Welcome to your community calendar. It's your one-stop shop to finding out about events taking place around your community. We have everything to help you make the most of your free time, from festivals and fundraisers to music and museums.
Events are listed on a monthly basis. Most are free or low cost to the public.
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Now – Jan. 8
Lantern Light Festival
Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo
10901 SW 24th Street (Coral Way)
Miami, FL
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
The festival offers a spectacular evening of dazzling lights, colors, shapes and themes. The entire family can enjoy and experience the majestic skills of the world’s finest lantern makers.
Cost: Tickets start at $19. Free admission for children under age 2
For more information, visit lanternlightfestival.com
Now – Jan. 18
"Text" Exhibition
A. Hugh Adams Central Campus
Rosemary Duffy Larson Gallery
3501 S.W. Davie Road
Davie, FL
"Text" will feature the works of John Chang, Robert Ladislas Derr, Tatana Kellner and Barbara Oettinger Searle. The artists use text, both legible and obscured, to create images that vary widely, visually and conceptually.
Time: Day event
Cost: Free and open to the public
For more information, visit www.browardvpa.com/gallery.
Now – Feb. 2017
Drugs: Cost & Consequences Exhibit
Museum of Discovery & Science
401 SW 2nd Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Time: Museum Hours: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Mon. – Fri.), 12 noon – 6:00 p.m. (Sunday)
Presented by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), this 4,000 square foot, nationally traveling exhibit offers a local, global and historical view of the many costs and consequences of drugs on society. It’s designed to open the eyes to the science behind drug addiction and the damaging impact of illegal drugs. It provides youth and adults a unique learning opportunity and a chance to be part of the solutions in their communities.
Cost: Included with museum admission cost.
Adults $15, Kids 2-12 $13, Kids 1 & under free
For more information, visit mods.org
Thursday, Jan. 5 & Every Thursday in 2017
Thursday Night Food Truck Round-Up
Rickenbacker Causeway - Across MAST Academy & Miami Marine Stadium
Key Biscayne, FL
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Starting Thursday, January 5, the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces department and Rickenbacker Causeway Park Operations will premiere the new “Thursday Night Food Truck Round-Up.” Guests will enjoy a wide variety of culinary treats served up by popular gourmet food truck vendors, along with picturesque views of Biscayne Bay.
Note: The event will be held every Thursday (weather permitting), with the exception of these block out dates: Feb. 16 (Progressive Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail) and March 23 & 30 (Miami Open Tennis Tournament).
Cost: Varies per food truck vendor
For more information, contact Moty Mordechay Goldman at info@motysgrill.com or 786-287-6688.
Friday, Jan. 6 & Every Friday in 2017
Friday Farmer’s Market at Haulover Beach Park
Bill Bird Marina
10800 Collins Avenue
Miami, FL
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Starting Friday, January 6, visitors can enjoy the fun of healthy living at this family-style event, featuring fresh locally grown produce for purchase, a live DJ pop-up dance party, a bounce house for the kids, and more.
Cost: Free parking will be provided at the marina. Vendor food costs vary
For more information, call Liza Hernandez at 786-459-0787. For directions to Haulover Beach Park, call 305-947-3525.
Monday, Jan. 9
Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
McDonald's restaurants across South Florida
Time: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
McDonald's restaurants across Florida invite local law enforcement and support staff to enjoy a free breakfast, lunch or dinner Extra Value Meal. Members of the community are also invited to show their support to the law enforcement officers enjoying a free meal.
Cost: Free
Tuesday, Jan.10
AutoNation Hiring Event
AutoNation Toyota – Weston
4050 Weston Road, Suite 1
Davie, FL
Time: 1-day hiring event
America's largest automotive retailer is holding a 1-day hiring event in 15 U.S. cities from coast to coast. AutoNation Toyota Weston will be a hosting site for this event. Thousands of sales and service positions are available. AutoNation is offering base pay plus bonus and commission pay plans, paid training, paid time off and flexible work schedules. All veterans and military reserves are welcome to apply. All new hires will start on January 23, 2017.
Cost: Free
For more information contact Marc Cannon at 954-769-3146
Thursday, Jan. 19
Exploring the Red Planet with NASA Engineer Kobie Boykins
A. Hugh Adams Central Campus Bailey Hall
3501 S.W. Davie Road
Davie, FL
Time: 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m
Kobie Boykins is a mechanical engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., who worked on projects from Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rovers to Ocean Surface Topography Mission for more than ten years. Currently, Boykins is supervisor of the mobility and remote sensing mast teams for Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory. His presentation will include dozens of breathtaking images of Mars, as well as personal reflections on the importance of success and failure in the process of scientific exploration.
Cost: $5 for the 10:30 a.m. presentation. $10 for the 7:30 p.m. presentation
For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.baileyhall.org.
Saturday, Jan. 21
7th Annual Dan Marino Foundation WalkAbout Autism & Expo
Hard Rock Stadium – Home of the Miami Dolphins
2269 NW 199th Street
Miami Gardens, FL 33056
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Help raise money and awareness in support of the South Florida autism community at this fun-filled event for all families. All proceeds raised through this event stay in the South Florida community, “Money Raised Here, Stays Here”, non-profit service providers and Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach County Schools, who participate with WalkAbout Teams, are eligible to receive 25% of the money raised by their team to support special needs programming.
Cost: Suggested $25 donation per family
Register today at dmfwalkaboutautism.org or call 954.368.6000.