As temperatures start to ease, Miami’s social calendar begins to heat up. October opens the doors to a season filled with art, fashion, food, music, and nautical adventures. You can choose from a lineup featuring a seafood fiesta, star-studded concerts, month-long cocktail crawl, fall’s hottest fashion event, a world-class boat show, and more in our guide to the top Miami events in October 2025.
— Our Can’t-Miss October Event: South Beach Seafood Festival
October 22-25
Multiple locations
Stone crab season just kicked in, bringing with it the 13th edition of the South Beach Seafood Festival. This annual four-day celebration transforms Miami Beach into a paradise for seafood lovers, spotlighting Florida’s freshest catches, epicurean masterpieces by top chefs, craft cocktails, and plenty of live entertainment to keep spirits high.
The event opens its doors to your favorite restaurants, serving four- to five-course meals paired with the finest wines and cocktails. You can experience sit-down dinners at the likes of Carbone, Pubbelly Sushi, and Fontainebleau’s Prime 54; be the judge at the VIP Chef Showdown hosted by celebrity chef Robert Irvine; and even indulge in an all-day Seafood Slam, a mega-seafood party spanning four blocks of sand at Lummus Park.
You’ll also find life-size Jenga at the beach, live culinary demos, and VIP experiences to round out the festivities. This year, the Loews Miami Beach Hotel takes center stage as the festival’s official host hotel, bringing the celebration full circle with signature South Beach hospitality.
— ¡Salud! Cocktail Month
October 1-31
Multiple locations
Meet Miami’s version of Oktoberfest for a dive into the local cocktail culture all month long. This citywide celebration is all about perfectly shaken, stirred, and poured creations that highlight Miami’s mixologists and bartending talent.
Expect special menus, collaborative events, and neighborhood bar crawls that encourage you to rediscover the city’s nightlife in style. Curated by spirits educator Gabriel Urrutia, hospitality veteran Joshua Wagner, and POPLIFE, this flavorful journey stretches from Coral Gables to Brickell, Wynwood, and South Beach.
— Penumbras at Oolite Arts
October 1-19
924 Lincoln Road, Oolite Arts, South Beach
Come celebrate Miami’s art scene with Penumbras, a commemorative exhibition celebrating 40 years of Oolite Arts (previously Art Center/South Florida). The exhibit features original artwork, archival materials, posters, slides, rarely seen interviews, and more by artists who have helped shape the early decades of this Miami art institution.
The collection offers a peek inside the studio’s works from 1984 to 2014, co-curated by cultural practitioner William Cordova, an Oolite alumnus, and Marie Vickles, Senior Director of Education at Pérez Art Museum Miami.
— Miami DanceMakers 2025
October 2 & 4
1103 Biscayne Boulevard, Pérez Art Museum Miami, Downtown Miami
Here, dance takes its cue from the artworks on the walls. Three emerging choreographers premiere site-responsive works, each piece directly inspired by PAMM’s exhibitions and architecture. The two-day program concludes the six-month Miami DanceMakers residency, which supports local dance artists through mentorship, stipends, networking, and performance opportunities.
— Leonardo Da Vinci: 500 Years of Genius
October 3, 2025-April 5, 2026
1101 Biscayne Boulevard, Frost Science Museum, Downtown Miami
Kicking off with a members-only preview on October 3, this immersive exploration of Leonardo Da Vinci’s works will stay on display at the Frost Science Museum through April next year. Presented by Grande Experiences in collaboration with Museo Leonardo Da Vinci in Rome, the exhibition showcases a digital presentation of “The Last Supper,” a 360-degree perspective of the “Mona Lisa,” and life-size replicas of Da Vinci’s machines and inventions. An extraordinary opportunity to experience a wide-angle view of the Renaissance-era artist, scientist, inventor, and engineer’s mind.
With its interactive displays and immersive storytelling, this is the kid-friendly standout you’re looking for in our curation of the top Miami events in October 2025.
— The Wiz and Peck by the Miami City Ballet at the Arsht Center
October 7-12 & 17-19
1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Adrienne Arsht Center, Arts and Entertainment District
Here are our fall picks from the ever-delightful lineup at the Adrienne Arsht Center:
- The Wiz, October 7-12: Fresh from Broadway, this revival of the Tony Award-winning classic makes its South Florida premiere with a vibrant mix of funk, gospel, and contemporary dance. Directed by Schele Williams with choreography by JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé’s choreographer), this reimagining of Dorothy’s journey, complete with haze, smoke, and flashing lights, has critics raving about its visuals and energy.
- Peck-Miami in Motion, October 17-19: This dynamic triple bill celebrates Justin Peck’s signature fusion of ballet and pop energy. "Year of the Rabbit" delivers a kaleidoscope of movement synced to Sufjan Stevens’ score, "Chutes and Ladders" plays with rhythm in a crisp duet, and “Heatscape”—a love letter to Wynwood—unfolds against a striking mural backdrop created by artist Shepard Fairey.
— Concerts by Billie Eilish + John Legend
October 9-12 + 26
601 Biscayne Boulevard, Kaseya Center, Downtown Miami
1 Seminole Way, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood
Topping the list of South Florida concerts in October 2025, we have two Grammy award-winners ready to take center stage with their distinct vocals:
- Billie Eilish at the Kaseya Center: The “Bad Guy” singer is back on tour with “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” considered her most daring body of work. You can enjoy the Grammy- and Oscar-winning artist’s raw, whispery vocals with exclusive Courtside Club access for the ultimate fan experience.
As part of her unique partnership with REVERB, a nonprofit dedicated to building a more sustainable music industry, every tour stop will feature eco-friendly initiatives such as plant-based food options, 100% recycled paper, and reduced single-use plastics.
- John Legend at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel: Legend’s smooth vocals and heartfelt delivery bring the perfect dose of warmth to Miami’s fall nights. The R&B superstar and multi-Grammy winner presents his Get Lifted 20th Anniversary World Tour, a set that revisits the album that started it all. Expect fresh renditions of standouts such as “Ordinary People” and career-defining hits like “All of Me” and “Glory.”
— Miami Fashion Week 2025
October 21-26
Multiple locations
The hottest event on Miami’s fashion calendar, Miami Fashion Week 2025 returns with a fabulous mix of celebrities, models, influencers, and tastemakers, celebrating six days of high-style experiences both on and off the runway.
This see-and-be-seen event is your ticket to the latest collections, workshops, panel discussions, and pop-ups by the world’s top emerging and established designers and labels. In true Miami style, the week combines fashion with art, music, cuisine, and nightlife for an experience that lingers long after the runway lights fade.
— James Beard Foundation’s Taste America: Miami Edition
October 29
2325 Galiano Street, Sra. Martinez, Coral Gables
Help support a meaningful cause as you enjoy a rare pop-up dinner by two culinary powerhouses as James Beard Foundation’s Taste America series stops over in Miami this year. The setting is the recently revived Sra. Martinez, renowned for its trendy atmosphere and a Spanish-inspired menu that fuses influences from France, the Mediterranean, and South Florida.
Chef Aaron Brooks of Sunny’s Steakhouse collaborates with Michelle Bernstein, James Beard Award winner and co-owner of Sra. Martinez, to bring you a special, multi-course tasting menu, paired with complementary wines and cocktails.
Adding to the appeal, your seat supports the James Beard Foundation’s mission to build a more sustainable and thriving future for independent restaurants.
— Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS 2025)
October 29-November 2, 2025
Multiple marinas across Fort Lauderdale
Although not in Miami, this Fort Lauderdale event makes the cut for being considered the largest in-water boat show in the world. This is where you’ll find all the nautical eye candy you can handle along with expert-led sessions to hone your fishing and boating skills. The five-day event spread across seven locations will feature everything from debut yacht models and cutting-edge marine technology to high-end accessories and immersive experiences.
The Broward County Convention Center will showcase vessels up to 50 feet alongside the latest electronics and marine gear, and Pier Sixty-Six Marina will be the hub for brokerage vessels. The 17th Street Yacht Basin caters to superyacht enthusiasts, while Bahia Mar hosts everything from center consoles to luxury yachts.
Loved it? Missed it? We’d love to know which of our curated list of top Miami events in October you got to check out. Leave us a comment on any of our socials (@blackbookproperties)! And call, text, or email us if you want to experience these events with a Miami address of your own.