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Josie Gulliksen

Josie Gulliksen is a freelance writer and major arts advocate and enthusiast who loves everything cultural and is excited to live in such a thriving community as Miami. A Miami native, aside from Miami on the Cheap, she currently writes for Artburst Miami and contributes to Edible South FL and Miami Media Group. She has contributed to Miami.com, Biscayne Times and Miami New Times. She worked for nearly a decade at Miami Today as Calendar Editor and arts writer and then worked for 13 years in public relations. She has her own blog Scene Around South FL at josiegulliksen.com

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During Miami winters, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden transforms itself into The NightGarden, an enchanted, illuminated experience full of fantasy and wonderment, where things like the Wise Talking Tree, Archimedes and Flying Fairies come to life. This magical garden is scheduled to be open Nov. 7, 2025 through Jan. 11, 2026. Feast your eyes on stunning …

Read More about Fairchild’s NightGarden & discounts: 25% off Black Friday deal

Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church will present a free “Ukrainian Christmas Traditions” concert featuring “Carols of the Bells” plus food, crafts and more starting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, December 6, 2025. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with food, crafts and more. The “Carols of the Bells” concert will begin at 6 …

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Christmas tree lightings and winter fests are happening earlier and earlier each year. Here’s where to watch when they flip the switch and hundreds of lights bring the tree to life! And even though we don’t have much winter weather in Miami-Dade, there are winter festivals to be found. We will add more tree lighting …

Read More about Tree lightings and free holiday events around Miami-Dade

Come spend a Sunday afternoon filled with holiday fun on Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center during the Dan + Claudia Zanes Holiday Sing Along. Grammy Award winner Dan Zanes and jazz vocalist Claudia Zanes present a performance filled with traditional holiday songs from around the world including Puerto Rico, Korea, …

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The Miami Beach Bandshell is one of the city’s busiest venues where free music and dance performances are regularly presented. The open-air location provides a gorgeous snapshot of Miami Beach and is just steps from the water. Here’s what’s coming up that’s free:       North Beach Social: The Navikaran Quartet Thursday, Nov. 20, …

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Rene Rodriguez, former film critic for The Miami Herald, now runs the Cosford Cinema on the University of Miami Campus and he’s always coming up with some type of innovative film series.   Up next…   Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m.  Advance screening of “Hamnet” (2025) which tells the story of William Shakespeare’s inspiration …

Read More about Free and $6 movies at Cosford Cinema

The City of Homestead transforms Loser Park into a Winter Wonderland for the holidays from Nov. 22, 2025 through Jan. 4, 2026 with a variety of holiday-themed activations, a holiday light display and an ice skating rink! Times vary each day. Admission to the experience is free, the only fee is for skating. Click here …

Read More about Discover Homestead: Winter Wonderland

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! So goes the classic holiday song and although in Miami that’s never going to happen, it will magically appear at Dolphin Mall. The 20th Annual Magical Snowfall tradition happens nightly through Sunday, Jan. 7, 2026, at Ramblas Plaza. The magical snowfall will take place at the …

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HistoryMiami museum hosts a free Family Fun Day the second Saturday of every month, with free admission for all. The free admission is all day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with activities taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is required to participate. You can register online.   The theme rotates monthly, …

Read More about Free Family Fun Day at HistoryMiami and other free events

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