Calendar-Specific Open Houses
Art Deco Weekend — Free Annual Street Festival
Ocean Drive's Annual Celebration of Miami Beach's Architectural Heritage
Art Deco Weekend is an annual free street festival on Ocean Drive celebrating Miami Beach's iconic Art Deco architecture — guided walking tours, vintage car shows, live music, and open-air exhibitions, organized by the Miami Design Preservation League.
Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District is the largest concentration of Art Deco architecture in the world, and Art Deco Weekend is the annual celebration of that heritage. The free street festival takes over Ocean Drive for a weekend — typically in January — with guided architectural walking tours, vintage and classic car shows, live music on outdoor stages, and exhibitions about the history and preservation of the district. The Miami Design Preservation League, which has been the primary force behind the district's preservation since the 1970s, organizes the event. It draws tens of thousands of visitors and remains one of Miami Beach's most distinctive annual events.
Insider Essentials
- WhenAnnual — typically January. Check the Miami Design Preservation League website for the current year's dates.
- LocationOcean Drive Historic District, South Beach. The festival runs along Ocean Drive between 5th and 15th Streets.
- CostFree. The street festival is open to the public at no charge. Some guided tours may have a nominal fee — check the MDPL website for details.
Insider Hacks
How to make the most of this resource.
What to Do at Art Deco Weekend
The festival offers multiple ways to engage with the district's architecture and history:
- Guided walking tours:The Miami Design Preservation League leads guided architectural tours of the historic district during the weekend. These are among the best ways to understand the buildings' history and design details.
- Vintage car show:Classic and vintage cars from the Art Deco era are displayed along Ocean Drive — a visual complement to the architecture that surrounds them.
- Live music:Outdoor stages along Ocean Drive feature live music throughout the weekend — big band, swing, and jazz appropriate to the era.
Getting There
- Miami Beach Trolley:The South Beach Loop trolley runs along Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue. The Ocean Drive corridor is a short walk from multiple trolley stops. Free.
- Arrive early:Art Deco Weekend draws large crowds. Arriving in the morning gives you the best access to tours and the least crowded viewing of the car show and architecture.