Daytona Beach Events and Festivals

(Daytona Beach, Florida - FL, USA)

The calendar of festivals, activities and attractions at Daytona Beach is largely dominated by its motor sporting events, which draw visitors in their thousands from within the city, as well as from neighboring cities and out of state.

For those not interested in vehicle-related events, other things to do in Daytona Beach include the Family Festival and the College BeachFest at the end of March, followed by the Gator Nationals World Karate Championships every May.

Most months see a number of farmers' markets taking place around the city, at locations such as City Island and Ormond Beach. Also of note, visitors get the opportunity to join the monthly evening 'Climb to the Moon' at the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, where you can watch the sunset whilst enjoying a glass or two of sparkling cider and some nibbles, courtesy of the Inlet Harbor Restaurant.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Third Monday in January - Martin Luther King Day
• 12th February - Lincoln's Birthday
• Third Monday in February - Washington's Birthday
• Last Monday in May - Memorial Day
• 4th July - Independence Day
• First Monday in September - Labor Day
• Second Monday in October - Columbus Day
• 11th November - Veterans Day
• 4th Thursday in November - Thanksgiving
• 25th December - Christmas Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Country Folk Art Show - held at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center, this annual event sees craftspeople from across the US gather to display a variety of handcrafted wares including folk art, furniture, carvings and jewelry among other items

February

• Daytona 500 - dates vary, this annual event is the biggest and perhaps most important event in the Daytona Beach racing calendar. The best stock car racers in the world converge at the Daytona International Speedway track to compete for the prestigious title
• Ormond Beach Carnevale - held for four days in early February at Bruce Rossmeyer's Destination Daytona, featuring concerts, carnival rides, a parade and much more
• Speed Weeks - roughly half a million motorbikes roar into the city for a series of events and activities

March

• Daytona Bike Week - another important affair in the city's calendar of vehicle-related events. Bike week sees enthusiasts of the two-wheel mode of transport gather to celebrate all that is good about motorcycling. Expect a variety of biked-related shows, exhibits and concerts
• Daytona Family Fest - late March, this relatively new event is aimed at uniting families within the city's community groups in order to spread awareness of community issues. However, fun is the overwhelming theme of this one-day event
• College BeachFest - late March, three-day festival of fun, food, drink, music and entertainment. The event is a replacement for the former Spring Bling and the Black College Reunion

April

• No significant events

May

• Art In The Park - early May, staged at the Rockefeller Gardens, with more than 100 different artists. Visitors will also find plenty of handmade jewelry, attractive ceramics and food stalls
• National Travel and Tourism Week - early May, starting off with breakfast at the Sunset Harbor Yacht Club and Conference Center
• Gator Nationals World Karate Championships - mid-May, at the Ocean Center on North Atlantic Avenue, attracting professionals in the world of martial arts
• Celtic Music Festival - late May, Celtic performers entertain crowds at the Rockefeller Gardens

June

• Juneteenth Family Festival - mid-June, this annual affair is a celebration marking the end of the US slave trade and features food and drink as well as entertainment and a range of activities for kids

July

• Florida International Festival - this event sees internationally acclaimed dancers and musicians gather together to showcase their talents before the city's culturally inclined residents, while the London Symphony Orchestra also makes a regular appearance at the FIF
• Independence Day - July 4th, Daytona Beach celebrates the country's most significant historical holiday in typical flair with fireworks and festivities across the city
• Pepsi 400 - early July, this is another of Daytona's big events held at the Daytona International Speedway. Expect stock cars and big crowds

August

• Children's Expo - late August, this is a family event with a variety of activities and interests on offer including rides, karaoke, a climbing wall and petting zoo

September

• Daytona Beach Boat Show - this annual event sees boat enthusiasts from all over the state gather to view a huge selection of the finest boats available for purchase. Upwards of 400 boats are displayed at the Ocean Center and more still across the bay at Caribbean Jack's Marina

October

• Biketoberfest - late October, one of the biggest events in the biking calendar sees literally thousands of bike enthusiasts descend on Daytona Beach to enjoy a variety of bike-related shows and exhibitions

November

• Annual Art Festival - early November, this annual event presented by the Guild of Museum of Arts and Sciences features a variety of art-related exhibits and activities made possible by the presence of more than 250 skilled artists

December

• Annual Christmas Parade - early December, the city marks the beginning of Daytona Beach's festive season with a giant festive parade which begins at Third Street and Ridgewood Avenue and finishes north at LPGA Boulevard