Candlelight Concerts
Photograph: Courtesy Miami Design District
Photograph: Courtesy Miami Design District

The best things to do in Miami this week

Get up and out the door with our hand-picked guide to the best events in Miami this week.

Falyn Wood
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Pick a neighborhood in Miami: South Beach, Coconut Grove, Wynwood or Little Havana. No matter the night of the week, the Magic City is brimming with things to do—yes, even when there's a summer storm on the horizon. Now that school is back in session and the weather's still steamy, it's time to take advantage of thinner crowds and sunny beach weather (or explore what to do in Miami when it's raining). Art and cultural events are popping off across Miami this week, including a stunning new show at PAMM, an art walk in Little River, a candlelit concert series in the Design District and a charming jazz night in Wynwood.

Families can get their hands dirty at a larger-than-life bug exhibit in Coral Gables, or explore the new street art exhibits in Wynwood at the Museum of Graffiti. There are also plenty of sweet Miami Spice deals to check out at Miami's best restaurants. We've got tons of activities to jump into whenever the mood strikes—plus tourist attractions that even locals approve of. In this list, we've handpicked special events and happenings over the next seven days, enough to have you saying, "This was the best week ever." And if you're looking specifically for weekend events in Miami, we've rounded those up into a handy guide, too.

RECOMMENDED: Full list of the best things to do in Miami

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What to do in Miami this week

  • Things to do
  • Downtown
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. 
  • Things to do
  • Overtown
This moody live music series has been popping up in some of Miami's most intimate and iconic locales for years now. But the Candlelight Concerts at the historic Scottish Rite Temple just might be the most stunning yet. Set in a grand, atmospheric example of Egyptian Revival architecture built in 1924, these dimly lit performances transform the space with hundreds of glowing candles and live orchestral interpretations of modern music by local talent. What began as a classical series featuring composers like Mozart and Chopin now includes tributes to artists like Queen, Coldplay and BTS, plus themed shows featuring jazz, flamenco, film scores and more. Find the full schedule of upcoming performances below. Candlelight Concerts at the Scottish Rite Temple Schedule   Saturday, September 66:30pm - Candlelight Jazz: The Best of Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole9pm - Candlelight Jazz: The Best of Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole Friday, September 196:30pm - Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele9:00pm - Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer Sunday, October 266:30pm - Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings Sunday, November 236:30pm - Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings9pm - Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
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  • Things to do
  • Festivals
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
  • Things to do
Hosts Mickey and Minnie Mouse guide audiences on a high-flying adventure in Disney On Ice presents Jump In! This year's sprawling new production brings together epic storylines, magical sets and over 50 all-star characters from Frozen, Encanto, Zootopia, Toy Story and more. For the first time ever, the show also incorporates Moana 2 and Inside Out 2. Splurge on your little one with a character experience add-on: This year's meet-and-greet includes 45 minutes of hang time and photo ops with Moana and an appearance by Mickey Mouse. How much are tickets to Disney On Ice in Sunrise, Florida? Tickets to the show start at $37. The optional Follow The Stars with Moana character experience costs an additional $67 per person.
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  • Things to do
  • Miami
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden kicks off spooky season with Troll Quest, an interactive treasure hunt running daily from September 1st to 30th. Follow the lush, enchanted trails, solve riddles and track down adorable hidden troll characters while trying to outsmart Spriggle, the garden’s mischievous central troll, for a chance at a prize. Designed for all ages, the adventure layers challenges for the whole family and incorporates your smartphone to unlock parts of the quest. Admission is included with general entry (free for members).
  • Things to do
  • Downtown
The Negroni is a perfect cocktail. Anyone who agrees with this statement should plan to visit ViceVersa at least once—ideally, numerous times—throughout this September. Award-winning bartender-owner Valentino Longo's impeccably executed downtown cocktail bar extends Negroni Week (September 22–28) into a month-long celebration of Italian aperitivo and American produce. Each week brings a new fruit-forward collaboration with boutique produce purveyor Natoora, beginning with the Grenade Pluot Negroni, made with stone fruit from Galpin Family Farms. More $16 limited-edition Negronis drop on September 8th, 15th and 22nd, with all four available in the final week of the month. While you're there, order from ViceVersa's refreshed aperitivo menu (Tuesday–Friday, 5–7pm), featuring $1.50 oysters, Italian tramezzini sandwiches ($8–10), salumi, cheeses and $10 specialty cocktails like the VV Martini and White Wine Spritz. To close things out, buzzy Roman chef Sarah Cicolini pops in for a special dinner on September 25th.
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  • Things to do
  • Quirky events
  • Downtown
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
  • Things to do
  • Miami Beach
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.
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  • Things to do
  • Coconut Grove
Books and boozing have gone hand in hand since the dawn of literature—or so we like to imagine. Available daily through September 21st, the Books & Books Summer Reading Series at The Commodore (inside The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove) invites guests to sip and flip through Miami-inspired reads. Hide away from the summer elements in the handsome hotel bar, order a cocktail crafted by local mixologist Gio Gutierrez, borrow a paired book to enjoy while you sip, then return it before heading out. Boozy bookworms will also score 10% off their next purchase at Books & Books Coconut Grove. Cocktails are $20 each and include the Havana Especial paired with The Last Train to Paradise, the Dérive paired with Seeing Differently: Miami Color Theory and Fuacata paired with Ventanitas: A Window Into Miami’s Coffee Culture. One-off author events include Les Standiford (July 10) and Laura Paresky Gould (August 21).
  • Things to do
  • Coconut Grove
Inspired by New York’s viral Cake Picnic (@cakepicnictour), the fresh-baked South Florida Cake Swap sets up shop at Vizcaya Village on Sunday, September 14th. Hosted with the Read It & Eat It Cookbook Club, this free community potluck beckons local confectioners and budding pastry chefs for a day of cake-eating and friend-making in the garden. Admission is simple: bring a cake, taste them all. Any style is welcome—vegan, gluten-free, layered or loafed (just no ice cream cakes). Participants can share ingredient cards and stories behind their bakes, explore the Vizcaya Farmers Market with over 40 vendors and explore offerings from community partners like the Bookleggers Mobile Library. Online registration is required.
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