Viernes Culturales

Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street), the heart of Little Havana, is the epicenter of Miami’s Cuban diaspora, and on the third Friday of every month, everyone in Greater Miami & Miami Beach is invited to celebrate the neighborhood's dynamic heritage. Spanish for “Cultural Fridays,” Viernes Culturales is a free event that brings the vibrant history, art, food and music of Little Havana and Miami’s greater Latin American community to life. 

From midday to late into the night, the stretch of Calle Ocho between 14th and 17th avenues becomes pedestrian-only. Calle Ocho’s best restaurants spill out onto the pavement, art galleries stay open late, artisans sell handicrafts, master cigar rollers roll authentic Cuban cigars, locals play dominoes and visitors take guided walking tours of Little Havana, dance to salsa, listen to live music and so much more. Open to all ages, Viernes Culturales represents the heart and soul of Little Havana.

The History of Little Havana

When Fidel Castro’s reign sparked the Cuban Revolution in January 1959, Cuban immigrants fled to Miami and found refuge in the neighborhood that is now Little Havana. In light of Castro’s dictatorship, the U.S. government passed the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act in 1962, which offered refugees escaping political or religious persecution funding and government programs to start a new life in America. Freedom Tower immediately became home to the official Cuban Assistance Center and was the destination of choice for Cuban immigrants coming to Miami, who naturally started settling near the tower and gradually formed their own community just west of Downtown Miami. Cuban refugees found homes, opened businesses and proudly shared their heritage. By doing so, their community earned the nickname “La Pequeña Habana,” or Little Havana. This settlement started a new chapter in Miami’s history that would forever shape the city’s culture and transform it into the extraordinary melting pot it is today.

Learn more about the history of Little Havana during Viernes Culturales. Meet at the historic Tower Theater, which has been on Calle Ocho since 1926, at 7 p.m. and join a free Little Havana walking tour led by Dr. Paul George, HistoryMiami Museum’s resident historian.

The Beginning of Viernes Culturales

It all started in 1984, when the City of Miami Planning Department conducted a Latin Quarter Study in conjunction with the City of Miami Commission, the Latin Chamber of Commerce, the Little Havana Development Authority and community merchants, residents, design professionals and neighborhood leaders. In 1996, the results of that study led the Little Havana Neighborhood Planning Program to recommend a year-round series of art exhibits, dance, music, poetry, theater and film events, as well as neighborhood historic tours to preserve and highlight the culture of Little Havana.

For that reason, the nonprofit organization Viernes Culturales/Cultural Fridays Inc. was formed. Its mission has always been to “promote cultural awareness of Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood and to act as a cultural liaison for the artistic community and the general public of Miami, visitors and tourists.” On May 26, 2000, the first Viernes Culturales event attracted 2,000 people. Today, the number of monthly attendees has nearly doubled, making Viernes Culturales a catalyst for economic and cultural growth in Little Havana. The neighborhood has since been named a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 

The Food: A Taste Of Cuban Miami & Much More

Get a real taste of Miami’s Cuban heritage through its food. First-time visitors must try the Cuban staples, including a thimble of strong, sweet Cuban coffee, an empanada or a guava and cheese pastelito from a “ventanita” (little window), a mojito from a Little Havana rum bar or a Cuban sandwich made with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard, pressed between two pieces of crusty Cuban bread. Try a Cuban sandwich at the no-frills Sanguich de Miami, or a well-made mojito and Cuban classics at Ball & Chain, a restored jazz-era nightclub. Stop by a traditional fruteria (fruit shop) for fresh sugarcane juice or a batido (a tropical fruit milkshake), or finish the night at Azucar Ice Cream Company with artisanal ice cream and sorbets in Miami- and Cuban-inspired flavors. Try the Mamey or lychee fruit flavors or the Bourbon Buns with Jim Beam ice cream and Knaus Berry Farms cinnamon rolls and you might become another one of Azucar’s instant fans.

Beyond that, Little Havana’s restaurants, food trucks and food stands are a direct reflection of the destination’s diversity, and that means they serve more than Cuban cuisine. During Viernes Culturales, try delicious options for Mexican, Spanish, Thai, Sushi, Chinese and Uruguayan delights.

Explore The Art & Culture Of Little Havana

During Viernes Culturales, local artists have an opportunity to share their culture and traditions through art. Visitors can stroll up and down Calle Ocho and see murals and mosaic art depicting symbols of Cuban heritage – such as cigars, musical instruments and tropical fruit – as well as paintings of revolutionary poet José Martí and famous Cuban singer Celia Cruz. At Máximo Gómez Park (Domino Park), local artisans sell everything from handcrafted jewelry and Cuban coffee cups to paintings, written works and more.

The neighborhood’s galleries aren’t to be missed. Visitors should check out Futurama 1637 Art Galleries, a creative workspace made up of 12 art studios and exhibits by 37 local artists, and Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center, a museum and gathering space with an impressive collection of 19th- and 20th-century Cuban art, live music, popular mojitos, cigars and even a research library.

Dance & Party Like A Local

Right in the middle of Calle Ocho is a huge stage that presents music and dance performances by top local and international artists. Dance the night away to salsa bands, folkloric dance groups, Cuban timba, DJs, live Cuban music and jazz from Calle Ocho’s top restaurants and more. Shake your hips to flamenco dancers and Mariachi bands in Domino Park, or switch it up and catch the latest indie film at Tower Theater.

General Information

Time: From noon until late.

Cost: Admission is free, but all food, drinks, art and souvenirs are available for purchase. Donations are suggested for the guided walking tour.

Parking: There is free parking in the public lot on 14th Avenue (between Southwest 8th and 9th streets), on 16th Avenue (between Southwest 7th and 8th streets) and in private parking lots on Calle Ocho (between 13th and 14th avenues). Street parking is also available.

By: Jennifer Agress | January 14, 2025