August is on its way, which means it’s about time we make the most of summer in the city. Luckily for us, there are plenty of ways to liven up our summer days this month, from Miami Spice and Miami Spa Months to dazzling art exhibits and live shows.
Scroll on to start planning your perfect August in the Magic City!
Eat your way through the month at a Miami Spice restaurant
It’s our favorite time of the year: Miami Spice returns August 1st with discounted, three-course menus at hundreds of restaurants throughout the city! This year, you’ll be able to enjoy meals from all kinds of spots (even ones that have Michelin stars), at $40 lunch and brunch, in addition to $50 and $65 dinner specials.
Plus, there’s a new Miami Spice Reserve tier starting at $95. The ultimate foodie’s event ends on September 30th.
A mirrored labyrinth, clouds made of soap bubbles, thousands of lightbulbs glimmering to different heartbeats and plenty more immersive installations await at Superblue Miami. Across its 50,000 square feet of space, you’ll find unique works by renowned artists like James Turrell, teamLab, Es Devlin and Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. Art lovers can get their tickets below.
There are so many incredible museum exhibitions throughout the city, but one of the best parts is that some of them don’t make you pay for entry! Several museums offer free admission every day or once a month so you can immerse yourself in art and education at no cost.
So if you’re in the 305 and on a bit of a budget, check out which museums offer free admission and when, below.
Summer’s almost over. Have you entered the Paradox? Jam-packed with over 70 interactive exhibits that are sure to have you questioning your own perception, Paradox Museum offers a world of fun for guests of all ages. Some illusions are there for you to observe, while others you can step into and become a part of.
This August 1st, attend a candlelit concert at the Scottish Rite Temple MIA to support Venezuela earthquake relief — all net proceeds go to Bambi International Foundation. The 60-minute, Candlelight event features Venezuelan folk classics and hopeful global songs by local musicians performing pro bono to raise funds and awareness.
Join the Miami Dolphins Training Camp
This August, get an up-close look at the Miami Dolphins players as they prepare for the upcoming football season! The open practices, presented by Baptist Health, feature food trucks, giveaways, family-friendly activities and opportunities to score autographs from select players. You must RSVP online to secure free parking details and real-time scheduling updates.
If you’re looking to add something a little cheeky to your August, the Museum of Sex invites visitors to explore the evolution and cultural impact of human sexuality through vibrant exhibitions, lively lectures and interactive experiences. From the dynamic F*CK Art exhibit to the wildly popular Super Funland: Journey into the Erotic Carnival, it’s a fun inclusive space perfect for challenging norms and sparking open conversations.
Get ready to recharge with Miami Spa Months
Thanks to Miami Spa Months, you can score discounts on wellness treatments, facials and massages at more than 30 top spas across the city, such as Acqualina Spa, Lapis at Fontainebleau and The Ritz-Carlton. Running through August 31st, this year’s programming introduces custom sound bath therapies, rose quartz rituals and intensive hydration therapies alongside classic bodywork. Specialized packages include outdoor sessions in private zen garden cabanas with pool access or couples’ treatments paired with champagne and strawberries.
Start the new school year at Style Saves 16th Annual Back To School event
With a new jungle theme this year, Style Saves is transforming the Miami Beach Convention Center into a wild, immersive adventure for its annual Back To School event on August 8-9. South Florida students can receive free uniforms, school supplies, sneakers and backpacks to kick off the year. There will also be bounce houses, ball pits, a petting zoo, arts and crafts, a live DJ and a customization station where kids can personalize their new gear.
Pokémon GO Night returns to loanDepot Park on Friday, August 7, when the Miami Marlins host the Los Angeles Angels. Attendees can enjoy in-game bonuses like Pikachu one-star raids, extended lure modules, event research, exclusive avatar items and postgame fireworks.
If you’re looking for a laid-back new spot to check out this month, Upper Eastside Hangout is an outdoor food-and-drink garden replacing the former Anderson Bar. It blends family-friendly daytime programming with late-night vibes, alongside local food concepts, a restored 15-seat bar shack, weekly Taco Tuesdays and $5 happy hour drinks and beers.
Make time for the Freedom Tower this month — an iconic National Historic Landmark that served as Miami’s first skyscraper, the headquarters of its first newspaper and the legendary ‘El Refugio’ for Cuban exiles. Given its storied past, it’s the perfect spot to wander through exhibits that pulse with the city’s rich history.
From Libertad to Languages of Migration, each gallery is thoughtfully designed to reflect the building’s evolution from a center of information to a living archive of Miami’s diverse communities. Check it out below.
Join a star-studded night at the Kaseya Center to support earthquake relief in Venezuela on August 16th! Marc Anthony, Ricardo Montaner, Feid, Jay Wheeler, Elena Rose, Silvestre Dangond, Gente de Zona, Mau y Ricky and Olga Tañón are just some of the names on the bill.
If you’ve wanted to stop in for one more waterfront bite, now’s the time: the Hard Rock Cafe at Bayside Marketplace is set to close after 33 years. Its final day is scheduled for August 19, resulting in the loss of a reported 117 jobs.
If there’s something the city certainly knows how to do is dining on rooftops with dazzling city views. There’s no shortage of outdoor spots to check out in the 305, which is why we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite rooftops you have to check out.
Why not make the most out of your summer weekend’s by brunching yourself through Miami? Put on your brunch best and head on out to try the best eggs benedict, mimosas and avocado toast that Miami has to offer at one of these incredible brunch spots! And find the booziest bottomless brunches here for a good ol’ time.
Despite the excessive heat and rainfall, we’re looking forward to experiencing an absolutely magical summer thanks to the amazing Candlelight concerts taking over the city! Take to a historical venue and choose from many genres and musical themes for the perfect night out.
Here are all the shows taking place this month:
- Aug. 1: Candlelight: The Best of Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole
- Aug. 7: Candlelight: Tribute to The Beatles
- Aug. 7: Candlelight: 90s Hip-Hop on Strings
- Aug. 15: Candlelight: Tribute to Adele
- Aug. 15: Candlelight: Tribute to Michael Jackson
- Aug. 21: Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA
- Aug. 22: Candlelight: Tribute to Juan Gabriel on Strings
Just outside Miami, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens hosts its annual Obon Weekend featuring floating water lanterns. It all kicks off with an amazing Family Fun Day, thunderous live Taiko performances and a floating water lantern release during a fundraising dinner.
Take your tastebuds around the globe at the Spirits & Cocktails of the World Festival
Sample pours from more than 30 local and international craft spirit brands at the Spirits & Cocktails of the World Festival as it takes over Chela’s Cocteleria on Saturday, August 15. Mixologists shake up global cocktail infusions to highlight different flavor profiles, paired alongside a continuous rotation of complimentary food bites from the kitchen. You can also chat directly with brand ambassadors and distillers to learn about the production behind each bottle.
Get in on the fun at The MAI-KAI
Escape to a tropical oasis without ever leaving South Florida! Set amid lush gardens and cascading waterfalls, MAI-KAI is celebrating the Golden Age of Tiki all August with an exciting lineup of tiki cocktail workshops, sip-and-paint nights, trivia, karaoke, traditional tiki carving demonstrations, Tiki Discovery Days and live music.
The celebration also features expanded Friday and Saturday pre-show entertainment with live tiki drummers, and fire performances before the legendary Polynesian Islander Revue. Plus, mark your calendar for August 30, when the venue transforms into a Vintage Tiki Marketplace showcasing local artisans, handcrafted goods and Polynesian-inspired collectibles.
If you’re planning an escape into nature, consider timing your next national park visit with one of the NPS’s fee-free days. On certain days of the year, such as August 25th, all national parks that normally charge an entrance fee instead offer free admission to U.S. citizens and residents. Don’t miss the following upcoming free days:
- 110th birthday of the NPS – August 25
- Constitution Day – September 17
- Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday – October 27
- Veterans Day – November 11
Come on doooooown to an audition on August 28 for a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles and appear on The Price Is Right! CBS Miami is holding an open casting call at the Toyota of Hollywood showroom from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Applicants must download, print and bring a completed official application and be U.S. citizens aged 18 or older.
If you’re planning a full day of beach time, dining or exploring, the City of Miami Beach will offer $1-per-hour parking across municipal lots, garages and on-street spaces from August 1 through October 31, available via the ParkMobile app with up to three discounted hours per session and a 45-hour total limit for the promotion.
Switch out your yoga mat for a towel and enjoy some 5th Street Beach Yoga! Concentrate on the ocean views, listen to the sound of the waves and let yourself be guided personally by the instructor into a state of relaxation.
If you’re already thinking ahead to fall, Spirit Halloween is opening multiple pop-up stores across South Florida this August, offering costumes, decor and realistic animatronics. Listed locations include Sunset Place, Westchester, Hialeah, Cutler Bay, Pinecrest and many more throughout the region. Find the full list below.
