Las Olas Oceanside Park will transform into a holiday wonderland filled with exciting experiences, Nov. 23 – Dec. 31, and it’s rumored Santa may be stopping by!
During “WONDERLAND,” locals and visitors of all ages will make lasting memories (and capture Instagramable moments!) through a variety of themed sights, sounds, activities and performances. Larger-than-life holiday vignettes will unfold weekly themes, which include The Grinch Who Rocked Christmas (Dec. 2 – 5), Nutcrackers & Sweets (Dec. 9 – 12) and Let’s Jingle & Flamingle (Dec. 16 – 19).
The six-week series features holiday markets, strolling characters, children’s activities, live music and dance performances, contests and games, selfie stations, holiday movies and more. On Dec. 19, a Toy Drive will take place, where new, unwrapped toys will be accepted for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, in partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival.
To kick off “WONDERLAND,” Fort Lauderdale’s beachfront will illuminate with more than 50,000 holiday lights to welcome “Olas,” the wildly popular 20-foot beach snowman at “Light Up the Beach” on Nov. 23. Following, on Nov. 28, the Downtown Jewish Center Chabad presents the Greatest Annual Chanukah Fair. The free event takes over Las Olas Oceanside Park and adjacent Festival Street, with over a dozen amusement rides, music, activities and more.
Throughout the month, Santa will stop by the LOOP every Friday during Friday Night Sound Waves as well as during the expanded Saturday & Sunday special holiday markets.
Christmas weekend, brings two free holiday concerts, starting with A Night of Sinatra featuring Jeff Grainger and The Hoboken 11 Big Band, presented by the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Beach Business Improvement District (BID) on Friday, December 24 at 6:30 pm.
On Christmas Day, singer, songwriter and three-decades long lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer band, Peter Mayer, and his world-class band, present their acclaimed Christmas tour, “Stars and Promises” in partnership with the Broward County Cultural Division. A VIP reception and meet and greet following the performance will benefit the Dillard Center for the Arts. The series concludes with The Goodnicks, and Orlando-based DJ Spin Hype, for the Rockin’ New Year’s Eve from 6:30 pm -1:00 am, featuring atmospheric entertainment, a midnight ball drop and laser light show, sponsored by Elbo Room.
“Our beach business community is honored to be the presenting sponsor of the new WONDERLAND holiday series and other events throughout the year, for our neighbors and visitors to enjoy,” said BID Chair, Anna MacDiarmid, General Manager of W Fort Lauderdale. “Events like welcome everyone under the sun to our destination, not only during the holidays, but year-round.”
For the complete WONDERLAND schedule of more than three-dozen performances and activities, visit theloopflb.com
