Wade in our Waters: Historic Virginia Key Beach 81st Reunion

Poetry, food, art activations and community resources gather at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park for an anniversary celebration rooted in the beach’s civil rights history. Wade in our Waters: Historic Virginia Key Beach 81st Reunion takes place Sunday, August 30, bringing together live performances, shared meals, marketplace vendors and family-centered activities. The event is presented as a community gathering shaped by The Poetry Potluck’s focus on creativity, conversation and connection.

Founded in 1945 after a nonviolent protest against segregation, Virginia Key Beach became the only beach in Miami legally accessible to Black residents during the Jim Crow era. The site also served as a place for family gatherings, baptisms, music events, community organizing and recreation for Black servicemen stationed in South Florida during World War II. The reunion draws on that legacy, positioning the park as both a historic landmark and a space for contemporary Black cultural gathering.

The day’s programming includes live performances, art-based activations, lawn games, line dancing, giveaways, complimentary food and drinks, apparel vendors and a tasting bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Additional areas include a community resource center with information on health and wellness, financial planning, housing and civic education, along with an open market featuring books, beauty products, jewelry, home goods, conscious apparel and holistic offerings. Guests are encouraged to bring a chair, blanket and their own beverages.