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The Big Read 2023 and free, family activities

In South Florida, the Miami Book Fair and the Miami-Dade Public Library system are among the participants that will be offering free activities and presentations to explore themes from a selected book.

The Big Read 2023 is a yearly event by the National Endowment for the Arts aimed at broadening our understanding of the world, our communities and ourselves through books. 

This year’s Big Read programs are scheduled through April 30. 

So, what’s this year’s selection? Participants are invited to read “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude,” an award-winning poetry collection by Writer, Educator and Community Gardener Ross Gay. The book will also be given away at several of this year’s events.

Friday, March 3 is the kickoff during Gables Gallery Night at 6 p.m. Books & Books at 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. Free copies of this year’s book will be handed out during the opening night of the exhibition “Thank You Azalea, Seagrape Tree, and Sabal Palm,” an exhibition of Florida nature paintings by Penny Thurer.

For more information on this year’s Big Read, click here. Events include book discussions, art workshops and essay discussions all centered around nature and gardening. The two-month event culminates with the story book picnic on April 22 at 11 a.m. at the Shenandoah Branch Library.

More Miami-Dade events

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Regal Theatres: Discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays

All Day | $5.00-7.00 | Regal Cinemas Multiple Locations

Miami Museum & Attractions Months

All Day | Discounted

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Regal Cinemas kids' summer movies for $2

10:00 am | Discounted | Regal Cinemas

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Market Tuesdays at CityPlace Doral

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | CityPlace Doral

Tasty Tuesdays with Food Trucks

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Amphitheater in Boca Raton

Food Trucks Tuesdays

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haulover Beach Park

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Miami Museum & Attractions Months

All Day | Discounted

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Regal Cinemas kids' summer movies for $2

10:00 am | Discounted | Regal Cinemas

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Haitian Heritage Month Guest Storytime

3:30 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Miami Public Library

Food truck gathering at Pelican Harbor Marina

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Pelican Harbor Marina

Kompa Classes at North Miami Library

6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | North Miami Public Library

The Moth - Miami StorySLAM

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Sandrell Rivers Theater

Comedy Night at Pub 52

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co., Miami-Dade

Comedy Night at Exit One Taproom

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Exit One Taproom, Miami-Dade

Thursday, June 1, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Food Truck Thursdays at Highland Oaks Park

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Highland Oaks Park

Live music at Doral Yard

7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Friday, June 2, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Food truck gathering at Tropical Park

5:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Tropical Park

Free First Fridays at ICA

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | ICA Miami

Free Gallery Night entry

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Coral Gables Museum

Jam on percussion for free

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | South Florida Center for Percussive Arts

Live Music at Doral Yard

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU free every Saturday

All Day | FREE | Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU

Gold Coast Museum free first Saturday

All Day | FREE | Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

$5 all-day fares weekends on Tri-Rail

5:00 am to 11:30 pm | $5.00

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum, Miami-Dade

Live Music at Doral Yard

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Discount late-night movies

11:30 pm to 2:00 am | $5.00 | Coral Gables Art Cinema

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

$5 all-day fares weekends on Tri-Rail

5:00 am to 11:30 pm | $5.00

Pinecrest drive-up Farmer's Market

8:00 am to 2:00 pm | Pinecrest Gardens

Palmetto Bay Farmer's Market

8:30 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Coral Reef Park

Free trees for Miami-Dade residents

9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Miami Dade College North Campus

Vizcaya weekly farmer's market

9:00 am to 2:00 pm | Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Farmer's Market at Village of Merrick Park

11:00 am to 5:00 pm | Merrick Park

CommuniTEA Dance

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum, Miami-Dade

Bluegrass festival and acoustic jam

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Greynolds Park

Free CommuniTea Dance at Arsht Center

1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE

Free tour of historic Biltmore Hotel

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Biltmore Hotel

Ocean Drive Promenade Music Series

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ocean Drive Promenade, Miami Beach

Tropical Sundays Live Music

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Poinciana Fiesta and Celebration Party and Reception

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Comedy Night at Nightlife Brewing Co.

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co., Miami-Dade

Salsa dance class

9:00 pm | FREE | Ball & Chain

Monday, June 5, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Comedy Night at Sandbar Sports Grill

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Sandbar Sports Grill, Miami-Dade

See all the free and cheap events this week.

Josie Gulliksen

About 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, Biscayne Times, Edible South FL and Miami Media Group. 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.

Living on the CheapMiami on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

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