Miami Beach will honor Venezuela at its eighth annual Simón Bolívar y Las Americas Day ceremony on Thursday, July 23, at 4 p.m. in Collins Park. The selection follows twin earthquakes that killed more than 4,100 people in Venezuela less than a month ago.

Mayor Steven Meiner said the city "stands in solidarity with the Venezuelan community and draws inspiration from their steadfast spirit as they navigate this difficult period of mourning and rebuilding," according to a city press release issued Tuesday, July 15.

The free ceremony takes place at the Bolívar monument at 21st Street and Collins Avenue and runs until 6 p.m. It will include an invocation, a wreath-laying by the Office of the Mayor and Commission, and cafecito afterward.

Each year, the Miami Beach Hispanic Affairs Committee selects one of the six nations Bolívar helped liberate from Spain. This year's pick is Venezuela, the country where Bolívar was born on July 24, 1783. The ceremony falls one day before the 243rd anniversary of his birth.

Hispanic Affairs Committee Chair Carmen Datorre said in the press release: "A community who loves freedom, will ultimately be free."

Why Venezuela, why now

On June 24, back-to-back earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela's coastal state of La Guaira, west of Caracas. The Guardian reported July 11 that at least 4,118 people had been confirmed dead and 16,740 injured; the toll is expected to rise as recovery operations continue. The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal for nearly $300 million to assist 1.3 million people in need.

The Miami Beach City Commission passed a resolution in February 2026 standing in solidarity with the Venezuelan community over the country's political situation. Commissioner Alex Fernandez sponsored that measure.

How to attend

The event is free and open to the public. Residents can walk up to Collins Park at 2100 Collins Ave. between 4 and 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 23. No registration is required.

For accessibility accommodations or sign-language interpretation, the city asks for five days' notice by calling 305-604-2232.

Upcoming community dates

• Thursday, July 23, 4–6 p.m. — Simón Bolívar y Las Americas Day, Collins Park, 2100 Collins Ave.
• Friday, July 24 — 243rd anniversary of Simón Bolívar's birth