Florida events take place throughout the year and are a great way to add things to do to your vacation itinerary. No matter if you're in Orlando, Miami, or anywhere else in the state, there may be a major event taking place nearby.

January

Top ranked teams fight for collegiate glory in the annual FedEx Orange Bowl Classic at Miami’s Pro Player Stadium.

Some 16,000 runners participate in the Walt Disney World Marathon through the resort area and parks.

Authors and literary aficionados hobnob in Hemmingway’s old hometown during the three-day Key West Literary Seminar.

February

The NASCAR world takes a Florida holiday at the Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500 and Speedweeks.

Arrgh, matey! Parading pirates shower street crowds with trinkets and doubloons during Tampa’s century-old Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Mega-yachts, muscle boats, or teak-decked classics: if it floats, you’ll find it at the Miami International Boat Show.

Stuff yourself silly on gator nuggets, stone crab, and fry bread at Florida City’s three-day Everglades Seafood Festival.

March

Spring break’s Florida events overtake Panama City, Daytona Beach, South Beach, and Key West.

Miami Carnival! The Calle Ocho Festival takes over Little Havana for ten days of hot Florida music, colorful parades, and paella Cubana.

Get your motor runnin’ and head out to the motorcycle races and events at Daytona’s Bike Week.

South Beach hosts Winter Party, a celebration of social and cultural events benefiting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender causes.

April

African-American students from over 100 universities wrap up Spring Break at the Black College Reunion in Daytona Beach.

The granddaddy of senior golf tournaments tees off in Palm Beach Gardens at the PGA Seniors Golf Championship.

May

Over 100 diverse acts contribute to the wildly eclectic Orlando International Fringe Festival.

June

Special gays and lesbians events take place during Gay Days at Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld.

July

Top guns wow the Pensacola Beach crowds with death-and-gravity-defying stunts at the Blue Angels Air Show.

August

Short-boarders hang ten over Labor Day weekend at the National Kidney Foundation’s Pro-Am Surf Festival on Cocoa Beach.

September

Christian music takes center stage in Orlando during Walt Disney World’s Night of Joy and Universal Studio’s Rock the Universe.

Epicures savor the crabmeat puffs and crawfish étouffée at the

Pensacola Seafood Festival in historic Seville Square.

October

Daytona’s autumn motorcycle rally, Biketoberfest, features parades, concerts, and races at the Daytona International Speedway.

Clearwater cools off with the world’s hottest jazz during the four-day Clearwater Jazz Holiday.

Halloween holidays in Florida range from at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, to the decidedly scary Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios in Orlando, to the seriously hedonistic Fanatasy Fest bacchanal in Key West.

November

Booklovers from around Florida travel to hear free lectures by top-selling authors at the Miami Book Fair International.

Miami’s White Party Week AIDS-charity events feature a dressed-in-white gala at the Villa Vizcay.

Daytime television fanatics mingle with their favorite stars at the ABC Super Soap Weekend at Disney-MGM Studios.

December

The holidays in Florida light up at The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Orlando’s Disney-MGM Studios, and Holiday House at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Ft. Myers.

Epcot’s Holidays Around the World features a candlelight parade and fireworks display. Its best to book your Florida holidays early as the best rates get booked up.