Family-Friendly Free Events & Festivals In Miami
- February 04, 2026
One of the best things about Greater Miami & Miami Beach is that there are always so many fun activities to experience. Even better? Many of the destination’s most memorable festivals and events won’t cost you a dime. One day you’re in Little Havana, watching vibrant street performances on Calle Ocho; the next, your little ones are getting hands-on at a festival. The city offers year-round free entertainment that welcomes families of all sizes.
Beaux Arts Festival
January
Considered Miami’s oldest juried art festival, Beaux Arts Festival brings more than 200 artists from across the country to the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables each January.
Children create their own masterpieces at interactive art stations, while parents browse works ranging from paintings to sculptures, with judges awarding over $20,000 in prizes to participating artists.
The festival includes entertainment and a marketplace with local vendors, plus a beer and wine garden to unwind in after a day of exploration. All funds raised support the University of Miami’s Lowe Art Museum and arts education throughout the community.
Family Fun Festival at Frost Science
January
The Family Fun Festival invites the community to explore science through activities and outdoor discovery at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Downtown Miami.
It all unfolds at Knight Plaza on the museum campus. Families can walk through engaging exhibits, catch live science demonstrations and connect with local community partners while enjoying food and entertainment.
Guests of all ages are encouraged to stop by, wander at their own pace and enjoy a day dedicated to accessible, community-driven science education.
Annual Children’s Festival
February
The Coral Gables Woman’s Club dedicates an entire Saturday each February to the Annual Children’s Festival in Coral Gables, encouraging creativity and play in a welcoming setting. Bring the whole family to interact with various learning stations, enjoy musical performances, and enjoy creative programming for children of all ages.
Past editions have featured K-9 unit demonstrations, yoga sessions, gardening lessons and storytelling corners. Parents can peruse the community resource booths highlighting child wellness and local services, plus enjoy healthy snacks throughout the day.
Calle Ocho Music Festival
March
The nation’s largest Hispanic music festival spans 15 blocks of Little Havana each March, drawing a million attendees year after year. The fun-filled, family-friendly event showcases multiple live music stages, international food vendors and folkloric dance performances.
Sample dishes from different countries, watch street entertainment and listen to everything from salsa to reggaeton as you make your way through the festival.
The Kiwanis Club of Little Havana sponsors the Calle Ocho Music Festival, which is considered the marquee celebration of Carnaval Miami. Proceeds benefit the Kiwanis of Little Havana Foundation.
Miami River Day Festival
April
For more than 25 years, the Miami Riverday Festival has celebrated the city’s historic waterway with free boat rides and kayak races.
Head down to the waterfront of the Lummus Park Historic District – Miami’s first park – for hands-on activities for little ones and historic tours that explain the waterway’s role in Miami’s development. It’s a great way to spend the day on the Miami River without needing your own boat.
All Kids Included Family Arts Festival
May
Now in its 20th year, the All Kids Included (AKI) Family Arts Festival is all about accessibility, bringing together children and families with and without disabilities for a day of music, theater performances and interactive arts programs at The Moss Center in South Dade.
Offerings include rock climbing, outdoor games, giveaways and live performances. The event offers full accessibility accommodations, including ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices, audio description, sensory-inclusive programming and more, ensuring that every child can participate.
Miami Book Fair
November
The Miami Book Fair is one of the nation’s largest literary events, taking over Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus each November in Downtown Miami.
More than 550 authors gather for eight days of panels, readings and conversations held in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. Families flock to the weekend street fair, with hundreds of booths from independent booksellers and publishers, plus a dedicated Children’s Alley featuring storytelling sessions, interactive STEAM activities and character meet-and-greets.
Kids who complete a scavenger hunt passport receive a free book, and children 12 and under get free admission all weekend.
Miami Beach Holiday Festival of Lights
December
Celebrate a festive holiday season the Miami Beach way with Holiday Festival of Lights. Presented by the Miami Beach Classical Music Festival, this event spans two weekends and features orchestral performances, holiday music, lively characters and projection mapping displays to delight audiences of all ages. Don’t forget to snap a photo with Ocean Drive’s 20-foot Christmas tree.
Family Fun Days at HistoryMiami Museum
Every Second Saturday of the Month, 10 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m.
Enjoy free admission to the HistoryMiami Museum in Downtown Miami, along with themed crafts, activities, performances and tours exploring Miami’s fascinating history.
PAMM Free Second Saturdays
Every Second Saturday of the Month, 11 a.m to 3 p.m.
The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) in Downtown Miami offers free admission featuring hands-on art activities for children and adults, plus guided tours.
Family Sundays at ICA Miami
Sundays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami in the Miami Design District offers free, one-hour workshops that engage families through storytelling, art-making or movement. Workshops are recommended for children age four to eight.
