The best winter events in Miami to mark in your calendar

Celebrity chefs (hundreds of them) and hungry people from around the U.S. descend on South Beach and across the city for Miami’s largest and most famous annual food festival, proceeds from which benefit Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management school. It's major.

For its 22nd year, SOBEWFF offers even more big-ticket events, including another rendition of the uber popular Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives LIVE! hosted by Guy Fieri, plus additional intimate dinners hosted by culinary luminaries. There will be burger battles, ice cream socials, steak and wine pairings, tiki competitions and more food and drinks than you’ll know what to do with. Break out your stretchy pants, and buckle up, people. Various locations

Coconut Grove comes alive with music, food and art for the three-day Coconut Grove Arts Festival. This family-friendly outdoor event is a great way to spend Presidents’ Day Weekend. Peep work from over 280 national and international artists while you stuff your face with local bites. In 2023, the 59th-annual festival introduces dozens of live art activations to watch and participate in.

Kick back in Frost Science’s massive Planetarium for its monthly retro classic laser shows, featuring a new set of artists each week. This Friday brings a special show featuring tracks from Stranger Things, That 90's Laser Show, Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd: Welcome to the Machine. Arrive early or stay late to hang at the atrium lounge, where you can pre-game in style with a curated selection of beers and snacks.

This lavish showcase geared towards all automobile enthusiasts, from connoisseurs to the car-curious, takes over the lush fairway of the JW Marriott Turnberry Resort’s championship golf course for a second year. Unlike some of the more standard, stuffy Concours shows around the world, the Motorcar Cavalcade judging panel pairs experts with VIP celebrities and athletes for entertaining and unabashedly subjective evaluations. Even more unusual, both classic and modern vehicles compete in the same classes to secure their prized trophy. This year's judges include Motorsports Hall of Fame racing legends Lyn St. James and Tommy Kendall, along with former Miami Heat basketball star Alonzo Mourning, auction house Phillips Watches’ Head of Americas Paul Boutros and General Motors Designer Wayne Kady, to name a few.

Spanning 83 acres of enchanted tropical trails, the full NightGarden experience takes anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes as visitors explore a neon playground of secret sunken ponds, hidden fairy worlds, giant swaying dandelion fields and the rainbow-colored Orchid Bridge. Chock-full of photo-worthy moments and interactive pit stops, NightGarden invites guests to frolic in a magical snowfall experience, and yes, Archie will be there to once again reprise his role as your favorite wise-talking tree.

The million-dollar horse race ($3 million, to be exact) returns to Gulfstream Park this January. Not into horses? Come for the atmosphere, which borders on South Beach nightclub thanks to a day party and live musical performances. This year's acts have yet to be announced, but previous headliners have included Lil’ Kim, Ja Rule, Mase, El Debarge and DJ Cassidy.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden dedicates two full days to the beloved cocoa bean for this 16th-annual event. The main star of the show—if you couldn’t guess—is chocolate. Don’t miss your opportunity to taste samples from artisan chocolatiers, indulge in chocolate pairings with wine and spirits, sit in on lectures and participate in all sorts of sweet demonstrations.

Immerse yourself in a journey through parallel universes at Faena Theater’s newest cabaret show, Allura. New York sensation Rocky Lanes will serve as a sexy spiritual guide, daring guests to peek behind the veil of the known to explore the divine matrices encoded within us all. Ultra-high-tech holographic architecture, interactive motion capture and body mapping converge with choreographed dancers, singers and musicians to explore themes of Futurism and seduction in this ethereal, high-energy production with a 1980s Latin-inspired soundtrack.

Brought to you by the team behind hit films Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL—including star Channing Tatum, director Steven Soderbergh and others—the 360-degree, immersive experience weaves together hot dance performances, acrobatics, live music and cocktails, which you’ll want on deck as things heat up throughout the 90-minute production. Miami's six-month run of the touring production takes place at Miami Marine Stadium, where they've built a souped-up venue complete with a lounge serving food and drink options pre- and post-show.

Relive all things Jazz Age at the Miami Design Preservation League’s annual festival, with free events and activities including the artisan and antiques marketplace, a classic car show, lectures, films, guided architectural tours and a variety of musical performances. The theme for this 46th edition is "Art Deco Worldwide," in honor of the upcoming 16th World Congress on Art Deco, taking place from April 18 through 30 in South Florida. Fifth to 15th Sts and Ocean Dr, Miami Beach at various times

Ten stages with a variety of live performances, drunken revelers reppin’ their country’s flag and all the croquetas and arepas you can stuff into your face: It’s time for Miami’s massive street fair, Calle Ocho, where thousands of people gather across the iconic 15 blocks every year to celebrate Latinx pride. SW 8th St between SW 12th and 27th.

Whether you want to gawk, check out some marine gear or actually pony up for a yacht, this five-day seafaring shindig lets you get comfortably nautical at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Feeling a lil yachty? Lucky for you: the Miami International Boat Show (MIBS) and Miami Yacht Show (MYS) have combined into one big event this February. While the on-land portion of the event takes place at the Miami Beach Convention Center and Pride Park, there are in-water components of the show at Venetian Marina, One Herald Plaza, Museum Park Marina and IGY Yacht Haven Grande at Island Gardens.

Hosted and headlined by the jazz-funk collective Snarky Puppy (which founded GroundUP in 2017), this three-day beach fest gives attendees an intimate experience via songwriting workshops with artists, oceanfront masterclasses and hangouts with musicians. The lineup includes Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), Nai Palm (of Hiatus Kaiyote) Lizs Wright and Bassekou Kouyate, among others. 

This eco-conscious, immersive art and fine-dining experience returns to Wynwood for a second run, combining cutting-edge projection mapping, 360-degree soundscapes and physical installations with an ocean-centric chef’s tasting menu, all with the goal of highlighting marine ecosystems and inspiring ocean conservation.

Choose from two ticket options: Daytime shows ($29, children $19; noon–5pm daily) and immersive fine-dining experiences ($240 and up; 6 and 8:30pm Wed–Sun). After dinner Thursday through Saturday, the underwater wonderland stays open for an after-hours lounge experience with visuals synced to the music of Miami’s top DJs. Ampersand Studios, 31 NE 17th St

This annual event promises to make President’s Day Weekend gay again. Hosted by 4Ward Miami, a non-profit that connects many of South Florida’s diverse LGBTQ communities, Gay8 comprises an irreverent street festival on Calle Ocho that’s been dubbed the largest Hispanic/Latino LGBTQ festival in America. More than 80,000 partiers are expected to fill the famous Little Havana thoroughfare to enjoy live music and performers, fashion and drag shows, free movie screenings at the historic Tower Theater and food and shopping from more than 70 vendors. Admission to the celebrations is free, but VIP passes will earn you perks like access to an air-conditioned area, an open Bacardi bar, Latin bites and more.

This 72nd annual arts festival (Miami’s longest-running juried art festival) in support of South Florida’s first art museum, the Lowe, returns to the University of Miami’s campus. The event, encouraging an appreciation of the arts across Miami, features over 150 outdoor fine-art exhibits, local vendors, a beer garden, live music and lots of food.

Ever wonder what it’d be like to dance non-stop for 96 hours and escape reality with 2,200 new friends? This winter, find out as you set sail the Caribbean aboard Groove Cruise Miami 2022. From Thursday to Monday, you’ll party to some of the biggest names in EDM—from Nora En Pure and Gioli & Assia to Casmalia and Claptone—on multiple different stages across the decks of the Celebrity Summit. Expect themed experiences, artist activities and more, with several different suite categories to choose from. 1015 N America Way