The best things to do in Miami this week

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.

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.  When is Luminosa 2025? Luminosa runs from Friday, November 14 through March 7, 2026. The hours of operation are 5:30 to 9:30pm Sunday through Thursday and until 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday. The Holiday Village will also open on November 14 and run through January 4, 2026. This outdoor experience operates rain or shine, with covered areas available throughout the venue.  How much are tickets? Adult tickets range from $30.78 on weekdays to $46.88 on weekends. Child tickets (ages four to 12) range from $21.58 to $33.08. Family bundles and group rates are available, with discounts for seniors, students and military personnel.

Get your fix of cozy holiday feels at Rooftop Cinema Club. The laidback South Beach spot to screen films above the city, Rooftop Cinema Club has programmed over a week of festive features to get you in the mood for Christmas, paired perfectly with heaps of buttery popcorn and the pastel hues of the sunset over Miami Beach. Peep the full lineup below, including shows on Christmas Eve, and don't forget to bring a light jacket—it can get breezy up there this time of year! Rooftop Cinema Club Miami Holiday Screening Schedule Weds, Dec 17 - 7pm: Love Actually; 10pm: Elf Thu, Dec 18 - 7:30pm: Elf; 9:55pm: The Night BeforeFri, Dec 19 - 7:30pm: It’s a Wonderful Life; 10:30pm: Friday After Next Sat, Dec 20 - 10pm: The HolidaySun, Dec 21 - 5:30pm: Home Alone; 8pm: Home Alone 2: Lost in New YorkMon, Dec 22 - 7:20pm: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; 9:45pm: Elf Tue, Dec 23 - 7pm: Elf; 9:25pm: The HolidayWed, Dec 24 - 7:15pm: Home Alone; 9:45pm: Elf

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. How much are tickets? Tickets start at $28 and vary based on date and time, with discounts for Fairchild members and seniors. Children three and under are free.

South Florida doesn’t do winter. At least, not the frosty, scarf-necessary, hot-cocoa-as-survival-fuel kind. Which is why the return of real-ice skating to downtown West Palm Beach feels like a minor miracle powered by equal parts holiday spirit and serious refrigeration tech. Winter Wonderland is back at The Ben Hotel starting November 1, transforming the 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. Yes, ice. In Palm Beach. Again. Last year’s debut drew more than 30,000 skaters, proving locals are more than ready to trade sand for snowflakes, at least in theory. 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). When is Winter Wonderland at The Ben Hotel? Skating runs daily from November 1 through January 4 from 10am to 9pm. How much are tickets? Entry is free unless you’re lacing up, in which case tickets start at $25 for adults and $10 for kids 11...

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.