The best things to do in Miami this week

Gird your loins! The much-anticipated III Points Festival returns to Mana Wynwood this weekend, October 16-17, featuring nearly 300 artists and 13 stages sprawled across five city blocks. This year, local musicians comprise nearly one-third of the lineup and share the spotlight with world-famous acts like Underworld, Lil’ Kim, Blood Orange, Tokischa, and Adam Port.

Performances take place from 4pm to 4am each day, rain or shine. While you’re bouncing from stage to stage, carve out time to explore. The III Points team is all about hidden “Easter eggs” and surprise moments. Visit the interactive wonderland of Miami-born multimedia artist Mokibaby, or pick up a disposable camera and develop your pics on-site at Cardinal Labs’ film pop-up. Several of Miami’s best restaurants will pop up, too, including Tâm Tâm, Ghee Indian Kitchen, and Wolf of Tacos. Arrive early to beat the traffic, and maybe bring a poncho, just in case (it’s still hurricane season). Remaining two-day tickets start at $379 for General Admission Plus and $475 for VIP.

Can’t make the festival? III Points has expanded its pre-festival program with seven days of satellite events taking place all over town, from October 13 to October 20. Mingle with III Points’ creative team at their magazine launch party, October 13 at Dalé Zine, or head to ZeyZey on October 14 for rare DJ sets by Washed Out and Neon Indian. Bone Thugs & Harmony takes the stage at E11EVEN on October 15, rock bands take over Las Rosas all week long, and Club Space keeps the party going with star-studded lineups including horsegiirL, Honey Dijon, Adam Ten, and dozens more. View the Satellite schedule online and pick your poison. Prices and age restrictions vary by venue.

Sweet Liberty is one of our favorite bars in Miami Beach, not least of all for piña coladas and late-night dance parties. Even as the neighborhood transforms around it, Sweet Libs holds it down with affordable drinks and a low-key atmosphere that’s actually fun for locals (and tourists, too). The City of Miami Beach agrees, having officially proclaimed October 13 as Sweet Liberty Day. This year, the bar is celebrating big with 10 guest bartenders representing several other 305 icons including Bar Kaiju, The Sylvester, and Cafe La Trova. Shenanigans ensue the evening prior, on Monday, October 12, starting at 7pm. Stick around for a “birthday” surprise at the stroke of midnight. Free to attend for ages 21 and older. No RSVP required.

This month, 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.

Tripping Animals is bringing together some of Miami’s top chefs and stand-out restaurants for Skip The Line, a mouthwatering food festival with unlimited tastings, beer, wine, seltzers, and live music. Grab your ticket for bites by Bar Bucce, Los Félix, Mandolin Aegean Bistro, Coney Burger, To Be Determined, Vice City Pizza, Midorie, Off Site, and more. It’s all going down at the Doral brewery on Saturday, October 17, 1-5pm. Remaining all-inclusive tickets priced at $116.15.

One of the largest orchid festivals in the world returns to South Florida this weekend. October 16 to October 18 at the Fruit and Spice Park, Redland International Orchid Festival features leading orchid growers from Brazil, Ecuador, Singapore, and beyond. Shop for exotic orchids, catch the juried orchid contest, enjoy food and drink specials from local vendors, and wander the park to learn of 500 varieties of fruits, vegetables, spices, and more. Pro tip: pair your outing with a visit to Knaus Berry Farm, just a 10-minute drive away.

Reggae lovers, this one’s for you. On Saturday, October 17, The Legendary Wailers headline a free concert at the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, fronted by Julian Junior Marvin, a celebrated guitarist who regularly performed and recorded with Bob Marley & The Wailers. Also gracing the lineup is Third World, a nine-time Grammy-nominated group hailed as one of the longest-running reggae bands in history. Advanced tickets have sold out, but dedicated fans can purchase tickets in person at the center on the day of the concert, October 17, starting at 12pm.

A night of Cuban sazon is served at UMA House South Beach on Sunday, October 18, as Miami chef Mika Leon celebrates her debut cookbook, Cuban Soul: 100 Vibrant Recipes from Mi Cocina. Your $35 ticket includes a rooftop soirée with Havana Club cocktails, live music by a four-piece Cuban band, and passed bites prepared by Chef Mika and her culinary team. Feeling inspired? Pick up a signed copy of Cuban Soul and try the recipes at home.

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 (Oct. 14), Casper (Oct. 21), and The Addams Family (Oct. 28). 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.

Miami’s Little River neighborhood now has its very own rum house. Celebrating its grand opening this Friday, October 16, the Little River Distillery is a sprawling 22,000-square-foot facility designed for on-site production as much as social gatherings. Join a distillery tour ($45) and get a taste straight from the barrel as you learn how rum is blended with Venezuelan technique. Slink into the hidden speakeasy for fanciful rum-based cocktails like El Pastelito, a clarified guava and cream cheese daiquiri, and get the details on the Private Barrel Program, where members get their own rum cask and the 400-some bottles it produces over time.

If your Halloween style leans more sculptural than spooky, consider this mask-making workshop in Little River. On Sunday, October 18, “it girl” retailer Simonett will host Miami-based artist Daniel Ochoa for a guided workshop that experiments with form and earthly materials like stainless steel, crystals, feathers and more. Tickets from $125.