Kick Off the New Year in Miami with Super Fun Weekend Plans
Have a proper snow day, celebrate Cher, and see the circus roll into town.
January really is the Monday of the year. Now that we’re all back from an extended holiday weekend and realize we’ve gotta start slogging through work for the foreseeable future, we need a little extra sunshine to power us through. The good news is January still has weekends built in, and if you live in South Florida you can enjoy them outdoors at things like a chocolate festival, a rose bacchanal on the beach, and the most over-the-top horse race in history. Read on for how to fill those not-so-long winter weekends, with the best things to do in Miami and beyond this January.
Concerts in Miami This Month
Friday, January 5 – Sunday, January 7; 1, 2, and 8 pm
Downtown; Tickets start at $25
No pop diva has dominated quite as long as Cher, who’s been belting out hits for more than 50 years. Celebrate her life and music at The Cher Show, the hit musical with 35 of her greatest hits sung by three different lead actresses. The weekend run at the Arsht Center has 8 pm shows every night, plus Saturday and Sunday matinees.
Friday, January 12; 7 to 11 pm
Downtown; $10
Frost’s Laser Evenings forge a foray into reggaeton this month with the science museum’s first ever shows celebrating Bad Bunny’s music at 9 and 11 pm. Those with other musical tastes can still enjoy the evening, with That ‘80s Show at 8 pm, and a show dedicated to The Weeknd at 10 pm.
Friday, January 17 – Saturday, January 18; 7:30 pm
Downtown Fort Lauderdale and Edgewater; $15-$25
The South Florida Symphony Orchestra gets a jump on Black History Month with a performance featuring works from two prominent Black composers. Grammy-nominated Jessie Montgomery will debut a new piano concerto alongside Bach’s Keyboard Concerto No. 4, with shows at The Parker on Friday and Temple Israel of Greater Miami Saturday.
Friday, January 26 – Saturday, January 27; 5 pm and 3 pm
Delray Beach; Tickets start at $39.50
It’s been 60 years since the Beatles began the British Invasion, and you can celebrate all weekend at the Beatles on the Beach festival at the Delray Beach Old School Square Amphitheater. On Friday night, classic rock legends Cheap Trick headline the show. Come back Saturday to catch Beatles tribute band the Fab Faux, along with trivia contests, yoga classes, and even a beach cleanup.
Saturday, January 27; 6 pm
Westchester; $25
Country music legend Joe Nichols brings his two decades of music to the stage at Dolphin Mall’s Vivo! Plaza. See why Westchester is an ideal destination for country fans as the man behind hits like “Home Run” and “The Impossible” plays this stunning new venue, with open bar and VIP packages available.
Art and Culture Events in Miami This Month
All month long
Various locations
Much like with Miami Spice and Miami Spa Months, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau is offering deep discounts at local cultural institutions throughout January. Highlights include free admission to UM’s Lowe Art Museum; 30% off at ARTECHOUSE; 25% off at Superblue; and 10% off at Faena’s Allura Cabaret. For a full rundown of all the deals, check out the official website.
All month long; 11 am to 7 pm
Allapattah; $20
Miami’s pioneering installation art showcase Superblue gets its first new work in a while with the opening of JR’s Printing Press. The interactive experience starts when you take a picture inside a photo booth, then proceed inside a giant, working printing press. As you wander the mechanics of the machine, four-foot portraits of you and your group shoot over the wheels.
Saturday, January 6; Noon to 7 pm
Fort Lauderdale; $30
If you’re a hard-core sneakerhead or just curious what the hype is all about, make sure to hit Sneaker Con at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center. More than 300 artists and collectors will be on hand showcasing their wearable art, where you’ll not only see rare drops for major designers, but also custom kicks you won’t find anywhere else.
Sunday, January 7; 2 to 6 pm
Coconut Grove; Free
Miami’s funniest, snarkiest, and silliest tradition is back as the King Mango Strut winds its way through Coconut Grove. This year’s theme is “I Can’t Get No DeSantisfaction,” and with 2023's run of indicted city commissioners and double-dipping mayors, the satire promises to be as biting as ever. Come in costume, then hit the after-party at the Mayfair House which will have a special happy hour during the parade.
Saturday, January 20; 7:30 to 9:30 am
South Beach, $10
Was one of your New Years’ resolutions to give back more to the community? Or maybe do more yoga? Accomplish both ends during Little Lighthouse’s Day of Service, which kicks off with a 7:30 am yoga class on 1st Street beach before moving to an hour-long beach cleanup.
Friday, January 26; 7 to 9 pm
Downtown Fort Lauderdale; Free
World-renowned photographer David LaChapelle will open a brand new exhibition at the NSU Art Museum this month running through March. The show will feature more than 30 of his most important photos from his nearly 40-year career, and it all kicks off January 26 at a swanky opening night reception with the artist on hand.
Friday, January 26 – Sunday, January 28; Times vary
South Beach; Tickets start at $40
Miami New Drama at the Colony Theatre debuts its latest local production from Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz. Two Sisters and a Piano tells the story of two women in 1991 Havana just after the collapse of the Soviet Union, as the imprisoned sisters navigate the world of love and art while trying to escape. The show runs through February 18.
Saturday, January 27 – Sunday, January 28; Times vary
Sunrise; Tickets start at $25
If you haven’t been to the self-styled “Greatest Show on Earth” in a while, the old-school circus is worth a new look. Gone are the three-ring shows, replaced with an immersive experience full of death-defying feats and stunning acrobatics. The 360-degree performance is nothing like what you saw in The Greatest Showman and offers family-friendly shows as early as 10:30 am at Amerant Bank Arena.
Sunday, January 28; 10 am to 6 pm
Watson Island; $16 for Florida residents
Lest your kids be deprived of the winter memories that children up north have, the Miami Children’s Museum is bringing snow inside. The museum’s Snow Day gives kids the chance to build a snowman, have a (hopefully) friendly snowball fight, and take pictures inside a snow globe, before shedding the winter coats and heading straight to the beach.
Sunday, January 29, 11 am and 2 pm
Boca Raton; $60
Learn the art of Japanese taiko drumming during a two-hour workshop at Morikami Gardens. Before hitting the drums you’ll learn how to connect nature, body movement, and rhythm from South Florida’s award-winning Fushi Daiko drummers.
Food and Drink Events in Miami This Month
Friday, January 12 – Saturday, January 13, 11 am to close
Downtown; Free to attend, food and drink prices vary
Rarely does any self-respecting Miamian have an excuse to go to Bayside, but this weekend offers such a chance with the opening of Pier 5. The new open-air venue features the self-proclaimed “largest bar in Miami,” and the opening weekend shindig will have special rum and mezcal bars as well as food from Ben’s Pizza, Black Market, SKOOPS, and La Industria.
Saturday, January 20, Noon to 3 pm
West Palm Beach; $85
South Florida’s trail blazer in creating a local barbecue style hosts a gathering of some of the region’s top pitmasters. Tropical Smokehouse will throw its second annual Smoke and Sunshine Craft BBQ Meat Up where chefs from Moo’s, Bryan Furman BBQ, Lillie’s Q, and others will be smoking all sorts of meats, with plenty of fresh cocktails and live music to go with it.
Saturday, January 20 – Sunday, January 21; 10 am to 5 pm
Coral Gables; $24.95
It’ll be like a way-less-creepy, outdoor Wonka factory at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden with the return of the Festival of Chocolate. More than 15 chocolatiers will offer samples of their stuff, with wine and bourbon chocolate pairings, chocolate martini flights, a Chocolate Express Train, and a Chocolate Olympics for the kids.
Sunday, January 21; 4 pm
Loxahatchee; $180 per person
Local produce purveyor Swank will host its monthly outdoor farm-fresh dinner with the theme “A Night in Spain” this month. Carlos Barcia of Leku will join Michael Hackman from West Palm’s aioli and another chef from Carmel, California to create Spanish dishes for a family-style feast. To drink, you’ll enjoy beers from Tarpon River Brewing and plenty of rare wines.
Friday, January 26 – Sunday, January 28; Times vary
Fort Lauderdale Beach; $150
Do you enjoy rose? And warm evenings on the beach? No, we didn’t accidentally copy and paste our Hinge profile, we’re simply describing the scene at Seaglass, a rose experience where more than 30 varietals of rose will be free flowing on the Fort Lauderdale sand. You’ll also find craft beer, live music, and plenty of food, and if you prefer your rose during the day, the Sunday session runs from 2 to 5 pm.
Sports and Wellness Events in Miami This Month
Every Sunday; 8 am
South Beach; $25
There are Sunday morning yoga classes, and then there are the Viva Move sessions in the art space at the Balfour Hotel. The $25 class comes with a spot at the Balfour’s pool and a beach chair. So after you’re done with your flow, you can kick back and enjoy 40% off food and drink from the hotel while you lounge in the sun, effectively creating a perfect beach day for anyone who attends.
Saturday, January 6; 7:30 to 9:30 am
Hallandale Beach; $15
There is a certain idyllic calm to morning at the horse track, where thoroughbreds gently gallop through the early morning chill. Experience that magic during Breakfast at Gulfstream, where you can enjoy your morning coffee and watch the ponies run through their workouts, then take a special tour of Gulfstream’s backstretch.
Saturday, January 6; 8 am
Pinecrest; $35
You don’t have to knock out that marathon you swore you’d do in 2024 immediately. Better to start with a light, breezy 5K that winds its way under the banyan tree canopies of Pinecrest. The FitCrest 5K starts at Evelyn Greer Park, and walkers are welcome too.
Friday, January 26; 4 to 10 pm
Little Havana; Free-$25
It seems like only yesterday our beloved Fish were hustling their way into the playoffs. But baseball season is less than three months away, and the Marlins kick off the excitement with a Friday night Fanfest at Loan Depot Park. There’ll be player meet-and-greets, stadium tours, interactive games, and more. Plus, an extra $25 rates you a special 6 to 8 pm beerfest inside the Recess Sports Lounge.
Saturday, January 27; Noon
Hallandale Beach; Tickets start at $175
The most Miami horse race ever returns to Gulfstream Park with the running of the $3 million Pegasus World Cup. The see-and-be-seen day at the races is filled with celebrities, outlandish outfits, and exclusive parties. This year, you can catch Calvin Harris performing at the Carousel Club along the homestretch, with VIP tickets including food and open bar available.