The best things to do in Miami this week

Catch a free outdoor movie every Wednesday night at SoundScape Park in Miami Beach. Running October through May, the annual SoundScape Cinema Series welcomes all ages for weekly screenings spanning Blockbuster hits, vintage classics, and holiday films. The series kicks off with Selena (Oct. 7), followed by The Goonies, Casper, and The Addams Family. Screenings take place rain or shine, starting at 8pm. Bring your own setups to watch comfortably; think lawn chairs, picnic baskets, and fresh-made subs from La Sandwicherie. The venue accommodates 200 to 300 on the lawn, but prime spots get scooped up quickly, so plan accordingly. Free to attend, no reservations required.

Spotted, dotted, striped, solid, vibrant colors that can’t be defined. Orchid flowers are all the rage at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s annual event, Orchids in October. Explore a living collection of rare exotic orchids, shop your favorite blooms at the orchid marketplace, learn tips and tricks to grow your own orchids at home, and meet horticulturists from all over the world. Join the fun October 10-11, 10am to 5pm. Tickets priced at $14.95 for children (ages 3-11) and $27.95 for adults. Free for ages 2 and under.

On Saturday, October 10, the Frost Science museum debuts The Science Behind Pixar, a multimedia exhibition that pulls back the curtain on Pixar’s movie-making magic through sophisticated math, engineering, state-of-the-art technology, and good old-fashioned human imagination. More than 50 interactive experiences offer rare insight to the studio’s filmmaking techniques behind such classics as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, WALL-E, Monsters, Inc. and more. Admission is included with all museum tickets, priced at $24.95 for children (ages 4-11) and $29.95 for adults. Free for ages 3 and under.

Latin-funk legends and Afro-Caribbean jazz take the stage on Saturday, October 10, at Lummus Park with Live En La Playa, a free music concert inspired by Hispanic Heritage Month. Bring a blanket and cozy up for a groovy performance by Spam Allstars with Tony & The Kings, and vinyl sets by local selectors. Hunt for vinyl of your own at the pop-up record fair curated by Miami Is An Island. The fun gets going at 6pm.

Actors’ Playhouse is leaning into the spooky season with Jekyll & Hyde, a Broadway musical inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s Gothic novella, The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde. Running October 7 through November 1 at Coral Gables’ Miracle Theatre, the psychological thriller follows a London lawyer as he investigates the experiments of Dr. Henry Jekyll and ties to a mysterious criminal, Mr. Hyde. Tickets from $65. Ages 13 and up.

It’s always a good idea to visit local galleries. On Saturday, October, 10, Little Haiti Little River Art Days offers the perfect excuse to get outside and explore. Check out new exhibitions and meet local curators when participating galleries and artist studios open their doors to the public, 12 to 5pm, including Locust Projects, Laundromat Art Space, and Dimensions Variable. Check the program’s interactive map to plan your self-guided tour. Free to attend, all ages welcome.

Fairchild swaps its usual tropical elegance for cowboy boots on Thursday, October 8, when Boots & Blooms returns for a country-themed evening across the garden's grounds. The Back Country Boys, a Southwest Florida country-rock band that has shared stages with Jake Owen and Chris Janson, headline the night, with line dancing led by Country Heart Dance, lawn games and pie-eating contests rounding out the festivities. Moonshine and bourbon flights, food truck bites and optional picnic baskets and VIP seating keep things comfortable. 

Long before the shiny high-rises appeared, Coconut Grove was a place of the people. Artists, activists, bohemians, Bahamians—a melting pot of cultures and curiosities. Thankfully, that independent spirit can still be found in the Grove, if you know where to look. The annual King Mango Strut is one of our favorite Miami events of the year, bringing together local arts groups, politicians, kids’ rock bands, a herd of grown adults dressed as cows, and other random sightings. Ahead of the January parade, King Mango organizers are hosting a community block party on Saturday, October 10, 6-9pm, on Fuller Street. Consider this an old-school, low-key Miami party. Grab a beer, bring your dog, and inevitably run into your high school crush. All ages welcome.

The 12th annual Miami Beach Salsa Fest brings all the moves to the Bandshell this Sunday, October 11, starting at 5pm. The free, all-ages event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a live orchestral performance, local vendors, salsa lessons, a seniors’ salsa dance contest, and more hosted by Melina Almodóvar. 

A new citywide cocktail program is offering discounted drinks at some of the best bars and restaurants in Miami, all October long. Back for its second year, ¡Salud! is sort of like the Miami Spice program, but instead of prix-fixe dinner, you get happy hour pricing on exclusive ¡Salud! cocktail menus. The catch? Offers are only available ‘til 10pm. More than 50 local spots are participating this year, including old favorites like Macchialina, Grazianos, Fox’s Lounge, and Sweet Liberty. See what the hype is about at spots like ViceVersa, go for glamour at the Delano’s Rose Bar, or check out newer, curious spots like Lovecat by Bar Not Found.