Stay and Play: Where to Get Steeped in Miami Holiday Cheer

We may not be knee-deep in snow (we prefer sandy toes to bulky boots anyway), but that won’t stop us from decking the halls all December long. From family-friendly traditions to sleighcations and festive sips to holiday movie nights, here’s where to stay and play in Miami while spreading your love and light this season.

Miami City Ballet Enchants with George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®

Nothing else quite takes center stage in December like Miami City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. The Magic City will come alive inside the captivating Adrienne Arsht Center, where 100 dancers will gracefully leap and sway to a mesmerizing orchestra, complemented by the extraordinary set that brings Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece to life.

“In South Florida, the holidays arrive with sunshine, not snow, and Miami City Ballet’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® fits that beautifully,” shares Miami City Ballet artistic director Gonzalo Garcia. “It has become a holiday tradition here in the same way snow is part of the season elsewhere. Families return each year for a shared experience that signals celebration, togetherness and the joy of the season, all through the lens of Miami’s warmth, color and energy.”

Garcia says there’s just something about Balanchine’s choreography that meets you exactly where you are. “Kids fall in love with the characters, the story and the magic, while adults are swept up by the musicality and craft of the dancing.”

If you still haven’t scored seats this year, here’s something that’ll sweeten the deal: the return of the Land of Sweets, the immersive pre-show experience open to all ticketholders that extends the celebration beyond the stage, with magical surprises and festive treats in store for all.

Multiple shows through Sunday, December 28.

Adrienne Arsht Center is located at 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. For more information, visit their official website.

An EPIC Sleighcation

Kimpton EPIC Hotel is rolling out something, well, epic this month. Treat yourself to a holiday staycation and upgrade to the Sleighcation Suite, complete with festive decor (count us in for pillow talk with the Grinch!) and daily delights. Guests can also toast to the season at the hotel’s signature daily wine hour, which will feature an added coquito cart—also available for an on-demand nightcap, if you insist.

Additionally, if you’re toasting to 2026 at Kimpton EPIC Hotel, do it après ski-style at Zuma Miami, where you can expect all the cozy ski lodge vibes with seated dining experiences, music, and midnight firework viewing.

Kimpton EPIC Hotel is located at 270 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Miami. For more information, visit their official website.

All the Joy at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa is bringing endless joy throughout the month with a slew of holiday events for locals and guests alike. Gelt and Glory is a $20 buy-in dreidel battle (through December 22), The Art of the Wreath ($20) puts your hands to work for timeless crafting (December 21 and 25), the Deck the Palms series invites you to a complimentary tropical-style island bash (through December 21), and Sweet Story Studio ($20) invites you to build and devour edible creations during seasonal storytime (December 17, 19, 21, 22, 24, and 25).

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort and Spa is located at 19999 W. Country Club Dr., Aventura. For more information, visit their official website.

‘Tis the Season at InterContinental Miami

InterContinental Miami is going all out this month, from the lobby to the lounge chairs. Book the Festive Christmas Suite—they’ve even decorated a tree so you don’t have to—which comes with an array of holiday movies and a hot cocoa bar, plus Club access for complimentary daily breakfast, afternoon tea, and nightly happy hour.

Reserve a fully decked Sleigh in the Sun Cabana to soak in much-needed vitamin D during your holiday break (and you can reallllly enjoy it with your own bottle of Laurent Perrier Champagne, which comes with all the fixings to make bubbly Poinsettia cocktails).

When the sun sets, enter Frosty’s Hideaway for an underground winter wonderland escape fueled by boozy jubilee ($56 per person), with yule mules, noel margaritas, and chocotinis galore.

As a decadent finale, on December 31, Sweets and Bubbles VIP Fireworks ($95) invites you to a private fireworks show with champagne and house-made sweets for all (the kiddos can sip sparkling cider).

InterContinental Miami is located at 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami. For more information, visit their official website.

12 Nights of Sips at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami

On the heels of its newly revealed $100 million glow-up, The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne is toasting to its refresh with 12 Nights of Cocktails. Pair a different sip with salty breezes each night at two tropical bars: Rum Bar, steeped in Caribbean flavor, and Dune Bar, with an open-air layout perfect for oceanfront libations, especially at sunset.

12 Nights of Cocktails takes place from Saturday, December 20 through Wednesday, January 1.

The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami is located at 455 Grand Bay Dr., Key Biscayne. For more information, visit their official website.

French English Launch at Maison Ostrow

The ultimate Hanukkah mitzvah: chefs Olivia Ostrow and Todd English are teaming up at Maison Ostrow for the first-ever French English dinner to debut the duo’s new global culinary partnership for a good cause. Ostrow’s French-Mediterranean kosher style meets English’s international approach (think truffle miso fried chicken, caviar latkes, duck shawarma, and more), and ticket proceeds will benefit Sharsheret, supporting Jewish women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer.

If you can’t make it to dinner, you can enjoy the tableside latke cart service instead (also available to-go) with elevated toppings like caviar, smoked salmon, fresh truffle, duck confit, pastrami, caramelized apples, and more as an add-on for $45 through Monday, December 22—because you deserve one extra bonus night after Hanukkah ends.

Thursday, December 18 at 7 p.m.

Maison Ostrow is located at 1666 79th Street Causeway, Ste. 102, North Bay Village. For more information, visit their official website.

Christmas Movies on The Miami Beach EDITION Lawn

If you need a night away from this year’s Netflix holiday lineup, Movies on the Lawn ($19.10) at Miami Beach EDITION has you covered. Bookmark “A Christmas Story” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with fresh popcorn and curated holiday treats, along with special cocktails available for purchase. On your way out, stop by to snap photos in front of the 10-foot Christmas tree, a partnership with MILAGROS Collective featuring 100 percent upcycled materials, part of the hotel’s year-round sustainability commitment.

Sunday, December 21 and Wednesday, December 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Miami Beach EDITION is located at 2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. For more information, visit their official website.

A Festival of Music and Light on Ocean Drive

A spectacle of music, light, and all things merry and bright will dazzle the 1400 block of Ocean Drive on Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21 at the Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights. Under the direction of Michael Rossi, founder and artistic director of Miami Beach Classical Music Festival, the two show-stopping, family-friendly evenings will blend a live orchestra with projection mapping on iconic buildings, including The Betsy, and live characters, including Santa Claus, the Grinch, and Elsa, all accented with “snow” and a towering 20-foot Christmas tree.

Saturday, December 20 and Sunday, December 21 at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights is located at 1440 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach. For more information, visit the event website.

Bayside Marketplace Turns on the Charm

If you haven’t made plans for the fourth night of Hanukkah, fret not; Bayside Marketplace has you covered. Bring the entire brood out for a menorah lighting ceremony. Gather ’round the waterfront for a true treat—a rabbi will lead the traditional lighting for everyone to bask in the brightness together.

The celebration continues Thursday, December 18 and Tuesday, December 23 for live Christmastime performances by Yuletide Carolers dressed in Dickens-inspired ‘fits as they sing in perfect harmony, bouncing all the way off beautiful Biscayne Bay.

Wednesday, December 17 from 4:30-5 p.m. and Thursday, December 18 and Tuesday, December 23 from 4-5 p.m.

Bayside Marketplace is located at 401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. For more information, visit their official website.