South Florida offers an exceptional lineup of events and attractions throughout the summer, catering to sports fans, art lovers, families, and cultural enthusiasts.
FIFA WORLD CUP MIAMI MANIA – By now, the only way to see any of the seven matches in person in June or July at Hard Rock Stadium (including the one that will decide the Bronze Medal winner on July 18) is getting a ticket from somebody you know or using secondary markets. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t get in on the action. There are beachside large-screen watch parties and fan experiences galore that will put you right in the middle of all the fun. Some one million visitors are expected to descend on the Miami area as it is transformed into a celebration of sports and culture. When: June 15 to July 18 Where: Various locations throughout Miami-Dade County Web: miamiandbeaches.com/things-to-do/sports/watch-fifa-club-world-cup and docs.google.com
JELLYFISH MUSEUM – Do you like those eerie but mesmerizing creatures? Here’s your chance to see them without diving into the ocean and/or or worrying about some of the venomous ones, thanks to the newest entry into the South Florida museum scene. It was recently opened by a Ukrainian couple, who also have one in their home country that so far has managed to survive the war. There are 21 aquariums in front of immersive ocean-blue walls, each containing the floating creatures with their bell-shaped bodies. There are some 2,000 species of jellyfish, but only 20 of them will be featured at any one time. The owners plan to change out the aquariums with new species about every six to eight months. When: Now! (It’s open seven days a week) Where: Pompano Beach Web: jellyfish-museum.com
OTAKUFEST – Otaku is a Japanese word that describes people with consuming interests, such as anime, video games, computers or other highly enthusiastic hobbies. It’s the perfect word to describe this three-day nerd-a-thon that celebrates the best in geek culture, including anime, animation, cosplay, gaming, manga (comics and graphic novels with a distinct style) and pop culture. On tap: hundreds of exhibitors, venders, craftspeople, celebrities, publishers, artists, writers, panels, costume competitions, concerts, video game tournaments, role-playing games and karaoke. When: June 19-21 Where: Palm Beach County Convention Center, West Palm Beach Web: otakufest.com
ART IN THE GARDEN – A beautiful botanical garden features local art and sculptures that convey a sense of nature using only natural, recycled and/or repurposed materials. They can range from the very small to the very large and are built to withstand high winds and heavy rains. If you haven’t yet visited this beautiful botanical garden, now would be a good time to go. When: Now through July 31 Where: Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden on Stock Island Web: keywest.garden
HEMINGWAY DAYS – The annual Papa-fest features readings, a museum exhibit of rare Ernest Hemingway memorabilia, a zany “Running of the Bulls,” a three-day marlin tournament, a short story competition, street fair, a party commemorating the 125th anniversary of his July 21st birthday, a 5K run, a museum exhibit of rare Hemingway memorabilia, a paddleboard race and, of course, the famous Look-Alike Contest. When: July 22-26 Where: Various locations in Key West Web: Hemingway Days | Florida Keys & Key West
HALFWAY TO CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR – If you are one of those folks who likes to get an early start on the ho-ho-ho season, this one is for you. It features Christmas lights, music, inflatable displays and decorations. You’ll find fine art, jewelry, handcrafted items, clothing, baked goods, chocolates, unique gifts, soaps and candles. There will be hourly door prizes and the forecast is for some snow, in the form of artificial flurries. When: July11-12 Where: Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds, West Palm Beach Web: fairsandfestivals.net/events/details/2026-halfway-to-christmas-craft-fair
MIAMI BEACH CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL – All the performances feature a full orchestra and span a diverse range of genres, with some including cutting-edge projection-mapping technology. The July events kick off with an Independence Day patriotic music concert performed by the Miami Music Festival (MMF) Symphony Orchestra, combined with a crowd-pleasing fireworks display. Other highlights include the MMF Opera Institute’s presentation of Jules Emile Frederic Massenet’s Cendrillon, a concert featuring up-and-coming conductors leading a full orchestra and the grand finale: Celestia, a Symphony of Light. This one blends a live orchestral performance with 360-degrees visual storytelling, as the audience will be fully immersed in sound and light. The music will include Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune and Maurice Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe. When: July 4-July 18 Where: Various venues in Miami Beach Web: miamimusicfestival.com
UNDERWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL – Be among the hundreds of divers and snorkelers who go deep each year at this quirky concert that emphasizes reef preservation and also is a whole lot of fun. Classic rock is piped in underwater via speakers suspended from boats hovering above the third largest reef in the world. Contact any of the local dive shops to reserve a spot on their vessels and enjoy their costume parties. When: July 10-11 Where: Looe Key Reef (about six miles south of Big Pine Key Web: lowerkeyschamber.com
TITANIC: AN IMMERSIVE VOYAGE –You might think you are actually aboard the ill-fated ocean liner with this exhibit. It uses artifacts, never-seen -before 3D views and cutting- edge technology to give you that sensation. From the ship’s construction to its collision with the iceberg, you will be fully immersed in the Titanic’s story, wondering through its rooms, watching the iceberg appear and reliving the ship’s final dramatic moments. When: Now through July 31 Where: WXEL South Florida PBS studios, Boynton Beach Web: feverup.com/m/504133
SOUTH FLORIDA ADVENTURE PASS – This will enable you to have unlimited admissions to four amazing and popular attractions in Broward County: Butterfly World, Flamingo Gardens, the Museum of Discovery and Science and the Sawgrass Recreation Park. When: Now through Sept. 30 Where: The four attractions mentioned above. Web: southfloridaadventurepass.com/
INTERNATIONAL BALLET FESTIVAL OF MIAMI – This three-week toe shoe and tutu-a-thon will feature performances by some 60 outstanding dancers from world-renowned ballet and cutting-edge contemporary companies from North and South America Europe and Asia. The festival also includes a stellar lineup of multidisciplinary events that includes art exhibits, dance films, book presentations, master classes and workshops. When: July 27-Aug. 16 Where: Various venues in Miami, Miami Beach, South Miami and Fort Lauderdale Web: internationalballetfestival.org/calendar-landing
PALM BEACH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL — The Bard’s Falstaff gets the royal treatment this year. Bring your beach chair, blanket and picnic basket, or enjoy fare from numerous food trucks. Note: It’s officially free, but a donation of $5 per person is suggested. Falstaff appeared in three of Shakespeare’s plays: Henry IV, Henry V and The Merry Wives of Windsor. This production uses scenes from each play to weave together the tale of the life and times of one of history’s greatest wits and scoundrels. When: July 9-12 and July 16-19 Where: Seabreeze Amphitheater in Carlin Park, Jupiter Web: pbshakespeare.org
MIAMI SPA MONTHS – Summer is here and it is starting to get hot. So, chill out indoors and pamper yourself at some of Miami’s world-famous luxury spas at discount prices. When: July and August Where: Various luxury spas throughout Miami-Dade County. Web: miamispamonth.com
MONSTER JAM – Experience the full-throttle action that these six-ton (that’s 12,000 pounds!) trucks provide as they tear up the dirt in intense competitions of speed and skill. The truck lineup includes Sparkle Smash, Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, JCB DIGatron, Classroom Crusher, Terminal Velocity, Jester and Excaliber. The tires on these beasts are five-foot-six inches high, which makes them taller than many humans! Ther drivers compete in three categories: racing, two-wheel skills and everybody’s favorite, freestyle. This where the trucks try to defy gravity and do the impossible. There are a Monster Jam Pit Party and a Trackside Experience each day, giving fans the chance to see the massive trucks up close, meet their favorite drivers and crews, get autographs and take pictures. When: Aug. 22-23 Where: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise Web: amerantbankarena.com/events/detail/monster-jam-2026
KEY WEST LOBSTERFEST – How many ways can fresh-out-of-the water lobsters be cooked and enjoyed? Attend this five-day crustacean-a-thon and find out as the opening of the Florida Spiny Lobster season is celebrated and Key West becomes an island-wide party. Some of the highlights include the famous Lobster Boil (which, besides lobster, also serves jumbo Key West shrimp, red skin potatoes, corn on the cob and jalapeno corn bread with melted butter), pool parties, a pub crawl, concerts, a street fair, a pub trivia night with a lobster twist and a lobster-roll eating contest. When: Aug. 5-9 Where: Various locations in Key West Web: keywestlobsterfest.com
OBON WEEKEND – Obon is a holiday in Japan that honors the spirits of ancestors believed to return to their homes during this time. It’s a time for family reunions, participating in rituals like lantern displays and traditional dancing in a circle. It all comes to life at one of South Forida’s museum treasures. You’ll experience a fusion of tradition and innovation Fushu Daiko’s thunderous drumming performances. Learn how to do one of Japan’s traditional Bon dances, along with museum staffers and members of the South Florida Japanese community members. The festivities also include the floating of a large lantern filled with messages to your lost loved ones. You can also obtain a Guiding Light Lantern kit and a Lantern at Home Kit to keep the celebration going. When: Aug. 15-16 Where: Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Delray Beach Web: morikami.org/event/obon-weekend/
DANCE AFRICA MIAMI — Participants will enjoy African and Caribbean dance, drum and music workshops, African fashions, yoga, a Better Living Health Fair & Symposium, a Global Bazaar, a concert extravaganza, food trucks and the Children’s Village. Renowned native artists from Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Zimbabwe, Senegal and the United States will be featured this year. When: July 31-Aug. 2 Where: Florida Memorial University, Miami Gardens, and the Miami Beach Bandshell Web: danceafricamiami.org/
RUM FEST KEY WEST — If rum is one of your libations of choice, this one is for you. Some of the best rums and rum makers from around the world will be featured in this five-day event. Some of the activities include sunset sails, cocktail parties, sandbar trips, rum strolls, food and cigar events, a rum cake competition, master class rum seminars and a rum grand tasting. Tip: Many of the events sell out quickly, so if you want to go, book early. When: Aug. 12-16 Where: Various locations in Key West Web: rumfestkeywest.com
FAMILY SUMMER SPECIAL AT BONNET HOUSE MUSEUM & GARDENS – If you haven’t yet visited this South Florida treasure, now would be the perfect time. At reduced prices (including free for anyone 17 and under), visitors can enjoy a self-guided tour of the historic main house, search for wildlife in the trees on the vast gardens and view the aquatic wildlife in the lakes and ponds. When: Now through Aug. 31 Where: Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, Fort Lauderdale Web: bonnethouse.org/event/family-special/
DYNOMITE DUO FOR FOODIES! – You can eat your way through Miami-Dade and Broward Counties at some of SoFla’s outstanding eateries without too big a hit to your wallet. The idea for these is basically the same: Pre-fixe three-course dinners at bargain prices. Some of the restaurants may also include lunch, brunches and take-out.
Dine Out Lauderdale
When: Now through Sept. 30 Where: Various locations in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County Web: visitlauderdale.com/dineout/
Miami Spice
When: Now through Sept. 30 Where: Participating restaurants in Miami Beach and Miami Web: iLoveMiamiSpice.com
JAMAICA INDEPENDENCE FESTIVAL – The island became an independent nation 64 years go and this event is a celebration of that. All thing Jamaican will be featured: food, music and culture. It’s the perfect way to enjoy Jamaica’s rich heritage and have a whole lot of fun, too. When: Aug. 2 Where: Wynwood Market Place, Miami Web: eventbrite.com/e/the-jamaica-independence-festival-2026-tickets-1986273593788
MIAMI 305 STEPPERS WEEKEND – Hosted by Jammin’ Jamei and the 305 Jammers, this three-day event focuses on stepping and line-dancing culture through a mix of instructional sessions and social activities. Included are meet-and-greets, workshops and open dance opportunities, all designed to support learning, skill-building and connection among dancers of various experience levels. Oh, and it’s a whole lot of fun, too. The program includes instruction from stepper notables such as Alicia Taylor Williams, Brandon Hawkins, Katesha Reynolds Cole and Donald “BigStuf” Jones of JesMove2. When: Aug. 28-30 Where: Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention Center Web: miamiandbeaches.com/event/miami-305-steppers-weekend/37044
MUSEUM TWO-FER – It’s summer. It’s hot. Now would be the perfect time to start checking out all the wonderful museums in South Florida. Here are two exhibits that caught our attention and you can see them both on the same day because they are at the same museum:
Rodney Demps: The Surrealist of the Highwaymen – Demps was one of the most distinctive contemporary artists connected with the Florida Highwaymen movement. His work is rooted in familiar Highwaymen territory: palm trees, coastal waves, sunsets and tropical sunsets. Demps also added color, dramatic cloud formations and fluid brushwork. The result is a blend of the spirit of the historic Highwaymen painters and an expressive visual language that transforms recognizable landscapes into atmospheric and imaginative scenes. Persistence of Matter: Transforming Discarded Materials into Art that Inspires and Provokes – With sculpture, installations and mixed media works, the participating artists reveal hidden histories within everyday materials that once were discarded. The exhibition explores the enduring life of materials and the idea that what we throw away does not disappear, it evolves. The exhibition celebrates creativity, renewal and the possibility of giving cast-offs a new life. Some 60 works from 35 artists will be featured. The exhibition will also have special events throughout the run of the show, including artist talks, salon discussions, film screenings and installations.
When and Where: For both, through mid-September at the Cornell Art Museum in Delray Web: delrayoldschoolsquare.com/cornell
TIMELESS TROPICS: FLORIDA’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE – This inspiring and artistic exhibition is a look at how Florida’s landscape has changed throughout the years, from seascapes to skyscrapers. It features Tim Forman’s oil-on-canvas masterworks of the Florida Everglades, waterscapes, beachscapes and natural wildlife and, as a bonus, David Paulo’s bold photographs that depict the culture and life of South Florida minority communities. Historical maps of Florida from pre-Revolutionary War/Spanish Florida in 1749 to British-controlled Florida in 1763 to Florida as a U.S. state in 1845 and illustrative panels add context and clarity to the history of our state. When: July 9 through Sept. 13 Where: History Fort Lauderdale Museum, Fort Lauderdale Web: historyfortlauderdale.org/
STORIES IN GLASS AND CERAMICS – Did you know there is something called the Studio Glass Movement in the art world? Well, there is. It originated in the 1960s, as artists around the country started utilizing glass as a medium for or original artistic expression. Two avid collectors in this genre, Dr. Laurence and Rita Sibrack, have made a major gift to the permanent collection of the Baker Museum. It consists of 74 works by 60 different artists. The exhibit includes works by some of the best-known figures associated with the movement. When: Now through Oct. 1 Where: The Baker Museum, Naples Web: paradisecoast.com/Events-Directory/The-Passion-of-Collecting