The 13th-annual International Chocolate Festival at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Friday through Sunday, thousands of sweets lovers will gather in Coral Gables for three jam-packed days of educational exhibits and lectures, live music, cooking demonstrations, plenty of sweet samples, and even a ChocoSpa experience. The event centers around Fairchild's dedication to bean-to-bar education, giving attendees an inside look into the chocolate-making process. With more than a dozen lectures, demos, and tastings, topics range from the challenges of growing cacao in South Florida to the future of chocolate according to master chocolatiers. Friday, January 25, through Sunday, January 27, at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables; 305-667-1651; fairchildgarden.org. Tickets cost $12 to $25 via store.fairchildonline.com.
Little Lighthouse Foundation's Birthday Celebration at Astra. The Little Lighthouse Foundation, which serves children and their families across South Florida, is celebrating its ninth birthday at Wynwood’s newest rooftop restaurant, Astra. Expect an open bar, mocktails by LaCroix, Mediterranean-inspired hors d'oeuvres by Astra, and a birthday cake made by Sweets by Stephanie. 9 p.m. Friday, January 25, at Astra, 2121 NW Second St., Miami; $50 via eventbrite.com.
Wynwood Life Returns to the Arts District. Art. Food. Fashion. Drinks. Music. All are part of Wynwood living these days. That's exactly what the annual Wynwood Life Festival celebrates. Back for a seventh year, this shindig will include tunes from several Wynwood DJs — including DJ EXF, DJ Erwin, Tillery James, and DJ Ivan — as well as art activations, food, and goods from seemingly every business in Wynwood. 4 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday, noon to 3 a.m. Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday near 2250 NW Second Ave., Miami; wynwoodlife.com. Admission is free.
KISS Country 99.9 Chili Cookoff at C.B. Smith Park. Dust off those cowboy hats,
Food at Pegasus World Cup. Considered one of the most important days in horse racing, the Pegasus World Cup returns to Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 26, as the richest thoroughbred horse race partners compete while you eat and drink. This year, the race's VIP experience features a restaurant row with gourmet food and beverage offerings by Komodo, Planta, Swan, Bar Bevy, and more. There will also be live performances by Snoop Dogg and Mark Ronson. Oh, and horses. 2 p.m. Saturday, January 26, at Gulfstream Park. 901 S. Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach; 954-454-7000; pegasusworldcup.com. LIV experiences start at $75. For table reservations, call 305-674-4680 or email [email protected].
The Hungry Post Sunset Party at Eden Roc. Saturday, Miami food blogger the Hungry Post will host a burger-themed sunset party at the Eden Roc. Expect live music, as well as burgers and tacos from Malibu Farm, additional bites courtesy of Nobu, and the Hungry Post's own burger interpretation. Free entrance and happy hour will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Otherwise, the event will last until 11 p.m. 4 p.m. Saturday, January 26, at Eden Roc, 4525 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Tickets cost $25 via eventbrite.com.
Save the Drama for Your Llama: Pisco Sour Release Party at Concrete Beach Brewery. It's time to drink up because Concrete Beach Brewery is about to release its Pisco Sour beer in cans. Obviously, that's cause for celebration. This Saturday, dance to cumbia rhythms, eat Peruvian
Potter Crawl at Blackbird Ordinary. Grab your wand and transport yourself to Blackbird Ordinary for the second-annual Potter Crawl. Wizards and muggles will drink their way through Brickell to sip Potter-inspired cocktails. Stops include American Social, Batch Gastropub, Barú, and RedBar, and themed drinks range from the Dragon's Fire to the Unicorn Blood, made with tequila and lemon juice. Besides enjoying a free drink at each stop, keep an eye out for additional specials and promotions. Don't forget to dress up too. 7 p.m. Saturday at Blackbird Ordinary, 729 SW First Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $20 via eventbrite.com.
The Citadel Preview Block Party. After about two years in the making, the Citadel is almost ready to open. The project, by Nick Hamann and UrbanAtlanticGroup, is turning the 60,000-square-foot former Federal Reserve Bank, built in 1951, into a combination food hall, market, and workspace that includes a rooftop bar, daily event activations, and a retail component. To celebrate its upcoming debut, which is expected sometime in February, the Citadel will host the Preview Block Party, a kid- and dog-friendly event complete with music, tastings, and a sneak peek inside. Food will be available for purchase, and the Indie Flea, bringing 30 vintage and maker vendors, will take over the retail space for the event. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at 8300 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-989-8601; thecitadelmiami.com. Admission is free with RSVP via eventbrite.com.
