Now that we’re officially in the back half of 2023, let’s take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself one very important question: have you been making the most of your precious free time this year? Maybe it’s time to do something fun and exciting!

Here in South Florida, it seems like we never run out of fun things to do and fun places to go. Still, it never hurts to have some fresh ideas. So, in that spirit, let’s check out some of South Florida’s best festivals, conventions, and gatherings catered to those with a taste for the finer things in life.

• August 31^st to September 4^th | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Miami Airport & Convention Center

Make sure you bring some comfortable shoes for this one.

The Hustle is centered around multiple days of dancing competitions, featuring some of the most renowned artists working today. You don’t have to be a lifelong professional dancer to compete, though—the long weekend will feature multiple workshops, as well as competitions for amateur hustlers.

If competing isn’t your thing, you’re still in luck. The Hustle offers plenty of opportunity for more casual fun, like daily pool parties, all-night headphone parties, and club nights hosted by professional DJs.

V.I.P. passes are available as well, which will grant you access to the prestigious Saturday night Gala Dinner. This is a mandatory all-weekend event for anyone who appreciates the art of movement.

• September 1^st to September 4^th | Broward County Convention Center
• October 20^th to 22^nd | Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Center

Anyone looking to have some work done around the home can’t afford to miss either of these semi-annual shows taking place this fall—the first in Fort Lauderdale over the long Labor Day weekend, and the second at the University Park fairgrounds about a month and a half later.

Sure, you could just go to one, but then you’d be missing out on the yet-to-be-announced celebrity guests unique to each venue. Plus, many vendors may only be in attendance at one or the other, and even if they aren’t, you may need more than one weekend to take in the sheer magnitude of this wonderful event near you. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get some fresh ideas for your next big party or home wedding reception.

Both start at noon each day and go into the evening, and both are located in happening parts of town with plenty of places to eat, drink, and stay nearby. You’ll walk out with a vision for your dream home, and if you have a remodeling business, you may even want to apply to set up your own exhibit.

• September 1^st to September 10^th | Miami Beach Convention Center

Call us biased, but at Braman Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Miami, we’re suckers for luxury imports.

With dates just announced last month, info is still scarce about specific vendors, exhibitions, and attractions. Still, with a prestigious standing as one of the nation’s five biggest auto shows, and a storied history dating back to 1971, the Miami International Auto Show never disappoints if you’re looking for fun things to do near you.

The auto show itself presents a unique opportunity to not only sit inside cars most could only dream of, but test drive some of them. Curious about how electric vehicles really ride? This might be the perfect opportunity to find out.

If you’re looking for something to do after, we recommend grabbing a bite to eat at Juvia while you’re in the neighborhood. The New York Strip never disappoints.

• September 3^rd | Hard Rock Stadium

If you were born after a certain year, or you aren’t a Florida native, you may not even realize why this college football game is such a big deal. First founded in 1933, it has a rich history of celebrating historically black colleges, and its cultural importance was never forgotten even after the tradition was discontinued in the late ‘70s.

Since its resurrection in 2021, the OBC has reestablished itself as a must-see spectacle of postseason collegiate football. Mega fans will have many opportunities for premium seating for private parties at Hard Rock Stadium, including the 72 Club, The Nine, Lexus North, and the Field Club.

There will be plenty of fun things to do in Miami leading up to the game, too. An official golf tournament will be held the Thursday before the game to kick off the festivities, followed by chances to mingle at luncheons, parades, collegiate mixers, and more. Check out their events page for the full schedule.

• October 18^th to October 21^st | Lummus Park/Various Locations

You may be wondering why we even bothered putting this event on the list—after all, hasn’t everyone in South Florida heard of SoBe Seafood Fest?

Maybe. But with the festival just a few months away, we’re here to remind you of some incredibly exclusive opportunities that some other food and wine festivals lack.

We all know about the festival itself, which is held on the last day as a celebration of all that the ocean has to offer. Most folks also know about the exhilarating V.I.P. chef showdown the day before, which is already quite exclusive given that they only sell a thousand tickets.

If you want real exclusive, the festival proper begins on Wednesday with An Evening at Joe’s. This event—hosted at Joe’s Stone Crab—consists of a decadent multi-course experience, complete with wine pairings and cocktail hour. The event is limited to only 50 tickets, and last we checked, that number was quite a bit lower. We hope you got yours already.

Even if you couldn’t swing the exclusive dinner this year, you can still enjoy some truly stunning upgraded experiences on the day of the showdown and the main event, including a package that offers a two-day stay at the Kipton Surfcomber.

• October 21^st to 22^nd | The NoMi Village

South Beach isn’t just for taco and tequila festivals! More than anywhere else in the country, the city of Miami is heavily influenced by Caribbean culture, which makes it the absolute best place to celebrate it.

This marks the fourth year running that this eclectic music festival will be taking place. This time, it’s located at the NoMi Village event venue, which is quickly becoming one of North Miami’s hottest gathering spots. Even if you’re not of Caribbean or African descent, it’s sure to be a fantastic way to expose yourself and the family to authentic grooves and great vibes.

Beyond just the music, the festival aims to distill the city’s myriad culinary and artistic influences into one fun-filled weekend, with more food trucks and vendors than you’ll know what to do with. Sample everything you can, because you may just find your next favorite lunch spot here.

• October 25^th to October 29^th | Various Locations

If you missed the Miami International Boat Show back in February, you’ve got another shot—all you have to do is hop in your Rolls and drive about 30 miles up the coast.

Boasting over 100,000 attendees yearly, this is the largest in-water boat show in the entire world. It spans seven different sites across FL, including Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Las Olas Marina, Pier 66 Marina, and the Broward County Convention Center. All venues are within reasonable walking and biking distance, and water taxis and ground transport will also be running daily. Making the most of your visit may take some planning, so check out their official map here.

Considering the fact that boat life is a central part of the Miamian identity, if there’s a single event on this list that you simply cannot miss, it’s this one.

• December 8^th to December 10^th | Miami Beach Convention Center

If you aren’t lucky enough to merit an invitation to the vernissage of one of the most prolific art shows in the country, fret not, because it’s open to the public for the entire second weekend of December. Art Basel offers a view of work from artists from five separate continents, and also serves to spotlight some of the most profound local art being produced in Florida.

There will also be many speakers and panels, offering insight into the world of contemporary art and where it might be headed, so be sure to stay up to date on the website when the full schedule is released.

(If you’re looking for fun places to go for dinner afterward, we suggest a quick walk to Katsuya South Beach for a mind-blowing sushi experience.)

 

Which Annual Events in Miami will You Be Attending?

We could’ve written a War and Peace-sized novel about all the fun things to do in South Florida this year, and we’d probably have to write another one if we wanted to talk about the Keys (Strawberry Fest and Key Lime Fest are *chef’s kiss.*).

If you’re in need of some bespoke transportation to get you and your date to the next fun thing to do near you, contact our friendly luxury car experts at Braman Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Miami, where we have the almighty Rolls-Royce Phantom for sale and lease.