These are the best things to do in Miami this weekend

Coconut Grove’s reliably fun and family-friendly Fourth of July celebration takes place for the 18th year at Peacock Park. Kicking off at 3:05pm, the party features live music all afternoon, tasty bites from local spots like Meraki, Bartaco and Pura Vida at the first-ever Taste of the Grove food festival, plus kid-friendly play zones and martial arts demos. As the sun sets, the Miami Symphony Orchestra takes the stage with a patriotic set synced to a high-tech drone show, all leading up to a fireworks display over Biscayne Bay. It’s free, all ages and the perfect moment to roll out a blanket and soak in a quintessential Miami summer evening.

This energetic Toronto-founded day party swaps out booze and benders for coffee and pastries, keeping the house music bumping and promising more authentic connections with like-minded locals. This Fourth of July, the Coffee Party brings its feel-good wellness rave to Joia Beach for a day of brews and barefoot dancing in the sand. From 11:30am to 3pm, sip top-notch coffee, matcha and sea moss “Mosstinis” and snack on protein-packed bites as DJs Little Ray, Cam Jones, Rohan Alyan and Carmelinda keep the beats flowing. There's water access (and a 100% that it will be hot AF), so plan your attire accordingly.

It's a four-night bender in Miami Beach this weekend as LIV celebrates the land of the free and the home of the bass. The Independence Day festivities kick off on Thursday, July 3rd with a set from EDM superstar DJ Alesso, followed by rapper Roddy Rich performing on the Fourth and Cedric Gervais lighting up the decks on Saturday, July 5th. If you're not in full bed-rot mode, cap it all off with a special edition of the famed LIV on Sunday hip-hop party on July 6th, headlined by STL trap queen Sexxy Red.

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 parties and eclectic shows for America's birthday, including another edition of the bumping Back of House party on Friday, July 4th. On Saturday, July 5th, it's the massive Gran Fiesta de San Juan Miami, celebrating vibrant Afro-Venezuelan drum music. The weekend wraps on Sunday with a live sunset performance from L.A.-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, and producer, Elijah Fox, with a record fair and tropical dance party earlier in the day, at 2pm.

Celebrate the Fourth on Miami Beach with a festive night of music and fireworks at Lummus Park. Starting at 8:30pm, the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival Symphony Orchestra and Alumni Division singers will fill the oceanfront with Broadway hits and patriotic classics, from the 1812 Overture to “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Fireworks follow at 9pm, lighting up the sky over the Atlantic. Bring a blanket or beach chairs, pack a picnic or snag a table at one of Ocean Drive’s alfresco spots to take in the free show.

Jungle Island understands the importance of a well-timed outdoor water activity for the kiddos (and their sweating parents) in the middle of a blazing hot Miami summer day. On Friday, July 4th, head to Jungle Splash—the park’s massive inflatable water playground—for a foam party, surprise animal encounters, and bursts of red, white and blue smoke at 12:30 and 1:30pm. This patriotic kids' rager also features bites hot off the charcoal grill, themed drinks and free animal food for the first 50 kids. Tickets start at $39.99 for kids and $49.99 for adults and include unlimited summer access to Jungle Splash and park admission through August 31st. Consider those dog days of summer plans officially handled.

An evening-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, it's a lineup so epic it comes with its own multi-day pass (for a cool $199). The massive bill includes Claptone and Coco & Breezy playing up on the Terrace and Garrett David and Mystic Bill behind the decks all night long at Floyd on Friday, July 4th. Stryv, Rossi and Chez Demier also make appearances later in the weekend.

Shiso is throwing it back this Fourth of July with a chilled-out daytime BBQ pop-up from 11am to 4pm, starring Chef Raheem Sealey’s Drinking Pig BBQ. Load up on slow-smoked brisket, ribs, pork belly and chicken, plus Drinking Pig's beloved Southern-style sides like mac and cheese, cornbread and baked beans. It’s an à la carte feast, with plates running $7 to $40. Want to lock it in? Text 954-589-3759 to pre-order or snag a sit-down reservation here.

As usual, Magie doesn't skip out on an excuse to throw a party, they're just way more chill about it. To celebrate Independence Day this year, the original Magie natty wine bungalow in Little River hosts a laid-back Fourth of July bash on Sunday, July 6th. From noon to 4pm, hang out in the light-dappled back patio to partake in water balloon games, a raw bar and seafood boil pop-up by the Lazy Oyster and plenty of crushable summer pours from Magie’s curated wine list. The team will also be grilling up backyard BBQ classics, should you need something a little more substantial to soak up all that vino.

The Shelborne by Proper is a stunner. Beautifully updated and reopened this May with no detail overlooked, Proper has retained the property's iconic Art Deco glamour while drawing locals and savvy travelers with its cool, culture-driven programming. On the Fourth, guests can kick things off with a Latin-inspired BBQ by the pool, complete with refreshing cocktails and a set by DJ Jovigibs. As the sun sets, head to the garden firepit for a build-your-own s’mores bar and golden hour cocktails, then stroll to the sand for fireworks with a festive drink in hand. The night wraps with a high-energy DJ session by Pressure Point in the hotel’s newly designed lobby, keeping the holiday vibes going strong.

Miami Children’s Museum celebrates America's birthday with a “Red, White and You!” bash on Friday, July 4th. The all-day party is packed with crafts, games and history for the kiddos: Watch a lively reenactment of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, compete in a flag matching game and design your own flag to take home. Kids can whip up sparkler wands and cool off with snow cones at the KABOOM! Peace Playground. It's a full star-spangled day of learning and fun.

Perched along the idyllic Coconut Grove waterfront at the site of a former U.S. naval air station, the open-air Bayshore Club is a fine spot as any to post up and celebrate the Fourth with the whole fam. Soak up live music and killer views of the fireworks over Biscayne Bay while digging into crowd-pleasers like the seafood tower, smash burger and Yankee-style lobster roll. Wash it all down with summery cocktails—happy hour runs from 4 to 6pm—and let the laid-back vibe transform your Independence Day into a mini vacation.

If you’re after luxe vibes and a beach-chic crowd this Fourth of July, Bal Harbour Village is hard to beat. On the northern tip of Bal Harbour Beach by the jetty (10301 Collins Ave), you’ll catch one of Miami’s most dazzling drone and fireworks shows, lighting up the sky on July 4th at 9pm and open to all. Around the Village, the resorts are getting festive, too: The Ritz-Carlton Bal Harbour hosts a poolside BBQ with a live DJ and Tito’s cocktails (July 4 and 5, noon–4pm), while Atlantikos at the St. Regis Bal Harbour will put on a coastal-inspired brunch with elaborate dishes and live stations (July 4, 12:30–4pm). Later, the St. Regis rolls out its rendition of a bougie summer cookout (July 4, evening) complete with BBQ classics, a raw bar and decadent desserts—basically the most stylish fireworks pregame we can imagine.

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.

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).

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.

The Dig at Frost Science is the region's only paleontology exhibition and research department, inviting visitors to step into the shoes of a real-life fossil hunter. On view in the museum’s West Wing, this interactive experience lets you explore the science behind prehistoric life through tactile displays, hands-on activities and a team of on-site paleontologists and technicians. Watch trained pros work in a real fossil prep lab, digitally try your hand at cleaning fossils, hear how a living dinosaur may have sounded and marvel at a life-size cast of the “Tufts-Love” T. rex skull—the most complete of its kind ever found. The Dig is included with general museum admission.

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.

Red Rooster Overtown by celebrated chef Marcus Samuelsson presents Sunday Evenings in Historic Overtown, a new music and dining series that blends the neighborhood’s rich jazz legacy with a soulful Grand Buffet. From 5 to 9pm, guests can graze on everything from Mac & Cheese and the famous M’s Fried Chicken to mezze, raw bar selections and decadent desserts, all while taking in live music from rotating acts. With a mix of buffet dining and bar seating on a first-come, first-serve basis, this weekly event keeps the spirit of Overtown’s jazz scene alive in one of the area's most iconic dining spots. $65 per adult, $32.50 per child (ages 6 to 13), free for children 5 and under

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.