Holidays in Greater Fort Lauderdale

While there’s never a bad time to visit Greater Fort Lauderdale—events happen one after the next, year-round—the region tends to sparkle even more around the holidays. From family-friendly festivals to swanky soirees hosted by big-name bands and artists, Lauderdale knows how to throw a party that will get everyone in the festive spirit.

It seems as if the region is constantly updating its event calendar, but one of the first holidays that restaurants, bars, and hotels on and around the 24-miles of sandy shores get on board to celebrate is Valentine’s Day. Whether you prefer an intimate, romantic meal for two by the ocean (or right in the sand), prefer to take your Champagne on the water during a gondola dinner cruise, or would rather have a lavish, multi-course experience from award-winning chefs, Fort Lauderdale has just the spot (or spots) to appeal to any style.

Memorial Day kicks off the summer season with a spirited start, and cities around Greater Fort Lauderdale host everything from barbecues to events at the many craft breweries in the area, where you can post up at the bar or a picnic table and enjoy live music, lawn games, and Americana-style pub fare with pets and children in tow.

Fourth of July is when Greater Fort Lauderdale’s beaches seriously shine, thanks to free festivals and events at parks lining the shores. You’ll find everything from live music and family activities to games and apple pie-eating contests. Once the sun goes down, get ready for the real show to start, as city after city puts on its own fireworks spectacular.

The leaves may not change color so vibrantly here in South Florida come fall, but you can still expect plenty of fantastic events in autumn, especially around Halloween, when there are hayrides, pumpkin patches, haunted trails, and costume contests.

The year ends on a high note in Greater Fort Lauderdale with the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade—aka the “greatest show on H2O”—when more than a million viewers tune in to see extravagant boats and floats parade the 12-mile route. Of course, things turn up another notch for New Year’s Eve events in Fort Lauderdale, from downtown happenings to parties taking place along the beach, on the city’s many rooftop bars, and at nightlife- and restaurant-filled casinos like Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, where your evening is likely to go down just like Mr. Bond’s.