Your Guide to Interactive Pop-Ups in Miami

Catch & Snap These Insta-worthy Pop-Ups Before They’re Gone

These days, it’s all about the ‘gram, and interactive pop-ups with never-ending photo ops are trending all over Miami. Many are here today, gone tomorrow while others will stick around for good. Here, we’ve rounded up the most Instagrammable spots in Miami that not only allow photography but encourage it. Get ready to rack up those “likes” on your social media feeds.

Holiday-Themed Pop-Ups

While long-gone now, the Museum of Ice Cream in the Faena District of Mid-Beach kicked off Miami’s interactive museum trend in 2017, with people lining up to snag pictures of themselves diving into a sprinkle swimming pool, swinging on a suspended banana, and of course, eating delicious frozen treats. Since then, Miami has seen an abundance of interactive pop-ups including The Night Garden at Fairchild, an incredible holiday light show with talking trees and flying fairies, which runs through January 11, 2020.

This year’s incredible Chinese lantern exhibit, Luminosa at Jungle Island, features plenty of chances to light up your social media feed with snaps in front of illuminated dangling jellyfish, hot-pink flamingos, blooming flowers and many more dramatic light fixtures sprinkled throughout the animal displays. The light show hangs around until January 8, 2020. Also, expect to see those glowing spotted pumpkins from Yayoi Kusama’s “All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins” exhibition at ICA in the Miami Design District until January 31, 2020. Even though we’re way past Halloween, people can’t seem to get enough of the mirror-lined room with LED lighting that exaggerates those golden globes.

Experience colorful fun at Unicorn Factory

Fantasy-Inspired Pop-Up

Love everything rainbows and unicorns? Head to the Unicorn Factory in Wynwood, a 6,000-square-foot fantasy land that’s sure to bring out your inner child and provide endless photo opportunities. Wander rooms filled with colorful rainbows, gigantic unicorn horns and other fun backdrops like sparkling disco balls that dangle from above, and a “Dream Catcher” pit filled with colorful balls meant for jumping in. The lighting is staged for awesome photos, and the whole experience takes about 45 minutes, depending on how many photos you’re snapping. There’s also complimentary cotton candy and face painting. Open through March 2020 with possible extension

Cool Pop-Ups in a Mega Mall

Tucked away on the third floor of Aventura Mall in Treats Food Hall is Candytopia, and just like its name, this is a confectionary wonderland that promises to give you a sugar rush (and up your Insta feed). Created by global candy artist Jackie Sorkin, star of TLC’s “Candy Queen” and a few others, this mini-theme park is filled with over-the-top candy creations like a dragon covered in Swedish fish and red licorice strings, a confetti room that knows how to drop the fun (meaning you’ll likely leave with rainbow confetti in your hair), and a giant pit packed with more squishy marshmallows that you can count. Fashionistas will also want to pop-in the one-of-a-kind alice + olivia-themed room, where in partnership with Bazooka Candy Brands, you’ll get a free Ring Pop lollipop. Open through September 30, 2020.

Avant-Garde Pop-Ups in South Beach

For some true OMG-moments, check out the two-story Museum of Illusions on Lincoln Road, which already has popular locations in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and offers more than 40 different interactive 3D illusions. You can snap some great shots dangling over hungry Florida alligators, performing like a rock star, chilling on an elephant, hanging upside down from the ceiling, hanging on to the edge of a tall building, and many more mind-blowing optical illusions. It’s meant for all ages, and kids under the age of 3 get in free. Permanent

Art, and your pictures, truly come to life at the uber-cool Artechouse Miami on South Beach, where the interactive installations change seasonally. Expect an immersive experience where you’re encouraged to touch and interact with the digital art – which means posing, dancing and whatever else you’re inspired to do. The digital art space features technology-driven, museum-quality pieces by artists who are forerunners of the new age in the arts and technology. Artechouse will showcase its newest exhibition “Infinite Space” by Refik Anadol, which explores memories and dreams through the mind of a machine and features the artist’s world-renowned immersive installation “Infinity Room,” until spring 2020. Permanent