Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music, Art & Dance Delivers Most Diverse Festival Miami Has Ever Seen
Miami, Florida – Returning for its 3rd year, The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music, Art & Dance presents its most ambitious and diverse program lineup yet. The 4-Day Festival offers something completely different than any other festival or event in Florida. Highlights include performances from over 50 bands from across the globe, yoga & healing arts workshops, a huge Kids Village, live art & installations, music & dance workshops, camping on the beach, and much more. From February 20th through February 23rd the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park sets the stage for an interactive event filled with participatory experiences for all ages to enjoy.
An incredibly diverse and culturally rich musical lineup creates the Festival’s foundation. The programming includes Latin Grammy Award-winning Afro-Colombian group ChocQuibTown, Zimbabwe’s national treasure and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Oliver Mtukudzi & the Black Spirits, The most awarded Bluegrass legend of all time The Del McCoury Band, Latin Grammy Award-winning Best New Artist Sie7e, Trail-Blazing Americana mainstay Donna the Buffalo, current Reggae chart toppers John Brown’s Body, plus tons of hometown heavy-hitters like Spam All-Stars, Locos Por Juana, DJ Bill Kelly, Suenalo, and Elastic Bond.
The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival is full of activities for kids and families. The Kid’s Village offers free art projects, musical workshops, story time, kids’ yoga, a playground, games and all kinds of creative exploration all day long! Children ages 12 and under are admitted to the festival for free.
The event is in many ways a ‘lifestyle festival’ with a holistic approach to entertainment that engages all of the senses. In partnership with the Zen Village of Coconut Grove, the Festival’s Healing Arts Area offers daily workshops in various lineages of Yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, traditional dance, healing drumming, and more wellness practices. Practitioners of various healing modalities such as massage, Reiki, reflexology, and more offer their services throughout the day in a lovely shaded grove along the water.
Festival-goers have the opportunity to engage with legendary musicians and instructors at numerous Music and Dance Workshops. Musical workshop highlights include; World Drumming, Banjo & Fiddle, and Native Flute. Dance workshops for all levels take place prior to performances in the 10,000 square foot wood floored Dance Tent, including Bachata, Salsa, and Zydeco instruction. At Miami’s Scratch DJ Academy Booth, participants of all ages can try their hand at DJ-ing with instruction from world-renowned DJs and teachers.
Environmental sustainability and ecological preservation are at the heart of the event. The Sustainability Fair & Expo is an interactive model of engagement between South Florida businesses and festival attendees. Over the course of the weekend Green Businesses, featuring sustainable services and products work alongside non-profits to promote a sustainable future for Miami. There will be solar demos, bio-diesel education, urban farming workshops, and more. The Festival also has a mission of creating Zero Waste, with recycling and compost stations setup throughout the event. Biking to the festival is encouraged! Half-priced Sunday tickets are available for all who arrive by bicycle and numerous bike-centric activities are offered throughout the weekend.
The GrassRoots organization is deeply committed to building relationships in the community. The cornerstone of these local partnerships is the Roots in the Schools collaborative outreach program. In the week leading up to the event, The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival brings musicians into local schools for musical performances, classroom presentations, workshops, hands on experience and cultural enrichment. The program’s goal is to promote the creative health of young people, foster arts appreciation, and provide an opportunity for them to connect with the inspiring world of music.
Held on the pristine sands of the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, camping is available on the main festival grounds, just steps from the sparkling Atlantic Ocean. Virginia Key is a short ride from downtown Miami, but is quiet and secluded from the hustle and bustle of the city, creating the perfect setting for this one-of-a-kind festival. Tent camping and Vehicle Camping are available. Campers can come stay for single nights or all 4 nights of the festival.
Tickets are very moderately priced, with day passes ranging from $25-$40. Adult 4-Day Tickets are $100 in advance, $120 at the gate. Youth ages 13-15 are just $20 per day or $50 for 4-Days, with Kids 12 & under Free. Tent Camping Passes are $25 per night or $50 for 4-Nights. Vehicle Camping Passes, which include a tent pass are $50 per night or $100 for 4 Nights. Any vehicle larger than 21ft and cars towing campers are considered RVs and priced at $150..
