The best Miami events in May 2024 to look forward to

Looking to get into gardening? Billed as the largest annual orchid show in the United States, this three-day festival is the perfect place to search for a blooming new friend. In addition to the hundreds of beautiful flowers on display, there are lectures, raffles and other activities for those who lack a green thumb.

Suit up and ship out: It's time for the SoFlo Boat Show, three days of maritime merriment during which exhibitors and enthusiasts convene along the bayfront to scope the latest and greatest in nautical tech. This year's event at the historic Miami Marine Stadium boasts a sprawling, air-conditioned marketplace, a fishing zone and an underwater zone, plus the Ship’s Wheel Bar, a 360-degree central hangout spot to kick back and fuel up. While you're there, partake in raffles and giveaways for a chance to win free fuel for a year or even an actual boat. There's also a fishing competition, the prize of which is a photograph of the winning angler and their catch on the wall of any Flanigan's of their choosing. Talk about a great fishing story.

Fairchild Garden transforms into a prehistoric playground this summer. Explore the lush grounds where life-size dinosaurs hold court amid a collection of cycads, ferns, conifers and all sorts of flowering plants that date back to primitive times. Kiddos can get hands-on during the ancient artifact digs, egg hunts and more while learning all about what the world was like 65 million years ago. Be sure to check the Fairchild Garden website for up-to-date information on upcoming dino events.

Superblue rings in three years of pioneering immersive art exhibits in Allapattah with Superbash, a free block party featuring live music, a kids' corner with staff-led art activities, live figure drawing hosted by the Raw Figs pop-up, vintage shopping courtesy of Magic City Flea, local bites for purchase and free ice cream by Frutero. If you'd rather hang out in the A/C, head inside and enjoy 30% off Superblue tickets for the day.

This magical pop-up flea market brings some of Miami's best indie vendors to cool locations around town every month. Usually under the shade of lush trees and flowering foliage, you'll find vintage fashion, vinyl, books, plants, art, home decor, handmade jewelry, candles and more, plus local food vendor pop-ups and activities. There's always a DJ spinning, and when the flea takes place at its home base, Higher Ground at Arlo Wynwood, there's always happy hour from 3 to 6pm. 

Dozens of airplanes and watercraft swarm Miami Beach’s shoreline for the entertaining military showcase at the Hyundai Air & Sea Show. Organized to honor first responders, the two-day event features civilian aerobatic acts, powerboat racing and extreme water sports. If you don’t mind the crowds, you’re in for a genuine spectacle right on the sand. Afterward, don’t miss the Music Explosion, featuring the U.S. Army’s “As You Were” band, U.S. Air Force Drill Team and The Miami Beach Classical Music Festival Orchestra. 

"The Messi Experience: A Dream Come True" launches its world tour in Miami this spring, just as the city's fever for the famed footballer kicks into high gear. The sprawling, immersive multimedia exhibit traces Leo Messi's childhood and powerhouse soccer career to now, taking visitors of all ages through approximately 75 minutes of projection-mapped installations and interactive games at The Hangar Coconut Grove.

Hyde Beach at the SLS South Beach is basically a nightclub—but it’s during the day, everyone's in a bathing suit and the dance floor is a pool. If it’s a Vegas-style bash with bottle service and champagne showers you seek, the SLS Pool party is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm, while the Haus of Hyde nightclub rages on from 10pm to 3am. Though weekends are the busiest, hit up the SLS pool any day of the week for a guaranteed fist-pumping good time—especially during Spring Break and Miami Music Week, when the party programming doesn't stop.  

For a long time, Miami had politely excused itself from partaking in annual World Pride Month celebrations. By June, the Miami sun is already hot enough to melt off even the most seasoned drag queen’s full face—and who wants to plan a parade in the midst of hurricane season Besides, New York pretty much has the East Coast covered when it comes to Pride festivities, and April’s Miami Beach Pride is a fun way to kick everything off. At least, this had been the thinking from 1995 until around five years ago, when Wynwood Pride was born. The annual Pride celebration on the mainland stands defiantly in the face of heat waves, tropical storms and gay flight to Fire Island, boldly asserting: We’re here, we’re queer and Miami’s LGBTQ+ community deserves the world—including a proper World Pride celebration alongside everyone else. The concept was to create a more music and performance-driven atmosphere in the heart of Miami’s booming arts district that appealed to different ages and underserved groups. “The core belief was to be a Pride for everyone,” says Liza Santana, Wynwood Pride’s founding spokesperson. When is Wynwood Pride 2024? Don we now our gay apparel. Wynwood Pride is almost here! The annual LGBTQ+ festival kicks off June 1 with a fabulous party at Arlo Wynwood, followed by a month of speaker panels, drag performances and more. Stay tuned to their Instagram page for the latest.

Take advantage of GMCVB’s Miami Attraction & Museum Months program until May 31 to enjoy special discounts, savings on admissions and BOGO deals from more than 50 of Miami’s top museums, galleries and outdoor adventures. Choose between neighborhood favorites like Island Queen Cruises and Tours, Pérez Art Museum Miami and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens.