These are the best things to do in Miami this weekend

It's the end of an era as Wynwood's longstanding beacon of booze-fueled creativity counts down its final days. Gramps is more than just a bar—it's been a meeting place for like-minded locals, an intimate venue to catch an indie band in town, a breeding ground for Miami's edgy drag queens, a spot to dance under the disco ball until late, and home to one of our favorite pizza joints in town (RIP, Pizza Tropical). The penultimate weekend lineup is packed with local goodies and surprise headliners, including Hannibal Buress performing an intimate stand-up set inside Shirley's Theater on Friday, December 26; Miami rock bands Mustard Service, Cannibal Kids, Vania Junco and Disputer playing on the patio on Saturday, December 27; and Irene Morales & Friends bringing the comedy heat for a final night on Sunday, December 28.

This one-night-only show at the Adrienne Arsht Center's Knight Concert Hall brings together a stellar international cast of world champion and world record-holding athletes and artists for an action-packed hour of family fun. Billed as an "urban circus" seen by over one million people worldwide, 360 ALLSTARS combines live music, wild stunts and unbelievable feats of athleticism and is geared toward viewers age five and up. Tickets range from around $30 to $90 per person.

There’s more to the Design District than high-end shopping. Discover a different side of the glittering neighborhood on this hour-long guided public art tour, covering 18 blocks of public artworks and the buildings they adorn. The free, expert-led walking tours happen every second and fourth Saturday of the month, showcasing selected artworks and architectural highlights along distinctive routes. Meet in front of the Fly's Eye Dome on the first floor of Palm Court (enter at 140 NE 39th Street). 

The sixth annual Winter Festival at The Berry Farm is a family-friendly holiday event with acres of holiday-themed activities from morning to night. There are meet-and-greets with Santa, holiday hay rides and tons of Instagram-worthy photo backdrops. At night, the farm lights up with thousands of tiny bulbs—not to mention the 42-foot Christmas tree—during their Berry Bright Winter Nights. Plus, the hot chocolate is complimentary this year! By day, cuddle with Scottish Highland cows and frolic on the shaded water pillows. From 6 to 8pm, catch festive movies on the lawn, complete with free popcorn.

Going strong for over two decades, the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami hosts another edition of its Jazz at MOCA live music series on the plaza. Every last Friday of the month, the free outdoor concert merges art, music and community while platforming Miami's thriving live jazz scene. This month, Lisanne Lyons headlines. Having performed with the Woody Herman Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau and Arturo Sandoval, among others, she is currently the director and founder of the jazz vocal program at Florida International University. Seating for the show is first-come, first-served and begins at 7pm. Free registration also includes access to the MOCA galleries until 10pm.

This bustling vintage market enters its 34th year on South Beach's famed Lincoln Road. Approximately every other Sunday (check their calendar for exact dates), 125 vendors convene along the promenade to showcase their wares and barter with discerning shoppers. Find everything from mid-century furniture to Art Deco decor and more. The long-running weekend social presents a solid mix of 19th and 20th-century memorabilia and unique collectibles. While you're there, stock up on locally grown produce, fresh flowers and artisanal goods from the Lincoln Road Farmer's market, which occurs every Sunday from 9am to 6pm.

Things are heating up in the midst of the holidays this Sunday as the Miami Dolphins face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a lead-up to the NFL playoffs. Get your fix of the pro football energy in-person at Hard Rock Stadium and cheer on Miami's hometown team.

A night-turned-to-day on Club Space’s Terrace is a veritable rite of passage for any club kid. With a well-timed disco nap, lots of espresso martinis or your preferred stay-awake method, you too can experience the after-hours euphoria of dancing as the sun comes up on the iconic Space terrace. This weekend, an epic lineup of electronic legends spans genres and decades, including Danny Tenaglia, Loco Dice and Paco Osuna headlining the Terrace on Saturday, December 27.

When it comes to holiday lights, the zoo goes wild. One million bright, animal-shaped lights illuminate the premises during Zoo Lights Miami, which takes on select dates through December 30. Families can stroll around while sipping hot chocolate and listening to carollers and if you're lucky, you might just get a glimpse of Santa or The Grinch. Check the Zoo Miami website to see what the theme is for the weekend (Galactic Night should be interesting) and don't miss the new animated special “Jingle Paws & Santa Claws” at the Sami Family Amphitheater (7:30 and 8:30pm showtimes). There will be rides, a 26-foot holiday tree, themed photo spots, character meet-and-greets and a station for writing letters to Santa, just in case he hasn't already gotten the message.

Squeeze every last drop out of this holiday weekend at Eataly Aventura. The NYC-imported wonderland of gourmet Italian delights rings in the season with its Holiday Festa on December 28, featuring three hours of tastings and live music throughout the market. Roam through Eataly's various venues while sipping Italian wines, snacking on festive bites like focaccia farcita and panettone or pandoro, and warming up with cioccolata calda (hot chocolate). VIP tickets add a seafood spread, cacio e pepe spun tableside in a wheel, supplì, gelato and Champagne, while general admission keeps things classic and convivial. Expect a standing-only affair designed for strolling, grazing and soaking up holiday cheer Italian-style.

Our favorite buzzy supper club in Wynwood is doing its part to spread the holiday cheer this season. Though its dramatic arched ceiling, sunken dining room and cabaret performers lend Sparrow Italia a festive ambiance year-round, the Italian steakhouse has gone the extra mile to ensure diners soak in all the cozy feels from now through December 31. The luxe wintertime transformation includes a stunning ceiling installation by Floratorium, a nature-driven studio known for its sculptural, biophilic designs. At Sparrow, they've ensconced the dining room in hundreds of metallic gold ornaments that float overhead, draped in white pine and cedar that subtly scent the space. The pop-up also features two limited specials: a warm, caramel-drizzled Panettone Bread Pudding with vanilla ice cream, and an Italian Coquito that riffs on the classic with rum, Braulio, nocino, coconut cream and holiday spices.

If it doesn’t feel like Christmas where you live, just wait until you step foot inside Pinecrest Gardens. The botanical gardens transform into a winter wonderland draped in a blanket of sparkling lights. Every night brings new forms of fun like movie nights, mariachis, character experiences and even concerts at the sunken Banyan Bowl stage. For families, there are sit-downs with Santa, storytime, carolers and more. Watch out for the Seuss-themed nights, which are sure to be great fodder for this year's Christmas cards. 

The sprawling Gulfstream Park Village property gets illuminated by more than 250,000 sparkly LED lights this season, all set to the sounds of holiday favorites and jolly pop hits. Shop for gifts, dine, catch a horse race and soak in all the festive cheer through December. A 10-minute light show will begin at the top of every hour from 6 to 11pm. Snap photos with Santa on his chair under an elegantly decorated archway as he joins the festivities on December 13, 20 and 24 from 6 to 9pm. While you're there, stop in at the trackside Carousel Club for a bit of boozy merriment at the Miracle Bar holiday pop-up.

The Downtown Development Authority is bringing all the cozy seasonal vibes to our subtropical paradise for its annual Holiday Village on Flagler, running on December 7, 14 and 21. Downtown's charming historic thoroughfare will transform into a festive pop-up village complete with twinkling décor, local vendors and interactive stations where kids can craft ornaments, snap photos and enjoy sweet seasonal treats. Other highlights include a menorah lighting on December 14, a toy giveaway on December 21 and a New Year's Day celebration from 3 to 8pm featuring live music, family fun and surprise guests, all free and open to the public.

Miracle Bar makes its Carousel Club debut at Gulfstream Park this holiday season, and the racetrack’s open-air playground is the perfect backdrop for all the kitschy, Christmas-themed chaos. Running from November 21 through December 28, the beloved annual pop-up gives Carousel Club a full festive makeover: think twinkling tunnel entrances, over-the-top lawn displays and cozy cocktail mugs everywhere you look, all set against Carousel’s neon bar, trackside views and massive tented lounge.

This year's refreshed cocktail lineup channels the winter-meets-tropical vibes, with old and new favorites like the Christmapolitan, Snowball Old-Fashioned, Coconut Hot Chocolate and Koala LaLaLa. (And yes, Carousel’s bartenders commit to the holiday-core aesthetic, too.) With its oversized décor, wide-open footprint and trove of picture-perfect corners, Carousel Club is a sweet new home for the latest rendition of the long-running Miracle experience, which is free to attend. Check their website for a calendar of special events, like an Ugly Sweater Party on December 12.

In tandem with the holiday season, Jungle Island's enchanting festival of lights returns for a fourth year with a new production featuring more than 37 monumental, handcrafted silk lantern scenes created by a global team of artisans, graphic designers, seamstresses and more. This year, Luminosa takes visitors on a vibrant trail of themed vignettes representing different ecosystems, from the Amazon rainforest to African savannahs, complete with cutting-edge animatronics, holograms and interactive storytelling. The popular Holiday Village also makes a return this year (through January 4), featuring Christmas trees, holiday treats like churro donut holes and coquito, a seasonal bazaar and a 30-foot Christmas tree centerpiece. 

Christmas gets a freaky twist at this holiday carnival in Hialeah. Expect all the usual rides, midway games and festive displays, plus entry to Ripley’s exhibition of strange and unusual oddities and artifacts. New sideshows roll out weekly, too, like contortionists, sword swallowers, foot archers and the Shortest Woman in the World. Other experiences include the shimmering Fairyland Journey pathway and Dinner at Santa's, a cozy sit-down meal at Santa’s North Pole home.

A much-anticipated precursor to the holiday season in Miami, NightGarden returns in November for its seventh season at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, promising even more psychedelic scenery, family-friendly activities and interactive artwork than ever before. Running from November 7 through January 11, NightGarden invites guests to frolic around a neon-lit wonderland of tropical trails lined with holographic sculptures, secret sunken ponds and hidden fairy worlds. Expect several enticing new activations this year, including the Tree of Life, a monumental centerpiece with lights and projections activated by guest touch. You'll also find new immersive domes with themed photo backdrops, a Secret Garden Laser Light Show, movie nights and more.

If you’ve ever wanted to live inside a Mariah Carey Christmas special, this is your moment. Mariah Carey’s Holiday Bar is landing at Ray's Hometown Bar in Miami Beach, promising a “Mariahfied cocktail experience” that’s part pop-up, part wonderland and entirely extra (in the best possible way). Expect wall-to-wall holiday décor dripping with glitter and nostalgia, festive photo ops and recreated backdrops from her most iconic album covers. Every 30 minutes, the unmistakable opening notes of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” will cue the room into collective holiday euphoria.

The menu keeps the theme alive with festive small bites and seasonal cocktails made with Carey’s own Black Irish cream liqueur. For fans who want to take the experience home, there’s exclusive merch, vinyl copies of her holiday albums and even her newest LP, Here For It All. You can even write to the star herself at the “Letters to Mariah” station. 

Get your festive carnival fix at Tropical Park during Christmas Wonderland, a local holiday production that's grown into the largest of its kind in the U.S. Now in its third year, this 14-acre spectacle features six immersive holiday worlds, 50-plus rides, dazzling light shows and nightly entertainment like fireworks shows, acrobatic acts and even Santa as a human cannonball.

Of course, the grounds are lined with photo-worthy moments, starting with the Wonder Portal, an LED archway that leads into Tinsel Trail, a half-mile of synchronized lighting displays, installations and whimsical backdrops. At the heart of the midway, the IG’loo 360-Dome surrounds guests in a 3D-mapped immersive visual experience.

The midway is also where you'll find the fair's main food and drink offerings, including plenty of local food trucks and seasonal brews from Cervecería La Tropical.

You'll be hard-pressed to find a more festive bar year-round than JohnMartin's in Coral Gables. The Irish-style pub strikes just the right balance of cozy and contemporary with its penny tile mosaic flooring, black steel frame windows and moody lighting, ideal for sipping something dark and sudsy. For the holidays, JohnMartin's goes the extra mile, decking its halls with twinkling lights, festive décor and a lineup of boozy cocktails that channel the cheer of the season. The pop-up runs from November 14 through December 28, with DJs and other festive programming sprinkled in along the way.

Few brunches in Miami rise to the level of an "event," but the Sunday brunch at Novikov is assuredly one of them. After a brief sabbatical, this buzzing sunlit feast makes a return to its luxurious perch along the Downtown Miami waterfront, featuring two hours of unlimited grazing from an extensive Market Table spread. Choose from a raw bar, endless sushi and sashimi, a salad bar, dim sum and robata-grilled favorites, plus a decadent dessert bar and signature brunch cocktails. Premium add-ons take the party to another level, including a honey truffle king crab leg, wagyu ribeye and roasted peking duck. Of course, it wouldn't be one of Miami's hottest brunch propositions without a live DJ spinning beats that pair perfectly with Novikov's bayfront views and a glass (or two) of bubbles.

Winter Wonderland is back at The Ben Hotel, transforming the swanky West Palm Beach waterfront lawn into a glittering holiday playground with twinkling trees, Aspen-style chalets and, of course, a 50-by-66-foot rink made of the real stuff. Around the rink, expect plenty of festive distractions: chalet vendors slinging gifts and sweets; a holiday bar for hot chocolate, s’mores, grown-up toddies and the debut of a Holiday Tree Forest created in partnership with local nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. There will also be themed events like Live Music Saturdays and Santa Sundays, ornament-making workshops and an opening-day curling exhibition (yes, Palm Beach now has curling athletes and, no, the tropics do not care about your winter stereotypes). Skating runs daily from November 1 through January 4 from 10am to 9pm. Entry is free unless you’re lacing up, in which case tickets start at $25 for adults and $10 for kids 11 and under.

Art, sexuality and cultural taboos converge at the Museum of Sex with the debut of its latest exhibition, Hard Art: Unruly Selections from the Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection. Explore decades of boundary-pushing works spanning the 1930s to today, pulled from the private collection of one of the world’s most dynamic collectors. From playful to profound and, at times, deemed too provocative for public display, the featured works include a wide range of media that challenges convention and invites conversation. Curated with the goal of amplifying underrepresented voices and celebrating uncensored expression, artists on view include Marco Brambilla, Jimmy DeSana, Bunny Yeager, John Kayser and others.

Elliot & Erick Jiménez: El Monte is the Cuban twin photography duo’s first solo museum exhibition, marking their leap from award-winning image makers for the likes of Prada, Tiffany’s, Bad Bunny and Selena Gomez to multi-disciplinary artists on an institutional stage. Inspired by the Afro-Caribbean spiritual tradition of Lucumí and Lydia Cabrera’s seminal text El Monte, the show centers on a womb-like, chapel-meets-forest installation alongside photographs and sculptural works that explore spirituality, ancestry and identity. 

Art meets science at "Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius," a sweeping exhibition presented by Frost Science and produced by Grande Experiences in collaboration with Rome's Museo Leonardo da Vinci. On view through April 5th, 2026, the show explores da Vinci's multidisciplinary legacy with interactive displays, rare artifacts and life-size replicas of his machines, alongside immersive projections of iconic works like The Last Supper and Mona Lisa. Explore 16 themed sections, from anatomy and flight to engineering and optics, plus hands-on installations like the Vitruvian Man interactive station and the Mona Lisa Revealed exhibit, featuring the world’s only exact 360-degree replica of the painting.

Miami's biggest night for improv comedy happens every Saturday at Villain Theater in the heart of Little Haiti. Enjoy original, spontaneous live performances from some of the fiercest improvisers across South Florida. Shout out a suggestion and become a part of the action as the theater's talented cast of actors spins hysterical yarns over the course of two Second City-style improv shows. Mingle and sip beers in the lobby lounge in between sets: A ticket grants you access to both the 8:30 and 10pm showtimes.

The Coconut Grove Farmers Market is probably Miami’s most well-known. Every Saturday, Homestead's Glaser Organic Farms transforms an unoccupied corner of Coconut Grove into a full-fledged produce market with dozens of fruit and vegetable stands, a raw bar featuring prepared foods and salads and coolers filled with cold-pressed juices and nut mylks. There’s even velvety vegan ice cream for sale and several rows of picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy your bounty. Along its periphery, you’ll find other local vendors selling honey, homemade soaps, handmade jewelry and other artisanal items. And the setup and breakdown are so fascinating to watch! Much like the circus leaving town, everyone quickly dismantles their tents and packs up just after sunset, leaving no trace of the bustling day on the empty gravel lot.