The best January events in Miami

Art is everywhere this month, you just have to know where and how to spot it. From virtual roses surrounding a stop sign and trippy formations on a building to a cyclone of letters emerging from the sidewalk, augmented-reality pieces are on display throughout Miami as part of Digital Art Month. The Contemporary and Digital Art Fair (CADAF) is behind the public art festival, featuring 50 works installed in the Wynwood and Coconut Grove neighborhoods as well as on Lincoln Road in South Beach. Folks will need to follow an interactive map to find the “exhibitions” and use a QR code at each location to activate the augmented reality filter. From there, you’ll get to snap your favorite works of art and celebrate the experiential event on social media using the hashtag #DigitalArtMonth.

We hope you didn’t blow all of your cash on holiday gifts because there’s a new antique market coming to Coconut Grove this month. Put on by the same company that produces the holiday markets in New York City’s West Village, Miami’s artisan market takes place in the evening at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Shop local vendors, produce, food and more. Jan 8 2–9pm

Seven of the country’s most accomplished writers and playwrights, including Hilary Bettis of The Americans and Nilo Cruz of Anna in the Tropics, take on the seven deadly sins for this one-of-a-kind, socially distant performance on Lincoln Road. In rotation over 90 minutes, small audiences will watch actors play out gluttony, envy, wrath, greed, lust, pride and sloth from inside vacant storefronts while listening to the action on headphones. Two performances take place nightly on weekends and the entire performance is outdoors.

Miss concerts? The Arsht Center’s Live on the Plaza series is here with a much-needed dose of live music. On Thursday, January 21, catch an outdoor performance by psychedelic tropical soul duo Elastic Bond. The group—a collab between Venezuelan producer-musician Andrés Ponce and Honduran singer-songwriter Sofy Encanto—has been making locals’ hips sway since 2006 with its unique blend of bilingual funk, hip-hop and soul tunes. Guests are asked to check-in at the Ziff Ballet Opera House doors on NE 13th Street. Masks are required.

Lockdown has impacted every single one of Miami’s beloved attractions, including Pinecrest Gardens. Forced to cancel its anticipated all-star jazz series in the fall of 2020, the botanical garden reimagines it as JazzAid Live from the Banyan Bowl—an eight-part virtual event that helps raise money for nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen, which has been feeding vulnerable communities in the U.S. since the crisis began. The shows will be broadcast live from the Banyan Bowl for one night only and feature Grammy-winning artists and international superstars, including the world-renowned Glenn Miller Orchestra on January 16. 

Car aficionados, rejoice! The Deering Estate’s annual vintage auto show returns with an epic showcase, featuring rare and collectible vehicles from 1969 and older—plus, a rare sighting of the 1950 International Harvester Truck in honor of Charles Deering. Not into cars? Visit the outdoor event for guided nature tours, an art installation and the opportunity to picnic on the grass when you visit one of the many food and drink vendors on the premises.

This annual arts festival in support of South Florida’s first art museum, the Lowe, returns to the University of Miami’s campus virtually. The event, encouraging an appreciation of the arts across Miami, features online exhibits, interactive activities, online art classes and more.

The million-dollar horse race ($3 million, to be exact) returns to Gulfstream Park this January. Not into horses? Come for the atmosphere, which, if similar to years past, will likely border on South Beach nightclub thanks to a day party and live musical performances at the Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 

Miami City Ballet continues to find ways to perform despite these weird times. As a follow-up to the company's genius production of The Nutcracker in the park, MCB pops up at attractions, museums and other public places this winter. The company has yet to share what it’ll be performing but we can tell you the schedule, which we’ve included below. Mark your calendars and prepare for a series of spectacular, captivating and uplifting shows in the coming months.

Aqueous, the latest immersive installation from ARTECHOUSE, examines the calming qualities of Pantone 2020’s Classic Blue and its connection to water. Step inside the South Beach museum and prepare to chill out staring at trippy ocean vistas, listening to the sounds of falling rain and experiencing other aquatic-themed moments. The piece is part of ARTECHOUSE’s newest series, Submerge, spanning other cities with different elemental installations relating to earth, water and air.