Beyond the sun, warm Atlantic waves, and sugar-white sand beaches, Fort Lauderdale is known for its rich and vibrant culture. Fort Lauderdale is host to everything from world-class art events and music festivals to holiday celebrations and seasonal activities. Start planning your vacation and experience the most anticipated events each year in Fort Lauderdale with Sextant Stays.

Due to COVID-19, some of the events listed below are canceled, postponed subject to change.

Top Seasonal Events and Festivals in Fort Lauderdale

Flamingo Gardens, a 60-acre tropical botanic garden, sanctuary, aviary, and zoo, hosts the Harvest Festival Weekends every Saturday and Sunday throughout October. This family-friendly festival features costume contests, music, exhibits, themed crafts, free hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and much more.

Ranked as a top 100 art festival in the U.S., Las Olas Art Festival is perfect for the art aficionado who craves some time in the sun. Attendees of this juried art experience enjoy works on display and can meet the artists and discuss technique or even commission pieces.

The International Boat Show attracts professionals and enthusiasts the world around to the “Yachting Capital of the World.” Now in its 61st year, this annual festival exhibits the industry’s latest and greatest in boat and yacht designs and technology. Ticket holders can meet and mingle with designers, builders, brokers, and purveyors of marine products and accessories.

The Wilton Manors Neighborhood Halloween Block Party

This highly anticipated Halloween celebration, taking place in the charming Wilton Manors Neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, is presented by the Pride Center of Fort Lauderdale. The block party-style festivities happen from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and attract upwards of 20,000 costumed revelers annually. Enjoy spooky and fun-filled dancing, nightlife, and much more.

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival

Fans of the silver screen should put the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on their list. Now in its 35th year, this long-running celebration of film features 17 days of screening at the Savor Cinema and Cinema Paradiso. Submissions range from documentaries to shorts from 30+ countries. Participants are not only immersed in these unique film experiences but have the opportunity to meet with filmmakers and actors at unforgettable parties and panel discussions.

Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade

For nearly 50 years the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade has been a cherished holiday tradition in the Fort Lauderdale area. Locals and visitors alike line the 12-mile water’s edge to view the water-bound parade featuring enormous yachts, boats, and barges bedecked in festive lights and decorations. Glowing kayakers and SUPers marshal the entourage, and the fun kicks off with the first firework.

This four-day curated and exclusive art fair includes a water taxi along the famed Intracoastal Waterway to vacant multi-million dollar waterfront properties and yachts housing artworks and exhibits. Renowned for unique, conceptual art spanning eras and styles, this annual art experience is not to be missed if you’re a collector or enthusiast.

If you missed the first round in January, be sure to catch the second part of the Las Olas Art Fair in March.

Every April, Fort Lauderdale is awash in the sounds of the Tortuga Music Festival. This popular festival is something that South Florida residents look forward to all year. Country, rock, and roots define Tortuga Music Festival, which is held right on Fort Lauderdale Beach Park. A portion of proceeds from ticket sales benefits local conservation efforts. To date, $2,000,000 has been given back to our Conservation Village partners.

Summer in Fort Lauderdale kicks off high in the sky. The annual Fort Lauderdale Air Show is a beloved event that the young and young at heart look forward to. Few things can compete with the thrill of watching a high-flying aerial show, especially the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. Whether you’re on a penthouse deck or at the Drop Zone Beach, you have a great show.

The Stonewall Parade and Festival is another celebration of the local and national LGBTQ+ community members you don't want to miss. Held in the Wilton Manors Neighborhood, this event includes a colorful, lively parade along Wilton Drive, as well as outdoor festivities, food trucks, and entertainment.

If fireworks, fun, sun, sand, and festivities in Fort Lauderdale are how you want to spend Independence Day, you’ll want to book far in advance. This popular holiday in Fort Lauderdale includes a free community event on Las Olas Boulevard, featuring live music, family activities, and a spectacular firework showcase.

Don’t Miss These Fort Lauderdale Annual Events

Home to a hub of international flavors, Fort Lauderdale is growing into a hot culinary destination. Fort Lauderdale boasts everything from casual eateries and breweries to award-winning fine dining establishments. All throughout the city, you’ll find exceptional eats, many inspired by the coastal setting, and you can even enjoy waterfront dining along the many rivers and canals throughout Fort Lauderdale. If you’re visiting, here’s a list of the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale.

There’s always a line out the door at Louie Bossi, and for good reason. This pizzeria and Italian restaurant features creative pies, sandwiches, salads, brunch, and more, as well as housemade gelato, pastries, and cookies. You can order take out here or sit down on their garden patio.

Come to El Vez for the food and stay for the ocean views. Serving up modern Mexican cuisine in a bright open-air dining room, El Vez embraces baja-style cooking using local seafood. The menu offers a variety of dishes ranging from tacos to pastries that are available for both dine in and take out.

Shooters Waterfront has been around since 1982, offering waterfront dining and an space for events, yoga classes, cooking lessons, fashion shows and more. Shooters serves classic, coastal-inspired cuisine for brunch, lunch, happy hour, and dinner. Shooters is also one of 10 stops along the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi route.

Casa Sensei offers Pan Asian and Latin American cuisine, a raw bar, and sushi bar. Located along the Himmarshee Canal, Casa Sensei offers modern dining and creative flavor combinations. You’ll find an extensive list of cocktails, wines, beer, and Japanese spirits here as well. Come here for the live music, or take your meal on the water with a gondola dinner tour.

Dune offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean in a luxurious and chic space. Using locally sourced and organic ingredients, Dune serves a menu of modern classics inspired by the coastal setting. Enjoy a lunch, brunch, and dinner, as well as their social hour specials available Wednesday – Friday.

Enjoy the Best Restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale has become a hub for great beer and it has a lively social scene, making it the perfect destination for all types of beer lovers. Whether you're into hoppy IPAs, fruity wheat beers, full-bodied stouts, or unique sour ales, you'll find something to love at Fort Lauderdale breweries. In fact, throughout the Fort Lauderdale Ale Trail, you have roughly 500 different beer options at more than 30 craft brewpubs and nearly 20 breweries.

Some breweries offer guided tours for those interested in learning more about the process of making beer, but of course, if you prefer to just drink it you can find a spot in one of the many open-air patios, beer gardens, and more! 

With nearly 500 different beers to try, some have to be better than others. And while we believe all of the Fort Lauderdale breweries have something unique to offer visitors and locals alike, there are certainly a few that stand out among the rest. If you're hopping along the Fort Lauderdale Ale Trail, or just making a quick stop to grab a pint or a 6-pack to go, make sure to add these breweries to your list. 

Located in the Dorsey Riverbend Community, Orchestrated Minds Brewing offers a selection of hot-forward IPAs, stouts, and sours on rotation using locally sourced ingredients. Orchestrated Minds is a community-minded brewery partners with other small businesses in the area, making it a must-visit for those wanting to truly travel like a local. 

Located in the heart of Flager Village, Invasive Species Brewing serves up experimental beers with a focus on juicy IPAs and sour ales. Invasive Species is owned and operated by Florida natives, and you can find elements throughout the tap room and beer flavors that embody the tropical lifestyle. This brewery's tagline is "A Vibe as Original as the Beers," and we couldn't agree more!

LauderAle Brewery is the region's first nanobrewery with 30 drafts rotating through more than 60 craft beers on a regular basis. You'll find just about every type of beer on the menu here, and 5 core brews available at all times. LauderAle Brewery has received awards and accolades at the Great American Beer Festival and more, but the space is inviting and laid-back for beer drinkers of all kinds. 

Tarpon River Brewing is located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale between the Tarpon River and the New River in a spacious industrial building. This gastropub features beer made on-site and a unique menu of beer-inspired cuisine, as well as a kids menu and happy hour specials. 

Funky Buddha is a large craft brewery with bold flavors and a strong reputation for creative beers. You can get everything here from lagers to a maple bacon coffee stout, to spiked seltzer waters-- which are perfect for hot summer afternoons. You can tour the impressive brewery facility, buy some beer to go, or sit down for a flight and some food. 