Acute Reflectionsm, a velvety mix of Erykah Badu and Billie Holiday perform at this year's Art Deco Weekend at the Jazz Age Stage at Lummus Park and 12th Street beginning at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20.
Art Deco Weekend returns for its 48th year with a nod to The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts which first celebrated the Art Deco movement in 1925 in Paris. Daniel Ciraldo, executive director of the Miami Design Preservation League, the organization responsible for the production of the festival says, “Art Deco Weekend grows each year and this year plans to be one of its biggest with events that celebrate the 1925 exhibition in Paris.”
The upcoming festival is themed Art Deco Centennial 1925-2025. The first festival in 1977 was organized to celebrate Miami’s architecture, history, arts, and culture and the beautiful Art Deco architecture on Ocean Drive. “The 2025 festival features a larger itinerary of music, events, lectures, tours, and special attractions than previous years.”
Aerial view of Ocean Drive during Art Deco Weekend.
George Neary, a local Art Deco activist who served as associate vice president for Cultural Tourism for the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau for 20 years, wanted to share his view on the importance of this festival. “Miami Beach is the world capital of Art Deco with the largest concentration of Art Deco Buildings in the world. Art Deco Weekend is the event that saved these buildings from demolition and changed the way the world looked at these historic buildings.”
Art Deco Weekend (actually it’s only three days of scheduled events) kicks off Friday, Jan. 17 before the festival actually begins.
“This is a first for us to have an event the night before the festival,” says Ciraldo. “I’m excited about this. Friday evening will be all about the 1980s with a special tour that includes film locations of the popular series 'Miami Vice' and includes a bar crawl.”
Jazz fans will not want to miss the VIP Opening Night Soirée: An Evening with the South Florida Jazz Orchestra featuring Dr. Lisanne Lyons. As always, the main feature is the Artisan Market along Ocean Drive (between 5th and 10th streets) featuring local and out-of-state vendors with a variety of products, gifts, arts, and foods.
The Art Train, renamed Art Deco Train for this event, will feature a showcase of 217 artists from 37 countries across five Art Trains located on Ocean Drive between 12th and 13th Street.
"This year we have an impressive roster of music," says Ciraldo. "Our team worked hard to gather groups that everyone should enjoy." The French Horn Collective performs on Saturday, The James McCoy Quartet on Sunday, and Sunday Soirée w South Florida Jazz Orchestra and Ashley Pezzotti. "For the first time, we've extended the festival to Monday," says Ciraldo.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day there are performances by Mike Cady, LeNard Rutledge Jazz Ensemble, and Acute Inflections offering a velvety mix of Erykah Badu and Billie Holiday covers. All music performances located at the Jazz Age Stage at Lummus Park and 12th Street.
At left, Art Deco Fashion Show, and, art right, fashionable pooches participating in the Paws Promenade.
Join in the fun and dance with the music of the '30s and '40s and a variety of dance opportunities including classes for those ready to "cut a rug." On Saturday, learn the basic dance steps of Swing/Lindy Hop with four-time World Champion Yuval Hod and Gypsy Juls on Saturday (no partner required) or get a taste of Collegiate Shag with International Dance Champions Nathalie Gomes Adams and Minn Vo (no partner required). On Sunday learn the basic steps of 20s Charleston four-time World Champion Yuval Hod and Juls Slavikas (no partner required) or later with 4-time World Champs Nathalie and Yuval. On Monday learn the history of Balboa and then dance along with Dance Champs Minn Vo and Lily Matini. (All dance events at the Jazz Age Stage at Lummus Park and 12th Street.)
The 2025 Art Deco Weekend poster.
Art Deco Weekend is packed with events for the whole family with many activities for the kids. Deco Kids Fun Zone offers kids a safe place to participate in bounce house, obstacle course, and other activities (Ocean Drive & 8th Street). Join Commissioner Laura Dominguez on Ocean Drive to play Chess in memory of Commissioner Mark Samuelian (12th street and Ocean Drive ). Even the dogs can participate with the annual Paws, Promenade (11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Majestic Hotel at 7th and Ocean) where you can bring your dressed-up canine to strut along in the Dog Parade and Promenade (there will be prizes). Car lovers will rejoice to learn that the Classic Car Show (by the Antique Automobile Club of America South Florida Region) returns with a showcase of vintage autos that will be displayed between 5th and 10th streets.
Art Deco Weekend is packed with events for the whole family with many activities for the kids.
Miami Design Preservation League, known for its Art Deco tours, has scheduled a variety of tours during the weekend including Deco Nights and Neon Lights Tour, Ocean Drive Architectural Tour, Jewish Miami Beach Tour, and South Beach Crimes and Scandals Tour. (Check website for dates, times, and how to make reservations.)
For Art Deco aficionados, the weekend also offers specialized exhibits and lectures including Henry Hohauser: Designing Paradise (at the Art Deco Welcome Center), Art Deco Crosses the Atlantic (a lecture presented by the Wolfsonian-FIU museum), The Hidden Histories of Mediterranean Revival Architecture (at the Wolfsonian-FIU museum), and From The Industrial Revolution to Art Deco Connecting The Dots (a lecture at the Art Deco Welcome Center). Honoring the Paris 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial, the Wolfsonian-FIU Museum offers a lecture on the global movement ignited by that exhibition at that time as well as a mini-exhibition in their library honoring French icon Josephine Baker. (Check the website for times and make reservations.)
Ocean Drive during Art Deco Weekend.
The Miami Design Preservation League, Expo Metro and Bibi Art Media Inc. have joined forces to introduce an exciting new dimension to Art Deco Weekend Miami as this year marks the historic Art Deco Centennial 1925-2025 and celebrates Martin Luther King Holiday, on Monday, Jan. 20. The Art Train, renamed Art Deco Train for this event, will feature a showcase of 217 artists from 37 countries across five Art Trains located on Ocean Drive between 12th and 13th Street.
Join in the fun and dance with the music of the '30s and '40s and a variety of dance opportunities including classes for those ready to "cut a rug."
Will there be food? Yes, besides all the wonderful cafes open on Ocean Drive, Art Deco Weekend features a variety of food booths and bars. Bring your camera and wear comfortable shoes as there are blocks of exciting events, showcases, music, food booths, and photo ops.
"The festival is a giant undertaking that attracts thousands of visitors to our city," says Ciraldo. "We are so very proud of the many new additions to the festival this year and thank you to our sponsors."
Art Deco Weekend: Jan. 18 through 20, 2025, is located on Ocean Drive and Lummus Park (between 5th and 12th Streets) in Miami Beach. Festival Hours: Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information and a detailed itinerary visit artdecoweekend.org/events-2025/.
