Pinecrest Gardens - December Events!

December Events are in Full Bloom!
Let the Holiday Celebrations ContinueFeatured This Month46 Nights of Lights; Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens; Holiday Festival and Gift Bazaar; Flamenco; Greater Miami Symphonic Band; Nutcracker; Chick Flick Wednesday; Family Friday; Horticulture Lecture Series; Gardens Gallery;
Botanical Arts & Crafts;
...and a Special Benefit Holiday Concert with Nicole Henry...

46 Nights of Lights A Holiday Light Festival Nightly, 6:00 - 10:00 p.m.

Click on image for information This brilliant and beautiful festival featuring over 60 glittering and larger than life light installations will continue to be open every night at the Gardens for visitors from 6:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m. through January 6th. Many of the evenings we will be featuring entertainment for children including storytelling, puppetry, performances by the Miamians and Miami Children’s Theater, holiday chorale music and more. For entertainment schedule click here. Macy's Catering will be providing sweet treats and snacks including delicious eggnog and hot cocoa. Celebrate the season in our tropical winter wonderland. General Admission is $5, children under 2 enter free.

Flamenco Puro Saturday, December 1, 8:00 p.m.

Click the image for information Pinecrest Gardens presents the world-renown, Flamenco Puro Dance Company featuring Artistic Director, Choreographer and Dancer Clarita Filgueiras. For 25 years Clarita has performed through Europe, Latin America and the US. Among her many credits include touring with the Gypsy Kings. Join us Saturday, December 1st at 8 p.m. when this extraordinary company of dancers, singers and musicians bring all of the magic and allure of Spain to the Banyan Bowl, for one night only. This show is sure to be sold out so we would recommend purchasing tickets early by clicking here.

Rodriguez Brothers Jazz Quintet Saturday, December 8, 8:00 p.m.

Click on image for full season Jazz at Pinecrest Gardens welcomes back the incredible Rodriguez Brothers Jazz Quintet direct from NYC. Recently off an international tour that included the opening of the new Jazz At Lincoln Center Club Dohain in Qatar, the Taiwan jazz Festival and their newly released album, Mood Swing…these masters of Afro-Cuban jazz tempered with traditional jazz elements continue to garner critical acclaim for their recordings and live performances. Recently hailed by the New York Times as “sophisticated…incredibly gifted players” you can see them in concert, for one night only. For tickets click here.

Holiday Festival and Gift Bazaar Sunday December 2, 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Click the image for details Join us for a day-long celebration featuring activities for the whole family including kids arts and crafts, face painting and more. There’ll be storytelling, puppet shows, holiday family photos, model train displays, both Hanukkah and Christmas festivities, delicious food and many artisans selling hand-crafted gifts. The Banyan Bowl is programmed from noon until 6:30 with the Maria Verdeja School of Dance, Miami Children’s Theater, Gospel and Hanukkah Choirs and a special performance by The Greater Miami Youth Symphony and The Greater Miami Youth Jazz Band. We’ll light up the entire park in full holiday splendor at 5:45 p.m. while being serenaded by the Miamians. General admission $5, children under 2 free.

A Different Kind of The Nutcracker Friday, December 14, 7:00 PM

Join us for this unique approach to the traditional story—“A Different Kind of Nutcracker”, featuring a string quartet, three actors, four dancers and directed by What if Works Artistic Director, Phillip M. Church. This breathtaking rendition of Tchaikovsky's holiday classic, features young local musicians, actors, and dancers, with projected illustrations by South Florida middle school students. Proceeds will contribute toward a collective benefit for Easter Seals, ROXY Performing Arts Scholarships, and The Children's Movement. Tickets are available at Pinecrest Gardens Box Office. For more information, please call 305-669-6990.

Nicole Henry Holiday Concert, presented by The Community Foundation of Pinecrest Saturday, December 15, 7:30 p.m.

Click on the image to purchase tickets. The Community Foundation of Pinecrest is bringing sexy jazz diva Nicole Henry back to the Banyan Bowl at Pinecrest Gardens for its 2nd Annual Holiday Concert Under the Stars. This wonderful event will also include hors d'oeuvres, wine and much more. Tickets are $45, reserved seating only. Group event and sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact CFP Chairman Steve Bailey at 305.200.5322 for details. To purchase tickets online click here or call 1-877-496-8499.

Greater Miami Symphonic Band Sunday, December 16, 3:00 p.m.

Click on image for information. Bring the entire family to a celebration of the Holiday Season. Enjoy all of the music and merriment as you sing along to your favorite songs at this fun and festive concert. The Greater Miami Symphonic Band began in 1979, and has grown to 85 members strong. The Band performs publicly on a regular basis at various indoor and outdoor locations, giving Miami audiences an opportunity to hear all the beauty and diversity of the symphonic band repertoire. Get in the spirit and join us at this wonderful Sunday afternoon concert; a guaranteed crowd pleaser! Adults $15, students $5, for tickets click here.

Family Friday at the Gardens Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted Friday, December 7, 8:00 p.m

For information click the image Family Fridays continue with Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. Colin Covert of the Minneapolis Star Tribune calls Madagascar 3 the kind of fantasy where "Your brain goes breathless and giddy struggling to keep up.” This wonderful animated film features the voices of Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock. Flashlight Tours at 7:00 & 7:30 p.m., the movie begins about 8:00 p.m. and we serve the best hotdogs and popcorn in town. General admission, $5 and children under 2 enter free.

Chick-Flicks at the Gardens Bridget Jones Diary Wednesday, December 19, 8:00 p.m.

Click image for information It’s an evening of live music, martinis and a movie under the stars. This month we’re featuring Bridget Jones Diary, a delicious romantic comedy starring Renee Zellweger and Colin Firth. Anna Smith, of Film4, quotes “A cheerfully frothy romantic comedy that benefits from sharp writing, lively performances and touching characterization." Gates open at 6:30 p.m. for live, unplugged guitar, cocktails and tapas, and our film begins at 8:00 p.m. It’s holiday week, everyone…take a breather and some quality personal time before all the madness begins. Admission $5.

Gardens Gallery Berry Van Boekel Top 100

Image: John Coltrane and Miles Davis, 13.25" x 10", oil on wood, 2008 For 30 years Dutch painter, Berry Van Boekel, has been working on his Top 100 series. This ongoing project is a testament to Berry’s love of music. Every year he compiles a list of the 100 most listened to songs and proceeds to paint the musicians. The Top 100 show at the Gardens will consist of 100 paintings selected from over 2,000 in Berry’s collection as well as several large scale paintings inspired by the natural beauty surrounding his home in Ft. Myers, Florida. Berry Van Boekel discusses his work as a professional visual artist and the process of his Top 100 project...on Sunday, December 9th at 4:00 p.m. The show will continue through to January 3rd, 2013.

From the Ground Up--A Garden Re-Imagined Vegetable Gardening & Coffee with the Plant Guy Gardens Gallery, Hibiscus Room

Click on image for information This month’s topic is Vegetable Gardening in the Home Garden. Join Pinecrest Gardens’ own horticulturist, Craig Morell, on Wednesday the 12th at 10:00 a.m. and on Thursday the 27th at 6:30 p.m. Growing your own food is enjoying a surge in popularity. It trims grocery budgets and provides reassurance about where food comes from. Whether you're ready to plant your first crops or have been growing food for years, you'll find new ideas to keep you going (and growing). Growing fresh vegetables, herbs, or fruits provides a great sense of joy and accomplishment…and one thing for sure… vegetables from the supermarket cannot compare in taste, quality, or freshness with vegetables grown in the home garden. The $5 fee per class includes “Coffee with Craig”. To register, please call 305-669-6990.

Kids Cooking Class Cake Bites Bonanza Saturday, December 8, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Click image for full schedule Come join us at the Gardens for our first baking workshop with guest Holstein Housewares on Saturday, December 8th from 2 pm-3:30 pm. It will be a fun-filled day for all as we simplify life in the kitchen by introducing children 6-11 years old to preparing easy cake batters and baking without the use of an oven! Once cake pops have baked, kids will have a great time decorating their delicious Cake Bite creations (reindeer themed) that will satisfy their sweet tooth this Holiday season. Only $5 per class, includes supplies. Class sizes are limited to 20, so call (305) 669-6990 to reserve your space today!

Farmers Market: Fresh Produce & More Sundays 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Click on image for information Enjoy the fresh air while selecting your fresh produce, spices, home-baked breads, hand-made pastas, organic products and much more at Pinecrest Gardens' Farmers Market, every Sunday. The market is open from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and admission is Free. Relax, take a stroll--and while you are there, enjoy the purchases you have made at one of our many picnic areas in the Gardens, or overlooking the magnificent view on Lakeview Terrace.

Give the Gift of the Gardens When You Give a Gift of Membership

If you are looking for that last-minute special gift or stocking stuffer for your immediate family, a grandparent, or just for yourself...the Gardens is now offering a range of membership packages starting at just $25 for an entire year. All membership levels include unlimited visits for the year, and the family memberships include unlimited Splash 'N Play for all children, ages 2-12 living in your household. For details call 305-669-6990 on weekdays 9-4 p.m. or click here for an application.

COMING NEXT MONTH William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Shakespeare Miami’s hilarious new production of Twelfth Night tells the tale of a shipwreck and separated twins, cross-dressing lovers, lovesick lotharios, social climbing servants and possibly the greatest practical joke ever played. Director, Colleen Stovall pairs Shakespeare’s accessible language and broad humor with the red hot jazz of the roaring twenties to make an irresistible comedic event. Featuring a full cast, period music, song and dance, the production is fast paced, family friendly and funny. There will be seven performances for the general public between January 11th - 20th and you can only obtain guaranteed seating with a $5 advanced ticket.