Here are the best events happening in Miami this weekend.
Friday
Whenever some hipster out-of-towner tells you "there wasn't culture" in Miami until recently, kindly point them in the direction of the Miami Big Sound Orchestra, which has been making music in our city since 2006. The players in this ensemble regularly play with musical legends such as Chaka Khan and Gloria Estefan. This Friday, head to MOCA in North Miami to catch a free set by the band as part of the museum's monthly free jazz series. 8 p.m. Friday, December 28, at Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, 770 NE 125th St., Miami; mocanomi.org. Admission is free.
Everyone has at least a couple of badass ladies in their lives. To celebrate the amazing women in theirs, the performers of the Peter London Global Dance Company are bringing a powerful new production, Women Voices & Men Hearts to Women, to the stage. The show is an ode to a number of women choreographers and composers, celebrated by an all-Miami crew of choreographers and dancers. Can't-miss performers include Sharron Lynn Williams (of Ailey II and The Lion King) and Kashia Kancey (performing a tribute to Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks, among others). 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 28, and various times through Sunday, December 30, at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; arshtcenter.org. Tickets cost $40.
Tucked away behind your favorite Coconut Grove brunch spot is the Barnacle Historic State Park, a gem merging Old Florida views with modern community-building experiences. One such event is this Friday's installment of the Movies in the Park series. Bring a blanket, snacks, and the whole family for a screening of
Holiday magic didn't leave town Christmas morning. You can watch performers fly during Cirque Dream Holidaze. The colorful piece, set on a multimillion-dollar stage, boasts more than 20 high-flying acts, as well as singers and costumes galore (300 costumes to be exact). On this high-paced winter-wonderland journey, you'll meet penguins, reindeer, gingerbread men, snowmen, and all your favorite seasonal characters. 7:30 p.m. Friday, December 28, at the James L. Knight Center, 400 SE Second Ave., Miami; jlkc.com. Tickets cost $33 to $68.
The Miccosukee Indian Arts & Crafts Festival is back for another week of dance, music, and visual arts at the Miccosukee Indian Village. This year's performers include the White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers, hoop dancer Ascencio Harjo, the Wasu Kasna Dance Troupe, the Native Pride Dancers, the Redhawk Native American Arts Council Dancers, and many other artists of the native, First Nations, Amerindian, and aboriginal traditions. Wednesday, December 26, through Tuesday, January 1, at Miccosukee Indian Village, Mile Marker 36, US Hwy. 41., Miami; eventbrite.com. Tickets cost $6 to $12.
Saturday
A globe-trotter is making a stop in the 305. Nigerian-bred Nicole Moudaber has graced big-time stages at Coachella, Glastonbury, and Electric Daisy Carnival. Now, this Saturday at Wynwood Factory, the DJ/producer will spin an intimate set alongside
Damian Lazarus makes any space his own. He has captivated a jungle. He has bashed at beaches. And he wrote some new history amid the Mayan ruins in Mexico. Lazarus will take his worldly electronic-ness to the Space Terrace alongside Australian-gone-Berlin house extraordinaire YokoO. In a world that seemingly gets weirder by the second, you'll appreciate the escape into what these guys bring. 11 p.m. Saturday, December 29, at Space, 34 NE 11th St., Miami. Tickets cost $10 to $30 via ticketfly.com.
Learn how to make your favorite seasonal cocktails at Drinkhouse Fire & Ice Bar's annual Holiday Cocktail Class. You'll begin by sipping a classic holiday cocktail upon arrival, then continue with step-by-step instructions on creating your own rendition. The class includes numerous tastings and small bites. Plus, you'll get admission to the ice bar plus a fur coat and gloves to wear while you're there. 7 p.m. Saturday, December 29, at Drinkhouse Fire & Ice Bar, 1672 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 305-534-2423; sobefireice.com. Tickets cost $50 via eventbrite.com.
Sunday
Somewhere between rockin' The Tonight Show and planning goodness for a new album, the Roots have hit the road. The Grammy-winning band's aptly titled the Roots Holiday Run, dashing into the Fillmore this Sunday, will be loaded with hip-hop faves. The Philadelphia-bred collective, which has been around for more than 30 years, has 11 studio albums under its belt and a 12th slated for 2019. 9 p.m. Sunday, December 30, at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. Tickets cost $66.50 to $85 via ticketmaster.com.
Think the government shutdown has squandered your chances of enjoying the winter breeze in the River of Grass? Think again. The show must go on with the Artists in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) recurring Sundays in the Park series. This month's edition hosts choreographer Dale Andree's Everglades Imprint, a performance she developed through AIRIE's artist residency program in collaboration with National Water Dance Project dancers. 1 p.m. Sunday, December 30, at Everglades National Park, AIRIE Nest Gallery, 40001 SR-9336., Homestead. Admission is free.
