The Best Things to Do in Miami This Weekend

Hanukkah has come and gone, and Christmas is less than two weeks away. So though we won't be seeing snow down here, the holiday season is still in full swing in South Florida. This weekend, see Miami City Ballet perform The Nutcracker, join the Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl, or hit up Y100's Jingle Ball for performances by Khalid, Shawn Mendes, and many other acts. And if you're feeling like the Grinch, skip the Christmas music and head for the sixth-annual Buskerfest Miami Street Performance Festival instead.

Here are the best events happening in Miami this weekend.
Friday

Now is your chance to see The Nutcracker live. The timeless production hits the Arsht Center this Friday. Miami City Ballet's rendition of George Balanchine's classic has it all — twirling, white-clad dancers, toy soldiers, and the iconic "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." 7 p.m. Friday, December 14, and select dates through December 24 at Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; arshtcenter.org. Tickets cost $45 to $90.

The holidays don't have to be strictly "Jingle Bell Rock" on repeat. Fortunately, Gramps is here to help with its Jazzy Holidaze. Headlining the diverse, music-filled evening are the hip-hop collective Foom!, the indie rockers of Poparazzi, Seafoam Walls, and the soulful Butterfly Snapple. After this affair, you'll forget all of that overplayed holiday stuff. 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, December 14, at Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami; facebook.com. Admission is free.

Some of Miami's most talented folks are hitting the streets. This Friday, musicians, theater groups, comedians, dancers, and others will perform in a number of public spots. It's all part of the sixth-annual Buskerfest Miami Street Performance Festival. Slated to perform are Bonefish Johnny, Curt Big Fooley, Salsa Timba 305, Young Musicians Unite, and a slew of others. They'll hit Metromover's inner-loop stations and a number of satellite locations. You can pick up a passport outlining all performers and locations from any Buskerfest volunteer or at Buskerfest's headquarters in Bayfront Park. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, December 14, headquartered at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; buskerfestmiami.com. Admission is free.
Saturday

That heinous sweater of yours is ready for its moment. The second-annual Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl is set to hit five Brickell hot spots. Participating bars include Fado Irish Pub (where you register), Blackbird Ordinary, Baru Latinbar, Batch Gastropub, and American Social. Crawlers will get one free drink at each stop, and holiday-themed drink specials will be available all night. Just try not to spill anything on that sweater. 7 p.m. Saturday, December 15, at Fado Irish Pub, 900 S. Miami Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $20 via eventbrite.com.

WallCast nights with the New World Symphony are a blast. This Saturday, you can catch Sounds of the Season inside the New World Center, with delights from Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride, Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite, and other numbers. Your other choice is to catch the performance right outside the venue, streamed live on a massive wall, alongside thousands of other fans, during a free WallCast experience. Happy holidays — you have options! 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 15, at New World Center, 500 17th St., Miami Beach. Admission is free.

You know the age-old debate about Die Hard, and if you've seen the film, you've probably dug in your heels about whether it's a Christmas movie. The folks at Coral Gables Art Cinema appear to fall on one side of the fence, because they just so happen to be showing the film this weekend, exactly ten days before Christmas. Need another look so you can make up your mind? Get tickets to this 30th-anniversary, after-hours screening. 11:30 p.m. Saturday, December 15, at Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. Tickets cost $8 via gablescinema.org.
Surely you know Macy Gray's Grammy-winning hit, "I Try," by heart, as it was inescapable in 1999. But if you haven't kept up with her career, you've missed out on quite the intriguing, zigzagging musical journey. Her latest album, Ruby, was a critical favorite this year. This Saturday, Gray will join BJ the Chicago Kid and the Miami Mass Choir for Nu Deco Ensemble's closing concert of 2018. The local ensemble's year-end shows in the stunning concert hall are quickly becoming a December tradition in Miami. 8 p.m. Saturday, December 15, at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Tickets cost $25 to $80 via arshtcenter.org.

Homemade goodness and chilled brews are on the menu at MIA Beer Company's Croquetas y Cerveza. MIA's suds will help you wash down warm, doughy, and crisp croquetas fried by some of South Florida's best restaurants, including Dos Croquetas and Masa Craft 305. Though the menu has not been released yet, expect some of the croqueta-and-beer pairings to follow a holiday theme. 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, December 15, at MIA Beer Company, 10400 NW 33rd St., Miami; 786-801-1721; mia.beer. Tickets cost $25 via eventbrite.com.

Stock up on breads and pastries at the Wynwood Yard's first Baker's Dozen, a festival presenting Miami's best bakers. Stroll the outdoor hangout and sample goods from more than a dozen vendors, including Lily & Pips, Illegal Bakery, Lulu's Nitrogen Ice Cream, and Dasher & Crank. Be sure to vote for your top bite, because the vendor with the most votes will land a pop-up at the Yard. 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, December 15, at the Wynwood Yard, 56 NW 29th St., Miami; 305-351-0366; thewynwoodyard.com. Tickets cost $10 via eventbrite.com.
Sunday

This lineup is quite the gift. Y100's Jingle Ball will ho-ho-ho its way into the BB&T Center, where the annual concert will be headlined by Shawn Mendes, Calvin Harris, and Khalid. As if those three weren't enough to make you jolly, Marshmello, Bebe Rexha, Alessia Cara, Bazzi, Sabrina Carpenter, Anne-Marie, and Jack & Jack will also perform. 7 p.m. Sunday, December 16, at BB&T Center, 1 Panther Pkwy., Sunrise; thebbtcenter.com. Tickets cost $46 to $151.

Have you seen Bohemian Rhapsody, the Queen biopic that premiered in November? Marc Martel was chosen to record vocals as Freddy Mercury for the flick. His is one of the greatest Mercury-esque voices on the planet, and he even toured with Queen in 2012. Martel will hit the 305 this weekend as part of the Ultimate Queen Celebration. Count on all the classics, from "Somebody to Love" to "Fat Bottomed Girls." This tribute will absolutely make your rockin' world go 'round. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 16, at Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; arshtcenter.org. Tickets cost $39 to $79.

Take Fido and Fluffy to brunch at Concrete Beach Brewery's monthly Pups & Pints this Sunday. Expect canine and human fare from local vendors, as well as beer, music, and other dog-friendly pop-up shops. Plus, this month's edition will include a morning session of Puppy Yoga, where adoptable puppies will romp among participating yogis. A portion of the proceeds from Pups & Pints will benefit Paws 4 You, so you can feel even better about sipping suds and stuffing your face. 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, December 16, at Concrete Beach Brewery, 325 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-796-2727; concretebeachbrewery.com. Admission is free.