Press Release Free Family Fest returns! - Pop-up performances across South Florida, made-for-Miami productions and more!

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County announces

NEW THIS SEASON! FAMILY FEST IS GOING ON THE ROAD

Arsht Center continues its mission to connect Miami audiences to the arts by expanding its signature Family Fest Series to include free pop-up performances throughout the city’s diverse neighborhoods

THEE PHANTOM & THE ILLHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Celebrate Hip-Hop History Month and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with this exciting genre-blending orchestra
November 5, 2022

MICHELA’S LOVE MOVEMENT
Michela Marino Lerman and her dynamic band to inspire families with an immersive musical performance
January 7, 2023

RITA FINDS HOME
A family-friendly ballet performance expressing universal themes about community, belonging and resilience
February 11, 2023

THE BIG SING
Four local community choirs join forces to perform
and create a fun, interactive sing along
March 12, 2023

THE OCEAN LIVES THERE
Greater Miami Youth Symphony leads a performance celebrating the Sunshine State’s tropical culture
April 15, 2023

Miami, FL – August 15, 2022 – The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@arshtcenter) is pleased to announce the return of free FAMILY FEST for the 2022-2023 season. As part of the Arsht Center’s ongoing mission to engage and connect Miami audiences to the arts, a new partnership forged with Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs’ Culture Shock Miami program and Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces will help FAMILY FEST expand beyond performances at the Center. Beginning this fall, FAMILY FEST will offer free pop-up performances for the whole family to enjoy at different locations throughout the community. 

Free tickets for the first FAMILY FEST performance of the season will be available at arshtcenter.org beginning October 12. Sign up for Arsht Center emails here and be sure to select “Community & Free Events” to be the first to know when tickets become available.

FAMILY FEST is made possible with generous support from Baptist Health.

Performances for the 2022-2023 free FAMILY FEST series include the following:

Family Fest in the Park
THEE PHANTOM & THE ILLHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.
FREE RSVP - Tickets will be available starting October 12
Off Campus: Gwen Cherry Park, 7090 NW 22 Avenue

The Arsht Center, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs’ Culture Shock Miami program and Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces celebrate Hip-Hop History Month and the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with the hip-hop and classical mashup stylings of Thee Phantom & The Illharmonic Orchestra.

When was the last time you witnessed strings, horns and piano at a hip-hop concert? Add a party-rocking DJ, a soul-stirring female vocalist and a fire-breathing MC and that is still but a fraction of what you'll see when you catch Thee Phantom & The Illharmonic Orchestra in action!

Combining the raw energy and passion of hip-hop with the beautiful sounds of an orchestra, The Illharmonic is just the third hip-hop group to headline a performance at Carnegie Hall.

This performance of Family Fest in the Park is made possible with generous support from Baptist Health, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs’ Culture Shock Miami program and Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.

Family Fest in the Park
MICHELA’S LOVE MOVEMENT
Saturday, January 7, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
FREE RSVP - Tickets will be available starting December 7
Off Campus: Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40th Street

Michela's Love Movement is not an ordinary band. Led by tap dancer Michela Marino Lerman, the ensemble combines the highest levels of musicianship and hoofing. The group incorporates original music, spirituals, jazz, traditional and electronic tap boards, which will challenge your thoughts, uplift your spirit and send you dancing all the way home.

Michela’s Love Movement reflects a journey through the levels of love we experience throughout life, including familial love, self-love and realization, protest, prayer, spiritual love and romantic love.

Michela’s Love Movement is an immersive musical experience that will leave the audience feeling moved and empowered.

This performance of Family Fest in the Park is made possible with generous support from Baptist Health, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs’ Culture Shock Miami program and Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces.

Family Fest at the Arsht Center
RITA FINDS HOME
Presented by Miami City Ballet School and the Adrienne Arsht Center
Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
FREE - First-access passes* will be available starting January 19, 2023
Ziff Ballet Opera House

Rita, a young artist, paints and dreams of living in the big city despite the lush tropical island she calls home. When a hurricane thrusts Rita and her mother into a new life in a metropolis, she struggles to adapt. Feeling lost and as if everything she knew, including her talents, had been washed away by the storm, Rita embarks on a journey that helps her redefine what home means to her. With a little help from her new friends and her family, Rita's spirits are lifted as she explores the beauty of her new city, igniting a new sense of home and the realization that her talents never left her.

Rita Finds Home is a co-commission with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago performed by the Miami City Ballet School.

Admission to Rita Finds Home is free, however, first-access passes* are required. First-access passes will be available starting January 19, 2023.

Family Fest at the Arsht Center
THE BIG SING
Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 3 p.m.
FREE - First-access passes* will be available starting February 15, 2023
Knight Concert Hall

Join The Miami Children’s Chorus (MCC) and its friends - The Children’s Voices Chorus, Miami Sound Space Choir, and The Civic Chorale of Greater Miami - for a fun filled community sing-along concert that is truly representative of our South Florida community. All are welcome and no previous singing experience is needed to join in. Together we’ll all sing-along to songs in a wide variety of styles and genres, including opera, musical theater, pop, and even some original songs.

The Big Sing works towards a vision of a community where people of all ages can explore the joy of singing and highlights the vibrant choral community we have right here in our neighborhoods! The project affirms that we can in fact be one united community; a community that comes together to sing, to speak, to listen, to learn, and to grow.

To that end, the program will conclude with an arrangement of the classic hit “Lean on Me” that incorporates the hymn “We Shall Overcome.” Audiences can prepare for the final number using the digital resources provided by the MCC at their website: www.miamichildrenschorus.org/.

Admission to The Big Sing is free, however, first-access passes* are required. First-access passes* will be available starting February 15, 2023.

Family Fest at the Arsht Center
THE OCEAN LIVES THERE
Presented by the Greater Miami Youth Symphony and the Adrienne Arsht Center
Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.
FREE - First-access passes* will be available starting March 22, 2023
Knight Concert Hall

Featuring a world premiere commission inspired by picture book The Ocean Lives There, this concert celebrates the Sunshine State’s tropical culture as well as Florida-made music and literature, educates young musicians in the practice of new work, and provides an accessible and engaging musical experience for families.

The Ocean Lives There will be performed by Greater Miami Youth Symphony.

Admission to The Ocean Lives There is free, however, first-access passes* are required. First-access passes will be available starting March 22, 2023.

For more information on the Greater Miami Youth Symphony, visit gmys.org.

FIRST-ACCESS PASSES
FAMILY FEST performances are free; however, first-access passes are required for select performances this season and can be secured at arshtcenter.org.

ABOUT THE ARSHT CENTER’S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS
FAMILY FEST is one of the 10 ongoing Arsht Center programs committed to community engagement and deepening the experience of the performing arts for all Miami-Dade County residents. Having served more than 105,000 people throughout its 16-year history, the programs broaden community participation and open the sights, sounds and possibilities of the world through the performing arts. New programs include: Broadway on Biscayne, a series of pre-and post- performance experiences giving audiences a closer look at the shows; and Club Broadway which brings together a cohort of teen Broadway enthusiasts for shows and workshops. Existing programs include: Free Gospel Sundays, featuring Miami's best gospel artists and nationally renowned gospel headliners; The Heritage Project, a free salon series and annual festival featuring panel discussions surrounding  performing arts and social justice in the Black community;  AileyCamp Miami, a full-scholarship, six-week summer dance camp which uses dance as a vehicle for the personal development of young people; CommuniTea Dance, an annual celebration honoring Miami's LGBTQ+ community; Knight Masterworks Classical Conversations, a series of free lectures which give the audience insight into the musicians, composers and history of music presented in our Knight Masterworks Classical Music series; Accessing the Arts Residencies, art workshops for children and adults with disabilities; and Arsht on the Road, a series of free pop-up performances that bring the arts into Miami-Dade County's diverse neighborhoods.

@ArshtCenter                       #ArshtCenter

*All programs, artists, ticket prices, availability, dates and times are subject to change without notice. Visit arshtcenter.org for up-to-date information.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is made possible by the public support of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and the Board of County Commissioners, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council and the City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, as well as the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Adrienne Arsht Center also receives generous support from individuals, corporations and local, state and national foundations.

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AboutUs
Set in the heart of downtown Miami, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is committed to welcoming and connecting ALL people to the arts, to the Arsht Center and to each other. Our stages are alive year-round with artists from around the world, innovative programming from our resident companies and local arts partners, free community events that reflect Miami’s unique identity and arts education experiences for thousands of Miami children each year.

 Since opening in 2006, the Arsht Center, a 501C3 non-profit organization, has been recognized as a catalyst for billions of dollars in new development in the downtown area, a leader in programming that mirrors South Florida’s diversity, a host venue for historic events and Miami’s hub for arts education.

Each year, we serve more than 60,000 young learners and offer more than 100 culturally diverse and inclusive education programs — many enhanced by the Arsht Center’s relationship with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, local teaching artists and Miami-based arts organizations.

The Arsht Center is also a home stage for three resident companies — Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet and New World Symphony — and a launch pad for local artists to make their mark on the international stage. Our 300+ events each year include the Center’s Signature Series of classical, jazz, Broadway, local theater and much more. We present a robust series of touring Broadway musicals direct from New York, the largest jazz series in South Florida, a major annual Flamenco Festival and an award-winning Miami-based theater program. In addition, our Family Fest, Free Gospel Sundays, CommuniTEA LGBTQ+ celebration and Heritage Fest are among dozens of free events that bring together people from all corners of our community. For more information, visit arshtcenter.org.

About Culture Shock Miami
Culture Shock Miami, the audience development program of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, is designed to introduce the next generation of audience members to live arts and cultural experiences at the age when they are beginning to make their own entertainment decisions. Based on research that shows most people begin their appreciation for the arts at a young age, Culture Shock Miami is founded on the premise that when teens and young adults make the arts a regular entertainment choice, they are more likely to become full-price ticket buyers and subscribers in the future. Through our website teens and young adults (ages 13-22), can purchase $5 tickets to top music, theatre, and dance performances, as well as admission to museums, landmarks, and cultural destinations in and around Miami-Dade County. With the purchase of one $5 ticket for a 13-22 year old, a second $5 ticket can be purchased for someone of any age to accompany them.

About Greater Miami Youth Symphony
Since 1958, the Greater Miami Youth Symphony (GMYS) has been a cornerstone of Miami’s thriving arts and culture scene. Over the years, the orchestra has seen and survived rough times – from recessions to the pandemic, we’ve remained strong because our community has surrounded us.

Our mission is to instill life-long values of discipline, teamwork, responsibility, respect, and cultural appreciation in young musicians while enriching the cultural foundation of our community by reaching out to and recruiting young musicians from different cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. We understand how important it is to keep the music playing and the difference it makes in the lives of the many students we serve. For more information on the Greater Miami Youth Symphony, visit gmys.org.