These are the best things to do in Miami this weekend

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. 

In honor of World Wellness Weekend, Miami's bastion of holistic, luxury wellness is throwing three days of free(!) wellness activations on Miami Beach. Carillon Miami Wellness Resort's Mind-Body-Soul Festival kicks off on Friday, September 19th with the Friday Night Reset, a 90-minute outdoor mindful movement and meditation that combines breathwork and a slow, gentle yoga flow to release tension, quiet the mind and restore inner balance.

On Saturday, all-day activities include a mobility warm-up and stretch session in the morning, a community walk (jog, or run) and a post-run recovery yoga flow. The day ends with a flurry of complimentary treatments including B12 shots, energy scans, biofeedback and chiropractic care, brow and lash touch-ups, AI skincare analysis, lymphatic detox and more.

Sunday is a soulful wind-down that begins with a healing sound bath meditation, followed by hands-on pottery making with Artzybella. RSVP is required for all events. Valet will be discounted at $10 per vehicle, and public parking is available nearby. For yoga events and meditation, bring your own mat.

Oakland Park's beloved brewery brings a taste of Bavaria to South Florida with its annual Oktoberfest celebration. Running from September 19 through October 5, the multi-week festival brings all the German hallmarks to its taproom and outdoor space: seasonal brews, special Oktoberfest flights—including Funky Buddha’s flagship Floridian Hefeweizen—and an array of traditional bites. Think: house-made pretzels, chicken schnitzel and craft bratwurst. Expect live music every weekend, games and plenty of reasons to sport your finest lederhosen. 

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.

Stop sad-scrolling, wondering what you did to deserve not being in Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny's sold-out concert residency yet another weekend. Calle Ocho locals bar the Dead Flamingo is hosting a larger-than-life reggaetón house party inspired by Benito’s iconic house-stage concert setup, affectionately dubbed La Casita. For three nights, expect non-stop perreo vibes, themed cocktails, interactive installations and photo ops that will prompt your titi to frantically message you demanding to know why she wasn't invited. The perreo kicks off on Friday, September 19th with a DJ set by DJ Negra Fabulosa (fresh off tours with Becky G, Natti Natasha and Nicky Jam). The parties continue on Saturday, September 20th and Friday, September 26th.

Let's talk about sex, baby. In particular, the after-hours debut of Erotica by Nocturna at the Museum of Sex. Opening Saturday, September 20th, this limited-run cabaret in Allapattah blends burlesque, aerials, fire and aquatic acrobatics into a steamy, late-night spectacle. Book the 9:30pm slot ($79) for a guided tour of current exhibitions (Modern Sex: 100 Years of Design and Decency and Hajime Sorayama: Desire Machines), plus entry to Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival with interactive games and cocktails before the show. Those arriving for the 10:45pm slot ($55) skip straight to the main event: a hot and high-energy (and 21-plus) performance that lasts around one hour.

This magical pop-up flea market brings some of Miami's best indie vendors to cool locations around town every month. Whether under the shade of lush trees and flowering foliage or in an edgy, air-conditioned warehouse, you'll find vintage fashion, vinyl, books, plants, art, home decor, handmade jewelry, candles and more, plus local food vendor pop-ups and activities. On Saturday, September 20th, LRF returns to its namesake neighborhood with a market at Mint Room Studios in Little River. Stop by anytime between noon and 5pm to shop from 25 vendors and mingle with fellow Miami vintage-lovers. This weekend's indoor market is located on the second floor, with garage and street parking available. 7920 NE 2nd Ave, Unit 202

Ball & Chain might be known for its salsa dancing, but you'll be working your body out to a different sort of beat at this refreshing AM pilates flow in the garden. Pineapple Pilates is as zesty and uplifting as it sounds, a once-monthly sweat session on Ball & Chain's charming patio, with the iconic pineapple stage as its backdrop. Led by fitness instructor and professional dancer Jamie Carpio, the 45-minute, full-body class is designed for all skill levels and kicks off at 10:30am (doors open at 10am). RSVP for free entry and 10% off food and drinks after the workout. Just be sure to bring your own mat.

Anyone who's had the pleasure of sipping at JoJo Tea is likely aware that owner Mike Ortiz is a major music head. Miami's chilled-out purveyor of fine teas hosts a popular Tea Party series where locals mingle and buzz as Ortiz spins hip-hop and other eclectic beats on warm, fuzzy vinyl. This Friday, September 9th, Ortiz teams up with Third Spaces Miami for Synthesizer Sound Bath, a live synthesizer session featuring ethereal sounds by @bionicsoundsystem and @michaelthejojo plus endless pours of refined tea from 9pm to midnight.

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.

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. 

A night-turned-to-day on Club Space’s Terrace is a veritable rite of passage for any club kid. With a well-timed disco nap, lots of espresso martinis or your preferred stay-awake method, you too can experience the after-hours euphoria of dancing as the sun comes up on the iconic Space terrace. This weekend, the lineup includes Derrick Carter on Friday and Joris Voorn headlining the Terrace on Saturday. 

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.

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 influential Brazilian electronic musician Gui Boratto performing on the mainstage on Friday, September 19th and punk-funk six-piece Warmduscher headlining on Saturday, September 20th. Sunday, it's another edition of Casa Cumbia with the psychedelic tropical sounds of Mexico City's Sonido Gallo Negro.

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).

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.