion of the proceeds from the festival go to benefit art education in schools throughout Palm Beach County.
One of the largest arts and crafts festivals in the southeast United States, Delray Beach’s Delray Affair takes place each April along seven city blocks of the waterfront town’s vibrant Atlantic Avenue. Produced by the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce and currently celebrating its 62nd year, the show has received numerous state and international awards for its impressive mixture of art, crafts and unique goods from around the world. The three-day event features live craftsmanship demonstrations, engaging workshops, performances by musicians and interactive experiences. It’s easy to see why this festival has earned the nickname “the greatest art and craft show under the sun.”
Courtesy of the Belle Glade Chamber of Commerce
Perfect for families, Belle Glade’s annual Black Gold Jubilee is an annual harvest festival that celebrates the area’s rich soil, dubbed “black gold” for its ability to produce bountiful harvests year after year. With multiple events leading up to the big day each April, the festival starts with 5K and 10K races and a parade on Main Street, followed by a full day of fun, food, and entertainment on Torry Island. The event includes free games and rides for children and the opportunity to shop for handmade goods from artisans. In the evening, the amphitheater stage offers a spectacular lineup of musical entertainment followed by fireworks over the lake.
Looking for more arts and culture to explore in The Palm Beaches? Download our cultural travel guide today.