Melbourne Art Festival
Held in Melbourne's lovely downtown area, this fine art show is one of the area's most-anticipated springtime events. In addition to all the great, original art and crafts for sale, the festival also includes a wide slate of live entertainment, a 5-K run that goes across the Melbourne Causeway and back, two days of art workshops, and KidsWorld, an activity center dedicated to entertaining those between 3 and 12.
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Beach Fest
This early summer festival packs all types of activities into its four-day span, pitting teams against one another in pursuit of the Beach Sport Championship. Competitions include a 5-K run, volleyball tourney, ocean relay, capture the flag tourney, bench press challenge and 7-player tug of war. The weekend's not all competition and testosterone, though, as there are also live bands every day, plenty to eat and drink, and scores of military vehicles on display.
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Pro-Am Surfing Festival
Held over Labor Day weekend in Cocoa Beach, this high-energy competition attracts surfers of all skill levels who're eager to show off their stuff and take on a few waves. In addition to many types of competitions (these take place on Saturday and Sunday), the event also features bikini contests, live bands, a silent auction and appearances by members of the Surfing Hall of Fame. Proceeds benefit the National Kidney Foundation of Florida.
Space Coast Arts Festival
The Space Coast hosts several major art festivals from fall to late spring, and this one in Cocoa Beach is one of the oldest (it started back in the early 60s) and biggest. Held the weekend after Thanksgiving, the festival features live music, great food, games, and contests. And, of course, there are artists – hundreds of them – who specialize in every medium imaginable. Most of the activities associated with this festival may be found along the Minuteman Causeway and Highway A1A. NB For runners, there's a 5-K "Turkey Trot" on Thanksgiving morning.
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