Top 16 Cultural Attractions in Florida – What Arts Experts Pick

Besides its world-famous theme parks and the miles of pristine, Florida is widely popular for its fascinating art scenes. Every month, every season in Florida has to offer something captivating. If you are an admirer of art and culture, check out the top 20 cultural attractions in Florida that distinguish the state from other American states.

Top Cultural Attractions in Florida by Arts Experts

1. Bok Tower Gardens (by Expert Judith Lisi): A contemplative garden and bird sanctuary located north of Lake Wales, Bok Tower Gardens boasts a 25-acre garden and a 60-bell Singing Tower carillon. It hosts live carillon concerts from mid-October through mid-May.
2. Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (by Expert Judith Lisi): The annual festival hosts 300 of the best-juried artists around the world on the first weekend of March. The event is held in downtown Tampa, turning into an outdoor museum where people can buy digital drawing, mixed media, photography, painting, ceramics, drawing, glass, watercolor, sculpture, and printmaking. Gasparilla Festival of the Arts has plenty of children’s activities.
3. Ringling Museum of Art (by Expert Ian Webb): The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Arts, in Sarasota, is the state art museum. It is home to 21 galleries of European paintings, Asian, American, and Contemporary Art, and Cypriot antiquities.
4. Vizcaya Museum & Gardens (by Expert Ian Webb): A twentieth-century villa, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is comprised of 70 rooms of distinctive architectural interiors. It has European decorative art and furnishings from the 15^th-century through the early 19^th-century.
5. New World Symphony (by Expert Howard Herring): An American Orchestral Academy, New World Symphony is held at the New World Center in the South Beach section of Miami Beach. It is a training ensemble for budding musicians who want to pursue professional careers in classical music.
6. Wynwood Walls (by Expert Howard Herring): Dedicated to street and graffiti artists from around the world, Wynwood Walls is a unique outdoor destination boasting captivating, colorful street murals by world-renowned artists.
7. Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum (by Expert Kathy Grief): Ernest Hemingway, one of the most revered American authors, stayed there for more than 10 years.
8. The Dali Museum (by Expert Kathy Grief): One of the popular cultural attractions in Florida, the Dali Museum houses more than 2,000 artworks in the 20,000 sq. ft. of gallery space such as sculptures, sketches, watercolors, and oils.
9. Black Archives Research Center (by Expert N.Y. Niathiri): Tallahassee is a beautiful vacation hotspot for families. Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum is one of the largest repositories of African-American history. The Center has over 5,000 individual museum artifacts and 500,000 independent archival records dating back to the seventeenth century.
10. American Beach (by Expert N.Y. Niathiri): Located in northeastern Florida, American Beach on Amelia Island in Nassau County is a historic beach community. It was the only beach in the Sunshine State that entertained black Americans.
11. Sarasota Music Festival (by Expert Lawrence Budmen): Sponsored by the Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Music Festival is a popular classical music festival bringing well-known musicians for three weeks in June.
12. Palm Beach Opera (by Expert Lawrence Budmen): Based in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Opera presents four fully-staged operas at Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.
13. Pine Island Art Show (by Expert Robin Draper): 60 miles north of Naples in Southwest Florida is the community of Pine Island Art Show and Matlacha artists. It features some of the greatest works of over 100 local artists every February.
14. Florida Folk Festival (by Expert Robin Draper): Florida vacationers traveling in May will be able to participate in the three-day Florida Folk Festival. You will explore Florida’s heritage through 300 performances along the banks of the Suwannee River.
15. Butterfield Garage Art Gallery (by Expert Jennifer Bryant Shepherd): Sneak peek into another cultural attraction in Florida opened in 1999 Butterfield Garage Art Gallery showcases the most distinguished professional artists of the area.
16. Maltz Jupiter Theatre (by Expert Christine Dolen): It focuses on lavish musicals like “Billy Elliot” and many classic plays. An American not-for-profit theatre, Maltz Jupiter Theatre was founded in 1979. It is hosting some of the upcoming events such as Stayin’ Alive, Tapestry – Carole King Tribute, Chicago, and Beach Party Boys.

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Whether Miami intrigues you with its pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife or you are thrilled to find Sarasota’s natural beauty, we would suggest you stay at Florida vacation rentals to make the most out of your vacation.