While the rest of the country prepares for earlier sunsets and sweater weather, here in Greater Fort Lauderdale, the change of the season only means three things: boats, beers, and boos!
Trade autumn leaves for an ocean breeze, and fall in love with Greater Fort Lauderdale this October when you attend the following events.
Fall Festival In Greater Fort Lauderdale
On a scale from innocent to terrorizing, this family-friendly event at Tree Tops Park is rated “mildly scary.” While The Haunt hosts a handful of terrorizing attractions for older crowds, during the Fall Festival on Oct. 15, 22, and 29, kids ages 10 and above can experience one of the haunted trails before dusk. Prices start at $15/ticket, and activities also include live music, food trucks, games, and crafts booths.
Pumpkins & Palm Trees
Celebrate all things autumn, South Florida style. The 2nd Annual Pumpkins & Palm Trees Fall Fest returns to the LOOP on Sunday, Oct. 23. Browse crafts by local artisans, and enjoy bites, sips, live music, fall-themed cooking demos, photo stations, and more. Families and well-behaved dogs on leashes are encouraged to dress in costume to capture fun photo moments and prizes. Registration is free.
Attend the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
Back for its 63rd year, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) will return to the city’s waterways from Oct. 26 to 30. The largest in-water boat show in the world spans five days and 90 acres of showcasing space—where more than 1,300 luxury yachts to fishing boats drop their anchors.
See the show’s most impressive vessels docked at SuperYacht Village; watch yacht toy demos of underwater scooters and flyboards in a 40,000-gallon freshwater pool at The AquaZone; and cool down with some air conditioning and refreshing drinks at the Windward VIP Club.
Traveling between show locations can get tricky—between event traffic and raised drawbridges—so consider parking at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center for $20/day. Then, catch the complimentary shuttle service, or if you’d rather travel by boat, purchase a Water Taxi all-day pass for $15.
FLIBS starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. daily, except for on Wednesday when the show starts at noon and on Sunday when it ends at 6 p.m. You can purchase general admission tickets starting at $39/day while VIP packages begin at $300/day.
Celebrate Halloween In Greater Fort Lauderdale
Sleepy Hollow Halloween Extravaganza
On Saturday, Oct. 29, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., slip into your scariest costume for a free event full of frights at Gulfstream Park. Not only can you enter to win the Evil Costume Contest, but you can also witness a fog-filled appearance from the Headless Horseman on the Gulfstream Park Walking Ring as he searches for his missing head. Stay on the lookout for “carn-evil” performers from The Nightmare Before Christmas and Stranger Things, and visit candy stations handing out 2,000 pounds of candy throughout the night.
Spooktacular Science Weekend
Bring the whole family (preferably in costume!) to the Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) from Oct. 29 to 30 for a free event with museum admission. In The Hangar, MODS’ Makerspace, kids can learn the engineering skills it takes to construct a haunted house out of recycled materials and then discover how to create fog using dry ice and soap. Meanwhile in the Sprouting STEM Early Childhood Learning Lab, activities include make-and-take creepy crawly spiders and a monster mash music time.
Grab Your Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport
Calling all craft beer connoisseurs! We’ve got the perfect excuse for putting your taste buds to the test in every taproom across Greater Fort Lauderdale.
Sign up for your free Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport, which launched this fall, and let the mobile pass guide you through the local beer scene with stops at 12 different breweries and distilleries. Travel to Fort Lauderdale favorites like LauderAle Brewery and Tarpon River Brewing before heading to Yeasty Brews Artisanal Beers in Lauderhill to try one of their handcrafted hard seltzers. Grab the official destination beer, the “Everyone Under the Sun” Hefeweizen, at Gulf Stream Brewing Company in Fort Lauderdale. A stop in Wilton Manors for a boozy milkshake from Holy Mackerel Small Batch Beers is a must before making your way up the coast to Pompano Beach Brewing Company where you’ll sip in style from their colorful cans.
Not only will you discover a few new favorite pint-sipping spots, but you’ll also get to redeem exclusive discounts and get free swag when you check in using your Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport. There is no app download required in order to participate. Simply sign up with your name, email, and phone number, and you’ll receive a link to your mobile pass via text or email.