The Seven Best Things to Do in Miami This Weekend

Wait a second — it's the weekend already? Just a few days after you stayed up far too late and tied one on for New Year's Eve, it's time to shake off that lingering hangover and kick things into high gear yet again. Why? Because it's Miami, baby! Sure, we've had a bunch of star-studded affairs in days past, but there's plenty to look forward to this weekend. Among the big stuff, Oprah's tour 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus will stop at the BB&T Center in Sunrise. In addition to hype, inspiration, and wellness, Lady Gaga and Julianne Hough will visit Oprah for chats as part of the event. And if you haven't had enough suds this week, the Miami Beer Festival is set to take over Marlins Park this Saturday with pours from more than 50 breweries. To close out the weekend on a shredding note, the Atalanta power-thrash band Paladin will headline the daylong Heavy Metal Beach Party on Virginia Key this Sunday.

Here are the best things to do in Miami this weekend:

You probably drink coffee every day, so there's no reason it should be anything less than delightful. The folks at the North Carolina-based specialty roaster Counter Culture Coffee open their Little River facility to the public every Friday for the special Tasting at Ten. Try a bunch of kinds of java, hear about their origins and tasting notes, and be inspired to up your home coffee game the next time you need some beans. 10 a.m. Friday, January 3, at Counter Culture Coffee Miami Training Center, 7450 N. Miami Ave., Miami; eventbrite.com. Admission is free.

Perhaps you're looking for a new platform for your tunes, poetry, or spoken word. Maybe you just want to be entertained. Either way, you'll find it at the monthly Speak! Rooftop Sessions Friday at the Citadel. Everyone is invited to bring their A-game to this event, hosted by Rob Lee, and you're guaranteed to leave inspired. When you're hungry, the Citadel's food hall will serve you diverse deliciousness. 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, January 3, at the Citadel, 8300 NE Second Ave., Miami; thecitadelmiami.com. Admission is free.
You get an Oprah! And you get an Oprah! That's right, the one and only Oprah Winfrey will magically land in South Florida with her 2020 Vision: Your Life in Focus this Saturday. Billed as a daylong party, the tour stop promises inspirational sessions focused on wellness and motivation, as well as some extra-special guests. Joining Lady O on the Sunrise stop will be Lady Gaga and Julianne Hough. 9 a.m. Saturday, January 4, at BB&T Center, 1 Panther Pkwy., Sunrise; thebbtcenter.com. Tickets cost $45.25 to $125.25 via ticketmaster.com.

The fourth edition of the South Beach Jazz Festival will present a number of international artists when it swings into town this Friday through Sunday. Among the performances that'll take place around town, there are some free options, including a special concert — Jazz in Motion on Ocean — Saturday in Lummus Park. Among the performers you can catch during this six-hour span of jazzy goodness are Alfredo Chacon, Yainier Hora, Magela Herrera, and Ruben Caban. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, January 4, in Lummus Park, 1130 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach. Admission is free; register via eventbrite.com.

Drinking beer is one of the few ways to get through a sad Marlins game. Well, this Saturday, there'll be a beer festival and no baseball game at Marlins Park. So it's a guaranteed win all around. For the 2020 Miami Beer Fest, dozens of international and craft breweries will converge on the stadium, which will also offer food trucks, DJs, and entertainment throughout the day. If you're feeling fancy, VIP tickets cost only 15 bucks more and come with an extra hour of the fest and some select tastings. 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, January 4, at Marlins Park 501 Marlins Way, Miami; eventbrite.com. Tickets cost $45 to $60.
What is that loud, awesome noise coming from Virginia Key? This Sunday, it'll be the Heavy Metal Beach Party. Unfortunately, Goatwhore was billed for the event and had to back out. But the lineup is still totally rad with Paladin, Soul Burner, Cell, Solemn Vision, Cyber Strike, Vitality, and other bands slated to rock. In addition to the tunes, there will be kayak/paddle board tours, a Metal Yoga on the Beach session, and food trucks to sate your grumbling tummy. 3 p.m. Sunday, January 5, in Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, 4020 Virginia Beach Drive, Miami. Tickets cost $20 to $149 via heavymetalbeachparty.com.

A new film, Making It in America, chronicles immigrant success stories from throughout the years, including a spotlight on Lulu's Ice Cream founder Luisa Santos and concrete titan Luis Garcia. This Sunday, the Miguel Fernandez-directed film will premiere at the Koubek Center, where there will also be a postscreening Q&A with some of Miami's leading immigrant entrepreneurs. 5 p.m. Sunday, January 5, at Miami Dade College Koubek Memorial Center, 2705 SW Third St., Miami. Admission is free; RSVP via eventbrite.com.