Liz Tracy

Every December the entire international art world touches down at Miami International Airport for Art Basel Miami Beach. It asks itself: art or party? Party always wins out. For one week, the whole city is alight with booming bass and dancing lasers in addition to Art Basel events, installations and hundreds of top galleries; festivities include the invite-only Art Basel Public Opening Night bash on December 2. If you think you can handle the hangover, kick off at one of the city’s best bars before heading to our pick of the parties to hit during Art Basel Miami 2015. RECOMMENDED: See our full guide to Art Basel Miami Beach

In addition to hundreds of the world’s best galleries, which set up shop at Art Basel Miami Beach every December, you can catch a wealth of unforgettable exhibitions, live music and other performances, assembled and executed by some of the finest curators and artists from Miami and across the globe. During Art Basel Miami 2015, the creative stars will be shining extra bright in the Magic City at these five art museums and art spaces. RECOMMENDED: See our full guide to Art Basel Miami Beach

Before Wynwood came into its own as an arts district and gallerists took notice of the burgeoning, Bakehouse Art Complex was already a mainstay in the community. The 33,000-square-foot compound opened its doors in February 1987 and quietly paved the way as the first nonprofit of its kind in the area. The organization’s 30-year stronghold is due in part to its role as an incubator for creativity; it provides affordable studios and exhibition space to emerging and midcareer artists, and also offers arts education to the community. It's home to 65 studios, two galleries, a photo lab, a printmaking facility, a ceramic facility and a woodshop. 

Since 1999, Ultra Music Festival has grown from a handful of stoned, drum’n’bass-loving, hippie slackers standing barefoot in the sands of South Beach to bringing in something like 150,000 tweekers and candy ravers from around to world to Bayfront Park in Downtown Miami. This year will definitely make the Magic City even more magical with Ultra’s usual massive name DJs like Afrojack, Avicii and Carl Cox, and newer stars like Purity Ring and Knife Party. Ultra has spread its bass-busting beats all over the world from Ibiza to Seoul, Korea, and just recently announced an expansion to Rio de Janeiro. In the fall, you can round out your EDM year with a different electronic fest, EDC Orlando. Yup, there’s an Electric Daisy Carnival right by Disney. Talk about a trippy week!