BAYFRONT PARK

Miami is preparing to welcome about 170,000 electronic dance music fans from around the world in just two days for a festival that organizers say will have a nearly $200 million economic impact in the area.

Miami OKs LED signs, bayfront parks billboards advance by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

After a massive celebration for the ringing in of 2022 that included more than 100,000 attendees, the Bayfront Park New Year’s Eve announced Wednesday that it will make its return to the City of Miami in 2023.

After a massive celebration for the ringing in of 2022 that included more than 100,000 attendees, the Bayfront Park New Year’s Eve announced Wednesday that it will make its return to the City of Miami in 2023.

As Miami targets lighted ad signs for parks, bigger signs sought elsewhere by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Are city commissioners desperate, insensitive or greedy? by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Miami adds Virginia Key Park to parks billboards plan by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

To raise money, Miami looks at billboards in downtown parks by at MiamiTodayNews.com.

Inclement weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm of fans at Best Of The Best, at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami on May 29.

The Ultra Music Festival will call Bayfront Park “home” every March for the next five years. Ultra signing a new deal to keep the festival where it is until 2027.

This year’s staging of Best of the Best concert sees an exciting mix of performers to herald the prodigal return of the music festival.

With gas prices on the rise and avoiding the hassle of driving in and out of Miami, Tri-Rail has partnered with the Ultra Music Festival to offer train services for the event.

The cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale are putting the finishing touches on outdoor festivities to ring in 2022 despite the pandemic still swirling.

While many crowd-drawing celebrations are being canceled due to the omicron variant, the show is on at Miami's Bayfront Park to ring in the New Year.

Commissioner and Chairman of the Bayfront Park Management Trust Joe Carollo is hosting a press conference about the City of Miami New Year’s Eve celebration at Bayfront Park.

The More Than Pink walk returned to Bayfront Park for an in-person event this year after it was held virtually in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 19-year-old college student was killed in Orlando earlier this month.

Miami police arrested a 22-year-old woman early Monday morning who they said left her 15-month-old son inside an SUV that was parked outside the amphitheater at Bayfront Park.

It's a freedom rally event not only for Cuba, but Venezuela and Nicaragua as well.

A Miami commissioner and local activists met Wednesday at Miami City Hall to announce an upcoming public rally to send a message to the White House.

The tower would have been triple the height of the Statue of Liberty, which scales up to 305 feet.

Looking for the best concerts and nightlife events in Miami for June 2021? Wet Mango Fest, Robert Glasper, Bob Moses, and more concerts in Miami this week.

MIAMI, Fla. – Ten new American citizens took the oath of allegiance on Wednesday in the shadow of an appropriate piece of artwork in Bayfront Park with a Vatican connection. The sculpture, Angels Unawares, will be at Bayfront Park through April 7 and on Wednesday, it was the backdrop for a citizenship ceremony. On September 2019, the large bronze of Angels Unawares was installed in St. Peter’s Square Rome and the smaller bronze was installed in St. Paul’s Basilica, Rome. In the shadow of Miami’s Freedom Tower and the faces of the bronze “Angels,” Colombian born Nicolas Cabrera was sworn in as an American. The sculpture arrived in Bayfront Park on Feb. 9 after stops in Boston, New York and Atlanta, before coming to Miami.

County drafts downtown Miami transit-oriented revampWritten by Jesse Scheckner on January 26, 2021AdvertisementAfter several delays, a report meant to guide the first phase of a planned redevelopment of 32 acres in the downtown Government Center area should be done by summer, according to Miami-Dade commissioner leading the push to revamp the area. Progress on the report, which officials initially expected would be finished more than a year ago, stalled once Covid-19 hit. Initially expected in January 2020, then by that April and later punted to no date certain, the document is to serve as a conceptual roadmap for an overhaul of 34 county properties around the county’s headquarters. Others include the Downtown Intermodal District Corridor Subzone, which allowed Brightline to be developed, as well as the Brickell Station and Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre subzones. “There’s the ability to make this feel like there’s this community space to play and use that is very much missing from the downtown core.

For the second year in a row, citing COVID-19 concerns, organizers for the popular DJ techno fest have pulled the plug on the Bayfront Park event that would have happened in March in downtown Miami.

MIAMI – The three-day Ultra Music Festival will likely be canceled again this year, and organizers are planning ahead for UMF 2022 at Bayfront Park in Miami, Billboard reported on Friday. Organizers of the annual electronic music dance festival didn’t host the show last year, as the deadly coronavirus was starting to spread in Miami-Dade County during the beginning of the pandemic. UMF organizers committed to making sure the tickets that thousands of people from around the world purchased for Miami’s UMF 2020 were valid for a future event, but they have yet to release details. The festival was last held in 2019 at Miami’s Virginia Key and attendees complained about logistical issues with transportation. For more information about the status of UMF in Miami, visit the organizer’s website to sign up for updates.

MIAMI – Ron Book greeted homeless men and women on Thursday at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. The chairman of the Homeless Trust in Miami-Dade County asked them if they knew temperatures are going to drop to the 40s this weekend. Brook activated a plan to provide transportation and emergency shelter until it gets warmer again on Sunday in Miami. “It’s going to be very cold in our community.”A homeless man rests at Bayfront Park on Thursday in downtown Miami. The Homeless Trust had been able to place 90 homeless people in shelters by Thursday afternoon.

The Christopher Columbus statue in Bayfront Park is still standing, clean and on a high pedestal, after protesters spray-painted the monument in June and some activists called for its removal. In the midst of demonstrations for racial justice after the death of George Floyd over the summer, some protesters spray-painted the statue of Columbus and wrote "George Floyd" on its concrete perch. In response to the Columbus statue controversy, City of Miami commissioners on July 9 unanimously passed a resolution that created a "zero tolerance" policy for vandalism, allowing for perpetrators to be cited, arrested, and fined. EXPAND The Columbus statue was vandalized in June. Rather than celebrate the problematic Columbus, the rebranding of Indigenous People's Day aims to lift up indigenous cultures.

MIAMI Miami police are searching for a man who they said attacked an officer last month during a protest against racial injustice near Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. According to Officer Kiara Delva, who is a spokeswoman for the Police Department, an officer was arresting another subject during the June 10 protest on Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast Fourth Street when a man ran up to the officer while he was on the ground and struck him in the head with a skateboard. According to Delva, the officer suffered head pains following the incident. Authorities said a police vehicle was also damaged during the protest. Officer Michael Vega told Local 10 News last month that three people were wanted for the vandalism.

MIAMI The daily coronavirus numbers released by Florida Department of Health showed another record amount of positive cases on Saturday. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez spoke to Local 10 about the staggering rise in new COVID-19 cases. We want to start to bring that positive rate down, said Gimenez. Thats the key to the whole thing.The latest numbers showing Florida with 9,585 new cases, with Miami-Dade alone reporting 1,366. For us, its very difficult to control congregations, said Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

MIAMI – Miami-Dade Chief Assistant State Attorney Don Horn took to the podium on Sunday to sing “Lean On Me” at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. Arthur Jackson, of the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, said he and members of his church showed solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement because they were inspired by Rev. Our community truly wants and needs this.”Sybrina Fulton participates in a pray march on Sunday in downtown Miami. Calvary Baptist Church, the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, the Grace Baptist Church, the Friendship Baptist Church and the New Life Church of Carol City.

At one point, City of Miami police officers rode by on bikes and the Law and Order cheered loudly in the direction of the riders. The demonstration was organized in response to widespread, and much larger, Black Lives Matter protests that have sprung up all over South Florida and throughout the country. Evelio Medina, who founded the group Law Abiding Citizens Coalition, was the organizer of Sundays Law and Order rally. While several people at the Law and Order rally were wearing clothing bearing the Proud Boys name, most of the demonstrators were not. There were also a few loud, verbal exchanges when a small group of BLM protesters marched through the Law and Order rally.

MIAMI, Fla. – The protesters began in downtown with dozens gathering at the Torch of Friendship in Bayfront Park. A Haitian band, the Koncious Kontractors, was founded by a Francois Alexandre who said he was beaten by Miami police officers seven years ago. From the, the now larger group went to Wynwood with more marching and dancing to a Haitian Rara Band. He told the group: "Don't surround the car, let me put myself in harm's way for you." The statue of Haitian General Toussan Louverture where the nearly eight-mile journey came to an end.

Two groups of protesters converged and marched through the streets of Miami Saturday during another weekend of demonstrations. Dozens soon turned into hundreds of protesters as they marched for hours, spending much of their time in the Wynwood neighborhood. A drive-in peace rally at the Northside SDA Church, on NW 119th Street, drew more than 100 cars to the church’s parking lot. In Broward County, protests in Lauderhill, Pompano Beach, and Lauderdale Lakes went on peacefully. More rallies are planned in both counties for Sunday including a counter-protest in Miami by a group called the Law Abiding Citizens’ Coalition.

MIAMI, Fla. – Evelio Mendina wants to spread a message of peace. On Friday, he stood at the base of a statue of Christopher Columbus, one of two in downtown Miami that were defaced by protesters on Wednesday. Basically, there’s room for everybody, as long as it’s peaceful.”Medina founded his own group called the Law Abiding Citizens’ Coalition. It is one of the reasons he decided to hold his own counter-protest at Bayfront Park on Sunday. Protesters said they targeted it because of Columbus’ history of terrorizing and enslaving Native Americans.

MIAMI – Dozens of protesters met Friday afternoon at the Torch of Friendship at Bayfront Park and marched for hours through downtown Miami and Brickell. Protesters march on a ramp from Miami Avenue toward Interstate 95 southbound on Friday evening in downtown Miami. (SKY 10)About 7:45 p.m., the protesters marched on Interstate 95′s southbound ramp from Miami Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard. (SKY 10)Before marching on I-95 and blocking the Brickell Avenue Bridge, they marched peacefully to the Miami-Dade County Courthouse in downtown Miami. (SKY10)As a precaution, Florida Highway Patrol troopers closed I-95 in both directions from Florida State Road 112 to U.S. 1.

Miami cuts richer ad kiosks deal, excludes Bayfront ParkWritten by Gabriel Poblete on April 29, 2020AdvertisementA deal between the City of Miami and a firm that will install interactive smart kiosks on city sidewalks was OKd last week after the city administration negotiated more favorable terms for the citys cut of the advertisement revenue. Under the approved agreement, the city will receive 40% of the gross advertising revenue. Mr. Carollo, chairman of the Bayfront Park Trust, said he would negotiate with IKE or other firms for the best deal for the trust. He said the trust will not be able to generate funds from activities and concerts held at Bayfront Park for the foreseeable future. A subsidiary of Orange Barrel Media, IKE has kiosks throughout the country, including the neighboring City of Coral Gables.

This year, organizers were expecting EDM fans from more than 100 countries to invade the park March 20-22. Officials in Miami looking into postponing Ultra Music Festival as coronavirus fears growUMF organizers also decided to cancel this week’s annual Abu Dhabi event. The decisions will also be affecting EDM music stars David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Marshmello, The Chainsmokers and many more. Michelle Pagnanon was demanding that Ultra Music Festival give EDM fans the option to get a refund. Guests attend Ultra Music Festival 2016 on March 18, 2016 in Miami, Florida.

SOUTH FLORIDA The Super Bowl LIV has come and gone and while you may be either extremely excited that your team won or totally devastated over the unexpected loss, one thing is for certain; the Caribbean parade and concert during the Super Bowl LIVE programming at Bayfront Park was one of the highlights over Super Bowl weekend here in Miami. Bayfront Park, played home to a weekend of programming by the Super Bowl Host Committee of which Friday was dedicated to showcasing the diverse communities and unique cultures represented across Miami. I love that Caribbean culture is represented here because it makes up so much of what makes Miami, Miami. Im happy! states Erica Knowles who attended the event over multiple days at Bayfront Park. A special thank you to Lila Nikole, Euphoria Mas, Steel Away Productions, DJ Savage Won and all who made the evening a memorable one.

Thankfully, local officials, the Super Bowl LIV Host Committee, and rideshare services Uber and Lyft have released information about how to best get around Miami during the big weekend. The Metromover will remain free during Super Bowl weekend and will continue to service the stops closest to Super Bowl Live: Bayfront Park Station, First Street Station, and College Bayside Station. TrolleyMiami and Miami Beach will run trolley services that provide access to Super Bowl events and other destinations. Miami Beach road closures Courtesy of Super Bowl LIVUber, Lyft, and Other Rideshares ServicesLooking to skip the hassle of driving and parking? Miami Beach rideshare zones Courtesy of Super Bowl LIVUber and Lyft both expect a rise in ride requests and thus a likely increase in fares during peak hours.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, said that although there is “no specific or credible threat,” federal agents will be doing everything in their power to protect Super Bowl LIV fans in Miami-Dade County. Federal agents know Hard Rock Stadium, the home of Sunday’s Super Bowl, in Miami Gardens, NFL events in downtown Miami and Miami Beach, and airports in South Florida are desirable targets. “We are spreading out are assets to take care of business, not only at the Super Bowl, but at all those other locations as well,” said Todd Gayle, an air and marine team agent for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. On Wednesday, FBI Special Agent in Charge George Piro said FAA no drone zone violations during the Super Bowl “will result in both civil and potential criminal penalties.”The 2020 Miami Super Bowl LIV host committee is promoting the SaferWatch app to empower users to submit tips for law enforcement. “I would say the things that you’re looking for in general is anybody whose behavior just seems out of the ordinary, anybody asking unusual questions about security or observing security procedures," said Cathy Lanier, the chief security officer for the NFL.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Federal Aviation Administration is warning fliers of hobbyist drones to comply with temporary “No Drone Zones” in Miami-Dade County or face penalties of more than $30,000. The temporary flight restrictions are in effect in areas of South Beach, downtown Miami and Miami Gardens, where there are National Football League events during Super Bowl LIV week. The ban applies to one nautical mile around the Miami Beach Convention Center, at 1901 Convention Center Dr., and Bayfront Park, at Biscayne Blvd., and it is in place until Saturday. On Sunday, the FAA is prohibiting drones around the Hard Rock Stadium, at 347 Don Shula Dr.

by Howard CampbellMIAMI Three generations of women who made their marks on Caribbean music will be on this years Best of The Best Music Fest, scheduled for May 24 at Bayfront Park in Miami. See also: Best of the Best Music Fest Commemorate Year of the Women 2020The Grammy-nominated Koffee has been the most visible of these acts in the last 18 months. Like Koffee, Shenseea represents the new generation of dancehall and is popular throughout the Caribbean and Diaspora markets in the US. Women make this music fest a destination getaway aka girl trip. The full lineup for Best Of The Best Music Fest 2020 will be announced soon.

Despite the revived efforts of disgruntled downtown residents to oust Ultra Music Festival from Bayfront Park, Miami's biggest EDM extravaganza doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Four live headliners have been added, including Madeon, Gryffin, Sofi Tukker, and Gareth Emery, while new DJ headliners include Kygo, Loco Dice, Oliver Heldens, and a back-to-back set with Malaa and DJ Snake. This new lineup announcement comes after a group of downtown residents filed a lawsuit against the City of Miami for allowing Ultra to return to Bayfront Park. Ultra's first Phase One lineup included live headliners Zedd, Flume, Gesaffelstein, and Major Lazer, as well as Richie Hawtin, Above and Beyond, Eric Prydz, Afrojack, and others. Friday, March 20, through Sunday, March 22, at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-358-7550; bayfrontparkmiami.com.

Here's a handy-dandy timeline of the love (and sometimes hate) story between Ultra and Miami. After two years across the bay, Ultra holds its first festival in Miami's Bayfront Park. Miami commissioners, citing noise complaints and concerns from neighbors, voted unanimously against bringing the festival back to Bayfront Park. This is Ultra Music Festival, after all, and our attendees expect us to deliver on our commitment to excellence." Last summer, he sponsored a resolution to negotiate Ultra's return to Bayfront Park.

Ultra Music Festival may have won back its place at Bayfront Park last year, but it appears now that the battle between the EDM festival and disgruntled downtown residents has entered a new phase. The suit argues that the city is creating a public nuisance by allowing Ultra to "blast catastrophic volumes of noise into Plaintiffs' and other downtown Miami residents' homes depriving them of the quiet enjoyment of their homes," violating the city charter's guarantee against "excessive and unnecessary noise." The downtown residents purport the city is breaking rules on competitive bidding, independent appraisals, waterfront access, and other issues by allowing Ultra to take place. Downtown residents have squabbled with Ultra for years over the noise issue. In 2017, over 1,000 downtown residents signed a petition demanding the city stop hosting any festivals in the park due to noise issues.

LED lights illuminate coastline for Super BowlWritten by Gabriel Poblete on January 14, 2020AdvertisementThe million guests expected to flood into Downtown for the Super Bowl will be treated with hot pinks lights as they amble along Bayfront Parks coastline. The lights are one of several Super Bowl LIV Legacy Projects, as the tri-county area prepares to host footballs biggest night. She added that the lights will be programmed to hot pink during the Super Bowl Festivities, including Super Bowl Live!, the premier event occurring in Downtown Miami. The authority also funded the additional cost for the LED lights in Parcel B, upgrading plans for traditional lights to be paid for by Miami-Dade County. The Super Bowl 2020 Host Committee approached the authority with a request for $300,000.

Neon” Carpenter was asked to design what’s become an icon for New Year’s Eve, Big Orange, he thought sheet aluminum was the way to go. This will be the 34th year of raising the Big Orange since Carpenter designed and built the 30-foot-tall icon, which climbs 400 feet to the top of Miami’s InterContinental Hotel to ring in Miami’s New Year 2020. The Big Orange is the star of the countdown to midnight at Bayfront Park’s south end. The New Year’s Eve icon slowly ascends the side of the InterContinental Hotel, reaching the top at midnight with a fireworks display capping it off. Packages from $295 to $495 get you gourmet food, a champagne toast and a chance to be a Mr. Worldwide VIP.

MIAMI – Florida Power & Light’s goal to install 30 million solar panels in the state by 2030 will add 500 to its growing tally at Miami’s Bayfront Park. The popular downtown Miami concert venue took another green step forward as it began a project to install 500 solar panels that would help to power all events hosted at the venue Wednesday. “It’ll provide some shade and it’ll be something every concert-goer will look at and say wow look at this nice city,” FPL spokeswoman Marie Bertot said. The panels will use a new bifacial technology that serves as power source and energy absorption, and will also provide research for the power company. As for FPL’s 2030 efforts, the company says they are on track to meet the aggressive goal.

For something slightly less classy, SantaCon and all of its red-garbed, Santa-bearded absurdity will land in Bayfront Park this Saturday. Here are the best free things to do in Miami this week:Tasty holiday cocktails await at Miracle Pop-Up Bar, located inside the Wynwood bar Gramps. 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday, December 9, and opens at 7 p.m. nightly through December 31 at Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami; gramps.com. 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15, at the Clevelander South Beach, 1020 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach; 305-532-4006; clevelander.com. 1 p.m. to midnight Sunday, December 15, at the Abbey Brewing Company, 1115 16th St., Miami Beach; 305-538-8110; abbeybrewinginc.com.

MIAMI, Fla. – One day after Thanksgiving, Christmas music is filling the air at Bayfront Park this holiday season. The park will become one of Miami’s most iconic offerings by setting up as a holiday village starting Friday, Nov. 29. The Holiday Village features a collection of more than 50 local vendors, a waterfront skating rink around the Claude Pepper Fountain, and Bayfront Bites where you can grab food and a drink, and an area to relax with live entertainment. Jess Dalton of Saucy Lips Foods, can’t wait for village shoppers to arrive. Festivities officially kick off Saturday, Nov. 30 from 6 to 9 p.m. with a tree lighting ceremony at 7:30 p.m.Bayfront Park’s Holiday Village, 301 Biscayne Blvd., will be on site through Christmas Day.

Here are the best free things to do in Miami this week:EXPAND A still from Jamilah Sabur's Obra. Photo courtesy of Jamilah SaburRelated Stories Five Young Artists to Watch During Miami Art Week 2019As part of its MBUS (Miami Beach Urban Studios) series, Florida International University is hosting a slew of notable artists for public discussions about their work. 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 26, at FIU Miami Beach Urban Studios, 420 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach; carta.fiu.edu/mbus. 11 a.m. Friday, November 29, and 9 a.m. Saturday, November 30, at the Confidante Miami Beach, 4041 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; hyatt.com. In the blink of an eye, Art Basel and Miami Art Week have already arrived.

NFL kicks ahead funding for lighting BaywalkWritten by Catherine Lackner on November 5, 2019AdvertisementDirectors of Miamis Downtown Development Authority voted unanimously to allocate $643,371 to install LED lighting in portions of Bayfront and Maurice A. Ferre parks, but $600,000 of that money will come from the National Football League and the City of Miami. And, in hopes of having the project completed before Super Bowl LIV festivities kick off at the end of January, they voted to waive competitive bidding so that a project manager and lighting manufacturer could be hired. This is us, stepping forward and working with others to get things done, said Ken Russell, authority chair and Miami commissioner. Its part of a complicated deal that began in June, when the Super Bowl 2020 Host Committee approached the downtown authority with a request for $300,000 in funding. That legacy project is to be the lighting that will trace the Baywalk path as it meanders along Biscayne Bay through the two parks.

MIAMI - The annual Ultra Music Festival pulled its own plug after its move to Virginia Key in March, and it's officially moving back to Bayfront Park. But the former head of the Park Trust was not happy with having Bayfront Park as an option again for Ultra. The trust now has rules placing limits on private events held at Bayfront Park. Carollo and Russell, who represents downtown Miami residents, were the only two commissioners who voted against bringing Ultra back to Bayfront Park. Some were thrilled with the festival's return to Bayfront Park.

Ultra Music Festival will return to Bayfront Park in downtown Miami next year. It authorizes the city manager to negotiate an agreement with Event Entertainment Group (EEG) to allow Ultra Music Festival to once again return to Bayfront Park. A major point of contention was the disputed $475,000 that the City of Miami says Ultra Music Festival still owes. That's in addition to the $2 million fee Ultra will pay to host the music festival in Bayfront Park. The 2020 edition of Ultra Music Festival will be held in March at Bayfront Park.

MIAMI - The annual Ultra Music Festival pulled its own plug after its move to Virginia Key in March, and attempts to get it back to Bayfront Park are hitting some sour notes at Thursday night's commission meeting. The money and panache of the iconic Miami-born global music festival is still a lure. But the former head of the Park Trust was not happy with having Bayfront Park as an option again for Ultra. The trust now has rules placing limits on private events held at Bayfront Park. The music festival has numerous partnerships and political connections, but it remains to be seen whether it will have enough votes to return to Bayfront Park.

Preparations are underway at Bayfront Park for the annual fireworks display in Fort Lauderdale Beach to celebrate the Fourth of July.