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.

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

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. 

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

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. 

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.

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).

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. 

Take a peek under a hood or two at the annual Miami International Auto Show, one of the largest in the world, taking place from September 26th to October 5th at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Stroll down Memory Lane to peep nostalgic rides; experience true 4x4 capabilities during a Camp Jeep outing and dive into the world of electric cars: The auto show also boasts an EV test track and is equipped with numerous charging stations, should you roll up in your own e-car. Merely shopping around for your next minivan? The show has those too, plus countless other makes and models on the market.

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.