8th St Southwest, Fountainebleau

When people talk about the Calle Ocho festival, this is the street they're talking about. This is a massive road because it is also US 41. If you take this road all the way west you'll find yourself somewhere in Naples (on the other coast of Florida). If you're worried about going to far west then you can use the Miccouskee Indian Gaming Resort and Lodge as a landmark. If you pass it - you've gone too far. Being a casino, naturally there a few things to do. Mostly eating and gambling - and they don't offer that much food. They do have a place where you can drop of your kids while you go and gamble their college tuition away though. After all - who wants to have their kids bring them down while they're on a hot streak?
If casino's aren't your thing but you like barbecue then you can stop at "The Pit" a few miles before the casino. It's a rickety looking wooden shack with an ever more rickety looking thatched hut gazebo outside, but the food more than makes up for appearances. Be sure to bring cash as last time I was there they didn't take any electronic money and provided no ATM's. They also have a killer gator burger there!
The Calle Ocho festival is actually near the downtown area - all the way to the East where 8th becomes part of little Havana and then Downtown. You'll know Little Havana when you see the Versailles restaurant. It's more than just an expensive restaurant with good Cuban food, it's the heart of the Cuban community in the area. The who's who of the community come here to socialize, and because of that fact this restaurant has helped shape Cuban history for the past 50 to 60 years.
If history isn't your thing keep on heading towards 17th ave. It’s held in Domino Park at the corner of SW 8th Street and SW 15th Avenue for one week in March.
It's worth attending once, but be warned, there is a lot of pick pocketing, public drunkenness, and a lot of unsavory characters on every corner at this party. Go in a large group, and stay together and this should be an enjoyable event.