Whether you love Valentine's Day or hate it like the plague, you will love all the free things that come with it. Kick off this week of heart-filled things with the latest Stitch 'n' Bitch session at 27 Restaurant, where you'll get a free cocktail and crochet a heart to take home. Ahead of this weekend's GroundUp Music Festival, cosmic rock group Electric Kif, along with a handful of other fest performers, will play a free show on the Citadel's rooftop Wednesday. On V-Day itself (Friday — don't forget, or your boo will be very mad), Bougie's in South Miami will be your spot for a wild '80s dance party and a couple of free beverages for ladies who dress in '80s-inspired garb. This weekend offers a slew of wild happenings, including the 11th-annual Model Volleyball tournament in South Beach Saturday and the vibrant Gay8 Festival in Little Havana Sunday.
Here are the best free things to do in Miami this week:
Sometimes you'll be sitting on the Metromover or the bus and catch someone crocheting something pretty. Well, you can be just like that cool person by learning to crochet. During the latest monthly (every second Wednesday) Stitch 'n' Bitch at 27 Restaurant & Bar, Karelle Levy will lead folks on a crafty and engaging journey where they'll enjoy a free cocktail and crochet a timely trinket. For this month and right in the heart of Valentine's Day week, the class will make crochet hearts. 7 p.m. Tuesday, February 11, at 27 Restaurant & Bar, 2727 Indian Creek Dr., Miami Beach; thefreehand.com. Admission is free with RSVP via eventbrite.com.
GroundUp Music Festival will rock the North Beach Bandshell this weekend. But before that happens, Electric Kif will play some soulful, jazzy goodness as part of the Citadel's free Wednesday series, Live Sessions. In addition to Electric Kif, fellow GroundUp performers Chris Bullock of NYC, trumpeter Justin Stanton, and a few other acts will stop by to jam as well. 7 p.m. Wednesday, February 12, at the Citadel, 8300 NE Second Ave., Miami; thecitadelmiami.com. Admission is free.
February is Black History Month, and it's time our most impactful local leaders get some love. This Thursday, the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) South Florida Chapter will host the 2020 Black History Month Celebration, whose theme is "Black in America: Issues and Challenges in 2020 and Beyond." Local 10 News reporter Samantha Bryant will host the festivities, Miami Commissioner Keon Hardemon will deliver a keynote, and folks such as attorney Rudolph Moise and South Florida Times publisher Robert G. Beatty will be honored. 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, February 13, at Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59th Ter., Miami. Admission is free with RSVP via eventbrite.com.
Whether you're a couple of lovebirds or flying solo this Valentine's Day, you can get down at Bougie's in South Miami. The jammin' local tavern will host its annual '80s Valentines Dance, loaded with jams, freebies, and other fun. On the tunes front, Suo Duo and Stereotomy will perform. And at 10 p.m., DJ Proof will spin '80s jams. Ladies who dress in '80s-inspired attire will get two free drinks between 9 and 11 p.m. 6 p.m. Friday, February 14, at Bougainvillea's Old Florida Tavern, 7221 SW 58th St., South Miami; bougiesbar.com. Admission is free.
If you hear some excessing vrooming Sunday in the Design District, it's totally the Miami Concours. What is a "concours," you ask? It's a car show, and this one is loaded with supercars, vintage rides, sports cars, and exotics. The rides — spanning many makes, models, and vibrant colors — will be scattered throughout at three-block span, so enjoy the stroll and all the revving that goes with it. 11 a.m. Sunday, February 16, in the Design District, NE 39th to 41st Street, Miami; miamidesigndistrict.net. Admission is free, but if you touch the cars, you might regret it.
The Gay8 Festival returns for a fifth year with festivities galore beginning this Friday. Among the happenings, a big, free, colorful festival of awesomeness from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday on Calle Ocho is a can't-miss. Your totally free activities at this year's Gay8 include the Ball & Chain Salsa Experience and classes; performances by the likes of Albita, Lucy Grau, and Tiffany Fantasia; a film showcase; and the high-energy Macho Dance Party. 11 a.m. Sunday, February 16, in Little Havana, SW Eighth Street between SW 14th and SW 17th Avenues, Miami. General admission is free; VIP tickets cost $75 via gay8festival.com.
