Happy New Year, Miami! It’s not only a new month, but a brand-new slate to start the year off with a bang. And luckily, we’ve got some of the best plans in the city to to fill your calendar with. So without further ado, here are the top things to do in Miami this January 2024:
1. Stroll through a wonderland of lights at NightGarden while you still can!
This luminous experience will take you on a magical journey across Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Walk through rainbow-colored paths, technicolor flowers and an enchanting fairy experience, with — of course — a wise talking tree among it all! Book your tickets to NightGarden before it closes on Jan. 20th.
2. Check out this amazing LEGO® art exhibition
The Art of Brick is an incredible exhibit you have to see to believe. It has impressed 10 million fans worldwide and now Miami gets the chance to be stunned by over 90 brick sculptures made from tiny LEGO® pieces by artist Nathan Sawaya. Highlights include a massive T-Rex, reimagined versions of some of the world’s most famous artworks and a yellow chest bursting with LEGO® bricks. Join the waitlist to The Art of the Brick: An Exhibition of LEGO® Art here.
3. Gear up for Coconut Grove’s annual King Mango Strut Parade
The iconic satirical parade is set to return for its 40th year on Sunday, January 7th, with all the vibrancy, laughter and mischievousness that has been its hallmark for decades. The parade will once again motor through the streets of Coconut Grove and this year’s theme is I Can’t Get No DeSantisfaction.
4. Get lost in Van Gogh’s work up-close before the experience closes
Experience The Starry Night, Sunflowers and a number of other artworks as they swirl and soar at Miami’s epic Van Gogh exhibit, which is leaving the Olympia Theater on January 7. It seems like just yesterday when the experience first made its way to Miami, and while we’d love to see it stay, all great things must sadly come to an end. Until then, you still have time to see the artist’s work take over the walls and encompass your surroundings! Grab tickets to Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience here.
5. Sip on themed cocktails at this Edgar Allan Poe speakeasy
If you’re a lover of literature and cocktails, you’re not going to want to miss this immersive cocktail experience coming to Miami this month. Be transported to a bygone era as four of the author’s most infamous works come off of the page and onto the stage as told through the Poe Historians. Get tickets to Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy now!
6. Get your paddles ready for The Pickle Games
The Pickle Games Miami, which promises to be “the world’s largest pickleball festival,” is set to transform the Miami Marine Stadium on January 13-14. Whether you prefer being a competitor or spectator, the two-day tournament will consist of games across 100 courts, food vendors, musical performances, VIP experiences and more.
7. Be captivated by unique displays at Luminosa
Making up Miami’s many spectacular light shows is Luminosa: A Festival of Lights at Jungle Island. The much-loved attraction features over one million LED lights and more than 40 dazzling lamp scenes adorned with a range of themes, from colorful mythical creatures to traditional Asian lantern designs. Snag tickets to Luminosa here.
8. Skate around at the new Miami Roller Rink
Super Wheels may have had its End of an Era party, but there are so many more memories and plenty of skating to come! Under new owners and a new name — Miami Roller Rink — the rink will open its doors for the new year, making sure the legacy of Miami’s longest-standing roller rink keeps on.
9. Enjoy magical performances at these Candlelight concerts
Get lost in a number of familiar tunes this January with a visit to a gorgeous Candlelight concert. Grab tickets to tribute shows to Taylor Swift, Queen, Coldplay and more:
🕯️ Jan. 7: Candlelight Open Air: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
🕯️ Jan. 11: Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen and More at Hotel Colonnade
🕯️ Jan. 19: Candlelight Open Air: A Tribute to Bad Bunny on Strings
🕯️ Jan. 21: Candlelight Open Air: A Tribute to ABBA
🕯️ Jan. 24: Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay
🕯️ Jan. 25: Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele
🕯️ Jan. 26: Candlelight: The Best of Amy Winehouse
🕯️ Jan. 27: Candlelight: The Best of Luis Miguel
🕯️ Jan. 28: Candlelight Open Air: Featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & More
🕯️ Jan. 31: Candlelight: A Tribute to Linkin Park
10. Attend this year’s Pegasus World Cup
One of the premier thoroughbred horse racing events in the world, the 2024 Pegasus World Cup returns to Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 27. It’ll be an exciting day of world-class sport, hospitality and entertainment, with Grammy award-winning producer, DJ, and songwriter Calvin Harris taking the stage following the horse races.
11. Turn back time with the South Florida premiere of The Cher Show
The stunning production of the Tony Award-winning musical, The Cher Show, is coming to the Adrianne Arsht Center this January 2-7. You’ll be whisked through 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, two rock-star husbands, a Grammy, an Oscar, an Emmy and “enough Tony Award-winning Bob Mackie gowns to cause a sequin shortage in New York City.”
12. Participate in the annual Life Time Miami Marathon
The city’s famous race, which draws more than 25,000 people from around the world, will return on January 28th! The Miami Marathon route totals 26.2 miles and the Half Marathon totals 13.1 miles.
13. Bask in the winter season at Snow Carnival Miami
Whether you want to race down snowy slopes on an inner tube or journey through a festive forest on the Holiday Express, Snow Carnival has it all. In fact, the fun family attraction has brought over 350 tons of real snow to the city! It leaves for good on January 7th though, so get your tickets before it’s too late!
14. Sweeten your day at Fairchild’s Festival of Chocolate
Satisfy your sweet tooth with the 17th annual Festival of Chocolate at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on January 20-21! The two day extravaganza will feature top chocolatiers, chocolate pairings with wine, tasting sessions, cooking demos, kid-friendly activities, a retail marketplace and much more. The chocolate-y choices are endless and they’re all tasty!
15. Enjoy omakase — in the dark
Research indicates that a significant 80% of individuals rely on their visual perception while eating. By removing this sense, the idea is that your other senses, such as taste and smell, become heightened, transforming your dining experience. Get tickets to Dining in the Dark: Sushi “Omakase” Edition, an exclusive blindfolded tasting event featuring a secret 12-course sushi menu.
16. Experience the dark side of human nature at Nocturna: Sin City
This unforgettable Wynwood show will mesmerize you with aerial performances, provocative burlesque and soul-stirring live vocals and poetry. Get your tickets and journey through the depths of Sin City here!
17. Head to the Miami Jewish Film Festival
The 27th annual Miami Jewish Film Festival, the largest Jewish film festival in the country, returns on January 11 with two weeks worth of programming that concludes on January 25. This year’s lineup features more than 100 films, and screenings will be held all across the city.
18. Celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King
There are so many things to do in Miami on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 15. One activity is making sure you catch Liberty City’s annual MLK Parade, which follows the eight miles that Dr. King passed through during his frequent visits to the city. The parade will begin at 11 a.m.
19. Get tickets to Da Vinci: Machines & Robotics
After charming San Diego’s Air and Space Museum, this family-friendly adventure is landing in Miami on February 3rd, with some of the artist’s most iconic creations. Unique robots, war machines, flying inventions, an extensive art gallery of reproduction masterpieces… Leonardo Da Vinci’s oeuvre comes to life, granting us a closer look at the scientist and his many ideas. Secure your spot for Da Vinci: Machines & Robotics here.
20. Check out a museum — for free
Calling all museum-goers! Miami is full of art and historic museums and most have special “free” days when entrance fees are waived completely. So whether you’re a college student on a budget or a bargain hunter wanting to see the sights, you can see our list on free museum days here.
21. Check out the most bold and beautiful Bresh parties this month
Get ready to dance the night away and let loose at Bresh as it makes its return to Club M2 on January 19 and 26. Expect a range of musical genres from reggaeton to disco and plenty of balloons, flowers and glitter throughout each night. What are you waiting for? Get your tickets to Bresh now.
22. See David LaChapelle’s photography at this new Miami Beach exhibit
Internationally acclaimed photographer David LaChapelle is set to feature over 30 of his works at VISU Contemporary Art Gallery this January 26 through March 2 in an exhibit titled “DAVID LACHAPELLE: HAPPY TOGETHER”. Marking his first-ever solo exhibition in Miami Beach, visitors will be able to view significant photographs from 1985 to the present, including the world premiere of his new work.
23. Take an art class at Oolite Arts
You can unleash your inner artist at one of Oolite Arts’s virtual or in-studio art classes! Florida’s leading arts nonprofit is offering a Clay on Canvas class taking place on Saturday, January 20 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Individual, one-day workshop and multi-week workshops are also available.
24. Conquer your fear of heights as you zipline over Jungle Island
Strap in and whoosh through the trees at Treetop Trekking, located at Jungle Island. This aerial zipline adventure park is so epic, it offers thrilling courses for both kids and adults, featuring ziplines, cable crossings, swing bridges, and more. Plus, you’ll get breathtaking views of Miami and Biscayne Bay.
25. Spend an evening at Miami’s newest supper club
Celebrity hotspot and famed Los Angeles restaurant Delilah has officially opened its doors in Brickell, helmed by Executive Chef Daniel Roy. An homage to the roaring ‘20s, the glamorous supper club will feature signature dishes like chicken tenders with spicy barbecue and buttermilk ranch, stone crab salad, Cuban fritters, suckling pig and more.
26. Catch a Bad Bunny laser show
The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is launching a new addition to its popular Laser Evenings inspired by none other than Bad Bunny! On Friday, January 12, jam along to Titi Me Pregunto, Ojitos Lindos, Callaita and more at the new Bad Bunny laser show, all under the Frost Planetarium’s 67-foot dome.
27. Get tickets to The Messi Experience
Soon we’ll be able to set off on an unmissable adventure into the life of Inter Miami’s own, Leo Messi. Set to make its debut this April, The Messi Experience: A Dream Come True will be an immersive technological experience rich in interactive activities, compelling stage design and captivating storytelling that will bring you closer to the soccer legend than ever before. Tickets are already on sale, and you can book your visit ahead here.
As you can see there’s an endless number of things to do in Miami this January and we’re just getting started. Make sure to get those plans sorted out and start 2024 on a high note with a fun-packed month!