South Florida Events This Week: 7 Events Worth Leaving the House For (Oct 26 – Nov 1)

This is the biggest event week of the fall in South Florida, and it is not close. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (https://www.flibs.com/) — the largest in-water boat show on the planet — fills six waterfront sites for five days, Ed Sheeran plays two nights in a 7,000-seat room instead of a stadium, the Miami Film Festival GEMS (https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/event/miami-film-festival-gems/226) opens its 13th edition, and Halloween lands on a Saturday, which means every block party in the region goes all-in on the same night. Here are 7 verified events for this week in South Florida — every one checked against its official listing, with the date, venue, price and link you need. Confirm on the official link before you head out, because fall schedules can shift. MONDAY, OCTOBER 26 1. Steve Lacy: Oh Yeah? Tour — Monday Night Under the Skyline Steve Lacy (https://www.tickpick.com/concerts/steve-lacy-tickets/) opens the week outdoors at Bayfront Park. The Grammy-winning R&B artist brings his Oh Yeah? Tour to the waterfront amphitheater for one Miami night — expect "Dark Red," "Bad Habit" and a full band under the downtown skyline, according to the tour listing. When: Monday, October 26, 8:00 p.m. Where: FPL Solar Amphitheater at Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd, Miami Price: Tickets via the tour listing — resale started around $102 at the time of checking Best for: Anyone who wants the week's best concert without arena prices or arena crowds. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 2. Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show — The Biggest Show on Water The 67th Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (https://www.flibs.com/) is the week's anchor event: more than 1,300 boats and 1,000 exhibitors spread across six sites, including Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Las Olas Marina and Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six, according to the show. New for 2026: a floating pickleball court at Las Olas Marina and the Windward VIP Cabana Club at Bahia Mar. Free shuttles and water taxis connect the sites. When: Wednesday, October 28 – Sunday, November 1. Preview Day Wednesday 12:00–7:00 p.m.; Thursday–Saturday 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Where: Six waterfront sites in Fort Lauderdale, anchored at Bahia Mar, 801 Seabreeze Blvd Price: 1-day general admission $48 (Thursday–Sunday); Preview ticket $73; kids 6–12 $19, under 6 free; Windward VIP $459. Tickets are online only — there is no box office at the show. Best for: Boat buyers, yacht dreamers, and anyone who treats dock-walking as a sport. Go Wednesday or Thursday for thinner crowds. 3. Dirty Dancing: The Musical — West Palm Beach Premiere at the Kravis Center Dirty Dancing: The Musical (https://www.kravis.org/performance-calendar/dreyfoos-hall/) makes its West Palm Beach premiere this week as part of Kravis On Broadway, according to the Kravis Center (https://www.kravis.org/performance-calendar/dreyfoos-hall/). Baby and Johnny's summer at Kellerman's plays eight performances across five days in Dreyfoos Hall — the feel-good date-night pick of the week. When: Wednesday, October 28 – Sunday, November 1 — Wed 7:30 p.m.; Thu 2:00 & 7:30 p.m.; Fri 8:00 p.m.; Sat 2:00 & 8:00 p.m.; Sun 1:00 & 7:00 p.m. Where: Dreyfoos Hall, Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach Price: Tickets via the Kravis Center — check the official calendar link for current prices and seats Best for: Date night, girls' night, and anyone who has ever quoted "nobody puts Baby in a corner." THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 4. Miami Film Festival GEMS Opens — Awards Season Starts Here The 13th Miami Film Festival GEMS (https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/event/miami-film-festival-gems/226) opens Thursday with the Florida premiere of The Debut, Jesse Eisenberg's musical comedy starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, and runs eight days across Miami screens including the Koubek Center, Silverspot Cinema, Coral Gables Art Cinema and MDC's Wolfson Campus, according to the festival. It closes November 5 with Jordan Firstman's Club Kid. Between the two: centerpiece screenings, filmmaker Q&As and some of the year's strongest international titles before they open wide. When: Thursday, October 29 – Thursday, November 5 Where: Venues across Miami and Coral Gables — see the festival listing for the screening schedule Price: Individual screening tickets via the festival — check the listing for prices and passes Best for: Film lovers who want bragging rights months before the Oscar nominations. Free Thursday bonus in Palm Beach County: Clematis by Fright (https://www.thepalmbeaches.com/blog/halloween-happenings-palm-beaches) turns the West Palm Beach waterfront into a free Halloween party on Thursday, October 29, 6:00–9:00 p.m. at Centennial Square & Great Lawn, 100 N. Clematis St, West Palm Beach — live music from Uncle Morty's Rhythm Cream, trick-or-trunk with first responders, hayrides and inflatable games. Free. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 5. Ed Sheeran: LOOP Tour — Two Nights at Hard Rock Live Ed Sheeran (https://casino.hardrock.com/ko-kr/hollywood/newsroom/2025/09/ed-sheeran-is-coming-to-hard-rock-live-at-seminole-hard-rock-hotel-and-casino-in-hollywood-fla-thursday-oct-29-2026-at-8-pm-and-friday-oct-30-2026-at-8-pm) is playing stadiums everywhere else on the LOOP Tour — in South Florida he plays the 7,000-seat Hard Rock Live (https://www.ticketmaster.com/hard-rock-live-tickets-hollywood/venue/107337) for two nights, Thursday and Friday, according to Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood. New songs from Play, the hits, and the loop-pedal wizardry, all in a room a fraction of the size of his usual stops. This is the week's hardest ticket. When: Thursday, October 29 & Friday, October 30, 8:00 p.m. (doors one hour before) Where: Hard Rock Live, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood Price: Tickets started at $185 via the venue, according to the Hard Rock announcement; all seats reserved Best for: Everyone — if you can get in Friday, take Friday and keep Halloween free. 6. Halloween Weekend: Hocus Pocus, Lincoln Road & HalloWYN Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and Miami splits into three lanes. Electronic-music fans get Hocus Pocus (https://www.factorytown.com/hocus-pocus/) at Factory Town (https://www.factorytown.com/hocus-pocus/), 4800 NW 37th Ave, Miami — three nights, Friday, October 30 – Sunday, November 1, with 100+ artists across five stages including Eric Prydz, Chase & Status and Purple Disco Machine, according to Factory Town. 18+. Three-day passes from $199.99, with single-day passes on sale. Prefer your Halloween free and outdoors? The Lincoln Road Halloween Block Party (https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/event/lincoln-road-halloween-block-party/13662) takes over the promenade in Miami Beach on Saturday, October 31, 5:00 p.m.–1:30 a.m. — family trick-or-treating early, then the costume spectacle takes over. Across the bay, HalloWYN (https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/event/hallowyn-block-party/11365) returns to Wynwood Marketplace, 2250 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, Saturday 7:00 p.m.–3:00 a.m., free general admission with a complimentary drink for guests who RSVP. Families can start the day at Trick-or-Treat on the Mile (https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/event/trick-or-treat-on-the-mile/27885) in Coral Gables, Saturday 2:00–6:00 p.m., also free. Best for: Pick one lane — warehouse rave, beach block party, or Wynwood street party — and commit to the costume. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1 7. Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots — Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium The week closes with an AFC East showdown: Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots (https://www.bleachernation.com/tickets/2026/08/19/patriots-vs-dolphins-week-8-tickets-sunday-november-1-2026/) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, a 4:25 p.m. late-window kickoff on CBS. New England comes in favored, which is exactly when home crowds get loudest — and it is the last big Sunday before the holiday season takes over the calendar. When: Sunday, November 1, 4:25 p.m. Where: Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Drive, Miami Gardens Price: Tickets via the game listing — check for current prices and seats Best for: The full tailgate-to-fourth-quarter Sunday. Pair it with a morning FLIBS run in Fort Lauderdale if you are doing the week properly. ALSO THIS WEEK Two more worth knowing: the Miami Heat play twice at Kaseya Center — vs. the Dallas Mavericks on Monday, October 26, 7:30 p.m. and an Emirates NBA Cup game vs. the Indiana Pacers on Friday, October 30, 8:00 p.m. (see the Miami listings on Ticketmaster (https://www.ticketmaster.com/discover/miami?ac_link=blog&page=11)). And on Friday night, Ghostbusters in Concert (https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/event/ghostbusters-in-concert/39310) pairs the 1984 film with a live orchestra performing Elmer Bernstein's score at Knight Concert Hall, Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami, Friday, October 30, 8:00 p.m. HOW TO PLAY THE WEEK Do not try to do all seven. Boat people: FLIBS Wednesday preview day, then again Sunday morning before the Dolphins. Music people: Steve Lacy Monday, Ed Sheeran Friday, Hocus Pocus Saturday if you have it in you. Free-and-easy: Clematis by Fright Thursday, Trick-or-Treat on the Mile Saturday afternoon, Lincoln Road Saturday night — a whole Halloween for the cost of parking. Dates and prices were verified against official listings on October 26; confirm on the official link before you go. Want more like this every week? Browse the latest events and guides at SFL Cool Events (https://www.sflcoolevents.com/blog) — we keep the calendar fresh.