Greater Fort Lauderdale
Annual Events

Greater Fort Lauderdale hosts an abundance of annual events from major air and boat shows to arts fairs, boat parades, conventions, food festivals, street parties and much more.

Below is an overview of major annual events, some with links to more information on venues and related activity. For other South Florida annual events, check out the Annual EventGuide overviews for Greater Miami and the Palm Beaches. For specific dates on events, check out the EventGuide calendars for Miami and Fort Lauderdale. To go directly to today's events, click Fort Lauderdale EventGuide.

January

College Baseball

From the crack of the bat to the slide on into home, NCAA baseball packs a wallop of home run frenzy for what’s oft called America’s favorite pastime. Diamond action starts in January, continuing through most of June.

FAU Owls

Las Olas Art Fair

Music and food combine with a weekend outdoor art festival featuring national and international exhibitors, along Las Olas Boulevard. The fair has grown to a point where “Part II” encores occur, typically in February, sometimes in March. Call (954) 472-3755 for more information.

Orchid Show

The Fort Lauderdale Orchid Society blooms anew at the annual Orchid Show at Fort Lauderdale’s War Memorial Auditorium at Holiday Park. Call (954) 828-5380 for more information.

Gulfstream Park Thoroughbred Racing

From January through April, Gulfstream Park stages thoroughbred racing, concerts, dining and more. Call (954) 454-7000 for more information.

SunTrust Sunday Jazz Brunch

Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk becomes a jazz domain on the first Sunday each month with multiple stages along historic New River. Picnic baskets, blankets, chairs, dogs and children add to festivities. Call (954) 828-5363 for more information.

February

Florida Renaissance Festival and Crafts Village

Quiet Waters Park hosts this month-long celebration sometimes extending into March featuring olden times with crafts, jousting knights, games of chance, food fit for royalty, and more. Call (954) 776-1642 for more information.

Collectible Glassware Show and Sale

The South Florida Depression Glass Club’s three-decade old extravaganza unfolds at Fort Lauderdale’s War Memorial Auditorium, attracting dealers from across the nation to display vintage glass, pottery and china celebrating America’s heritage. Call (305) 884-0335 for more information.

Bridal & Party Cruise to Jamaica

Activities aboard the cruise ship 'Navigator of the Seas' include, a bridal expo, fashion show, reggae party, Copacabana white linen pool side party, casino night, giant bridal shower, men's competition, pamper me party, giant bachelor and bachelorette party and more. Call (800) 469-0091 for more information.

Decorate, Dine, & Donate Auction

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society sponsors this spirited event at the Design Center of the Americas featuring plane tickets, cruises, and land-based getaways along with artwork and other collectibles in the ongoing battle against blood cancers. Call (954) 961-3234 for more information.

Chili Cookoff

Chili-making fanatics from all over make competition sizzle to go along with musical acts that are just as hot at Broward County’s C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines. Call (954) 437-2650 for more information.

Fat Tuesday on Hollywood Beach

Hollywood Beach at the Hollywood Beach Theatre and Harrison Street takes on Mardi Gras air with live music, parade, gumbo contest and more. Call (954) 926-3377 for more information.

Orange Blossom Festival Parade & Rodeo

In Davie, this country festival focuses on the community’s rural agricultural roots, with a parade, livestock fair, a cook-off and crafts, strawberry festival, live country entertainment and a professional rodeo. Call (954) 797-1166 for more information.

Pembroke Lakes Arts Festival

Pembroke Pines City Hall on Pines Boulevard is the scene for this annual arts festival. Call (954) for more information.

Seminole Tribal Fair

The Seminole Indians of Hollywood showcase cultural heritage and more at this annual celebration. 6300 Stirling Road. Call (954) 966-6300 for more information.

Deerfield Beach Founders Day

Celebrated for more than a half century, Deerfield Beach civic pride comes to the forefront with a parade, international foods, arts and crafts, and entertainment. Call (954) 480-4433 for more information.

March

Walk for the Animals

Sometimes held in late February, the Humane Society of Broward County’s Walk for the Animals begins at Fort Lauderdale’s Huizenga Plaza across from the Museum of Art. More than 3,000 animal lovers and dogs take to the 1.25-mile route to raise money for the shelter. Individuals are welcome, or friends can form packs for special perks. Call (954) 266-6817 for more information.

Las Olas Art Festival

Enjoy the Museum of Art’s Las Olas Art Festival on Las Olas Boulevard near Andrews Avenue. Call (954) 525-5500 for more information.

Fort Lauderdale Spring Home Show

The Greater Fort Lauderdale - Broward County Convention Center becomes the site for the latest in embellishing the home. Call (954) 765-5900 for more information.

Hollywood St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival

Downtown Hollywood celebrates the St. Patrick’s Day wearing of the green with Irish bands, floats, and food. Call (954) 921-3404 for more information.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Craft Fair

Handcrafted items, gourmet foods, plants and more are part of the fun at Commercial Boulevard at A1A. Call (954) 472-3755 for more information.

April

Major League Baseball

Nothing signals advent of spring more than baseball with a capital B, tightly meshed into American culture with historic firsts, icon performances, record-setting events, and traditions from hot dogs slathered in mustard to unexpected curveballs, and seventh-inning stretches. Books and movies about baseball are fine and dandy, but nothing beats Major League Baseball action, playing out each season from April through the World Series.

Florida Marlins - To book seats to root for your Florida Marlins, click here.

Major League Soccer

There’s no end to the excitement each season as Major League Soccer teams from both the eastern and western conferences vie for glory in regular season matches, on to the play offs and cup finals.

Miami Fusion

Pompano Beach Seafood Festival

Tantalizing seafood, music and more stars at this tasty a popular event. Call (954) 941-2940 for more information.

Broward Urban River Trails Blueway Bash

Arriving by vehicle, boat, canoe, or kayak, friends of Broward Urban River Trails (BURT) gather at this fundraiser attracting county and city commissioners and other VIPs, along with folks who just plain care about protecting and enhancing New River and other waterways. Hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, waterside dining, hot music, and silent auction sizzlers are part of the Blueway Bash, where the nautical dress code leans toward cutoffs and flipflops. Call (954) 565-6141 for more information.

Bank of America Wine and Culinary Celebration

Fort Lauderdale’s Museum of Discovery and Science is the scene for this food fest featuring more than 30 of South Florida’s top restaurants and chefs in a progressive sequence of wine and food pairings to delight, educate and entertain. Call (954) 467-MODS for more information.

AVP Nivea Pro Beach Volleyball Tour

Over a weekend in mid-April, South Beach Park on Fort Lauderdale Beach hosts an annual tournament sponsored by the Association of Volleyball Professionals, Los Angeles. Call (714) 345-4490 for more information.

New Times International Beerfest

New Times sponsors a festival of food, live entertainment, radio DJs and over 225 beers from around the world at Esplanade Park in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Call (954) 233-1559 for more information.

Ocean Fest

Ocean Fest features dive-related exhibits, food, fun and more than $20,000 in prizes at the edge of the Atlantic where Greater Fort Lauderdale has one of the only living reefs in the continental U.S. accessible from shore. Call (954) 839-8516 for more information.

HispanicFest

Featuring Latin food and live music, this long-running festival on Hollywood’s Tyler Street also features Hispanic pop music on two stages, plus dance lessons, kid’s entertainment and more. Call (954) 214-2457 for more information.

Spring Garden Event

Flamingo Gardens and Wildlife Sanctuary in Davie hosts the Spring Garden Event showcasing fabulous flowers, plants, trees, garden supplies and accessories. Fun includes food, face painting, and a fundraising auction for wildlife care. Admission fee includes free parking. Call (954) 473-2955 for more information.

Wine and Culinary Celebration

During the last week in April, enjoy food, wine and music, and learn about food and wine pairings at the Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale, catered by over 30 of South Florida's finest restaurants and over 200 wineries from around the world. Call (954) 713-0954 for more information.

May

Las Olas Wine & Food Festival

Between Southeast 6th and 11th avenues, wine lovers stroll Las Olas Boulevard, sampling fine wines and great food, with live cooking demonstrations and other fun to benefit the American Lung Association of Florida. Call (954) 524-4657 for more information.

Antique and Collector Fair

War Memorial Auditorium at Fort Lauderdale’s Holiday Park draws antique lovers and collectors. Call (954) 828-5380 for more information.

Market Pro Computer Show and Sale

Computer buffs from far and wide gather for this event at Holiday Park’s War Memorial Auditorium. Call (954) 828-5380 for more information.

Fort Lauderdale Home Design Show

Indoor and outdoor home improvement projects are showcased at the Greater Fort Lauderdale - Broward County Convention Center. Call (888) 353-3976 for more information.

America’s Red Clay Tennis Championship

Fort Lauderdale’s Jimmy Evert Tennis Center at Holiday Park, where Chris Evert and Jennifer Capriati learned to play on clay, hosts this annual competition. Call (954) 828-5378 for more information.

Cajun / Zydeco Festival

Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach comes alive with celebration of Louisiana bayou culture with live music, authentic Cajun / Creole food, dance, and more. Call (954) 776-1642 for more information.

Fort Lauderdale Home Design & Remodeling Show

Featuring home furnishings, accessories, remodeling, and more the Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show on Memorial Day Weekend puts interior / exterior inspiration under one convention center roof for the trade and public. Call (305) 667-9299 for more information.

June

Fort Lauderdale Gun and Knife Show

War Memorial Auditorium hosts an extensive display of guns and knives. Call (954) 828-5380 for more information.

Broward Beautiful Annual Reef Sweep & Beach Cleanup

Staged at various sites throughout Broward County and sponsored by the Ocean Watch Foundation, the Broward Beautiful Reef Sweep & Beach Cleanup focuses on preserving and protecting coral reefs and educating on ocean environmental issues. Call (954) 467-1366 for more information.

July

Bank of America Starlight Musicals

On Fridays throughout July, Bank of America stages open-air concerts at Fort Lauderdale’s Holiday Park with classic rock, show tunes and more. Concert-goers bring blankets, lawn chairs, picnics and beverages. Parking is free. Call (954) 828-5363 for more information.

July 4th Family Celebration

Fort Lauderdale Beach becomes a magnet for July 4th revelry with free entertainment and spectacular fireworks. Call (954) 828-5363 for more information.

August

Hollywood Beach Latin Festival

International and top local entertainers take to the stages for this festival with Latin food, arts and crafts displays, along the Hollywood Broadwalk. Call (954) 921-3404 for more information.

Hollywood Beach Clambake

A New England-style clambake, treasure hunt, swimsuit contest, best chowder contest, kid fun and more takes place on the Hollywood Broadwalk between Johnson and Michigan streets. Call (954) 924-2980 for more information.

September

National Football League

If it’s fall and you’re ready for some football, count on the National Football League to deliver non-stop grid action, leading to playoffs, and the incomparable Super Bowl. The NFL has come a long way since its 1920 founding in Canton, Ohio at Ralph Hay’s Hupmobile dealership. NFL action was first televised in 1939 when NBC broadcast within New York City. The NFL’s Longest Day was on Christmas, 1971, in a playoff between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, and Miami’s 17-0 Perfect Season unfolded the following year. But that’s history, and prospects for new milestones start in September.

Miami Dolphins - To book seats for cheering on your Miami Dolphins, click here.

College Football

NCAA Football, created in 1997 to promote college football ideals, makes no bones about the importance of each game. Losing at any time during the season can thwart a team's chances for postseason action or an NCAA Championship. No wonder NCAA Football marketers have adopted a tagline of "NCAA Football: Every Game Counts."

FIU Golden Panthers, Miami Hurricanes, FAU Owls

FIU Golden Panthers - To cheer on your favorites and book seats for the FIU Golden Panthers, click here.

Miami Hurricanes - To book seats for the Miami Hurricanes, click here.

Annual Hortt Memorial Exhibition

Fort Lauderdale’s Museum of Art showcases this annual competition featuring South Florida’s finest artists. Call (954) 525-5500 for more information.

Las Olas Art Festival

This prestigious festival across from the Museum of Art at Andrews Avenue on Las Olas Boulevard features more than 250 top-run artists with oils and acrylics, jewelry, sculpture and more. Call (954) 525-5500.

October

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League’s rough and tumble world packs a motherlode of milestones, from 1917’s NHL opener, to when Maurice Richard was first to score 50 goals in one season in 1944-45, to when Clint Benedict was the first goalie to put on a mask after a shot knocked him unconscious, to when Manon Rheaume made headlines in 1992 as the first woman playing in one of the four major sports leagues, goaltending for the Tampa Bay Lightning against the St. Louis Blues. From October on, it’s non-stop action in the world of hat tricks -- three goals in a game by a player -- and sudden death overtime.

Florida Panthers - To book for the Florida Panthers, click here.

Air Fair

At Pompano Beach Air Park, the Air Fair honors veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. More than 20 War Birds along with several historic aircraft from Wings Over Miami are part of the celebration. Call (954) 786-4600 for more information.

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Ever-growing and gaining increasing prestige with celebrity appearances, seminars, and parties, FLIFF presents independent film features from around the world. Call (954) 760-9898 for more information.

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show

As the world’s largest boat extravaganza, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show spreads out over six sites with more than 1,600 vessels including super yachts and accessories. Call (954) 764-7642 for more information.

Art in the Park

More than 130 artists in 11 fine arts categories compete in this juried show in Plantation, with free parking and entertainment along with children’s activities. Call (954) 797-9762 for more information.

Hollywood Beach Oktoberfest

This lively three-day festival along the Hollywood Broadwalk features German beer, music, strolling bands, food and more. Call (954) 926-3377 for more information.

MOD Gourmet Feast & Auction

To help prevent birth defects, the March of Dimes Gourmet Feast & Auction features fine food, wine, entertainment, prizes, and a silent auction, at The Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa. Call (877) 877-7677 for more information.

!Viva Broward!

Stranahan Park in front of the Broward County Main Library hosts this Latin-flavored festival celebrating Hispanic heritage and culture. Call (954) 527-0627 for more information.

November

College Basketball

First devised by James Naismith in 1891, with the first recorded collegiate game in 1893, legions testify there’s no sound so soothing as a basketball whooshing through the net after a flick of the wrist. NCAA basketball brings grass roots hoop dreams to an entirely new level each fall, building toward March Madness, the NCAA Division Basketball Championships.

Miami Hurricanes, FAU Owls, FIU Golden Panthers

Miami Hurricanes - To book seats for the Miami Hurricanes, click here.

Broward County Fair

Nearly 100 carnival rides and exhibits, live concerts, food and more are part of the fun at Pompano Race Track. Call (954) 922-2224 for more information.

Riverwalk Get Downtown

In early to mid-November, local area restaurants offer food, cappuccinos and espressos, two complimentary cocktails and live entertainment at Downtown Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk, Fort Lauderdale's biggest and best happy hour, presented by Boca Developers in the Courtyard Plaza at Brasserie Las Olas. Call (954) 468-1541 for more information.

Riverwalk Blues & Music Festival

Downtown Fort Lauderdale's Riverwalk hosts local and nationally known blues artists at a multicultural celebration of the arts.

Hollywood Jazz Festival

For nearly 25 years, the ever-expanding Hollywood Jazz Festival has attracted throngs of music lovers. Festivities at various venues such as the Hollywood Beach Theatre at the Broadwalk include VIP packages. Call (877) 877-7677 for more information.

International Investment Convention & World Business Summit

Staged at Hollywood’s Westin Diplomat, the Samuel Financial Group touts this as “the right event” for investors searching for a worthy project, and an “even better event” for companies looking for start-up or operating capital. Call (305) 948-6006 for more information.

Promenade in the Park

After decades at Holiday Park, Promenade in the Park in 2005 moved to Huizenga Plaza at Andrews Avenue and Las Olas. The Winterfest event, benefiting the Museum of Art since 1959, includes food, shopping, rides and more. Call (954) 525-5500 for more information.

Hollywood Jazz Festival

Some of the nation’s top jazz musicians perform live at this purely jazz event in Downtown Hollywood at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center. Call (954) 201-6884 for more information.

Fort Lauderdale Fall Home Design & Remodeling Show

Featuring home furnishings, accessories, remodeling, and more the Fort Lauderdale Fall Home Design and Remodeling Show puts interior / exterior inspiration under one convention center roof for the trade and public. Call (305) 667-9299 for more information.

December

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Jeb Bush Florida Classic

With Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida as honorary chair, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation sponsors this golf, fishing and gala destination weekend at the Coral Ridge Country Club and the Hyatt Regency Pier 66. Also included is a private cocktail reception aboard Gallant Lady, and a charity auction with vacation packages, winemaker dinners, and more. Call (954) 739-5006 for more information.

Ocean Dance

Patrons bring lawn chairs to enjoy renowned dance companies on stage under the stars at the Hollywood Art & Culture Center. Call (954) 921-3274 for more information.

Candy Cane Parade

A Holiday themed parade on the Hollywood Broadwalk features floats, marching bands and popular children’s characters. Call (954) 921-3404 for more information.

Christmas on the Beach

Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church presents Christmas on the Beach at the Hollywood Beach Theatre featuring Old Fashioned Carolers, Gospel Singers, dancers and more. Call (573) 280-8486 for more information.

Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade

As part of the month-long Winterfest holiday celebration, spectators line shorelines as the grand marshal boat leads more than 100 spectacularly lighted vessels from near Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades north on the Intracoastal Waterway. Call (954) 767-0686 for more information.

Christmas on Las Olas

Fort Lauderdale’s fashionable Las Olas Boulevard lights up for the season with special displays as shops stay open late to show off holiday fare. Call (954) 288-7208 for more information.

Holiday Fantasy of Lights

Tradewinds Park illuminates for the holidays with drive-through displays for all to enjoy. Call (954) 623-6556 for more information.

Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade

Billing itself as the nation’s oldest boat parade, the Pompano Beach holiday extravaganza begins on Lake Santa Barbara and moves north to Deerfield Beach. Call (954) 941-2940 for more information.

Woodstock Arts & Crafts Festival

In Sunrise at Welleby Park, this quarter-century-old event features handcrafted arts, international foods, kid’s rides, Santa Claus, entertainment, and more. Canned food donations can substitute for admission fee. Call (954) 747-4600 for more information.

Weston Art Festival

For more than a decade, the city of Weston has showcased artists at Weston Town Center with free admission. Call (954) 472-3755 for more information.

  Chane Realty     954-818-1300