Explore III Points, Wellington Classic Brew Fest this weekend
It’s the long President’s Day weekend, folks, and that means an occasion to celebrate past and present presidents, the same Founding Fathers on the dollars we’re be spending at South Florida’s bounty of festivals.
Introduce your Lincolns, Hamiltons and Jacksons to these three festivals in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties.
SoLa Rum, Food and Wine Festival
6-11 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place; $45-$80 for general admission, $100-$180 for VIP via Eventbrite.com; 954-318-6118 or SoLaRumFoodWineFest.com
Grammy-nominated R&B diva Jazmine Sullivan (“Need U Bad”), fresh off a pre-Grammys party last weekend honoring the late Aretha Franklin, will top the soulful bill of music, multicultural dishes and Caribbean rums and wines on hand in Lauderhill. The rest of the bill features “American Idol” Season 11 finalist DeAndre Brackensick and soul-funk band April RaQuel and Kouture Funk, and there will be a tasting pavilion with tapas-style soul food bites and dishes from chefs Irie Spice, Andre Walker, Terrence Williams and Rayne Stubbs.
III Points Music, Art and Technology Festival
5 p.m. Feb. 15-17 at Mana Wynwood, 318 NW 23rd St., Miami; $75 to $375 via IIIPoints.com
Tickets still remain for the 2019 edition of III Points, which took off last year, switching its dates from October to February to avoid the close scrapes the festival had weathered over the years, such as hurricanes and Zika virus outbreaks.
This year’s art, music and technology-themed confab has arguably trotted out its strongest music lineup yet, anchored by Grammy-nominated R&B singer SZA, neo-soul royalty Erykah Badu, rappers Tyler, the Creator and A$AP Rocky, and feminist punks Pussy Riot. Even James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem – III Points’ inaugural headlining band – is back for a DJ set. All told, there will be 100 music acts, plus art installations such as Skate Space, a roller-skating stage presented by Faena Art, and a video exhibit from the Institute of Contemporary Art, North Miami.
Wellington Classic Brew Fest
3-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, at Wellington Town Center, 12150 Forest Hill Blvd.; $40-$60, $10 for designated drivers; WellingtonClassicBrewFest.com
For a first-year bash, this craft-beer shindig is surprisingly ambitious, bringing 100-plus beers and hard ciders from local and national breweries such as Bangin’ Banjo and Cigar City, Due South and Magic Hat. Passes include access to unlimited beer samples beginning at 3 p.m. (2 p.m. early entry for VIP ticketholders), a souvenir pint glass and live music from the Andrew Morris Band. Food trucks on hand: Bea’s Heavenly Wingers, PS 561, Waffle Wagon and others.