Miami vibe: What’s in store this winter?

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This article is part of the FT Globetrotter’s Miami Guide

Winter is one of the most exciting times to visit Miami. Miami is home to world-class art and design fairs, music and culinary festivals, and sporting events. Below are some of this season’s FT Globetrotter highlights, from Art Basel showcases to Art Deco tours to celebrity chef demos and more.

Fairchild’s Night Garden

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden sparkles with a magical after-sunset light show featuring rainbow trails, outdoor holograms, and projection mapping. Popular Miami food trucks will be serving up light bites while a custom-built Fairyscope augmented reality app can be used to enhance the experience. From $33.20 until January 12th. thenightgarden.com/Miami

“Crossroads: Rubem Valentim’s 1960s” ICA Miami

The first American museum exhibition to feature the late Afro-Brazilian painter Rubem Valentim explores his modernism during the decade he lived in Brazil but also worked in Europe, settling in Rome for three years. Explore how abstract painting developed. Valentim’s work was characterized by a rich and colorful lexicon of symbols. “By creating symbolic signs, I am trying to translate into a visual language the enchanting, magical, perhaps mystical world that flows constantly within me,” he wrote in his 1988 manifesto. I am writing to. icamiami.org

design miami

This year’s theme for the world’s leading trade show is ‘Blue Sky’ and aims to showcase ‘the boldest leaps of imagination happening in design today’. Galleries from London to Los Angeles, Melbourne to Mumbai all offer their own unique interpretations. From December 3rd to 8th. designmiami.com/fair/miami-2024

Art Basel Miami Beach

The art world converges on the Magic City for the North American version of the International Art Fair. Now in its 22nd year, the event features 283 galleries from 38 countries, and the broader Miami Art Week includes a wealth of off-site events and satellite fairs. December 6th to 8th. artbasel.com/Miami Beach

south beach jazz festival

The signature event of nonprofit disability advocacy organization Power Access, the South Beach Jazz Festival brings together acclaimed jazz musicians from across the industry to celebrate accessibility and inclusion. Expect traditional, contemporary, and Latin American performances from artists such as renowned pianist Eddie Palmieri, Miami-born saxophonist Jesse Jones Jr., and the Bad Apples Brass Band. January 9th to 12th. sobejazzfestival.com/

Beaux Arts Festival

In its 74th year, Miami’s oldest juried arts festival will take center stage at the University of Miami, featuring more than 200 artists over the two-day event. The Watsco Center, located on campus, will be transformed into a marketplace featuring live music, food trucks, and children’s art activities, along with artist booths. Beaux-Arts, a women-led nonprofit supporting the arts in South Florida, is organizing the event, with all proceeds going to the Lowe Museum and local support programs. January 18th-19th. beauxartsmiami.org

art deco weekend

Sponsored by the Miami Design Preservation League, this annual event spotlights South Beach’s historic Art Deco buildings. The free cultural festival includes tours, lectures, and performances, including Ocean Drive Deco Night and Neon Light Tour. January 18th-20th. artdecoweekend.org

Lifetime Miami Marathon

Biscayne Bay hosts 18,000 runners who take part in Miami’s half or full marathon (a route that offers impressive ocean and city views and crosses several bridges), but there’s entertainment for everyone. There is. A tropical 5K (open to walkers as well as runners) will be held the day before the main event, and a post-race festival will feature activities, food, and live music. February 1st to February 2nd. themiamimarathon.com

miami international boat show

It’s the largest show of its kind and is where manufacturers showcase their latest aquatic inventions, both underwater and out. Explore powerboats and catamarans, or head out for a family-friendly educational experience where kids can learn about different fish species. Upgrading to a VIP ticket grants exclusive access to the site, which features some of the world’s most exquisite superyachts. February 12th to 16th. miamiboatshow.com

Coconut Grove Art Festival

More than 280 juried artists will gather in the artistic Coconut Grove to exhibit their work on the streets off Biscayne Bay. In addition to paintings, sculptures, and photography, you’ll also enjoy food, cooking demonstrations, and live music. February 15th to 17th. cgaf.com

South Beach Wine and Food Festival

World-renowned wine and spirits producers and chefs gather for this four-day festival. Celebrity chefs specializing in international cuisine host daily lunches and dinners, as well as wine tastings and seminars. More than 100 events will feature culinary luminaries and industry experts. All net proceeds support hospitality students at Florida International University. February 20-23 starting at $40. sobewff.org

winter party festival

This frenetic week-long LGBTQ+ event, which draws 10,000 tourists from around the world to Miami Beach, is organized and supported by the National LGBTQ Task Force (then known as the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force). It started in 1994 as a single dance party. Since 2005, the organization has supported nearly 90 community groups in South Florida. February 26th to March 4th. winterparty.com

miami open

The world’s best tennis players took to the hard courts at Hard Rock Stadium for an unofficial fifth Grand Slam. It was second only to the U.S. Open in terms of attendance for North American tennis, attracting nearly 400,000 spectators in two weeks. This year, Daniel Collins and Jannik Sinner won the women’s and men’s singles championships for $1.1 million. March 17th—30th. tennistours.com/miami-open

“Smita Sen: Embodied” Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami

The New York and Miami-based artist and “interaction designer” fuses sculpture, dance performance, and technology to track how the body moves and adapts in different environments and emotional states. Her “Fossilized Emotions” paintings and sculptures, for example, use 3D modeling software to visualize the physical pain she experienced as she grieved the death of her father. Until April 6th. mocanomi.org

What are your favorite events in Miami this winter? Let us know in the comments below. Follow FT Globetrotter (@FTGlobetrotter) on Instagram.

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