Events
Fright Nights Returns to South Florida
South Florida’s premier haunted house event invites guests for a night of Halloween horror.
October 9th, 2021
Fright Nights spooked the South Florida Fairgrounds for the first time in a year as guests eagerly lined up to be the first to experience this year’s haunts: Fatal Fables, Red Room, and Siren’s Curse.
One might think the event was an ordinary fair — with staples such as deep fried oreos, twirling rides, and iced cold lemonade. However, as you stray deeper, burly men with clubs and clown makeup, as well as girls with shrill cackles and baseball bats start to surround you.
“I’m terrified. It’s new, so I’m looking forward to seeing new characters and new things, ”Fright Nights attendee Giana Martino said. “[I like] going with people that get really scared, so I don’t have to.”
As guests wait to get into the main attraction entrance, where the haunted houses are located, they are taunted and heckled (and sometimes even chased) by actors in costume.
“We’re gonna do our best to scare every single person in here,” creative director Craig McInnis said. “Our corny little saying is we care about the scare.”
The real scaring has yet to begin.
The attraction entrance, marked by the open jaw of a clown, leads the guests through a labyrinth of strobe lights and jump scares until they reach the lines for the haunts. The Agriplex of the fairgrounds is transformed into a makeshift concert setup, with a stage at the center and lines for the haunts twisting around it.
The haunts themselves — dimly lit mazes with actors lurking around every corner — had guests clinging to their friends and screaming in terror as they made their way through.
“[What makes them scary is] they have really good costumes and the props are good,” attendee Melissa Bolton said. “And how they’ll change the size of the room.”
One of the new haunted houses, Siren’s Curse, frightened visitors by taking them under the sea through the use of green LED lights, mimicking the feeling of walking through water. Guests passed over rocking bridges and a ship lined with cages, the bars rattling from the unamused hostages.
To entertain guests, dancers perform choreographed pieces in black jumpsuits and special effects makeup. Their performers bang on metal bars, run up to surprise guests, and shoot the crowds with water guns in their dances. The dancers perform three times a night every Saturday.
“It’s really difficult because we have a song in between, and we shoot everyone with water guns, but then they start laughing at us, so we really have to try to stay in character,” performer Sophia Chambers said. “It’s challenging, but it’s so worth it.”
What the guests don’t see however, is the preparation before the haunts open. Inside the Agriplex, before the lights go out, the warehouse is alive with the undead as actors dressed as zombies, ghouls, and corpses hurry to finish their makeup and get into positions.
In between the wooden barriers of the haunts, tables with hair spray, airbrushes, and fabric line the long corridors. Right before getting into places, the actors chanted in unison to get themselves hype for the night.
“I love everything horror,” haunt actor and makeup artist Victoria Availa said. “I love scary. I love that it’s grungy. I got tired of doing bridal makeup or prom makeup. This is something completely new. I love that it pushes me past my creativity.”
With the event being cancelled in 2020, actors and guests alike were eager to get back to the scares. The creative team was able to use much of the pre-planning done for last year for the haunts this year, which made the preparation go smoothly for the event.
“On a creative level, it’s such an adrenaline release and a stress reliever to be a scare actor,” McInnis said. “We were missing it so bad, we just kind of hit the ground running.”
No Chaser Needed as Tequila Town Delivers Straight Shots of Culture, Connection and Cocktails With a Kick in Miami.
(more…)
Sips, Sand and Small Bites Set the Tone as SAVOR SoFLO Festival Serves Up a Beachside Tease of What Could Grow Into Something Bigger. (more…)
A Day of Bounce Houses, Pig Shows and Juicy Bites as SoFlo Watermelon Festival Brings Out the Kid in Everyone.
(more…)
Pedal Down, Prices Up and Tires Sideways as Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Burns Rubber Into Day One.
(more…)
Be Our Guest, Then Hold On Tight as Disney on Ice Sends Pirates, Pixie Dust and Power Moves Flying Across the Ice at Watsco Center April 16th–19th. (more…)
Between flying queens, strong pours, and a room full of Pride week energy, Palace turned Friday night into one of the hottest parties on Ocean Drive.
April 11, 2026
During Miami Beach Pride Week, plenty of venues try to capture the moment, but Palace Bar made Friday night feel like the place everyone wanted to be. The Haus of Gucci Ball brought together drag, fashion, nightlife, and the kind of high energy crowd that made the whole evening feel elevated from the start.
The atmosphere hit immediately. Palace was glowing, the music kept the room alive, and the crowd was fully locked in. It felt vibrant, glamorous, and very Miami Beach. More than just a dinner outing, the night unfolded like a full Pride experience on Ocean Drive.
The clear highlight was a queen whose acrobatic performance completely took over the room. She moved with an incredible mix of strength, control, and confidence, turning the floor into her stage and delivering a routine that felt both dazzling and deeply seductive. At one point, she was flipping around on a man with such effortless precision that the whole crowd seemed to stop at once. It was captivating, sexy, and easily one of the most memorable moments of the night.
The food and drinks absolutely kept up. We had the filet bites and tuna tostones, both perfect for sharing between performances, along with skinny margaritas and lemon drops that were dangerously easy to drink. And yes, Palace was pouring strong, which only added to the fun. The cocktails matched the mood of the night perfectly: bold, smooth, and hard to stop ordering.
What makes Palace Bar work so well during Miami Beach Pride is that the energy never drops. The performers are not just part of the background. They pull the whole room in. The crowd responds, the music keeps moving, and the night keeps building. That kind of momentum is exactly what makes an event feel worth showing up for.
The Haus of Gucci Ball was one part of Palace Bar’s larger Miami Beach Pride Week programming, which has helped make the venue one of the biggest draws on Ocean Drive this week. With events spanning multiple days, Palace has become a go to destination for people looking for drag performances, nightlife, rooftop energy, DJs, and a crowd that wants to celebrate Pride in full.
That is what makes Palace such a fixture during Miami Beach Pride Week. It is not just about location or history. It is about creating nights that actually feel exciting once you are there. Friday night’s Haus of Gucci Ball had the glamour, the chemistry, the performances, and the kind of atmosphere that kept people fully engaged from beginning to end.
If you were at Palace Bar on Friday night, you already know how good it was. If you missed it, this was one of those Miami Beach Pride nights worth hearing about.
Ready for your next night at Palace? Visit Palace South Beach for reservations, menus, and upcoming events, and follow Palace on Instagram for the latest drag shows, Pride weekend moments, and Ocean Drive updates.
Jets, Grit and Beachside Thunder as the Air Dot Show Hits Fort Lauderdale and the Sky Turns Up the Volume. From Thunderbirds Precision to Raptor Power, Fort Lauderdale Won’t Stay Quiet for Long.
(more…)
Gloves Off, Pens Out and Fans Packed In Like a Goal Crease Scramble: Tkachuk Brothers Deliver in Wellington for Meet & Greet.
(more…)
Penn & Teller Mark 50 Years of Magic with an Unforgettable Night at the Seminole Hard Rock
The Thorn: A Powerful, Unforgettable Night at the Kravis Center
From “4” to Forever: Lou Gramm Returns for Foreigner’s Historic South Florida Performance
-
Music3 weeks agoFantasies of Rock & Roll Become Reality
-
Entertainment4 weeks ago
Camelot Brings the Crown to Boca
-
Entertainment3 weeks ago
A Beautiful Night at Island City Stage
-
Press Releases4 weeks ago
Mia Rosebud to Serve Bel Paese Favorites This Easter
-
Press Releases4 weeks ago
Mickey + Friends Makes Magic in Miami this Spring
-
Press Releases4 weeks ago
The South Florida Watermelon Festival Returns This Weekend!
-
Press Releases3 weeks ago
Palace Bar Is the Pulse of Miami Beach Pride 2026
-
Music3 weeks ago
Beach Tested, Crowd Approved: Wheeland Brothers Ride Into Tortuga
