Despite Tropical Storm Sandy’s feigned threats to ruin our weekend, a storm of cultural events will unfold across South Florida  — rain or shine — from Miami Nice Jazz Festival at the Gusman Center (October 26-28) to Art Live Fair at the Coconut Grove Convention Center (October 26–28).

Moona Luna.

The long anticipated Art Live Fair 2012 runs this weekend Friday, October 26th to Sunday, October 28th at the Coconut Grove Convention Center. It’s split into two main concepts — artists in “working studio” settings and performing and interactive artists who’ll create art work or install/perform “live” in unreserved spaces throughout the fair. With a menu of interactive performances set indoors or outdoors a non-traditional performance art setting, Art Live Fair seeks to draw artists out of their comfort zones to engage audiences in an intimate setting. I’ll head over to see musician Nicole Martinez and choreographer and dancer Carlota Pradera perform this Saturday, October 27th, from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. All admission proceeds from Art Live Fair 2012benefit the Lotus House Women’s Shelter. Tickets range from $5 for children and $10 for adults. For information and tickets for Art Live Fair 2012 visit http://artlivefair.org/index.html.

It’s been a long time since I’ve landed at the Gusman Center, but this weekend marks the debut of the Miami Nice Jazz Festival, which is an extension of the Nice Jazz Festival in France. This weekend will feature Grammy-winning vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, nine-time Grammy-winning Latin Jazz and Salsa Favorite Eddie Palmieri bassist/composer Kyle Eastwood’s band, and The Florida International University Big Band, featuring Sally Night. While Halloween costumes are not encouraged, your best cool-jazz-inspired fashions and a pair of dark sunglasses are highly recommended. Performances run from October 26-28. Tickets range from $30-$195. For tickets and detailed festival schedule visit Miami Nice Jazz Festival’s website here: http://www.miaminicejazzfestival.com/festival-info/book-your-trip-now.

Besides these two weekend-long events, the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC) Family Series will present Moona Luna, the bilingual sing and dance along kindie rock band from Brooklyn for a pre-Halloween Pinata party on Sunday, October 28th at 1 p.m. If you have children who love to sing and dance, dress them up for Halloween and head over to the SMDCAC. Moona Luna will perform songs from their award-winning alternative children’s album Pinata Party, which blends English and Spanish lyrics set to a cowbell, accordion and other heart-pumping instruments that will get your kids dancing and singing in two languages. Halloween costumes encouraged. Tickets are $10. For more information visit http://www.smdcac.org.