Whether you’re a foodie, art lover, or simply looking to explore Greater Fort Lauderdale, there is something for everyone under the sun all year long. From world-class culinary festivals to vibrant art exhibitions, music events, and family-friendly gatherings, 2025 is packed with must-attend experiences that showcase the best of the region.
January
Kick off the year by indulging in some of the area’s best food and beverage offerings. Visit Lauderdale Food and Wine Festival, running Jan. 13–19, showcases the community’s diverse culinary scene with 35 events, including classes, seminars, dinners, and the Grand Tasting. Chefs from Greater Fort Lauderdale team up with celebrity chefs, such as Nancy Fuller, Jason Smith, and Jorge Montes, for themed dinners and competitions. The best part: proceeds benefit Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
February - March
Travel back in time to the Medieval period for one of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s most popular annual events, the Florida Renaissance Festival (Saturdays and Sundays, February 1 through March 23). Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach is transformed into the 16th-century Village of Kimmendale, complete with a massive artisan marketplace, roaming minstrels, sword fights, magicians, and jousting knights. Savor giant turkey legs and steins of beer, mead, and wine, along with offerings from a variety of food vendors. Try your hand at axe throwing, archery, fencing, and other feats from yesteryear.With a different theme each weekend, it’s no wonder many attendees opt for a season pass.
Celebrate the arts with IGNITE Broward (February 14–23), a mesmerizing festival that is free and open to the public. The event features 12 installations throughout Fort Lauderdale, combining art, light, and technology to create one-of-a-kind experiences. The festival also includes artist talks and workshops led by local, national, and international creatives. Since its inception, IGNITE Broward has expanded to include venues in Dania Beach and Hollywood.
April
Conservation and music come together at the annual Tortuga Music Festival, taking place April 4–6 on Fort Lauderdale beach. The 2025 lineup includes Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Ludacris, Shaboozey, Gavin DeGraw, The Original Wailers, and many more performing on three stages.
With its beachfront location, sustainability is a key focus of the Tortuga Music Festival. The Conservation Village features a virtual shark dive, pop-up art shows, and opportunities for guests to turn in bags of waste for a chance to win prizes. Food vendors do not use single-use plastics. Proceeds benefit the Rock the Ocean Foundation.
May
All eyes are on the sky during the Fort Lauderdale Air Show, May 3–4, headlined by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. The aerial acts vary each year, but highlights often include the A-10 Thunderbolt II Demo Team, U.S. Special Operations Command Parachute Team, Red Bull athletes, and the Air Force Heritage Flight, featuring fighter aircraft from World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and other conflicts. Guests can enjoy the show from the beach, the ocean, or the official watch party on the 10th floor of the Pelican Grand Beach Resort.
June
Diversity and inclusion are deeply ingrained in the DNA of the Greater Fort Lauderdale community, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that there are Pride Month events going on around town. The biggest celebration is the Stonewall Pride parade and festival in Wilton Manors (June 14), reaching a milestone 25 years. The daylong fete includes a block party from 3 to 11 p.m. with food, music on seven stages, club parties, and a vendor marketplace. At 8 p.m., the Glow Night Parade takes over Wilton Drive with lit-up Pride floats, vehicles, and walking groups from throughout the community. Other Pride events throughout June take place at the Pride Center, Stonewall National Museum, Archives & Library, the Museum of Discovery and Science, and more.
July
Communities throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale go big to celebrate our nation’s birthday. Fourth of July celebrations take place everywhere, from Deerfield Beach to Miramar.
One of Independence Day's biggest celebrations is in Fort Lauderdale, with festivities spread across Las Olas Oceanside Park (The LOOP) and Fort Lauderdale beach. Activities include live music, arts and crafts, face painting, water slides, and games. Of course, it all culminates in a nearly 30-minute fireworks display over the ocean. Fireworks displays are easily visible along the coast, lighting up the sky from Deerfield Beach to Hollywood.
August - September
The dog days of summer are the perfect opportunity to try out restaurants that have been on your list, thanks to Dine Out Lauderdale. Taking place in August and September, participating restaurants throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale offer discounted prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus. Not only is it a great savings opportunity, but it is also a way to support local restaurants.
October
With a golden coastline and more than 300 miles of canals and waterways through the city, it’s no wonder that Fort Lauderdale has been dubbed the Yachting Capital of the World. Each fall, Greater Fort Lauderdale hosts the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (Oct. 29-Nov.1), drawing over 100,000 visitors from more than 50 countries. Spanning seven venues, the event showcases the latest in boating technology, educational seminars, cutting-edge vessels, and plenty of fun parties and celebrations.
The evening sky over Pompano Beach lights up with the ever-popular Pompano Beach Drone Show (date TBD). With two shows scheduled, 400 drones take to the sky to create figures like marine animals, boats, patriotic figures, and more. Prior and after the drone shows, there is also live entertainment. The drone show coincides with Veterans Day, making it a unique way to bring the community together while also thanking our nation’s heroes.
November
In Mexican tradition, the day after Halloween is the Day of the Dead, honoring loved ones who have passed on. Fort Lauderdale’s very own Day of the Dead Festival is done in collaboration with the Mexican consulate for a day filled with makeup vendors, crafting tables, food trucks, folklórico performances, a skeleton processional, and a Boneyard Bandstand.
December
One of Greater Fort Lauderdale's most cherished traditions, the Winterfest Boat Parade (Dec. 13), is a holiday celebration that perfectly captures the spirit of Florida. Making their way through the New River and the Intracoastal, a parade of boats big and small adorned in holiday lights and decor make their way past crowds of cheering fans. Nicknamed the “Best Show on H20,” the 12-mile route starts at the Stranahan House in downtown Fort Lauderdale and moves north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach.