Labor Day in Greater Fort Lauderdale

Labor Day weekend may mark the unofficial end of summer, but it’s only the beginning of one of the best times of the year to visit Greater Fort Lauderdale. Beach season is still in full swing, the holiday shopping deals can’t be beaten, and everyone is in the mood to enjoy world-class nightlife and restaurants. One long weekend isn’t long enough to soak up everything Labor Day in Greater Fort Lauderdale has to offer.

Live Music and Events

Along with all of the regularly occurring fun events taking place throughout the area, like free live music, beachside yoga, nature walks, kayak tours, happy hours, and club nights, you’ll find the events in Greater Fort Lauderdale for Labor Day really ramp up. Plan ahead and you’ll be busy the entire weekend with everything from parties on the beach to marathons through scenic streets. Party cruises, LGBT+ events, food and wine fests, day parties, and nightclub festivities are just some of the options for living it up on Labor Day weekend.

Head to the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District for balcony bars and restaurants with a view over the Tarpon River and the Labor Day weekend yacht party cruises making their way across the water. On the Sunday before Labor Day, the Riverwalk is also home to the outdoor Jazz Brunch series, featuring live music and food from local merchants along the waterfront.

Greater Fort Lauderdale’s festival and concert scene comes alive over Labor Day weekend, with venues like the BB&T Center and the Seminole Hard Rock Event Center bringing in national touring acts to entertain huge holiday crowds and Revolution Live and The Venue Fort Lauderdale catering to local and emerging artists. Losing yourself—and your voice—in the music is a great way to celebrate Labor Day.

People-Watching and Bargain Hunting

For those intent on all-day retail therapy, Sawgrass Mills, the world’s largest discount and entertainment mall, has more than two million square feet of shopping space and is guaranteed to have unbeatable holiday deals. Swap Shop, the South’s largest flea market, is a bargain-hunter’s paradise during the day and at night transforms into the world’s largest drive-in theater—with 14 screens.

Las Olas Boulevard, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s “style mile,” is the perfect place to shop for fall fashions when you can’t wear white after Labor Day. Las Olas features an array of sidewalk cafes that provide a perch from which to people-watch. Stick around after sunset and visit restaurant row, full of establishments staffed by acclaimed chefs.

Enjoy the Rays on Labor Day

Whether you’re looking for another opportunity to show off that summer beach body or a chance to finish off that deep summer tan, the beaches of Greater Fort Lauderdale are open for business all throughout the long holiday weekend. Fort Lauderdale’s beaches offer chic surroundings, brick-lined promenades, and a wide variety of hotels and restaurants; while the quiet beaches of Dania Beach give visitors a chance to enjoy the late summer sun in relative solitude.

Hotels and Restaurants

No matter what your Labor Day budget is, you’ll find hotels and restaurants throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale to suit you. For hotels, you can splash out on the resort life where the party comes to you or choose an economic option and save your cash for celebrations. When it comes to restaurants, you can try all types of cuisine at every price level, from fine dining to cheap but tasty eats.