EDM fans descend for Ultra Music Fest, Miami Music Week, Winter Music Conference

Expect high security and traffic in downtown Miami and South Beach

MIAMI – Thousands danced at Miami's Bayfront Park to Steve Aoki's beats Friday night at the 20th annual Ultra Music Festival, after the three-day event -- attracting tourists from as far as Argentina, China and Australia -- kicked off at 3 p.m.

Some 160,000 tourists invaded Miami's downtown, Brickell, Wynwood, Midtown, Edgewater and Upper East Side neighborhoods. South Beach hotels were at full occupancy and there were dozens of pool parties and after parties for Miami Music Week and the Winter Music Conference

"I see so many flags, I love that," Aoki said to his fans asking them to pose for a picture. " Let's show the world, how the world is [expletive] here in Miami."

Buildings in Brickell heightened their security. Miami police officers and firefighters were out in force. Miami Police Department Chief Jorge Colina said security will be much different this year. After recent mass shootings, offficers and counter-sniper intelligence will be positioned on elevated observation points.

The massive event has  eight stages with simultaneous concerts and a popular live stream on YouTube. 


 


About the Authors:

Nicole Perez is the the primary co-anchor of Local 10 News at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. She first joined Local 10 in July 2016 as the morning traffic reporter.

Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018. Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City. He attended Christopher Columbus High School, Homestead Senior High School and graduated from St. Thomas University.