The Ten Best Things to Do in Miami This Weekend

Art Deco Weekend, the Big Bounce America, OtakuFest, and more.

By Ashley-Anna Aboreden, Jose D. Duran and Sophia Medina

January 12, 2023

OtakuFest at Miami Airport Convention Center: See Friday Photo by Skyp3r Photography

Audio By Carbonatix

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Friday, January 13

It's time to celebrate Miami Beach's most recognizable architectural style! At the 46th-annual Art Deco Weekend, you can dive immerse yourself in the city's design and style history through dancing, classic cars, vibrant architecture, and art. The event kicks off on Friday with an artisan market on Ocean Drive, a screening of the film La Antena at O Cinema, and the exhibition "Radio Waves: Miami Beach and the Golden Age of Radio" at the Art Deco Museum. The soiree kicks off at 8 p.m. at Ocean Drive and 12th Street with music by the Cab Calloway Orchestra. Noon to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, at various locations; artdecoweekend.org. Ticket prices vary. Sophia Medina

Thanks to heat and humidity, orchids thrive in South Florida. The state is home to at least 106 native species. Unfortunately, 58 of those species are listed as endangered. Starting Friday, orchid fans will flock to the Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center for this weekend's Tamiami International Orchid Festival. The three-day event bill's itself as the city's largest and most diverse orchid show, with a bounty of vendors set to attend. There will also be a raffle and a bench-judged show by the American Orchid Society with $5,000 worth of cash prizes at stake. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, at Miami-Dade County Fair Expo Center, 10901 SW 24th St., Miami; tamiamiorchidfestival.com. Tickets cost $12 to $60. Ashley-Anna Aboreden

It's time to get together and free your inner hyper-fan. Celebrate your favorite anime, games, and more at OtakuFest, a convention where you can cosplay as your favorite characters and participate in fun activities. This year's talent roster includes anime and industry guests such as Demon Slayer's Zach Aguilar, Avatar: The Last Airbender's Greg Baldwin and Grey Delisle, and Sonic the Hedgehog's Roger Craig Smith. There will also be appearances by cosplay and J-fashion guests Danielle Denicola, Feycrafts, Nate Nook, Morgan Le Foy, and Zippertan. 1 p.m. to midnight Friday, 10 a.m. to midnight Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, at Miami Airport Convention Center, 711 NW 72nd Ave., Miami; otakufest.com. Tickets cost $20 to $55. Sophia Medina

On Friday, join local reggaeton act Emphoria as she celebrates the release of her debut EP, Kira Kira, at the Joint of Miami. "Kira kira" means glitter in Japanese, so the singer invites everyone to shine in their own way — probably with the help of a lot of glitter — and get ready for the neo perreo sounds. In addition to a live performance by Emphoria, you'll be treated to DJ sets from Bozito, Saturnsarii, Lengua, and Marte. 10 p.m. Friday, the Joint of Miami, 2010 NW Miami Ct., Miami; 786-860-5634; thejointofmiami.com. Tickets cost $15 to $20 via shotgun.live. Jose D. Duran

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The Big Bounce America at Ives Estates Park: See Saturday

The Big Bounce America photo

Saturday, January 14

Prepare to jump until you drop when the Big Bounce America stops at Ives Estates Park Saturday and Sunday (with additional dates on January 20-22 and 27-29). The touring inflatable event includes four attractions: a 16,000-square-foot bounce house, a newly added Sport Slam featuring a customized sports arena, a 900-foot-long obstacle course, and a space-themed area called airSPACE. Don't like the idea of sharing a bounce house with snot-nosed kids? There's an adults-only (16 and up) session available. Saturday and Sunday (and Friday through Sunday, January 20-22 and January 27-29), at Ives Estates Park, 20901 NE 16th Ave., Miami; thebigbounceamerica.com. Tickets cost $22 to $41. Jose D. Duran

The title Carmina Burana might not ring a bell, but you've definitely heard it. Composed by Carl Orff in 1935 and 1936, the cantata is based on the 24 poems of the medieval collection of the same name. The first movement, "O Fortuna," is perhaps the most widely recognized piece from Carmina Burana, going from a lauded classical work to mainstream consciousness thanks to its repeated use in movies, TV, and advertisements. On Saturday, the New World Symphony, led by conductor Patrick Quigley, takes the stage at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts alongside Seraphic Fire to perform Orff's epic meditation on fate and fortune. 8 p.m. Saturday, at the Adrienne Arsht Center of Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-949-6722; arshtcenter.org. Tickets cost $25 to $215. Ashley-Anna Aboreden

On Saturday and Sunday, Hard Rock Live hosts the Miami Comedy Festival, featuring some of the best comedic talents in the industry, focusing on Black comedians. This year's lineup includes Sommore, Lavell Crawford, DC Fly Young, Bruce Bruce, Karlous Miller, and Special K. The all-star roster promises to bring plenty of laughs. 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday, at Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood; 954-797-5531; myhrl.com. Tickets cost $69 to $360 via ticketmaster.com. Sophia Medina

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Gabriel & Dresden at Lost Nightclub: See Saturday

Photo courtesy of the artist

Trance music legends Gabriel & Dresden take over Lost Nightclub for a night of euphoric dancing. The duo will spin from the moment you step foot in the venue until last call. Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden came together in San Francisco in 2001 and went on to win the International Dance Music Awards for "Best American DJ." In 2008, the duo took a hiatus, only to reunite in 2011. 10 p.m. Saturday, at Lost Nightclub, 30 NE 14 St; Miami; apexpresents.com. Tickets cost $20 via eventbrite.com. Sophia Medina

Sunday, January 15

Go one deeper with mimosas and bloody marys at the Deep House Brunch at 1-800-Lucky. Event organizers are bringing the brunch, which originated in downtown Los Angeles, to the Magic City in anticipation of the upcoming Groove Cruise sailing out of PortMiami. Scotty Boy will provide the tunes with Leon Morley on sax and Chris Hammett on the congas. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, at 1-800-Lucky, 143 NW 23rd St., Miami; 305-768-9826; 1800lucky.com. Admission is free with RSVP. Sophia Medina

Local indie rockers Palomino Blond take the stage at Gramps on Sunday alongside Haute Tension and Bloom Dream. Palomino Blond is on tour in support of its debut album ontheinside, which came out at the end of 2021. Sunday's show serves as a homecoming and is the tour's final date. 8 p.m. Sunday at Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami; gramps.com. Tickets cost $12 to $15 via eventbrite.com. Ashley-Anna Aboreden

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Ashley-Anna Aboreden is a Miami native and has been writing for as long as she can remember. She is an English graduate from FIU and is currently receiving her MFA in creative writing at the New School. She has an everlasting love for shih tzus (especially hers), chocolate chip cookies, and vintage books.

Contact: Ashley-Anna Aboreden

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Twitter: @ashley_annaa

Jose D. Duran is associate editor of Miami New Times where he primarily oversees the arts and culture and music beats. Jose joined the New Times staff in June 2008 but has been covering Miami culture since 2005. His work has also appeared in publications likeVice, Billboard, and Spin. He’s earned numerous accolades including placing first for Weekly Newspaper Contest: Business Reporting from the Florida Press Association in 2020; placing third for the Writing: Light Feature from the Florida Press Club in 2019; and placing third in Weekly Newspaper Contest: Best Obituary from the Florida Press Association in 2015. Jose holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Florida.

Contact: Jose D. Duran

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Twitter: @jose_d_duran

Sophia Medina is a contributing writer for the Miami New Times. She has written for publications such as EDM Sauce and EDMTunes and served as the assistant director for the entertainment section of FIU's school publication, PantherNow. She has a master's in English writing and rhetoric. She considers herself to be a major music enthusiast and enjoys writing about new music, the latest events, and overall entertainment.

Contact: Sophia Medina