Patti Roth

The Margate Winter Festival in 2025 is 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, December 19, with free entry. Snow is featured. The  festival includes: Florida-style sledding. Photos with Santa. Live music. Kids’ activities. Food vendors. Craft fair. Event venue is the Margate Sports Complex, 1695 Banks Road, Margate, FL 33063.  Parking is free. More free …

Wilton Manors is planning several holiday events for 2025. Holiday lighting Holiday lighting is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 4, at Flippen Park, 2109 Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors 33305. The event features lighting a tree, menorah and kinara. Live music and food vendors are included, plus activities for kids. Santa on his water sleigh Santa and …

Watch family-friendly films for free outdoors at ArtsPark in Hollywood.  Movies are usually 8 p.m. Fridays, with occasional exceptions. It’s wise to verify the event is on prior to venturing out.  Films include: 8 p.m. Friday, December 5: Smurfs 8 p.m. Friday, December 12: Frozen II 8 p.m. Friday, December 19: Polar Express  Feel free …

Happy Hanukkah! Broward County organizations have planned a number of public events to celebrate Hanukkah this year. The Jewish holiday in 2025 will be celebrated December 14 – 21. Hanukkah celebrates both a military victory and a miracle. The holiday commemorates the victory of the Maccabees, a Jewish army, over the Syrian-Greek army, which enabled …

Old Town in Pompano Beach is the venue for free Backyard Jam events featuring local and regional bands. The events are 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. select third Fridays and entry is free. Entertainment  includes: December 19. More Better Band January 16. JP Soars and the Red Hots February 20. Acoustic Fingers March 20. Revibe …

For an entertaining evening out, Pembroke Pines is hosting Beats & Bites featuring favorite hits from different decades and food trucks.  Regional bands perform at the events and entry is free.  Beats & Bites events are 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in 2025, including: November 20. Juanabe, throwback to the 1980s. December 18. Valerie Tyson …

Relish the rhythms of the holidays at a free live outdoor performance featuring the South Florida Pride Concert Band. The event in 2025 is at 7 p.m. Friday, December 19, and entry is free. The venue is Mickel Park, 2675 NW Seventh Avenue, Wilton Manors 33305 Bring a blanket or lawn chair if you’d like. …

For a fun Florida approach to holiday lights, embark on an excursion on the Water Taxi in Fort Lauderdale.  This is a fairly pricey and popular holiday activity. Water Taxi  holiday lights tours in 2025 are in December and January with decorated vessels navigating The Intracoastal Waterway. The tour is a peek at the decorated waterfront …

For a twist on festive entertainment, sing along with holiday tunes strummed on ukuleles.  The Florida Ukulele Network presents a Holiday Ukulele Play and Singalong at Broward Library in Fort Lauderdale.  The Ukulele event in 2025 is 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 17, and entry is free. Register online. Parking fees are about …

Sunrise Parks & recreation department offers an outdoor event space Village Art Plaza that is packed with sculptures and other vibrant outdoor art displays. Entry for many events is free. Parking is free. Village Art Plaza is at 2260 NW 68th Ave., Sunrise 33313. Events in 2025 at Village Art Plaza include Food Trucks Food …

Going out to see holiday lights is an important part of the holiday season. In South Florida, many of those lights are on palm trees and not on evergreens, but that doesn’t make them any less desirable. Florida Christmas lights are still beautiful, and we also have beautiful weather in which to enjoy outdoor light …