Last updated: November 11, 2024
Celebrate together in North Lauderdale! Our guide has all the community events to make your holiday season special. Whether you're deeply rooted in North Lauderdale or just passing through, this guide ensures unforgettable holidays.
This time of year, the Winterfest Boat Parade lights up the waterways with vibrant displays and festive cheer, showcasing a parade of elaborately decorated boats. The 61st Annual Christmas on Las Olas brings a lively experience with a blend of shopping, dining, and entertainment that captures the holiday spirit. And the Light Up the Beach event is something you definitely don't want to miss, as the shoreline sparkles with dazzling lights. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Contact information and details below.
Large-scale holiday light display with live performances and kids activities.
Light Up the Beach features over 50,000 holiday lights along the picturesque beachfront, including the return of Olas, a 20-foot beach snowman. The event includes performances by the Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds and a kids zone with Santa, inflatables, and slides.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Light Up the Beach
Seasonal light display with synchronized music and Santa visits.
Gulfstream Park Village presents Symphony in Lights, a spectacular holiday celebration featuring over 250,000 LED lights, festive décor, and an expanded music program with holiday classics and today’s top hits. The event includes a 10-minute light show every hour, Santa visits on select dates, and a variety of shopping and dining options.
Where: Hallandale Beach | More Info: Symphony in Lights
Holiday tree lighting with Santa visit and toy donations.
The 1st Annual Rusch Park Holiday Tree Lighting features a festive evening with holiday cheer for the whole family. Kids can send letters to the North Pole, enjoy fun activities, and sip hot cocoa while the beautiful tree is lit. Santa will make a special visit to take photos and spread joy. Toy donations for the NICU and PICU at a local hospital are also accepted.
Where: Sunrise | More Info: Holiday Tree Lighting
Longest running holiday parade in the country with lighted floats and vehicles.
The Hollywood Beach Candy Cane Parade is a long-running holiday event featuring dozens of lighted floats and vehicles along the parade route, entertaining thousands of spectators who line the Broadwalk. The parade begins at 7:00 p.m. on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk at Missouri Street and heads south to Harrison Street, with the emcee stationed at the Hollywood Beach Theatre at Johnson Street.
Where: Hollywood | More Info: Hollywood Beach Candy Cane Parade
Live performances and festive decorations along Las Olas Boulevard.
The 61st Annual Christmas on Las Olas is a community-focused event featuring live performances, festive decorations, and holiday activities for all ages. Enjoy 30 live shows on three entertainment stages, visit the 75-foot Snow Mountain, and explore local shops and restaurants along Las Olas Boulevard.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: 61st Annual Christmas on Las Olas
Dazzling parade of illuminated boats along a 12-mile route.
The Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade is a spectacular event featuring beautifully decorated boats of all sizes, showcasing hundreds of thousands of lights, music, and entertainment. It is a traditional kickoff to the South Florida holiday season, attracting over a million viewers along its 12-mile route and generating an economic impact of over $50 million in Broward County.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Winterfest Boat Parade
Eco-friendly ice-skating rink by the shoreline.
Fort Lauderdale Beach transforms into a hub of holiday activities with sights, sounds, and special events like holiday markets, strolling characters, live music, dance performances, and visits with Santa.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: The Loop Fort Lauderdale Beach - WONDERLAND
Live entertainment and festive decorations throughout the historic estate.
Join Bonnet House Museum & Gardens for a holiday celebration featuring live entertainment, a scavenger hunt, storybook reading, and opportunities to capture family portraits. The event includes self-guided tours of the beautifully lit house and gardens, with festive decorations and live music each night.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Holiday Magic – Whimsical Wonderland
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker is a classic ballet featuring over 100 dancers performing Balanchine's signature choreography to Tchaikovsky's iconic score. The production includes stunning stagecraft, magnificent costumes, and a live orchestra, transporting audiences to a fantastical world of snowflakes and the Sugarplum Fairy.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
Traditional holiday ballet performance with diverse cast.
Join Clara on her adventures at the Battle with the Rat King, Land of Snow, and Land of Sweets, culminating in a visit with the Sugar Plum Fairy. This classic ballet features students, pre-professionals, and professional dancers from Treasure Coast Ballet and St. Lucie Ballet.
Where: Sunrise | More Info: The Nutcracker Ballet
World-class ballet performance with professional dancers and local children.
Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida presents "The Nutcracker," a classic ballet featuring Tchaikovsky's iconic score. This critically acclaimed performance showcases the extraordinary talent of professional dancers, complemented by the joyful participation of local children. It is a heartwarming production that captures the spirit of the holiday season, making it an ideal introduction to ballet for young audiences.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: The Nutcracker
Variety show and outdoor market with Santa visits.
Christmas Near The Beach is a festive event featuring a variety show, outdoor market, food trucks, and visits with Santa Claus at ArtsPark in downtown Hollywood.
Where: Hollywood | More Info: Christmas Near The Beach
Unique blend of classical and New Age music with multimedia effects.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis is a holiday tradition featuring Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound. The program includes 15 musicians playing more than 20 instruments against a backdrop of dazzling multimedia effects, capturing the spirit of the season in an immersive yet intimate setting.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Mannheim Steamroller
World-class acrobats, contortionists, and aerialists performing to festive music.
A variety show filled with nostalgia, charm, and awe-inspiring performances for all ages. Witness incredible talents of world-class entertainers performing to your favorite holiday music, celebrating the magic of the season with the entire family.
Where: Coral Springs | More Info: A Magical Cirque Christmas
Heartwarming adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic tale with iconic songs.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical is a record-setting Broadway holiday sensation featuring hit songs "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas." Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is two sizes too small, decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday-loving Whos. Magnificent sets and costumes inspired by Dr. Seuss' original illustrations transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville, reminding us of the true meaning of the holiday season.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Live orchestral performance of Danny Elfman's iconic score.
The Nightmare Before Christmas with Live Orchestral Score features the haunting holiday classic by Tim Burton, with Danny Elfman's score performed live by the South Florida Symphony Orchestra. The story follows Jack Skellington, Halloweentown's pumpkin king, as he accidentally stumbles upon Christmastown and plots to bring Christmas under his control by kidnapping Santa Claus.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: The Nightmare Before Christmas with Live Orchestral Score
Intergenerational performance honoring Black Christmas traditions.
Soulful Christmas is a community celebration that combines music, storytelling, and community engagement. This intergenerational performance pays homage to Black Christmas traditions and features iconic, soulful Christmas songs.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Soulful Christmas
Cultural celebration of cooperative economics.
Celebrate Kwanzaa Ujamaa at Bass Park with Afrocentric entertainment and cultural activities focusing on cooperative economics, the fourth principle of Kwanzaa.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Kwanzaa Ujamaa
Community-driven holiday festivities with local business involvement.
Christmas-by-the-Sea is a holiday celebration featuring various activities, including ribbon-cutting ceremonies, networking events, and community gatherings, all set in the charming seaside town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
Where: Lauderdale-By-The-Sea | More Info: Christmas-by-the-Sea
Luxury festival experience with interactive activations and rooftop viewing decks.
Riptide Music Festival is a vibrant event featuring live music performances, interactive experiences, and luxury amenities at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. Enjoy daily giveaways, rooftop viewing decks, and exclusive activations.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Riptide Music Festival
Celebrating 5,000 years of Indian culture with diverse performances and food.
The Namaste Indian Festival is a cultural event showcasing the diversity of Indian music, dance, and cuisine. It features live performances, workshops, food stalls, and shopping booths representing different Indian states. The event also includes yoga and mindfulness sessions, Bollywood dance performances, and a grand bazaar.
Where: Pompano Beach | More Info: Namaste Indian Festival
NCAA Division II football programs with academic emphasis.
The Florida Beach Bowl is an inaugural event featuring NCAA Division II football programs from HBCUs in the SIAC and CIAA conferences. The event highlights academic excellence and athletic achievement, offering a variety of activities including golf, prayer brunch, 5k run, media day, and coaches luncheon.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Florida Beach Bowl
Santa suits and Jingle Bells for all participants.
The Jingle Bell Jog Fort Lauderdale is an annual running event celebrating festive winter holidays with Santa suits, Jingle Bells, and holiday-themed medals. Participants enjoy a scenic 5K course along Fort Lauderdale Beach and A1A.
Where: Fort Lauderdale | More Info: Jingle Bell Jog
