March Brings St. Patrick’s Day Ragers, Light Shows, and More to Miami

This month has fun things to do for spring breakers and locals alike.

Much like Miami has classed itself up a little over the past couple decades, the month of March will also take on a more sophisticated tone. The stretch that once began with spring break now kicks off with the "Rolls Royce of Music Festivals" and continues with other highbrow stuff like the ballet and an omakase dinner over the water. Of course, there’s still ULTRA and Miami Music Week, plus the Miami Open and the beginning of baseball season. Plus, a little Sunday party called St. Patrick’s Day. So buckle up, Miami, even though this March might be a little more genteel, it’s no less of a crazy ride with these fun things to do.

Kero by Osaka Miami
Kero by Osaka | Photo courtesy of Osaka Miami

Food and Drink Events in Miami

March 1, 5–8 pm
Miami Beach, $115
Wine lovers, your Friday night happy hour has moved to the Miami Beach Convention Center where some of the planet's best vintages are pouring freely at James Suckling Great Wines of the World. The grand tasting will feature more than 900 wines from 382 producers, all accompanied by a DJ set from Empire of the Sun’s Surahn Sidhu.

March 2, Noon to 5 pm
Pinecrest, Prices vary
If the South Beach Wine and Food Festival got you inspired to get your chef on, see how you stack up at Pinecrest Gardens’ Ninth Annual Chili Cook-Off. All of Miami is invited to compete with their best homemade chili recipes, though if you’d rather stay out of the kitchen there’ll also be line dancing, a mechanical bull, a classic car display, and eating contests.

March 8–10,Hours vary
Various locations, Free
Typically, stepping inside a strange trailer for whiskey shots and a “sensorial activity” is highly inadvisable in Florida. Not the case at the Ardbeg Airstream, though, which will be popping up outside liquor stores around Miami offering up samples of smokey Ardbeg Single Malt as well as an education in how the stuff is made.

March 10, 5 pm
Loxahatchee, $180 per person
Loxahatchee might seem like a shlep, but if you want to sample Asian street food it’s a lot closer than a trip over the Pacific. Chefs from Le Colonial, Boca’s Alley Cat, and other local favorites will be crafting traditional casual delicacies from across the continent, made from ingredients taken right from the farm.

March 29, 7:30 pm
Brickell, $195 per person
Hard to believe we’ve been enjoying ceviche and saltados by the water in Brickell for a decade now. La Mar celebrates its longevity with an astounding lineup of guest chefs, as Maty’s Valerie Chang, Leku’s Carlos Garcia, and the team from Miami Slice host tasting stations around the restaurant for the night-long party. Of course, plenty of Diego Oka’s stuff will be there for the tasting too, as well as music and free-flowing pisco sours.

Every Sunday, 11 am–3 pm
Coconut Grove, Menu prices vary
Take your Sunday “trip down the rabbit hole” a little more literally, and kick off your afternoon at the Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove’s Mad Hatter Brunch. You’ll find Wonderland decor and a themed menu filled with temptations like strawberry and champagne pancakes and the Queen’s Royal Hash, plus a special menu of cocktails from ChatChow’s Gio Gutierrez.

Ongoing, 5–9 pm
Sunny Isles, $160 per person
Miami has no shortage of fabulous omakase spots, but only one of them lets you enjoy the experience while perched above the Atlantic Ocean. That’s the experience you’ll get for a limited time as Sunset Sushi pops up on the Newport Pier, offering an on-the-water, 17-course feast from Sushi master David Bouhadana.

Ongoing, 6 pm–midnight
Brickell, Prices vary
Brickell’s coolest new cocktail lounge is hidden beyond the main dining room at Nikkei hotspot Osaka. That’s where you’ll find Kero, with drinks served in tea cups and poured over crushed ice, or set inside smokey boxes. The bar is a dim, sexy trip to cocktail lounges of the east, and your new go-to for weekend drink dates.

All month, 6–11 pm
Wynwood, $22 includes one drink
Perhaps you're of the age when you remember spending Friday night wandering the aisles of the local video store deciding on a movie to watch. A new Wynwood pop-up speakeasy lets you relive those Clinton-era glory days, where the walls are lined with VHS tapes and retro arcade games fill the floor. The bar will have '90s and 2000s-themed drinks like the "Mean Girls" and "Men in Black," plus special Blockbuster Brunch and late night DJ parties.

The Wharf Fort Lauderdale
Photo courtesy of The Wharf

Art and Culture events in Miami

Ongoing, 8 pm
Hallandale Beach, $64
Cirque du Soleil is bringing its 20th showcase of death-defying acrobatics and trippy aesthetics to the Grand Chapiteau at Gulfstream this month. ECHO follows the adventure of Future, as she encounters a magical cube and discovers humans have the power to shape their environment and the planet. It runs through April 7.

March 1–3, 11 am
The Roads, $7
Learn about Miami’s vibrant Greek culture and scarf some of its best food at St. Sophia’s 46th annual Greek Festival. Venture inside and explore the historic cathedral at one of several daily guided tours. Then step outside and sip coffee at the taverna, watch traditional Greek dancing, and indulge in a massive spread of savory Greek delicacies.

March 1, 7:30 pm
South Beach, $250
Perhaps you’ve seen pictures of India’s Holi festival, a colorful celebration where people cover each other in bright paint. The Sagamore is hosting Miami’s swankiest Holi celebration, where you won’t be throwing paint on people but you can create colorful art at a special installation from Kulture Khazana. There’ll also be endless plates of Indian food, and the proceeds go to the Desai Foundation benefiting women and girls in rural India.

March 9–10, 10 am–5 pm
Coral Gables, $25
Florida’s most famous flower is at the center of the action at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens’s Orchids in Bloom. Celebrate one of the world’s most coveted plants among lush landscapes of South Florida, with cultural performances, delicious food and orchid-inspired cocktail flights, a mobile spa, a bubble dance party, and unique crafts.

March 8–10 and 23–24, Times vary
Miami and West Palm Beach, $70 and up
Miami City Ballet’s spring performance offers three ballets, including the world premiere of Delight from Brazilian Ricardo Amarante. It wouldn’t be MCB without some Balanchine, so you’ll also be treated to a rendition of the high-intensity Agon, as well as the company premiere of Alonzo King’s Following the Subtle Current Upstream. The company is at the Arsht Center March 8–10 and West Palm Beach’s Kravis Center March 23–24.

March 15–17, 11 am–8 pm
Design District, Free
Stitch Lab, a renowned fashion marketplace, returns to the Design District for its seventh annual pop-up. The event will feature the latest works of more than 40 notable Latin designers, including Project Runway winner Shantall Lacayo; Venezuelan TV personality and fashion designer Rodner Figueroa; and one of the top ambassadors in the world for
Colombian fashion, Renata Lozano.

March 21–24, Times vary
West Palm Beach, $37 and up
Far more laid back than Basel, spring’s most anticipated contemporary art fair offers a curated selection of world-class, investment-quality art you can add to your collection. Alongside this intimate art fair, the world-renowned Palm Beach International Boat Show will feature more than $1.2 billion of yachts and accessories.

March 24, 10 am–2 pm
Fort Lauderdale Beach, Free
Get in the Easter spirit a little early at the LOOP Park, where they’ll have a live appearance from the Bunny himself and an egg hunt. The EGGstravaganza will also offer a farmers market and a collection of local food vendors, plus live performances from DJ David and the Bunnies, SOSOS Band, and Americana Roots Rock.

March 30, 11:30 am and 2 pm
Delray Beach, $35
They say writing in cursive is becoming a lost art, but you can buck that trend while exploring the meticulous gardens at the Morikami Museum this month. The 90-minute class will teach you the finer points of using sumi ink to create Japanese characters, and you’ll even get a shikishi board to take home and display.

March 31, Noon
Fort Lauderdale, Prices vary
What better way to celebrate Easter than with country music, line dancing, and a mechanical bull? Gather your egg-hunting crew and hop on over to The Wharf for the annual Egg-Stravaganza. Don’t worry because this bull is not riding alone; the Easter Bunny will be there, too. Drink and play all day long with $35 Ranch Water pitchers and four egg-hunting rounds, complete with golden eggs and prizes. Plus, when you buy a shot of Fireball, you get a free PBR.

DAER South Florida
Photo courtesy of DAER South Florida

Live Music in Miami

March 1–3, Times vary
Coconut Grove, $199
The “Rolls Royce of Music Festivals” comes to Miami as Switzerland’s smash Montreux Jazz Festival sets up in The Hangar at Regatta Grove. The three-day concert is headlined by Jon Batiste, with performances from Daryl Hall, The Wailers, Cimafunk, and others. After the shows, be sure to stick around for the nightly Jam Session at 11 pm, when the day’s artists all gather onstage and jam out like no one’s watching.

March 2–3, Noon
Coral Gables, Free
Carnaval kicks off in Miami with Coral Gables’ annual street celebration, where you’ll find art, food, music, and kids entertainment spanning Miracle Mile. Its three musical stages will be headlined by Grammy winners Tony Succar and Ed Calle, and you can also catch daytime performances from some of South Florida’s top music schools.

March 8, 7–11 pm
Downtown, $10
Frost Science’s Laser Evenings go international this month with a special new 7 pm show set to K-Pop classics. Later, hit one of two laser Bad Bunny shows at 9 or 10 pm, or check out the Movie Magic show at 8 pm with tracks from Star Wars and other cinematic standards. The night concludes, as it always does, with Pink Floyd at 10 pm.

March 9–10, 4 pm
Miami Gardens, $186
“Jazz” is a loosely used term at this year’s Jazz in the Gardens, whose Sunday show is headlined by hip-hop legends Uncle Luke, Too $hort, T.I. and Lil’ Kim. Saturday’s lineup delivers some decidedly local flavor, with sets from Rick Ross, Trick Daddy, Trina, and Ball Greezy.

March 22–24, Times vary
Downtown Miami, Prices vary
Ultra Music Festival returns to Bayfront Park for the 24th time. Spanning every genre
across the electronic music sphere, the festival welcomes a lineup of more than 150 acts including top names like Afrojack, Tiesto, and Martin Garrix. There’ll also be special back-to-back performances and a bevy of label showcase stage takeovers, plus an entire stage devoted to the special underground Resistance programming.

March 23, Noon and 10 pm
Hollywood, $40 and up
Nothing gets you in the thick of Miami Music Week fun like a good old fashioned pool party, and DAER at the Hard Rock is hosting your best option. Electronic Music legend Kaskade hits the poolside decks starting at noon, then as night falls Galantis takes over until well into the morning.

Every Friday and Saturday, 7–10 pm
South Beach, No cover
Start your weekend night with some class as you saddle up to the stunning onyx bar at the Greystone. The space is filled with the sounds of live jazz, as you sip specialty cocktails in an intimate space that calls to mind Miami Beach’s art deco heyday. For a little something different, order the Jessica Rabbit, a Basil Hayden and carrot juice drink served with a carrot cake frosting rim.

Sports and Wellness in Miami

March 3, 10 am
Coral Gables, Free
The word that immediately comes to mind when you think of tacos is “wellness,” right? Well, Coyo thinks so as it hosts its first Coyo Fit day, partnering with Sundara Pilates for a special mat pilates class on Giralda Plaza. There’ll be vegan-friendly bowls and wraps after, and you can complete your detox-retox cycle with $5 margaritas.

March 17–31, 11 am and 7 pm
Miami Gardens, $30 and up
The top names in both men’s and women’s tennis return to Hard Rock Stadium for the Miami Open. The matches are almost secondary to the sprawling scene of local food and drinks, where you can post up at Kiki on the River then roam the grounds and see your favorite players up close and personal. There’s also a gondola running over the whole thing, and a Celsius Lounge if you start feeling sluggish.

March 28–31, Times vary
Little Havana, Prices vary
Your Miami Marlins return to regular season action to close out the month with a four-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates. If you miss the excitement of Opening Day, Friday brings back the popular Burger and Beer night where your ticket includes a smashburger and a Bud Heavy. On Saturday, the evening begins with the season’s first Beerfest, where you can arrive a few hours early and sample endless local beers outside left field.

John Martin’s St. Patrick's Day Street Festival
Photo courtesy of John Martin’s St. Patrick's Day Street Festival

St. Patrick’s Day in Miami

March 16–17, Times vary
Coral Gables, Prices vary
Where else to celebrate St. Paddy’s in Miami than its most celebrated Irish bar? The JohnMartin’s 31st Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival is back with two days of celebration, including Guinness, whiskey, tasty Irish eats, live entertainment, games, and more. Guests that RSVP will receive a free shot glass at check-in.

March 17, Doors at 2 pm
Wynwood, Free
The Wynwood Marketplace goes green with the neighborhood’s biggest celebration of all things St. Patrick’s Day. With Instagrammable photo-ops, green beer, Wynwood’s best eateries, and an artisan market, St. Pat’s Wynwood promises to be the Sunday soiree you’re seeking. The whole thing is sponsored by Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, who you know will be pouring plenty of samples.

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Matt Meltzer is a Miami-based writer who’s been covering food, events, and travel in Miami for over a dozen years. An award-winning writer, he’s also a professor of writing for digital media at University of Miami and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Follow his adventures on Instagram @meltrez1.