Miami summer events to mark your calendars with

Dozens of airplanes and watercraft swarm Miami Beach’s shoreline for the entertaining military showcase at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show. Organized to honor first responders, the two-day event features civilian aerobatic acts, powerboat racing and extreme water sports. If you don’t mind the crowds, you’re in for a genuine spectacle right on the sand. Afterward, don’t miss the Music Explosion, featuring the U.S. Army’s “As You Were” band, U.S. Air Force Drill Team and The Miami Beach Classical Music Festival Orchestra. 

This annual festival in the heart of Miami Beach features five days of screenings, celebrity interviews, workshops, panel discussions and networking events celebrating Black television and filmmaking. As in years past, the 28th ABFF will host a packed schedule of Hollywood premieres, an indie showcase, a comedy night, an awards show and an epic closing gala on Saturday. Events take place primarily across Miami Beach Convention Center and New Worl Center.

Fairchild Garden transforms into a prehistoric playground this summer. Explore the lush grounds where life-size dinosaurs hold court amid a collection of cycads, ferns, conifers and all sorts of flowering plants that date back to primitive times. Kiddos can get hands-on during the ancient artifact digs, egg hunts and more while learning all about what the world was like 65 million years ago. Be sure to check the Fairchild Garden website for up-to-date information on upcoming dino events.

We’ve come a long way since “Cocaine Cowboys” and plastic pink flamingos. These days, Miami is one of the biggest art and culture destinations in the world. Along with beautiful beaches, nonstop nightlife and a growing list of Michelin-starred restaurants, Miami is home to some impressive cultural institutions. We’ve got an entire week of Art Basel madness, Broadway theater, art museums, symphonies, concerts, famous street art—even a gold-covered mammoth. Not to mention an abundance of homegrown talent at the forefront of it all. So much to see, so much to do. Wondering where to start? Click through for our guide to the best art and culture events in Miami this summer.

Remember that very sad period when Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge weren’t getting along and Blink-182 was no more? Well, those times are no more, and Blink is back, baby. Hear all the classics like “What’s My Age Again?” and “All the Small Things” alongside a newer classic “One More Time” on June 21 in Sunrise.

Kick off the season with an assortment of South Florida’s sweetest all-natural treats. The annual event showcases local and tropical fruit and fruit trees, and guests are invited to browse, sample and purchase their favorites. Once you’ve indulged in the cornucopia of tropical fruits, partake in arts and crafts activities and lawn games and make sure to walk the grounds and experience the gorgeous park.

"The Messi Experience: A Dream Come True" launches its world tour in Miami this spring, just as the city's fever for the famed footballer kicks into high gear. The sprawling, immersive multimedia exhibit traces Leo Messi's childhood and powerhouse soccer career to now, taking visitors of all ages through approximately 75 minutes of projection-mapped installations and interactive games at The Hangar Coconut Grove.

In the theater world, summer used to be a creatively fallow period, with most playhouses shuttered as the snowbirds prepared their northern migration. And in some pockets of South Florida—Palm Beach comes to mind—it still is. But in Miami and Broward, there’s no end to the “season.” That’s evidenced by a robust calendar of plays, music and dance recitals all the way through August, from the major regional players like Zoetic Stage, GableStage and Actors’ Playhouse; to the touring companies dropping some of their most blockbuster shows, like Peter Pan and Les Misérables, during Miami’s sweltering dog days. Maybe this flurry of activity has something to do with the new, culture-craving residents still moving to Florida in unprecedented numbers. Whatever the reason, we like it—and we think you will too. Here’s a taste of what’s on tap.

RECOMMENDED: The best museums in Miami

Looking to get into gardening? Billed as the largest annual orchid show in the United States, this three-day festival is the perfect place to search for a blooming new friend. In addition to the hundreds of beautiful flowers on display, there are lectures, raffles and other activities for those who lack a green thumb.

The annual Wynwood Pride celebration on the mainland stands defiantly in the face of heat waves, tropical storms and gay flight to Fire Island, boldly asserting: We’re here, we’re queer and Miami’s LGBTQ+ community deserves the world—including a proper World Pride celebration alongside everyone else. The concept was to create a more music and performance-driven atmosphere in the heart of Miami’s booming arts district that appealed to different ages and underserved groups. 

Rather than a weekend-long festival as in previous years, Wynwood Pride 2024 spans World Pride Month with panels, parties and performances going down primarily over the weekends this June. So far, events include a kick-off party at the Arlo Wynwood (June 1) and a drag festival (June 8). Watch this space as more information is released.

There are few better places than sun-soaked South Beach to show off what’s hot in bikinis, coverups and beyond. Art Deco swimming pools and beachside catwalks make the perfect backdrop for this annual fashion extravaganza showing the latest trends in swimwear. For 2024, expect more than 50 events, 200 designers and satellite events at the likes of Strawberry Moon, M2, Joia Beach and E11EVEN. The Official Shows go down at the SLS South Beach from May 29 to June 2. At various locations

Last season, Paraiso Swim Week bumped up its dates for the first time in almost two decades in a decisive move to separate itself from Miami Swim Week. The shift was a massive success, with highlights including an epic closing show from New York Fashion Week’s staple The Blonds (Teletubbies walked the runway alongside models wearing bold, bejeweled looks). Rub shoulders with industry professionals, fashion editors, buyers and social media influencers inside the luxurious tent at Collins Park, right on the sand. In all, expect more than 40 events over three days at hotspots like Soho Beach House, Queen Miami Beach, The Miami Design District and more.

Chef Michael Schwartz hosts this pop-up dinner series through the summer, inviting an acclaimed chef buddy to Amara at Paraiso each month to showcase their culinary talents with a meal that reflects their roots. The experience begins at 6:30pm as the sun sinks over Biscayne Bay. Take in the expansive views with passed apps and a tropical welcome cocktail made with Brugal rum. 

Each intimate, seated dinner comprises four courses of Latin-inspired dishes prepared from the open kitchen and wood-fired grill plus wine pairings by Brazos Wine (except Chef Diego Oka's Brugal Maestro Dinner, which is accompanied by Brugal cocktails). A percentage of proceeds benefits Miami-based non-profit Viernes Culturales. Click through for the full schedule.

During the notoriously slow summer months, Miami’s top restaurants offer an irresistibly good deal that gets hungry locals sprinting from their houses to snag a table: three-course, prix-fixe menus at lunch and brunch ($30/$35) and dinner ($45/$60, depending on the menu). Your swimsuit body never stood a chance. Various locations

Mango season in Miami is a big deal—so much so that we gave our favorite local produce its own festival. Spend a weekend learning everything there is to know about the juicy stone fruit and sampling countless mango varieties, grown both around the globe and right here in our backyard, as on-site vendors whip up smoothies, mango-inspired cocktails and more refreshing natural treats. Mango seedlings will also be available for purchase so you can grow your own, you green thumb, you.

It’s been five years since JT has embarked on a tour. That streak ends as the “Forget Tomorrow World Tour” takes him across the world starting in late April through December. The name of the tour pays homage to his sixth studio album, slated to drop on March 15.

Loads of comics, cosplay, anime characters and movie actors descend upon South Beach for three days of Florida SuperCon this summer. Expert panels, exclusive releases, screenings and celebrity meet-and-greets are all on the menu at this annual event. Past editions have included appearances by the stars of Mulan, Mr. Robot and more.

Get ready for six days of hip-shaking, arm-swaying programming during the annual dance extravaganza. The Latin music festival, one of the largest of its kind, features a grouping of the world’s top salsa talent, including musicians, dancers, DJs and bands. The international showcase touts a variety of pool parties, evening galas, dance workshops and live concerts. It all kicks off with an opening party on July 17 at Calle Ocho's famed Ball and Chain.

In what has to be the weirdest combo to rock a local stage in recent times (but somehow it works): Ladies and gentlemen, rock icons Red Hot Chili Peppers and rap legend Ice Cube perform together at Hard Rock Live on June 23. Perhaps the Hard Rock Sportsbook will have a bet on how many times the Chili Peppers will say/sing the word “California” during their set—odds that it’s more than 5,000 are high.

July and August are all about self-care thanks to the countywide Miami Spa Months program. From facials and body scrubs to soothing rub downs, wellness treatments are heavily discounted for the next two months at top spas all around town. (Score exclusive therapies starting at $109 at participating Miami hotel, day and med spas.) You’ve earned it and now it’s time to cash in on the massage your body’s been waiting for. Various locations

Faena Hotel's glamorous Art Deco theater plays host to a range of artists, from Dita Von Teese to Jazzmeia Horn, to cirque performers from Kansas City. This season, Faena Theater adds comedy to its ever-evolving roster with a new "Masters of Comedy" showcase. Catch some laughs on the last Wednesday of the month. Known for his genuine and relatable charm and appearances on TV shows like "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "Live at Gotham," comedian Brad Williams hits the stage.