Nine Best Fourth of July 2021 Parties in Miami

Here comes the time of year when your drunk uncle insists on purchasing illegal fireworks to "blow shit up" and your mom has enlisted you to make sure that the family gathering doesn't end with a trip to the ER.

Luckily, you can ditch the relatives and do something else because you've got plenty of patriotic party options in Miami. While 2020 was a dud for the Fourth of July, there is some return to normalcy this year. (The big fireworks display that normally takes place at Bayfront Park will not take place this year, nor will the one at the Biltmore in Coral Gables.) It seems like everyone is itching to make up for lost time, and America's birthday seems like the perfect excuse to rage.

Better yet, because Fourth of July falls on a Sunday this year, many of us have Monday off as well.

To make the most for the long weekend ahead, here are some party suggestions where dressing up in red, white, and blue isn't necessarily mandatory, but it's expected.

Repopulate Mars at Toe Jam Backlot

With a long weekend ahead, Chicago DJ Lee Foss is kicking off the celebration, bringing his Repopulate Mars event to the Toe Jam Backlot in Wynwood. The open-air event will feature Foss behind the decks alongside Anabel Englund, Dennis Ferrer, Dons, Eskuche, Kyle Walker, and Lauren Lane. Foss had put his party series on hiatus during the pandemic, only relaunching it back in April back in May at Club Space. If you missed the reboot, consider this the make-up test, courtesy of Foss. 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday, July 2, at Toe Jam Backlot, 150 NW 21st St., Miami; 305-759-9277; toejambacklot.com. Tickets cost $40 to $80 via eventbrite.com.

Independence Beach at Joia Beach

Rapture Festival is taking over Joia Beach, the private beach at Jungle Island, for a wellness-meets-dance-party affair. Expect an all-star lineup of Pablo Fierro, Sabo, Goldcap, and Enzo GD, who will be spinning with a Biscayne Bay serving as a backdrop. The party is offering yoga, meditation, sound healing, Reiki, chakra balancing, and more on the wellness front. Joia Beach will also be open for lunch and dinner if you get a bit hungry after finding your center. 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 3, at Joia Beach, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trl., Miami; 305-400-7280; joiabeachmiami.com.

IndepenDance on the Bay at Miami Marine Stadium

IndepenDance returns for its 17th year for a two-day bacchanal at Miami Marine Stadium in Virginia Key in what has become a Fourth of July weekend staple. On the first day, the Martinez Brothers, Nic Fanciulli, Gordo, Caleb Calloway, Jesse Calosso, Jean Pierre, Vanjee, and Fiin provide the tunes while Marco Carola, Damian Lazarus, Chus, Apache, and Chloe Caillet take over on Sunday. Traditionally, the party has always taken place poolside at a hotel in South Beach, so it will be interesting to see what the organizers do with a blank slate at the Marine Stadium. 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 3, and Sunday, July 4, at the Miami Marine Stadium, 3501 Rickenbacker Cswy., Miami; independance.com. Tickets cost $45 to $110.

Bedouin at Club Space

If you want to get lost at Club Space for the entirety of the Fourth of July weekend, you can definitely do that. Life on Planets will be at Floyd on Thursday, while Black Coffee and Loco Dice take over the terrace on Friday and Saturday, respectively. However, the party reaches its peak on Sunday, with Bedouin taking over the decks. The Brooklyn-based duo, made up of Tamer Malki and Rami Abousabe, are known for an eclectic sound that blends Middle Eastern and Western rhythms. The pair has also seen its records released by highly regarded labels like Crosstown Rebels, All Day I Dream, and Get Physical. 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday, July 4, at Club Space, 34 NE 11th St., Miami; 786-357-6456; clubspace.com. Tickets cost $60 to $80 via eventbrite.com.

Peter Croce at ATV Records

The Love Tempo celebrates its third anniversary on Sunday with a special set by Detroit-based producer Peter Croce. The Rocksteady Disco label head has had a relatively short career so far, but he's already played alongside greats like Ron Trent and opened for icons like Grace Jones. His 2017 debut single, "Revival," was a revelation to dance-music fans thanks to its faithful deep-house leanings. Last year's collaboration with Jaco Matthews, "Drums From Detroit," follows the same pattern, featuring organic rhythms that feel almost foreign in our synthesized present. 5 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at ATV Record, 1306 N. Miami Ave., Miami; 305-456-5613; atvrecords.com. Tickets cost $10 to $20 via thelovetempo-petercroce.eventbrite.com.

Lunay at E11even

While Fourth of July weekend events in Miami have always centered around dance music, there are options for those who are looking for urbano offerings. Downtown hedonistic palace E11even will celebrate the holiday with Puerto Rican rapper Lunay. The babyface 20-year-old recently released his second album, El Niño, lead by the single "Le Gusta Que La Vean." He's also collaborated with the likes of Danny Yankee, Bad Bunny, Anuel AA, and Ozuna. At E11even, Lunay will be joined by Puerto Rican hitmaker Chris Jedi. 8 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at E11even, 29 NE 11th St., Miami; 305-829-2911; 11miami.com. Tickets cost $50 to $75 via tixr.com.

Simon Doty at Treehouse

Canadian groove-maker Simon Doty is described as a "self-taught gear master," with influences ranging from Sasha and Joris Voorn to Carl Cox and Hernan Cattaneo. In 2020, he reached new heights when he released several singles on the venerable UK label Anjunadeep. On Sunday, he brings his Recess party to Treehouse, which also features producer Dosem, who recently appeared on Doty's Rhetorical Radio show. 8 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at Treehouse, 323 23rd St., Miami Beach; 786-318-1908; treehousemiami.com. Tickets cost $20 via treehousetickets.com.

Deep Dish at the Venue Fort Lauderdale

Dubfire and Sharam have been coming together as Deep Dish for well over two decades now. (The duo disbanded in 2006, only to reunite in 2014.) Of the course of their career, they've remixed the likes of Madonna, Depeche Mode, Coldplay, Justin Timberlake, and Dido, with the latter earning them a Grammy for "Best Remixed Recording" in 2002 for their rework of "Thank You." However, remix aside, Deep Dish magnum opus continues to be its 1998 debut album, Junk Science. The single "The Future of the Future (Stay Gold)" off the album continues to be a dance-floor classic to this day. Expect them to deliver plenty of house gems when Dubfire and Sharam hit the decks at the Venue in Fort Lauderdale for a four-hour set, with Jonathan Cowan serving as the opener. 9 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at the Venue Fort Lauderdale, 2345 Wilton Dr., Fort Lauderdale; 954-765-6968; thevenueftlauderdale.com. Tickets cost $55 to $125 via eventbrite.com.

Jauz at Maps Backlot

Local party promoter Blnk Cnvs is taking over Maps Backlot, starting on Friday with Sidepiece and Saturday with Hippie Sabotage. San Francisco DJ and producer Jauz will headline on Sunday, bring his frenetic energy to Wynwood. Jauz recently released "Oceans & Galaxies," his collaboration with Haliene, via Monstercat. The track is a downtempo cut that features Haliene's atmospheric vocals soaring above the melody. 9 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at Maps Backlot, 342 NW 24th St., Miami; blnkcnvs.com. Tickets cost $40 to $50 via tixr.com.