These are the best things to do in Miami this weekend

PARAISO Miami Beach, the official Miami Swim Week, returns for its 21st edition with exclusive runway shows, brand activations, pop-ups and after-parties from May 28th through June 1st. It's the world’s largest and only official Swimwear Fashion Week, where runway glam and coastal cool collide in a sexy multi-day bender of resort wear and sun-drenched style. Showcasing luxury debuts and cult-favorite indie brands, PARAISO sets the tone for the year in swimwear, and it's a quintessential Miami summer scene.

After multi-night stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and more, Puerto Rico's massive reggaeton star Rauw Alejandro wraps his latest North American tour stint with three back-to-back shows at the Kaseya Center in downtown Miami on Friday, May 30, Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. Expect a dynamic performance featuring tracks from Rauw's acclaimed 2024 album, Cosa Nuestra, which blends elements of salsa, reggaeton, Afrobeats, electronic, disco and more, plus all the hits that helped propel him to international fame.

Don we now our gay apparel—Wynwood Pride is almost here! The annual LGBTQ+ festival kicks off June 1 with the always fabulous official pool party at Arlo Wynwood, featuring music by DJs Janky (Chicago) and Miguel Clark, plus drag performances from Gia Gunn (RuPaul’s Drag Race icon), FKA Twink and Persephone Von Lips. Later this month, look out for a night of queer fashion, a weekend-long drag festival and more festive events. 

Founded in 2016, this genre-defying Miami film festival is more than cinema—it’s a space for resistance, celebration and reimagination through the lens of independent filmmakers from across the Caribbean diaspora. From May 29th through June 1st, Third Horizon pops up at venues across the city with an eclectic program of films, live performances, art and conversations. Expect to be challenged and inspired by bold storytelling and visual innovation, with a healthy dose of political urgency.

Think of it as a fun foray into an exciting new technology—or a harbinger of the imminent robot takeover. Either way, this new exhibition at Frost Science aims to fascinate with four thought-provoking sections that trace the evolution of AI and feature everything from research to artistic collaborations. Curated and organized by the City of London’s Barbican Centre and co-produced by Groningen Forum, Netherlands, AI: More Than Human presents works by leading artists, scientists and researchers, exploring what it means to be human, the definition of consciousness, ethics around AI and whether machines will ever outsmart us.

The Miami Marlins host the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series at loanDepot Park from May 30 to June 1. Friday’s 7:10pm game features a Pride at the Park promo, with discounted tickets that include a special jersey giveaway. Saturday’s 4:10pm matchup celebrates South Florida Black Legacy with an exclusive jersey offer, benefiting local Black nonprofits. The series wraps on Sunday at 1:40pm with standard game day action.

Miami Beach celebrates World Pride Month with two nights of live music, performances and projection-mapped art at the annual Miami Beach Pride Concert. On May 31st and June 1st, The Tides building at Ocean Drive and 12th Street in South Beach gets splashed with a rainbow-hued light show designed by the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival as a lineup of DJs, musicians and performers take the stage. The lineup includes DJ La Trice, violinist Siobhan Cronin, tenor Gerard Ortega and Ward Zulu’s Vogue Extravaganza on Saturday night. Sunday brings sets by DJ Eliad Cohen, percussionist Otto Santana and encore performances by Cronin and Ortega. The iconic Palace Bar & Restaurant will be on-site with a pop-up cash bar should you get thirsty! Free with RSVP

ZeyZey in Little River looks like it could be a friend’s bohemian bungalow—if your friend had their own natural wine gazebo, custom sound system and vinyl listening room, shipping container cocktail bar and mainstage for live performances. This weekend, they've curated another packed lineup of fun parties and eclectic shows, including the wildly creative force and nightlife one-man band known as Mezerg performing a live set on Friday, May 30th. Mezerg makes electronic music from unexpected elements (ever heard of a theremin?) and he's back this year with a new project and a new live show with his partner and drummer, Brulin.

Stock up on crusty baguettes, artisanal butter, lavender soap and cottage-core fashions at the monthly French Market at South Pointe Park. Every first Sunday through October, you can pretend your life is a movie as you peruse local handmade goods, original art, rustic wares and authentic imports while sipping coffee in one of Miami Beach's most iconic waterfront settings.

E11even needs little introduction: the 24/7 mega-club has garnered accolades on a global scale for being an absolutely bonkers party spot, and very consistently so. You may have to be herded through lines and shell out exorbitant cover charges just to make it through the front doors, but once you do, you'll be rewarded with a true, Miami-style spectacle for the senses. This Miami Swim Week, the lineup gets sexy with official afterparties featuring DJ K.Gianni on Friday, May 30th and Jaden (yes, Smith) performing live on Saturday, May 31st.

Get in on the Miami Swim Week action at The Standard Spa, Miami Beach at Swim Souk, an adults-only pop-up shopping experience taking place throughout the trendy hotel’s lush outdoor gardens. Browse some of The Standard’s favorite brands and indie staples, including Bohio Brand, Samba Swim, Farrada's Knits, Angel De Palma, Smurk, Meleau and Chromat, with a selection of clothing, swimwear and accessories that will definitely level-up your summer wardrobe. DJ Lagrimas de Oro spins vinyl throughout the day and EL Tequileno dishes out free tequila and caviar from 2 to 6pm. Free with RSVP

Magic City Flea is Miami's most consistent pop-up vintage market, with events running around town every week—though, these days, it's usually posted up on Sundays along Flagler Street in Downtown for the Summer Evening Series from 3 to 8pm. Depending on the day and locale, find anywhere from 15 to more than 70 small shops committed to sourcing the most unique pieces and handcrafting sustainable wares. On Saturday, May 31st from noon to 3pm, the Flea is also popping up at the Legacy Fit flagship in Little River as part of BORN2CREATE, a free, community-focused event that brings together a workout class and cold plunge, a live DJ, local food trucks and more.

Lest we need another reminder that Miami summers really bring the bugs out, Fairchild is throwing a larger-than-life celebration of our six-legged friends from May 23rd through September 28th. From towering robotic sculptures to a walk-through butterfly pavilion and AR selfie station, hands-on bug encounters and interactive trails, this family-friendly exhibit zooms in on the tiny world of bugs. Select dates will also include the Bugs on Parade insect runway shows, Wander & Glow illuminated nighttime trails, Bug Bites & Brews 21-plus tastings and Big Bug outdoor movies under the stars. Included with general admission; free for members.

Looking for a solid excuse to scope out the newly remodeled and rebranded Shelborne by Proper? The Art Deco gem on South Beach just unveiled a well-deserved facelift by the laidback-luxury Proper Hospitality hotel group, and now its daily Aperitivo Hours provide the perfect reason to stop in and hang a while. Dubbed The Bar, the hotel's lobby lounge is serving a curated selection of coastal favorites in a relaxed, sunlit space that shifts seamlessly from day to night. From 5 to 7pm, partake in half-off select menu items, like a half-dozen fresh oysters with champagne mignonette and chives, Royal Ossetra caviar served with guac and tostadas, and signature cocktails like the avocado oil–washed Shelborne Martini and a tropical-ish espresso martini with reposado tequila and coconut.

Rev your engines! The legendary RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars returns for its 10th season, and Willy's Neighborhood Bar in Wynwood is throwing weekly watch parties to catch all the action. Miami's own glam queen Patent Pending hosts on Friday nights with DJ Lagrimas de Oro on the decks and a Drag Race Happy Hour kicking off at 6pm (giving you ample time to get lubed up before the show at 8pm). For a full-throttle night, stick around after the credits for Friday Night Lights in the backyard.

On view from May 1 through October 12, ICA Miami debuts a landmark retrospective of Olga de Amaral, the visionary Colombian artist whose 60-year-plus career transformed textile and fiber art as it merged indigenous weaving with Bauhaus design and Modernist abstraction. Presented with Fondation Cartier, the show features over 50 works, from goldleaf Estelas to airy Brumas, including pieces originally commissioned for major public spaces and many never before seen outside Colombia. The show invites viewers to step into a meditative “vertical forest” designed by award-winning architect Lina Ghotmeh, where Amaral’s tactile, light-absorbing works take center stage.

Fairchild Garden is giving us a whole springtime fairy fantasy with the debut of this whimsical scavenger hunt, running from May 9th through June 15th. Follow themed clues left by mischievous sprites in 10 enchanted locations to discover a hidden Fairy Village where imagination blooms. Complete your quest to earn a sparkling fairy pin and a chance to win a Fairchild Family Membership. The self-guided adventure is included with general admission and free for members.

The Dig at Frost Science is the region's only paleontology exhibition and research department, inviting visitors to step into the shoes of a real-life fossil hunter. On view in the museum’s West Wing, this interactive experience lets you explore the science behind prehistoric life through tactile displays, hands-on activities and a team of on-site paleontologists and technicians. Watch trained pros work in a real fossil prep lab, digitally try your hand at cleaning fossils, hear how a living dinosaur may have sounded and marvel at a life-size cast of the “Tufts-Love” T. rex skull—the most complete of its kind ever found. The Dig is included with general museum admission.

R House in Wynwood has earned its crown as the queen of mainland Miami drag brunches. This adults-only spectacle takes over the dining room and patio every weekend with high-energy performances, Latin-inspired eats and bottomless mimosas, sangria and mojitos. Brunch is $60 per person (or $80 for the premium seats) and includes the show, drinks and a family-style feast—just be sure to book early, since it sells out fast. If you do miss your chance to snag a brunch seat, R House also serves up weekly evening drag shows and themed drag bingo nights.

Red Rooster Overtown by celebrated chef Marcus Samuelsson presents Sunday Evenings in Historic Overtown, a new music and dining series that blends the neighborhood’s rich jazz legacy with a soulful Grand Buffet. From 5 to 9pm, guests can graze on everything from Mac & Cheese and the famous M’s Fried Chicken to mezze, raw bar selections and decadent desserts, all while taking in live music from rotating acts. With a mix of buffet dining and bar seating on a first-come, first-serve basis, this weekly event keeps the spirit of Overtown’s jazz scene alive in one of the area's most iconic dining spots. $65 per adult, $32.50 per child (ages 6 to 13), free for children 5 and under

Tuesday and Saturday nights are prime times to get an authentic taste of Miami's vibrant salsa scene at La Pachanga, a free live music and dance party in the heart of Little Havana. The historic Calle Ocho venue opens up its doors, spilling the sounds of Miami's best salsa bands onto the streets as revelers sip excellent mojitos and take to the wooden dancefloor. Ball & Chain also hosts free salsa and bachata dance classes regularly (check their website for the latest schedule), so you can brush up on your moves—or just watch the pros do their thing as they twirl and gyrate around the crowds.

Nestled in the lobby of The Betsy, a Michelin-awarded hotel famed for its arts programming, The Piano Bar hosts Miami Beach’s longest-running live music series. The space's relaxed, Old Havana atmosphere gets amped up by a rotating roster of local and visiting talent, with free public jazz shows nightly through December starting at 6pm. Some of the scheduled musicians include Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Tal Cohen, composer Leonard Reina, Beau Cornelius, Pato Romero, Brian Murphy and Jim Gasior. Food and drinks are available for purchase from LT Steak & Seafood, The Betsy's on-site restaurant by chef Laurent Tourondel.

In this seductive new production at Faena Theater, free-spirited heroine Carmen finds herself in a labyrinth of two opposing lovers. The provocative, adults-only journey explores themes of devotion, jealousy and betrayal as it blends elements of flamenco, cabaret, fire artistry, cirque nouveau and modern beats, all infused with a Spanish flavor. Master of Ceremonies Mimi Barber lends her soulful vocals to the show, accompanied by an award-winning ensemble and stunning visuals that all come together to breathe new life into this reinterpreted classic.

Miami's biggest night for improv comedy happens every Saturday at Villain Theater in the heart of Little Haiti. Enjoy original, spontaneous live performances from some of the fiercest improvisers across South Florida. Shout out a suggestion and become a part of the action as the theater's talented cast of actors spins hysterical yarns over the course of two Second City-style improv shows. Mingle and sip beers in the lobby lounge in between sets: A ticket grants you access to both the 8:30 and 10pm showtimes.

Looking for a sleek, understated cocktail bar in Brickell—one that channels the effortless cool of Williamsburg, for instance, and hasn't been overrun by the neighborhood's swarms of tourists or recent transplants? The intimate ground floor of this bi-level modern Asian restaurant fits the bill. Aside from its solid drinks and friendly prices, The Listening Bar at Kaori also hosts weekly Sound Sessions on Fridays and Saturdays, when some of Miami’s best DJs spin vinyl and keep the chilled vibes going all night.

The Coconut Grove Farmers Market is probably Miami’s most well-known. Every Saturday, Homestead's Glaser Organic Farms transforms an unoccupied corner of Coconut Grove into a full-fledged produce market with dozens of fruit and vegetable stands, a raw bar featuring prepared foods and salads and coolers filled with cold-pressed juices and nut mylks. There’s even velvety vegan ice cream for sale and several rows of picnic tables where you can sit and enjoy your bounty.

Along its periphery, you’ll find other local vendors selling honey, homemade soaps, handmade jewelry and other artisanal items. And the setup and breakdown are so fascinating to watch! Much like the circus leaving town, everyone quickly dismantles their tents and packs up just after sunset, leaving no trace of the bustling day on the empty gravel lot.