The best September events in Miami

On South Beach, Ocean Drive tends to get all the glory. But just two blocks west, Washington Avenue is home to countless local favorites and hidden gems, along with its own vibrant history as a business district. Every other weekend, explore all the latest the street has to offer at Vibration, the fourth-annual live music series that spans 11 genres across 11 diverse venues, from 5th Street to 17th Street. The roving live music tour hits the rooftop lounge at Esmé Miami Beach, Mickey Burkes Irish pub, the chill tap room at South Beach Brewing Company, inimitible dive bar Mac's Club Deuce and several more. Purchase a $25 passport to receive a free genre-themed drink at each of the 11 participating spots, where you'll hear everything from hip-hop, rock and jazz to reggae, funk and house. There's even a karaoke stop along the way.

Let's talk about sex, baby. In particular, the after-hours debut of Erotica by Nocturna at the Museum of Sex. Opening Saturday, September 20th, this limited-run cabaret in Allapattah blends burlesque, aerials, fire and aquatic acrobatics into a steamy, late-night spectacle. Book the 9:30pm slot ($79) for a guided tour of current exhibitions (Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency and Hajime Sorayama: Desire Machines), plus entry to Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival with interactive games and cocktails before the show. Those arriving for the 10:45pm slot ($55) skip straight to the main event: a hot and high-energy (and 21-plus) performance that lasts around one hour.

Back for its sixth season, The Horrorland unveils an 18-acre park with multiple scare zones, five all-new haunted houses, creepy carnival games and DJs spinning spine-tingling tunes all night. There are also Cirque-style horror shows and fire performances, the Coffin Bar and Ghostly Beer garden with themed libations, a Cemetery Food Village and much more. Basically, monsters, ghosts, zombies and all kinds of frightening creatures will jump up when you least expect it as you make your way through every themed passage, house and photo op.  The Horrorland runs Thursday through Sunday nights, from September 13th through October 31st, and takes place at The Scream Park located inside Jungle Island. Tickets start at $34.99, with a fast-pass option for $74.99. It’s a family-friendly attraction but the experience is recommended for children 10 and older, and carrying infants or children through is discouraged. 

If you're looking for a trippy light show the whole family can enjoy, there's nowhere better than the Frost Planetarium’s 67-foot dome. Every month, they host a night filled with mind-boggling visuals, music and fun, with a different theme every hour. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids ages four to 11. Refreshments and light snacks are available for purchase in the Main Atrium until 10pm.  September 13: Elton John, ABBA, The Weeknd, Bad Bunny

In honor of World Wellness Weekend, Miami's bastion of holistic, luxury wellness is throwing three days of free(!) wellness activations on Miami Beach. Carillon Miami Wellness Resort's Mind-Body-Soul Festival kicks off on Friday, September 19th with the Friday Night Reset, a 90-minute outdoor mindful movement and meditation that combines breathwork and a slow, gentle yoga flow to release tension, quiet the mind and restore inner balance. On Saturday, all-day activities include a mobility warm-up and stretch session in the morning, a community walk (jog, or run) and a post-run recovery yoga flow. The day ends with a flurry of complimentary treatments including B12 shots, energy scans, biofeedback and chiropractic care, brow and lash touch-ups, AI skincare analysis, lymphatic detox and more. Sunday is a soulful wind-down that begins with a healing sound bath meditation, followed by hands-on pottery making with Artzybella. RSVP is required for all events. Valet will be discounted at $10 per vehicle, and public parking is available nearby. For yoga events and meditation, bring your own mat.

Stop sad-scrolling, wondering what you did to deserve not being in Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny's sold-out concert residency yet another weekend. Calle Ocho locals bar the Dead Flamingo is hosting a larger-than-life reggaetón house party inspired by Benito’s iconic house-stage concert setup, affectionately dubbed La Casita. For three nights, expect non-stop perreo vibes, themed cocktails, interactive installations and photo ops that will prompt your titi to frantically message you demanding to know why she wasn't invited. The perreo kicks off on Friday, September 19th with a DJ set by DJ Negra Fabulosa (fresh off tours with Becky G, Natti Natasha and Nicky Jam). The parties continue on Saturday, September 20th and Friday, September 26th.

Start your night with a sexy little skate sesh at Basement Bowl + Skate: Disco Hour at The Miami Beach EDITION. Every Saturday, house spirits, beer, and wine are half off from 10pm to midnight, with half-hour skate sessions starting at $30 and skate rentals included (just don't forget your socks). Between the neon-lit bowling lanes and the ice rink, DJs play rotating parties like Vibras Y Bowl on the first Saturday and Neon Nights & Strikes on the third.

During the notoriously slow summer months, Miami’s top restaurants offer an irresistibly good deal that gets hungry locals sprinting from their houses to snag a table: three-course, prix-fixe menus at lunch and brunch ($35) and dinner ($45/$60, depending on the menu). With over 300 participating restaurants, including several with Michelin stars and James Beard-awarded chefs, Miami Spice 2025 is shaping up to be worth the extra calories (especially when you factor in all the savings you'll be making in the process!). Whether it’s a quickie lunch, a celebratory brunch or a leisurely dinner at a waterfront restaurant in Miami, be sure to book early—the best tables always go quickly. Various locations

Oakland Park's beloved brewery brings a taste of Bavaria to South Florida with its annual Oktoberfest celebration. Running from September 19 through October 5, the multi-week festival brings all the German hallmarks to its taproom and outdoor space: seasonal brews, special Oktoberfest flights—including Funky Buddha’s flagship Floridian Hefeweizen—and an array of traditional bites. Think: house-made pretzels, chicken schnitzel and craft bratwurst. Expect live music every weekend, games and plenty of reasons to sport your finest lederhosen. 

Back in the mid-aughts, Wynwood Art Walk emerged as a grassroots effort to bring together the local creative community through once-monthly late-night gallery hours and flowing drinks. For a while, it was quite the scene—scrappy, DIY and always fun. Though today's Wynwood looks vastly different, the neighborhood still vibrates with creative energy, and the museums and galleries that call it home would very much like to remind you of this fact. Which is why Wynwood Art Walk is officially reborn this summer. Every second Saturday, spend the evening exploring Wynwood's renowned art spaces, immersive installations and live street art, with free access to Wynwood Walls, Gerez Gallery and the Peter Tunney Experience—plus reduced admission at ARTXSPACE and Paradox Museum. This Saturday, head to a one-night-only photography showcase at The Art of Hip Hop by Drain (aka Drainflix), debuting never-before-seen portraits of hip-hop legends including Nas, DMX and Snoop Dogg. There's also a hands-on ceramic painting workshop at Wyn317 with artist Brandon Thompson (7–10pm);local vendors, curated cocktails and light bites at Moxy Miami; and live music and DJs at Wynwood Walls.