Holiday light up event in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

Popular holiday events in Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach and other towns in South Florida include lighting & light-up festivities. Events often feature extra fun like live entertainment, activities for kids, face painting, vendors and Santa.  Some events in Fort Lauderdale feature Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds. An event in Dania includes skating and a drone show. Davie features a horse parade.

Usually lighting festivities are free. For some events, parking fees apply.

Please return to this feature as other events are added.

Light up events in 2024

Fort Lauderdale

Light Up Lauderdale is 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. November 7 at Esplanade Park, Esplanade Park, 400 SW 2nd Street, Fort Lauderdale on scenic Riverwalk.

Light up Lauderdale – Get Lit. The event includes Kids Zone,  Santa, and entertainment at 7 p.m. with Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds.

Dania Beach

Light Up Dania 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. November 16, 100 W. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach 33004. The event includes photos ops, skating rink and a  drone show.

Fort Lauderdale

Light Up Fort Lauderdale Beach

Over 50,000 holiday lights & Olas, a 20-foot beach snowman ring in festivities 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. November 18 at A1A and Las Olas Boulevard.

Entertainment at 7 p.m.  includes Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds. The event includes a kids' zone with Santa, inflatables and slides. Parking is usually $4 an hour.

Fort Lauderdale

Light Up Festivities 5:30 p.m. – 9  p.m. Thursday, November 21 on Galt Ocean Mile at  North Beach Restaurants and Shoppes at A1A and Oakland Park Boulevard and Northeast 32 Street and Northeast 33rd Street and A1A  include entertainment, food and drinks for purchase, and kids zone.  The event is at 3351 NE 33rd Ave., Fort Lauderdale 33308. Entertainment  includes a performance at 7 p.m. featuring Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds.

Parking

$2 an hour at meters, $1 an hour for Fort Lauderdale residents registered with the parking program

garage, 3020 NE 32nd Avenue, $4 an hour, $1.50 an hour for Fort Lauderdale residents registered with the parking program

ArtsPark in Hollywood

Tree lighting at ArtsPark is 7 p.m. November 22 with Santa and and an outdoor film at 8 p.m. “The Grinch.” ArtsPark is at Hollywood Boulevard and Federal Highway, Hollywood 33020

Single-use plastic items like plastic water bottles are prohibited in Hollywood parks.

Street parking  is $1.50 per hour. Garage Parking is $1 per hour. 

Garage locations are:

•  251 S. 20th Ave., between Harrison and Van Buren streets
•  251 N. 19th Ave., between Tyler and Polk streets

Parking information is online. 

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea

The  event includes vendors, letters to Santa, and lighting 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. December 4 at the downtown district, 1 Commercial Boulevard  33308.

Sunrise

 Light Up The Holidays is 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. December 5, and entry is free.

The festivities are at Civic Center, 10610 W. Oakland Park Boulevard.

Photo/Tamarac Parks & Recreation

Tamarac

Tamarac lighting festivities are 6:30 p.m. December 5, with entertainment and Santa. The event includes tree lighting, menorah and kinara.

The event is at Caporella Park, 5200 Prospect Road, Tamarac.

Parking and free shuttles are offered at Redeeming Word, 2800 Prospect Road.

Wilton Manors

Holiday lighting is 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 5 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.

Light Up Sistrunk

Light up Sistrunk in Fort Lauderdale

 Light Up Sistrunk festivities are 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, December 6 on Sistrunk Boulevard between Northwest Ninth and 11th Avenues. The event includes:

• entertainment
• kids zone
• toy giveaway
• teen area
• bounce houses
• food trucks
• health fair

Davie

Holiday Lighting festival is 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. December 7 at Bamford Park, 3801 S. Pine Island Road, Davie. The event includes jingle bell horse parade, live entertainment, Santa, kids activities and food vendors. For information, 954-797-1181

Plantation

Light Up event in Plantation is 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. December 7 featuring  photo ops with Santa, entertainment, food trucks, ice skating and snow. The venue is City Hall, 400 NW 73^rd Avenue 33317.

Pompano Beach

Light Up MLK Jr. Boulevard is 5 p.m.  with lighting festivities at 7 p.m. December 7 at the park, 601 MLK Blvd., Pompano Beach 33069. Performances, activities and food & drinks for purchase are featured.

Coral Springs

Festivities for Light Up include a snow zone, snack vendors, and free treats while supplies last. The event is 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, December 7 at the City Hall lawn, and entry is free.  The address is 9500 West Sample Road, Coral Springs 33065. Friendly leashed pets are permitted.  Parking is free at the garage.

Parkland

Light Up in Parkland with live entertainment is 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. December 13 at the Amphitheatre at Pine Trails Park, 10561 Trails End, Parkland 33076. Bring a blanket or  lawn chair.

Fort Lauderdale

Light Up event 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Friday, December 13 includes live entertainment, bounce houses and face painting. Train rides are featured. Carter Park, 954-828-5411,  is at 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 33311. Entry and parking are free.

Fort Lauderdale

Menorah lighting with entertainment and food for purchase 6 p.m.  December 26 at Las Olas Oceanside Park. Las Olas Oceanside Park is at 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 33316.

Weston

 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. December 29 Hanukkah Menorah Lighting event

The venue is Weston Town Center, 1675 Market Street, Weston 33326

Olas the beach snowman is a popular display in Fort Lauderdale.

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