Gateway LIVE! logo above a picture of a performance taking place at Gateway Park with crowds of people gathered around the stage.

Car Show gets a new Twist as Gateway Park Becomes a Hub for Cultural Events

By Christopher J. Russo, Former City Manager

(Thursday, August 30, 2018) – In January of 2013, we introduced the inaugural Car Show in Sunny Isles Beach. Five years later, this event has grown to be one of my favorites. Every car is unique and tells its own story. Our most recent Car Show held in May found a new home at Gateway Park. This move helped us accommodate a growing number of cars, vendors, and attendees. The additional space at Gateway opened up new opportunities for development and fresh partnerships.

I recently met with the production company to brainstorm new ideas for the upcoming Car Show on Saturday, October 13, and I think our residents are going to be very pleased with the outcome. You can expect all your favorite vendors, in addition to a new twist. Not only will you get to view the classic cars shining on the lawn, but you can also browse through vendors selling handcrafted jewelry, soaps and more at our Craft Fair. Whether you are a car enthusiast or a maker at heart, the Car Show and Craft Fair offers a great afternoon out.

As you might have read in previous publications, Gateway Park is quickly becoming the hub for our cultural and larger-scale special events, such as the Car Show. The great amenities of the five-acre park, including the performance stage, playground, and parking garage with more than 300 spots, provide an opportunity for the growth of larger events.

The first notable event at Gateway Park was the 10th Annual SIB Jazz Fest, which also happened to be our most successful Jazz Fest in recent years. More than 1,000 jazz lovers enjoyed our stellar lineup of artists last year at Gateway Park, which has now become the home of our premier festival. More recently this summer, we held two musical productions, Dueling Pianos and Decades Rewind, both of which brought out our residents in droves.

We will be continuing our offerings of bigger and better productions here in Sunny Isles Beach this October. In addition to the Car Show, next month we are launching our new Gateway LIVE! series. Gateway LIVE! is bringing various cultural genres and live performances by talented musicians, theatre productions, and entertainers to our City. These are not your typical concerts. The best part of this quarterly series is that it is free for Sunny Isles Beach residents with a valid Resident ID Card.

Kicking off the series on Saturday, October 6 is a concert by global music sensation, Ethan Bortnick, Guinness certified as “The World’s Youngest solo musician to headline his own concert tour.” Already on the Gateway LIVE! schedule for February 2019 is the Chinese Acrobats of Hebei. This unique performance is guaranteed to amaze audiences with its stunning acrobatics, costumes, Chinese props, and beautiful music.

I encourage you to visit our website at sibfl.net to see all of the events happening in the City. You can also stay up-to-date by signing up for our eSIBi email notifications at sibfl.net/notifyme. We’ve got some exciting and entertaining events coming to Sunny Isles Beach in the next months you won’t want to miss.