On Saturday, May 16, the University of Miami Student Center Complex will transform into a music-filled gathering space for families as Little Jam Fest returns for its third annual celebration.
Created by Miami-based children’s music company Jam with Jamie, Little Jam Fest has grown into a recognizable South Florida family event centered around live music, interactive play, and community connection. What began as a vision to bring families together through music has evolved into an annual gathering that draws more than 1,000 parents and children from across South Miami, including Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Palmetto Bay, and surrounding neighborhoods.
This year, the festival is introducing a new initiative aimed at highlighting young local talent. In partnership with The Miami Foundation, Little Jam Fest will launch the “Uplifting Young Voices” program, inviting children ages 9–16 across South Florida to submit musical performances for a chance to win $250 and perform live on the festival’s main stage. Three young performers will be selected to showcase both an original song and a cover, celebrating creativity and confidence through music.
At the heart of the festival is founder Jamie Kolnick, whose company, Jam with Jamie, has spent the past 17 years bringing music into children’s lives. What started as birthday party performances has grown into a nationwide children’s entertainment company offering preschool enrichment programs, public classes, community concerts, and large-scale family experiences across nine cities. Miami, however, remains deeply personal for Kolnick, and Little Jam Fest reflects that local focus.
“Music has a way of building community in the most natural way,” Kolnick says. “When families are singing and moving together, something meaningful happens. That’s what this festival is about.”
Inside the University of Miami venue, families can expect a thoughtfully curated experience designed for young children and their caregivers. The day will feature live musical performances, interactive jam sessions, youth performers, sensory-friendly play zones, creative craft stations, and family-focused activations from local and national partners. Food and beverage offerings will also be available, encouraging families to spend the day exploring and connecting together.
Unlike many traditional children’s events, Little Jam Fest is designed to feel immersive yet welcoming. Parents are encouraged to participate alongside their children — singing, dancing, and engaging in activities together rather than watching from the sidelines.
In 2025, the City of Miami Beach officially recognized the event with a proclamation declaring “Little Jam Fest Day,” acknowledging its cultural and community-building role in South Florida. The recognition reflected what many local families already felt: that Little Jam Fest had become more than an event — it had become a tradition.
Part of that success comes from strong community partnerships. Over the past two years, the festival has collaborated with organizations such as Baptist Health, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami Children’s Museum, Team Citron, Tonies, Sunset Pediatrics, as well as local schools and small businesses, helping create an experience that reflects the neighborhoods it serves.
The festival first debuted in 2024 at Jungle Island’s Bloom Ballroom, drawing more than 1,000 attendees. In 2025, the event expanded to the Miami Beach Convention Center, introducing wellness zones and additional youth performers. Now, coming to the University of Miami for the first time, the festival continues to grow while staying grounded in its original mission: building meaningful family connections through music.
As families increasingly look for opportunities to connect offline, Little Jam Fest offers something refreshingly simple — a shared space for joy, creativity, and community, where music becomes a bridge between children, parents, and the broader South Miami community.
Tickets for Little Jam Fest will go on sale March 15 at www.littlejamfest.com.
