The best things to do in Miami this week

Situated between Midtown and Wynwood, this pop-up food festival with LA roots brings together nearly 30 major names in the Miami culinary scene for a day of chilled-out, family-friendly hangs. Versailles, Tam Tam, Ted’s Burgers, Liger’s, Miami Slice, KYU, Shiso, the Wolf of Tacos, Palacio de los Jugos and Peacock Ramen are just a few of the vendors on deck for Saturday. All that nosh is complemented by a lineup of hip-hop-leaning local DJs (DZA, Silent Addy and more) and a collection of large-scale immersive art experiences and custom installations presided over by the festival’s artistic director, New York’s famed Nina Chanel Abney. Expect a bold and colorful backdrop to the inaugural Miami festival, which will also feature streetwear collabs, a domino tournament and more surprises. 110 NE 36th St, Miami, FL 33137

Christmas gets a freaky twist at this holiday carnival in Hialeah. Expect all the usual rides, midway games and festive displays, plus entry to Ripley’s exhibition of strange and unusual oddities and artifacts. New sideshows roll out weekly, too, like contortionists, sword swallowers, foot archers and the Shortest Woman in the World. Other experiences include the shimmering Fairyland Journey pathway and Dinner at Santa's, a cozy sit-down meal at Santa’s North Pole home.

In tandem with the holiday season, Jungle Island's enchanting festival of lights returns for a fourth year with a new production featuring more than 37 monumental, handcrafted silk lantern scenes created by a global team of artisans, graphic designers, seamstresses and more. This year, Luminosa takes visitors on a vibrant trail of themed vignettes representing different ecosystems, from the Amazon rainforest to African savannahs, complete with cutting-edge animatronics, holograms and interactive storytelling. The popular Holiday Village also makes a return this year (through January 4), featuring Christmas trees, holiday treats like churro donut holes and coquito, a seasonal bazaar and a 30-foot Christmas tree centerpiece.  When is Luminosa 2025? Luminosa runs from Friday, November 14 through March 7, 2026. The hours of operation are 5:30 to 9:30pm Sunday through Thursday and until 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday. The Holiday Village will also open on November 14 and run through January 4, 2026. This outdoor experience operates rain or shine, with covered areas available throughout the venue.  How much are tickets? Adult tickets range from $30.78 on weekdays to $46.88 on weekends. Child tickets (ages four to 12) range from $21.58 to $33.08. Family bundles and group rates are available, with discounts for seniors, students and military personnel.

The Downtown Development Authority is bringing all the cozy seasonal vibes to our subtropical paradise for its annual Holiday Village on Flagler, running on December 7, 14 and 21. Downtown's charming historic thoroughfare will transform into a festive pop-up village complete with twinkling décor, local vendors and interactive stations where kids can craft ornaments, snap photos and enjoy sweet seasonal treats. To kick things off, there will be a magical 24-foot Christmas tree-lighting ceremony on November 14 from 6 to 10pm, which includes a free performance by the Miami Symphony Orchestra alongside students from the New World School of the Arts. Families can also frolic in a dedicated kids’ area with a bounce house, popcorn, cotton candy, face painting and an early visit from Santa. Other highlights include a menorah lighting on December 14, a toy giveaway on December 21 and a New Year's Day celebration from 3 to 8pm featuring live music, family fun and surprise guests, all free and open to the public.

In partnership with The Cultivist, Capital One presents a journey to Los Angeles through the ages in a new art installation pop-up by visual artist and director Alex Prager during Art Week in Miami. Housed in a former nightclub on Lincoln Road, Mirage Factory unfolds as a distinctive mise-en-scène of Los Angeles through the ages, from the recreation of an artificial orange grove to the glow of Hollywood Boulevard at dusk. In addition to public access, Capital One cardholders can enjoy exclusive programming throughout the week, including live performances, immersive experiences and a celebrity chef–curated dinner with James Beard-winning Dave Beran, as well as Martinis at the Mirage, a private evening event featuring a surprise musical guest. The experience also extends to the new Shelborne By Proper, part of the Premier Collection from Capital One Travel, which will serve as the hospitality hub for Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders, featuring daily Venture X Golden Hour Sun Deck gatherings, live DJ sessions and more. Public guests can attend during viewing hours; no ticket required. Capital One cardholders can visit The Cultivist website for exclusive access details. 430 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139

A much-anticipated precursor to the holiday season in Miami, NightGarden returns in November for its seventh season at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden, promising even more psychedelic scenery, family-friendly activities and interactive artwork than ever before. Running from November 7 through January 11, NightGarden invites guests to frolic around a neon-lit wonderland of tropical trails lined with holographic sculptures, secret sunken ponds and hidden fairy worlds. Expect several enticing new activations this year, including the Tree of Life, a monumental centerpiece with lights and projections activated by guest touch. You'll also find new immersive domes with themed photo backdrops, a Secret Garden Laser Light Show, movie nights and more. How much are tickets? Tickets start at $28 and vary based on date and time, with discounts for Fairchild members and seniors. Children three and under are free.

Faena Art celebrates its 10th anniversary with a new, site-specific commission from British artist Es Devlin. "Library of Us" is a 50-foot kinetic sculpture that will slowly rotate within a reflective pool, filled with 2,500 of the books that have shaped Devlin’s imagination, philosophy and life. Part performance, part sculpture and part meditation on language, the piece will transform Faena Beach into a shared space for reading, reflection and quiet connection.  Guests will take a seat at the 70-foot circular reading table, which surrounds the luminous bookshelf, where some chairs will remain still and others will rotate. Devlin’s project will continue inside the Faena Cathedral with "Reading Room," a meditative companion piece, and in the Faena Project Room, with drawings and glassworks that reveal her layered creative process. All 2,500 books from "Library of Us" will be donated to local schools and libraries after Art Week. On the sand at 3201 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140

Get your festive carnival fix at Tropical Park during Christmas Wonderland, a local holiday production that's grown into the largest of its kind in the U.S. Now in its third year, this 14-acre spectacle features six immersive holiday worlds, 50-plus rides, dazzling light shows and nightly entertainment like fireworks shows, acrobatic acts and even Santa as a human cannonball. Of course, the grounds are lined with photo-worthy moments, starting with the Wonder Portal, an LED archway that leads into Tinsel Trail, a half-mile of synchronized lighting displays, installations and whimsical backdrops. At the heart of the midway, the IG’loo 360-Dome surrounds guests in a 3D-mapped immersive visual experience. The midway is also where you'll find the fair's main food and drink offerings, including plenty of local food trucks and seasonal brews from Cervecería La Tropical.

South Florida doesn’t do winter. At least, not the frosty, scarf-necessary, hot-cocoa-as-survival-fuel kind. Which is why the return of real-ice skating to downtown West Palm Beach feels like a minor miracle powered by equal parts holiday spirit and serious refrigeration tech. Winter Wonderland is back at The Ben Hotel starting November 1, transforming the waterfront lawn into a glittering holiday playground with twinkling trees, Aspen-style chalets and, of course, a 50-by-66-foot rink made of the real stuff. Yes, ice. In Palm Beach. Again. Last year’s debut drew more than 30,000 skaters, proving locals are more than ready to trade sand for snowflakes, at least in theory. Around the rink, expect plenty of festive distractions: chalet vendors slinging gifts and sweets; a holiday bar for hot chocolate, s’mores, grown-up toddies and the debut of a Holiday Tree Forest created in partnership with local nonprofits, including Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. There will also be themed events like Live Music Saturdays and Santa Sundays, ornament-making workshops and an opening-day curling exhibition (yes, Palm Beach now has curling athletes and, no, the tropics do not care about your winter stereotypes). When is Winter Wonderland at The Ben Hotel? Skating runs daily from November 1 through January 4 from 10am to 9pm. How much are tickets? Entry is free unless you’re lacing up, in which case tickets start at $25 for adults and $10 for kids 11...

The NYC-imported Smorgasburg, Miami's largest outdoor food market, returns to its Wynwood outpost for a new season featuring over 40 vendors (including 10 new concepts) and more shaded areas for noshing. Graze from a variety of local street foods, international fare, healthy options and inventive creations from the likes of Acai Way, Korean Kitchen, Kabuki Soba, The Lazy Oyster, La Picaña Grill, Lechona Truck, Tio Paella, Puro Chocolate, Cool & Creamy Truck and more. Hours are noon to 8pm every Saturday and Sunday. Keep an eye out for special programming throughout the season, from the Ube + Philippines Festival to Art Basel parties and more.