Fill Your October Weekends with These Fun Things to Do in Miami
Have a Florida-style fall at football games and a pumpkins and palm trees festival.
Halloween is always an interesting time in Miami, as the usual parade of zombies and scantily-clad humans are joined by people dressed up like…zombies and scantily clad humans. And telling the difference can be tough. Once you’ve accepted that inherent confusion that comes with October, though, you can thoroughly dive in to a full month of fun, spending one night at an interactive cirque-inspired haunted house, the next at a beachside food festival.
You’ll get plenty of use out of your costume too, as events from a charity bike ride up A1A to candlelight piano concerts are encouraging everyone to dress up. So throw on that hockey mask, open up your trick-or-treating bag, and check out the best stuff going on in Miami every weekend in October.
Sports and Wellness Events in Miami This Month
University of Miami Football
Saturday, October 7, 21, and 28; Game times vary
Hard Rock Stadium; Tickets start at $23
Not to jinx anything, but your University of Miami Hurricanes are undefeated headed into ACC play. They’ll have three huge home games this month, with Georgia Tech coming to town October 7 at 8pm, Clemson on October 21, and the University of Virginia on October 28. Win or lose, the tailgates are never a bad idea, and lots open five hours before kickoff.
Florida Panthers Hockey
Saturday, October 21 and Saturday, October 28; Game times vary
Amerant Bank Arena; Tickets start at $30
Remember that time our local hockey team made it to the Stanley Cup Finals? It wasn’t 1995, it was actually last June, and the Panthers are back to defend their Eastern Conference title starting this month. They’ll host the best of the Pacific Northwest to start the season, with the Vancouver Canucks coming to Sunrise on the 21st, and the Seattle Kraken in town on the 28th.
Witches of Delray Beach Bike Ride
Saturday, October 28; 7:30 am
Anchor Park; $75
If you’re cruising along A1A in Delray Beach the Saturday before Halloween and come across hundreds of witches on bicycles, it’s not an annual convention of the Wicked Witches of the West. It’s a charity bike ride benefiting Achievement Centers for Children and Families, and you can join the leisurely tour through Delray and the coastline starting at 7:30 am.
Puttshack’s Havana Nights
All month long; 11 am to midnight
Puttshack; Varies
When you think about the glamorous heyday of old Havana, only one thing comes to mind: mini-golf. So Brickell City Centre’s putt-putt hotspot has transformed its patio into a breezy tribute to the old island, where you’ll find sugar cane-pressed mojitos, Cuba-themed decor and photo ops, a blender bike, and satellite bars serving a special menu of Havana cocktails. The fun runs through November 5.
Art and Culture Events in Miami This Month
Pablo Picasso: Dust You Are, To Dust You Return
All month long; 11 am to 5 pm
NSU Art Museum; $16
Many people don’t know that legendary painter Pablo Picasso also created many ceramic works. The NSU Art Museum has one of the largest collections of Picasso’s ceramics in the country, and they’ll be on display through February 4.
Banana Catchup Block Party.
Sunday, October 8; All day
1-800 Lucky; Free
Immerse yourself in a daylong celebration of Filipino culture at 1-800 Lucky, as the Asian food hall hosts the inaugural Banana Catchup Block Party. You’ll sample delicious Filipino foods from Jeepney’s Nicole Ponseca and Darren Mendoza of Luton Pinoy. There’ll also be Filipino artisans selling authentic gifts, dancing, DJs, and other Filipino-owned small businesses.
Mehndi Night
Friday, October 13, 20; 8 pm
Rishtedar; Menu prices vary
Rishtedar has quickly established itself as more than just an Indian restaurant, it’s also a place to learn about Indian culture. Case in point: Mendhi night, where guests will learn about the symbolism and meaning behind India’s iconic henna tattoos, then have the opportunity to get some (temporary) ink themselves.
Sharks exhibit at the Frost Science Center
Opens Saturday, October 14; 10 am – 6 pm
Frost Science Museum; $29.95
The most misunderstood animals in the ocean get their own showcase at the Frost Science museum, as Sharks begins its run through April. Guests will come face to face with 10 life size models, including Great Whites, a bull shark, and the now-extinct buzzsaw shark. You can also walk through the oceanarium to get an idea for the power, speed, and grace with which sharks move. The Australian exhibit gets a Miami twist at Frost, as researchers from FIU have worked to highlight the sharks that call our native waters home.
Pumpkins and Palm Trees festival
Friday, October 20 at 5 pm and Sunday, October 22 from 9:30 am to 5 pm
Las Olas Ocean Park; Free
Though it might not feel so much like fall, the LOOP park gets us all in the spirit with its Pumpkins and Palm Trees festival. The celebration begins with a sunset screening of Happy Halloween, Scooby Doo at 7:30 pm on Friday. Then on Sunday, a panel of celebrity judges deems the best pie in Fort Lauderdale at a special pie baking contest at 9:30 am. It leads into an afternoon of pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and three dozen local vendors. The festival continues with a live performance from the Joey Calderiao Band from noon to 3 pm.
Beach House Pompano Beach Cleanup
Saturday, October 21; 10 am
Beach House Pompano; Free
Start your weekend by making South Florida just a little bit better, joining Beach House Pompano for an hour of beach cleanup. All those who participate will be rewarded with a free Nosotros gift card, which they can use to rev up their Saturday immediately after.
OUTshine Film Festival Fort Lauderdale
Thursday, October 19 –Sunday, October 29; Varies
Various locations; Ticket prices vary
The OUTshine Film festival celebrates its 15th anniversary over 11 days, showcasing 38 features and 26 short films at venues around Broward County. This year brings a special TRANScendent spotlight feature Oscar’s Dress about the complications of a father-son relationship. Documentary fans might also want to check out A Big Gay Hairy Hit! Where The Bears Are. And, of course, there’ll be plenty of Cocktails and Cinema parties, as well as big opening and closing celebrations.
Food and Drink Events in Miami This Month
Ortanique Popup
Weekends all month; 6 pm
MKT Kitchen; $98 per person
Like Michael Myers rising up after a truck runs him over, Ortanique on the Mile is miraculously springing back to life. Cindy Hutson’s Caribbean icon is back in business, albeit only until December, inside MKT kitchen in Coral Gables. Hutson and Delius Shirley will be hosting two seatings a night from Thursday to Saturday, where you’ll get a three-course, prix-fixe meal and the menu varies from week to week.
Miss Crispy Rice welcomes Michael Schwartz
Sunday, October 15; 4:45, 7, and 9:15 pm
Miss Crispy Rice; $150 per person
In the Miami culinary world, few names loom as large as Michael Schwartz, one of the pioneers of our recent restaurant boom. He’ll be helming the intimate kitchen at Miss Crispy Rice for a 15-course omakase experience, as he creates a fusion menu along with the restaurant’s kitchen team. No word on the exact creations, but we’ve been promised tributes and inspirations from some of Schwartz’s most legendary dishes.
South Beach Seafood Festival
Friday, October 20 – Saturday, October 21; 6:30 pm
Lummus Park; $60
The annual South Beach Seafood Festival returns beginning with a Friday night Chef Showdown, where 23 local chefs will compete to see who is the seafood King or Queen. Saturday brings the main event, where Le Chick, Ella’s Oyster Bar, a Fish Called Avalon, and Red South Beach will join 30 other restaurants to sample seafood wares, with an open bar and live music.
Pizza class at Market
Saturday, October 21; 6 pm
Market at the Edition; $40
Perhaps you read about all the cool adult classes we have around Miami and vowed to learn a new skill in October. Get started at the Edition’s pizza making class, where Chef Nyitre Rodgers shows you how to make, stretch, and shape dough, while showing off the art of topping and baking a pizza as well. Your ticket includes two handmade pizzas and a drink, plus a lifetime of telling people, “there’s a lot more to it than throwing a DiGiorno in the oven.”
Phantom of The National
Saturday, October 28; 8 pm
Bar 1939 at The National Hotel; $50 minimum for bar seating
The dark, sexy confines of The National Hotel’s Bar 1939 make the perfect setting for an evening of opera and intrigue. Phantom of the Opera inspires everything on this special night, where guests will be wearing Phantom masks, and food and drinks will be themed after the hit musical. The night wouldn’t be complete without a live opera singer, so there’ll be one belting songs from Phantom and some operas you may know.
Live Music and Performance Events in Miami This Month
Pixel Playground LIVE! and Name Your Price
Saturday, October 7; 1 and 7 pm
Fillmore Theater; $48
Some of the biggest names in the streaming world will be on hand at the Jackie Gleason theater, as Pixel Playground co-creators Karl Jabons and KreekCraft host a live version of their game show. At 7 pm, Name Your Price hosts a ‘70s-themed event, where Twitch stream star AustinShow joins other big name gamers for fan meet-and-greets and giveaways.
Love! Valour! Compassion!
Opens October 12; Times vary
Island City Stage; $40
Wilton Manors’ award-winning LGBTQ+ theater opens its 12th season this month, performing Terrence McNally’s famous play Love! Valour! Compassion! The story of eight gay friends sharing a summer house in upstate New York has stood the test of time. And it’ll prove especially entertaining if you attend the special mimosa performance on October 22.
Miamibloco
Friday, October 13; 7 pm
Euclid Oval; Free
Lincoln Road’s Live on Lincoln series hosts a special Hispanic Heritage Month “blocos de rua” experience. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it means you’ll witness more than 30 drummers and dancers in a parade of samba excitement. The high-energy showcase will offer two performances at the Euclid Oval.
Romeo and Juliet Wallcast
Saturday, October 14; 7:30 pm
SoundScape Park; Free
Now that the weather’s cooled off a degree or two, New World Symphony hosts its first Wallcast of the 2023-24 season starting at 7:30 pm. While you’re welcome to buy a ticket and check out soprano Kelley O’Connor leading Romeo and Juliet in air conditioned comfort, you can also pull up a blanket and a picnic basket and check out the show on the symphony hall’s wall.
Moonlight Circus
Saturday, October 14, 21, and 28; 10 pm
Carousel Club; Free
Gulfstream’s swanky Carousel Club goes from race track sideshow to full blown circus, as it adds stilt walkers, acrobats, magic acts, and costumed characters to its Saturday night soiree. The new Moonlight Circus begins on October 14, though if you RSVP for opening night you’ll get a free glass of champagne.
The Church at Culture Room
Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21; Doors 7 pm
Culture Room; $36
Tired of the same 15 songs on the radio and your Spotify playlists are wearing thin? Check out the Australian indie rock, post-punk, psychedelic, dreampop group The Church, who’s playing two nights at Culture Room. The band has released a staggering 26 albums, which means they’re probably doing something right, and you can check out their latest release The Hypnogogue to sample the songs before you commit to a ticket.
Halloween Events in Miami This Month
Havana Haunted Mansion
All month long; Tours at 4, 6, 8, and 9:30 pm
Curtiss Mansion; $59
Transport back to the glamorous world of 1900s Havana, where the rich and famous played much like they do in Miami today. This new haunted house takes over the Curtiss Mansion, where guests will solve the disappearance of a wealthy Cuban family who still haunts its old home, all the while enjoying cocktails, Cuban food, and live performances from people both alive and undead.
House of Horror Haunted Carnival
All month long; 6 pm
Miami International Mall; $40
The Haunted Carnival returns for its 21st terrifying year, taking over Miami International Mall with four haunted houses, carnival rides, and plenty of food. This year’s attractions include the Mayhem Museum, a year of deranged celebrations in Haunted HoliDAZE, the Theater of Terror, and interactive Scare-X Studios. On Sunday, October 29, the Carnival goes kid-friendly with a special Spook-a-Palooza, including dancing, trick-or-treating, and a character parade.
House of Spells Halloween Theme Bar
All month long
Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne; Varies
With the slew of Christmas bars popping up during the holidays, it was high time someone opened a theme bar for Halloween. Rumbar at the Ritz-Carlton teamed with Miami cocktail guru Gio Gutierrez to create House of Spells, where among the spooky decor you’ll find drinks like Terror On The Screen (a Halloween-themed Cuba libre) and Dracula’s Sangria. The food menu keeps the theme too, with Monster Meatball sliders, deviled eggs, and a bloody oyster shooter.
Malefycia
Wednesday, October 18 – Sunday, October 22; 7 pm
Miami Circus Arts Center; Tickets start at $55
Imagine Cirque du Soleil took a hard left turn into horror, and you’re starting to grasp the concept behind Malefycia, a new immersive live art experience straight from Quebec. Guests will begin at a macabre-themed bar, then venture through four rooms featuring live performers where guests must work to solve puzzles including a live action version of Operation and a live game of Hangman where the consequences are very real.
Boca Pumpkin Patch Festival
Friday, October 13 – Sunday, October 15; 4 pm
Mizner Park Amphitheater; $27.50
Do you like pumpkins? Like, have absolutely no shame ordering a pumpkin spiced latte in July? Then you need to hit the Boca Pumpkin Patch festival, where amidst hundreds of pumpkins you’ll discover a pumpkin food court, sip pumpkin beers, and decorate pumpkins to your heart’s desire. There’s also a cornstalk maze and midway rides, as well as a chance to build a pumpkin head scarecrow in the scarecrow village.
Rocky Horror Picture Show
Friday, October 27; 6:30 pm
Pinecrest Gardens; $12
If you’ve never been to a live screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, it’s one of the greatest movie watching experiences on the planet…if you’re not easily offended. The 6:30 pm showtime at Pinecrest Gardens might be a little more family friendly than the usual midnight shows, but they’ll still have interactive props and plenty of people dressed up like Dr. Frank N. Furter acting along with the screen. And yes, there’s a costume contest.
Addams Family Dance Party
Friday, October 27 – Saturday, October 28; Midnight
Café La Trova; Free
Show everyone how much you’ve been practicing the Bloody Mary dance during an Addams Family-themed Halloween hootenanny at the ‘80s 305 Bar at Café La Trova. You’ll be treated to live music from DJ Funktual, along with costume contests, Halloween-themed cocktails, and the usual array of decade kitsch.
Hall-O-Queen
Saturday, October 28; 8 pm – 2 am
R House; Early bird tickets are $30
Our friends up in Tallahassee seem to think the scariest thing in the state is a drag queen. R House strikes fear in their hearts with its special Hall-O-Queen extravaganza, where Drag Race alum Latrice Royale and Miami mainstay Athena Dion headline an all-star cast of Drag Queens twerking and shablam-ing through a special Halloween-themed show.
Candlelight Halloween Concert
Saturday, October 28; 6 pm
Pinecrest Gardens; $49
Halloween songs just sound a little spookier when played by candlelight, don’t they? Get the full experience at this special symphony concert at Pinecrest Gardens, where the orchestra will perform Halloween hits like the theme from Nightmare Before Christmas and Thriller.