Summer Best Bets: 4th of July, Mango Festival, and More!
A Gables Fourth Celebration
Join your friends and neighbors at the Biltmore Hotel for the City of Coral Gables’ annual Fourth of July celebration featuring a fireworks display and live music. Grounds open at 5 pm, the concert begins at 7 pm, and fireworks start at 9 pm. Limited free parking will be available at 5 pm at Municipal Garage 4, but guests are encouraged to arrive by bike to the Biltmore Hotel, where bike valet parking will be provided. (We won’t tell if you park on the nearby swales either.) The free event will also include food trucks, though attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic-friendly materials, including drinks, food, chairs, and blankets.
The Biltmore Hotel
1200 Anastasia Ave
coralgables.com
“Peter Rabbit and the Garden of Doom”
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presents this lighthearted children’s musical about the famous Peter Rabbit, who adores all things green and leafy. Unfortunately for him, Mother Rabbit only serves him and his three sisters cakes and cookies. Follow along as Peter trades his sweets for vegetables and follows a mysterious path to discover the source of his beloved produce. The production is about an hour long and runs from Thursday, July 11 to Saturday, July 27 with performances on Saturdays at 2 pm and a special sensory-inclusive show on Sunday, July 14 at 2 pm. Tickets cost $25.28.
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
280 Miracle Mile
actorsplayhouse.org
Sensory Friendly Fourth of July
For those with autism and sensory-related needs who don’t enjoy the crowds and lights of the Biltmore’s Fourth of July celebration, there is also a sensory-friendly celebration nearby at Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park. On July 4 from 7 to 10 pm, this celebration will feature an indoor quiet area, light-up games, bubbles, and crafts. To cap the night off, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Biltmore fireworks display, which is set to begin at 9 pm. On-site parking is available, and guests are welcome to bring food and non-alcoholic refreshments. For registration assistance, call 305.441.5650 or email PlayForAll@coralgables.com. Tickets are $25 and space is limited.
Ruth Bryan Owen Waterway Park
3940 Granada Blvd
coralgables.com
Mango Festival
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s annual Mango Festival is here! This highly anticipated event features an exciting lineup of mango-themed activities, including cooking demos, mango tastings and lectures, live music, and lawn games. Participants will also have an opportunity to sample mango-based smoothies, cocktails, and other menu items and even purchase mango seedlings for their own backyards. The festival runs all-day from Saturday, July 13 through Sunday, July 14. Tickets start at $24.95 for adults, $16.95 for seniors, and $11.95 for children ages six to 17.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
10901 Old Cutler Rd
fairchildgarden.org
Underground Millennial Club
Overwhelmed at the office? You’re certainly not alone. Kick back, relax, and tap into your competitive side with the Underground Millennial Club at the Coral Gables Branch Library on Wednesday, July 17 from 6 to 7:30 pm. Compete in board and improvisational games, test your trivia knowledge, and more! Contact the branch at 305.442.8706 or capleybr@mdpls.org for more information. This event is for ages 19 and up.
Coral Gables Branch Library
3443 Segovia St
mdpls.org
“Hundred Days”
Running from Wednesday, July 17 to Sunday, August 4, enjoy “Hundred Days,” an exhilarating musical about embracing uncertainty and making the most of life. “Hundred Days” asks the terrifying and yet thrilling question: If you only had 100 days left to live, what would you do with them? See the two-hour production at the Miracle Theatre Wednesday through Sunday at 8 pm or during special matinee performances on Wednesdays at 2 pm and Sundays at 3 pm. Tickets range from $40 to $75.
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
280 Miracle Mile
actorsplayhouse.org
An Evening With Taffy Brodesser-Akner
Books & Books presents an evening with New York Times bestselling author Taffy Brodesser-Akner, on Saturday, July 20 at 7 pm. Brodesser-Akner is soon to release her sophomore novel, “Long Island Compromise,” about the traumatic moment that shakes up the core of an American family and how it still impacts them 40 years later. She’s also the author of “Fleishman Is In Trouble,” now a TV series on Hulu. General admission tickets cost $30 plus additional fees. Each ticket admits up to two guests for the event, and each party will receive a copy of “Long Island Compromise.”
Books & Books
265 Aragon Ave
booksandbooks.com
Arboretum and Palmetum Tour
Presented by the Coral Gables Museum, this latest Gables Bike Tour will ride out to the Gifford Arboretum, the University of Miami’s botanical garden on Sunday, August 18 at 10 am. On this two-hour tour, cyclists will be able to see some of the over 500 species of trees and palms on display and learn about native and non-native plants. Tickets cost $10 for general admission or $5 for museum members and children under the age of 12. Helmets are required for attendees under 16.
Coral Gables Museum
285 Aragon Ave
coralgablesmuseum.org
Best Reason to Leave the Gables
Journey to Space, a new exhibit at the Frost Museum of Science in Downtown Miami, has launched! The exhibit provides a hands-on, climb-aboard experience that explores what it takes to live and work in space. Journey to Space uses interactive exhibits and authentic artifacts to immerse guests in the astounding aspects of life in space, including the dangers that astronauts face and the adaptations developed to help them survive. On view through October 6, admission to Journey to Space is included with museum admission ($22.95 for kids over 3, $29.95 for adults).
Frost Museum of Science
1101 Biscayne Blvd
frostscience.org/space
Looking for more events? Check out our full calendar.