Fort Lauderdale is an energetic beach town with a small-town attitude. That small-town America feeling is even more apparent over the Fort Lauderdale 4th of July holiday. Visitors can enjoy great weather, fantastic beach days, great hotels, and fabulous food. Pedestrian-friendly Las Olas Blvd offers shopping, art galleries, and outdoor dining in a fun atmosphere.
For the 4th of July holiday, you’ll find family-friendly beach games, entertainment, party cruises on the intercoastal waterway, apple pie eating contests, and more. At night the celebration heats up with a dazzling fireworks display.
To ensure you never miss a minute of fun, we’ve compiled a list of everything you need to know for a great 4th of July celebration in Fort Lauderdale.
The Wharf Fort Lauderdale – Fourth Of July Weekend
The Wharf Fort Lauderdale is the place to see and be seen in Fort Lauderdale. The location speaks for itself on Las Olas Boulevard overlooking the New River. This open-air special event space hosts a rotating menu of the most popular foodie-friendly vendors in Fort Lauderdale.
In addition to great food, cocktails, beer, and wine, you’ll also find fun games like cornhole and ping pong. Special Fourth of July events include live music, mechanical bull riding, axe throwing, and drink specials on American beverages.
There is no cover charge at The Wharf Ft Lauderdale. Minors and pets are allowed with an adult before 6:00 pm. After 6:00 pm, the venue is adults-only. Get there early to avoid the typical traffic jam around the Las Olas neighborhood.
4th Of July In The Fort Lauderdale Area
This Independence Day celebration happens at several locations in the Fort Lauderdale area, including Las Olas Oceanside Park, Fort Lauderdale Beach, and the Fort Lauderdale Stage on the beach. At night the celebration heats up with a fireworks show scheduled to begin at 8:45 pm.
Las Olas Oceanside Park Entertainment:
- The Bobby Rodriguez Orchestra
- B and B Experience
- Old-fashioned hot dog-eating contests
- Apple pie-eating contests
Fort Lauderdale Beach Stage Entertainment:
- Juanabe
- The B-52s
- 4th of July spectacular fireworks
The Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center is hosting a series of family fun events, including live entertainment, food, eating contests, water slides, and other amusing beach games.
Avoid traffic jams by taking a water taxi to the Las Olas Marina. The water taxi serves the Riverwalk Center Garage and E. Clay Shaw Lot West car park. Nonstop water taxi service is also available from Hilton Fort Lauderdale, the Riverside Hotel & Stranahan House, and the GALLERYone DoubleTree Hotel to the Las Olas marina.
The Fort Lauderdale water taxi is more than just a taxi service. You can tour the Intracoastal Waterway and see boats of every size, celebrity yachts, modern high rises, and some of Fort Lauderdale’s most spectacular mansions. You can start with stop one at the Riverside Hotel and stay on for the complete trip. Or get off at any of the 15 stops and get back on another boat. The water taxi meets at each stop every 35-45 minutes.
There is a bit more fun option than the water taxi. Step away from the crowds and explore the sights and sounds of Fort Lauderdale from the water in style! Let the friendly team at Lagerhead Cycleboats take you on a cruise around Fort Lauderdale on a pontoon party boat!
4th Of July At Las Olas Boulevard
Las Olas Boulevard is one of the best and brightest areas in Fort Lauderdale. You’ll find plenty of quaint boutique shops, local restaurants, specialty stores, art galleries, and sidewalk cafes. Las Olas Blvd is busy all year round, but over the 4th of July holiday, there will be even more people out for a fun day.
From Andrews Ave to Fort Lauderdale Beach is 2.5 miles on big wide sidewalks that are great for pedestrians. There is a full day of 4th of July entertainment at Las Olas Oceanside Park. At night, the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center is hosting a dazzling fireworks display at Fort Lauderdale Beach.
In order to allow for the increase in foot traffic on Las Olas Boulevard over the 4th of July, you will see traffic diversions in the area. Las Olas Boulevard will be closed to vehicular traffic between Seabreeze Boulevard and A1A.
Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort
Even if you aren’t staying at the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort, there is still plenty to enjoy from this lively Hollywood Beach landmark. The resort offers three live entertainment venues with free, weekly live music.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Restaurant schedules live entertainment on Thursdays through Sundays. The Hollywood Beach Theater and the Tiki Bar at 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill offers live music each week on Wednesdays through Sundays.
Special Independence Day performances are scheduled at the Hollywood Beach Theater over the Fourth of July weekend beginning at 5:00 pm. At night the Hollywood Beach 4th of July offshore fireworks display begins at 9:00 pm.
Grab your sand chairs and beach blankets and head to Hollywood Beach, anywhere between the Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood and Margaritaville, for the best viewing.
4th Of July In Miramar Regional Park
If you would prefer to avoid the Fort Lauderdale crowds at the beach, then head to Miramar, FL. Miramar is west of Hollywood and 45 minutes from Fort Lauderdale.
The 173-acre Miramar Regional Park is an entertainment sports venue with:
- Amphitheater
- Aquatics Complex
- Two baseball fields
- Two basketball courts
- Two cricket fields
- Two playgrounds
- Four pavilions with barbecue pits
- Six soccer fields
- Volleyball court
- Dog park
For the 4th of July, Miramar offers a free Independence Day Concert and Fireworks display with plenty of fun activities for the whole family. Visitors can enjoy DJ music soundtracks, food trucks, a kid’s zone, and craft vendors.
El Prado Park
El Prado is in the small town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, just north of Fort Lauderdale. It’s a walkable town with shaded sidewalks, quaint shops, open-air cafes, and boutique hotels.
El Prado Park is on the ocean and offers Addy chairs, sun shades, benches, and showers. For the 4th of July, there is a small-town celebration with a parade, a kid’s zone, a family fun day at the park, and fireworks at the beach in the evening.
The parade starts behind Lauderdale-By-The-Sea’s town hall at 10:00 am. Family Fun Day at the park begins at 11:00 am with a kids zone, waterslide, and other amusing beach games. Old-fashioned hot dogs and lemonade will be available.
4th Of July Fireworks In The Fort Lauderdale Area
A magical 4th of July fireworks show is the highlight of every independence day celebration. Several venues offer a 4th of July spectacular show in the area of Fort Lauderdale, including:
- Fort Lauderdale Beach
- Hollywood Beach
- Regional Park in Miramar
- Lauderdale-By-The-Sea at the park at El Prado
Check local listings for scheduled 4th of July fireworks in Fort Lauderdale. Many roads are diverted due to anticipated traffic jams, and some streets are closed to vehicular traffic, so it’s best to take public transport or water taxis when possible.
Celebrate By Taking A Private Pontoon Boat Cruise
See the intercoastal with its celebrity mansions and multi-million dollar yachts. You can visit the Fort Lauderdale sand bars and go swimming, making stops at the dockside bars for a few beverages. Bring up to 12 family and friends, your swimsuits, and your choice of beverages to enjoy on our fantastic party boats.
Give us a call or check out our website today to book your private party boat. Let’s make your Fort Lauderdale 4th of July celebration a fantastic and memorable event!
