The Best Free Events in Miami This Week

In case the steady succession of so-called cold fronts hasn't tipped you off, Christmas and the new year are right around the corner. So the Magic City is stacked with end-of-the-year festivities this week, from ugly-sweater parties to Bayskate's Holiday Boogie at Bayfront Park. Also, the must-see queer event Celebrity Deathmatch returns to the Hangar with the theme "Good vs. Evil." Bonus: If you already broke the bank on gifts, you'll be glad to know all of these festivities are free.

Here are the best free events happening in Miami this week.

Take your best four-legged friend out on the town with you. The month's iteration of the rotating Yappy Hour will be held at the Spillover in Coconut Grove. The event is held every third Wednesday of the month, giving puppy parents the opportunity to spend quality time with their little ones. For humans, there will be drink and food specials available throughout the evening. Furry buddies get complimentary dog food. 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 19, at the Spillover, 2911 Grand Ave., Miami; facebook.com. Admission is free.

Bars that give $5 gift cards to their trivia winners are lame. You don't have to worry about that at the Standard. Its prizes include a one-night stay at the hotel, spa passes, comped bar tabs, and other goodies. This Wednesday's trivia night is the Holiday Edition. So brush up on those Hallmark flicks, Bing Crosby tunes, and popular toys from Christmases past. (We're looking at you, Furby.) 7 p.m. Wednesday, December 19, at the Standard, 40 Island Ave., Miami Beach. Admission is free with RSVP to eventbrite.com.
Bayskate Miami is back for a fourth year. After a spooky, Halloween-inspired skating spectacle in 2017, there's a holiday shindig happening for 2018. Bayskate's Holiday Boogie will go down in front of the historic Pepper Fountain in Bayfront Park. In addition to free skating, there will be a Veza Sur beer garden with craft beverages, local food, and beer games; Gnome Forest picnic area; Ace Parlor cocktail spot; Botran coquito bar; and Chomp Park food village. Lace up and have a blast. 4 p.m. to midnight Friday, December 21; and 1 p.m. to midnight Saturday, December 22, at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; bayskatemiami.com. Admission is free. UPDATE: Bayskate Miami has canceled its Thursday night Holiday Boogie due to weather concerns.

That hideous Christmas sweater Aunt Barb gave you in 1995 can finally have its moment. The always-wonderful shop/bar Thrift Shop is hosting an Ugly Sweater Party. Because this is America and we compete for everything, the person with the best ugly sweater will snag a $200 bar tab. There is perhaps nothing better than winning an ugly-sweater contest in a thrift-shop environment. #Goals. 7 p.m. Friday, December 21, at Thrift Shop, 28 NE 14th St., Miami; eventbrite.com. Admission is free.

Miracle is the OG holiday bar. It opened its first location in New York City in 2014 and now boasts 80-some seasonal spots across the nation, including at Death or Glory in Delray Beach. The drink menu is extensive and includes the likes of Run Run Rudolph, made with prosecco, gin, mulled wine purée, lemon, and cane syrup; and the Yippie Ki Yay Motherf****r!, with sweet potato Barbados rum, cachaça, Trinidad overproof rum, dry curaçao, marshmallow orgeat, and lime. There's also themed food, including the Feast of Zero Fishes — vegan jackfruit crab cakes, Old Bay aioli, and lemon. Also, the über-adorable glassware is for sale, and 10 percent of the sale price will be donated to Action Against Hunger, so you can drink and check off your Christmas list simultaneously. If you can't make it to Delray, swing by a similar Miracle pop-up at Gramps in Wynwood. 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily at 116 NE Sixth Ave., Delray Beach; 561-808-8814; miraclepopup.com.
Remember the TV show Celebrity Deathmatch? For a bunch of clay people fighting, it was amazing. Well, the Good vs. Evil Celebrity Deathmatch will happen in real life at the Hangar, pitting supervillains against heroes for everyone's favorite monthly queer, 18-and-over party. Four battles will take place, including Harry Potter versus Lord Voldemort (Sam Vincent versus Florida Elizabeth Man) and Princess Leia versus Darth Vader (Brandy Castro versus Christian Acevedo). Hair is sure to fly, so stay vigilant out there. 10 p.m. Friday, December 21, at the Hangar, 60 NE 11th St., Miami; thehangar305.com. Admission is free with RSVP.

It's the most wonderful time of the year, when Beach House Pompano throws its Ugly Sweater Party. Dig through your closet and throw on your most festive holiday sweater to rock the night away. Show off your look while diving into food and drink specials. Keep an eye out for shucked-to-order oysters, sliders with pimento cheese and caramelized onions, and jumbo shrimp tacos with fresh grilled mango. 8 p.m. Saturday, December 22, at 270 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach; 954-607-6530; beachhousepompano.com.