Source: (large) Alexf via Wikimedia Commons
Miami’s Scottish Rite Temple is opening its Egyptian-inspired doors for a candlelit Lord of the Rings tribute, with tickets now on sale. Considered the city’s first Art Deco building, the venue combines four towering columns and a pyramid-shaped roof with the kind of theatrical grandeur that feels right at home in a world of ancient realms, perilous journeys and kingdoms long past.
Once inside, concertgoers will find the dramatic two-story Temple Theater, complete with a starry-sky mural and hand-painted Masonic scenes around the room. Thousands of candles will illuminate the historic space as musicians perform memorable selections from The Lord of the Rings soundtrack.
Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings
Scottish Rite Temple: a Miami time capsule of Egyptian Revival style and Art Deco innovation
Source: Scottish Rite Temple Lummus Park via Wikimedia Commons
The facade of the Scottish Rite Temple is a striking early Miami blend of Egyptian Revival imagery and emerging Art Deco geometry. Look a little closer and you’ll notice the finer details—four double-headed eagles with “32” numerals carved between each eagle’s two heads, referring to the 32 degrees of Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
Inside, the showpiece is the Temple Theater. It’s a large auditorium with a balcony, decorative opera boxes, a richly ornamented Moorish proscenium arch and a ceiling sky-inspired mural. It also retains an original 1,995-pipe Skinner organ that was built for Masonic ceremonies and also provided accompanying music to silent films.
If history’s more your thing, this place has it in spades. During World War II, the Temple took on a very different role. Its Banquet Hall was transformed from an elegant gathering space into a working U.S. Army planning hub. When Hurricane Andrew hit the temple in 1992, the damage led to an unexpected discovery: a long-hidden orchestra pit that is now used for events.
With all that history and theatrical grandeur, it’s no surprise that the Scottish Rite Temple MIA makes such a memorable setting for live music today. This season, themes from The Lord of the Rings, including “The Fellowship” and “The One Ring,” will be taking over the building’s two-story theater by candlelight. Thousands of candles, a string quartet and the One Ring to rule them all.
Everything you need to know about Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings in Miami
📍Location: Scottish Rite Temple
📅 Date: November 28
🕐Time: 4:30pm and 7pm
⌛Duration: 60 minutes
🪑Seating: Assigned on a first-come, first-served basis in each zone
👤 Age requirement: 8 years old or older
Event details
–>
Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings