These are the best things to do in Miami this weekend

Lady Gaga brings her intimate and otherworldly Mayhem Ball to Miami for three nights this summer, from Sunday, August 31st to Tuesday, September 2nd at the Kaseya Center in Downtown. Dance and scream alongside your fellow little monsters to all the infectious hits off Gaga's latest album: "Die with a Smile," "Disease," "Abracadabra." It's a gothic feverdream of a show that runs through four full acts and a finale's worth of songs spanning the icon's storied career.

Andrew Music Club returns to Lot 11 Skatepark on August 30th and 31st with two nights of stripped-back techno in a gritty downtown setting. The all-ages outdoor rave runs 4pm to midnight both days and features a lineup that includes Interplanetary Criminal b2b Kettama, SPFDJ, Juliana Huxtable b2b Jasss, Coffintexts and more. Presented by III Points festival, Club Space and Andrew, the party brings together skate culture and underground electronic music beneath a rumbling swath of highway overpasses.

In Miami, we work on a different sort of summer body. As temperatures rise, rainy days set in and snowbirds migrate north, locals loosen up their proverbial belts for Miami Spice, two months of guilt-free feasting on set menus across Miami’s best restaurants—from Miami Beach to Coral Gables and every pocket in between. Now in its 24th year, Miami Spice (part of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Summer Temptations program) promises more and better deals than ever.

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.

Are you a young creative looking for a path into the film industry? Spanning three days over Labor Day Weekend, the 10th-annual Urban Film Festival supports rising filmmakers through screenings, workshops, panels and other activities across Downtown and Historic Overtown. Celebrated as the largest free film festival in the United States, Urban Film Festival platforms culturally driven content and also hosts a youth film program focused on educating kids from Allapattah, Little Haiti and Overtown, among other underserved areas in the community. At various locations.

Two homegrown Miami dance parties unite over Labor Day weekend for a blissed-out rooftop rager in Coconut Grove. On Saturday, August 30th, Back of House teams up with Coconut Groove for a day-to-night pool party at SipSip Rum Bar, the vibey tropical bar perched at the Mayfair House Hotel & Garden. From 2 to 10pm, expect a groovy, house and disco-laced soundtrack from Miami favorites PeteyQ, Elisee, Gallo b2b Swifi, and Bizzy b2b Loof FM—plus a birthday set from Mixed Feelings.

Don your hot shorts and say goodbye to another steamy Miami summer with All Skates Go To Heaven, a groovy roving roller rink that's transforming Miami Beach Bandshell into a Labor Day Roller Disco on Sunday, August 31st. From 5 to 9pm, DJ Ray and PAPA (UNiT #3) will bump all the classics as folks glide and twirl around the open-air venue. Admission is free and skates are available to rent (Miami Beach residents get them free with ID). Food and drinks will also be for sale on site.

Top Miami comic Brittany Brave presents this female and queer-led brunch extravaganza at the Miami Improv Comedy Theatre in Doral, featuring live comedy, drag, live entertainment, trivia, twerk contest, prizes, food and the requisite bottomless beverages. On Sunday, August 31st starting at 2pm, say goodbye to another hot girl summer with a brand new lineup of comics and more surprises.

LIV has been leading the pack in Miami’s club scene since it debuted in 2008 as the crown jewel of the Fontainebleau Hotel’s unprecedented billion-dollar renovation. This Saturday, August 30th, lock in for a legendary house music set by UK sensation Cloonee. Tracks like "Sun Goes Down," "Like What" and "The Ciggie" have made him a festival and club favorite across the globe.

After last year's sold-out seven-week run, the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival is back with a brand-new production by artistic director Michael Rossi. The psychedelic, space-themed show blends the power of a full orchestra with cutting-edge projection-mapping technology inside Miami Beach’s first permanent immersive theater at Temple Emanu-El. Audiences are wrapped in 360 degrees of live music and visuals for a multisensory experience that transforms traditional orchestra. The galactic program includes Hans Zimmer’s most iconic compositions from Interstellar, Inception and Dune.

New York’s house and disco evangelist Eli Escobar returns to Downtown Miami on Saturday, July 26th for another epic dance music marathon at the cool kids’ underground hi-fi club, Jolene Sound Room. The party kicks off at 10pm and goes until 4am.

Stop by our favorite indie print shop, Dalé Zine, for another rendition of its recurring micro-press fair, going strong since 2017. Happy Zine celebrates print and its makers in South Florida and beyond, bringing together local artists and promoting community and collaboration in a funky, friendly space. For its 24th edition on Saturday, August 30th, nine artists will bring together their eclectic printed wares from noon to 4pm. Shop, meet the artists, mingle and groove to an afternoon of music by Dale Zine Radio regulars, In Rotation.

ZeyZey in Little River looks like it could be a friend’s bohemian bungalow—if your friend had their own natural wine gazebo, custom sound system and vinyl listening room, shipping container cocktail bar and mainstage for live performances. This weekend, they've curated another lineup of fun events, including a set from Mood II Swing, an iconic club fixture in the 90s NYC house music scene, headlining the Under the Disco Ball party on Sunday, August 31st.

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.

Located at the base of the trendy Arlo Wynwood, Wyn Wyn hosts a charming al fresco jazz night on the patio every Friday from 7 to 10pm. Make a reservation to enjoy the restaurant's fresh Latin-Asian fare paired with live samba, bossa nova and MPB (música popular Brasileira) under the stars.

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).

The NYC-imported Smorgasburg, Miami's largest outdoor food market, returns to its Wynwood outpost for a new season featuring over 40 vendors (including 10 new concepts) and more shaded areas for noshing. Graze from a variety of local street foods, international fare, healthy options and inventive creations from the likes of Acai Way, Korean Kitchen, Kabuki Soba, The Lazy Oyster, La Picaña Grill, Lechona Truck, Tio Paella, Puro Chocolate, Cool & Creamy Truck and more. Hours have shifted from 2 to 10pm every Saturday and Sunday this summer.

Bodega is celebrating Miami's bountiful mango season the best way we can think of—with free cocktails. Through Sunday, August 31st, hand over a fresh mango to the bartender at any Bodega location (South Beach, Coconut Grove or Coral Gables) and score a free Mango Tango cocktail. The tropical concoction includes Dobel Diamante, 1800 Coconut, mango puree, pineapple and lime juice. No mango? No worries: this refreshing seasonal bevvie is available to purchase for $16. Limit one free drink per guest.

Pioneering modern Peruvian chef Jaime Pesaque brings his vibrant, award-winning Nikkei culinary interpretations to the Magic City for a limited residency on the rooftop of the Four Seasons Hotel Miami in Brickell. Chef Pesaque's Lima restaurant, Mayta, recently ranked No. 39 in the annual World’s 50 Best Restaurants guide. Expect a selection of his signature dishes, like Ceviche Limeño with corvina, leche de tigre, sweet potato and cilantro, served in a lively indoor-outdoor dining room perched in the heart of the city.

Think of it as a fun foray into an exciting new technology—or a harbinger of the imminent robot takeover. Either way, this new exhibition at Frost Science aims to fascinate with four thought-provoking sections that trace the evolution of AI and feature everything from research to artistic collaborations. Curated and organized by the City of London’s Barbican Centre and co-produced by Groningen Forum, Netherlands, AI: More Than Human presents works by leading artists, scientists and researchers, exploring what it means to be human, the definition of consciousness, ethics around AI and whether machines will ever outsmart us.

Miami graffiti legend Jona Cerwinske flips the script on failure in Dog Ate My Homework, his new solo show opening on June 7th at the Museum of Graffiti. Instrumental in Wynwood's genesis as a street art mecca, Cerwinske brings his signature black-and-white, super-detailed aesthetic to a playful, immersive exhibition that reimagines classic classroom excuses as bold, satirical masterpieces. Curated by Alan Ket, the show merges street culture and contemporary art while exploring blame, creativity and the beauty of imperfection. A free opening party on Saturday, June 7th includes music by DJ Top Cat, drinks at the Modelo bar and artist-Levi's Trucker jackets while supplies last.

Lest we need another reminder that Miami summers really bring the bugs out, Fairchild is throwing a larger-than-life celebration of our six-legged friends from May 23rd through September 28th. From towering robotic sculptures to a walk-through butterfly pavilion and AR selfie station, hands-on bug encounters and interactive trails, this family-friendly exhibit zooms in on the tiny world of bugs. Select dates will also include the Bugs on Parade insect runway shows, Wander & Glow illuminated nighttime trails, Bug Bites & Brews 21-plus tastings and Big Bug outdoor movies under the stars. Included with general admission; free for members.

On view from May 1 through October 12, ICA Miami debuts a landmark retrospective of Olga de Amaral, the visionary Colombian artist whose 60-year-plus career transformed textile and fiber art as it merged indigenous weaving with Bauhaus design and Modernist abstraction. Presented with Fondation Cartier, the show features over 50 works, from goldleaf Estelas to airy Brumas, including pieces originally commissioned for major public spaces and many never before seen outside Colombia. The show invites viewers to step into a meditative “vertical forest” designed by award-winning architect Lina Ghotmeh, where Amaral’s tactile, light-absorbing works take center stage.

R House in Wynwood has earned its crown as the queen of mainland Miami drag brunches. This adults-only spectacle takes over the dining room and patio every weekend with high-energy performances, Latin-inspired eats and bottomless mimosas, sangria and mojitos. Brunch is $60 per person (or $80 for the premium seats) and includes the show, drinks and a family-style feast—just be sure to book early, since it sells out fast. If you do miss your chance to snag a brunch seat, R House also serves up weekly evening drag shows and themed drag bingo nights.

Tuesday and Saturday nights are prime times to get an authentic taste of Miami's vibrant salsa scene at La Pachanga, a free live music and dance party in the heart of Little Havana. The historic Calle Ocho venue opens up its doors, spilling the sounds of Miami's best salsa bands onto the streets as revelers sip excellent mojitos and take to the wooden dancefloor. Ball & Chain also hosts free salsa and bachata dance classes regularly (check their website for the latest schedule), so you can brush up on your moves—or just watch the pros do their thing as they twirl and gyrate around the crowds.

Nestled in the lobby of The Betsy, a Michelin-awarded hotel famed for its arts programming, The Piano Bar hosts Miami Beach’s longest-running live music series. The space's relaxed, Old Havana atmosphere gets amped up by a rotating roster of local and visiting talent, with free public jazz shows nightly through December starting at 6pm. Some of the scheduled musicians include Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Tal Cohen, composer Leonard Reina, Beau Cornelius, Pato Romero, Brian Murphy and Jim Gasior. Food and drinks are available for purchase from LT Steak & Seafood, The Betsy's on-site restaurant by chef Laurent Tourondel.

In this seductive new production at Faena Theater, free-spirited heroine Carmen finds herself in a labyrinth of two opposing lovers. The provocative, adults-only journey explores themes of devotion, jealousy and betrayal as it blends elements of flamenco, cabaret, fire artistry, cirque nouveau and modern beats, all infused with a Spanish flavor. Master of Ceremonies Mimi Barber lends her soulful vocals to the show, accompanied by an award-winning ensemble and stunning visuals that all come together to breathe new life into this reinterpreted classic.

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.