With Thanksgiving behind us, the holiday season really gets into full swing this week in Fort Lauderdale! Get into the spirit at a few of these great events that shouldn’t be missed!

The 52nd Annual Christmas on Las Olas takes place this year on Tuesday, December 2 from 5pm-10pm. Over 40,000 people are expected to gather on Las Olas Boulevard to celebrate the “unofficial” start to the winter season. It is a rare winter wonderland you and your family won’t want to miss! Enjoy a snow mountain for sledding, a skating rink, carolers, and lots of food, drink, and overall holiday cheer! Admission is free and the event spans Las Olas from SE 6th Avenue to SE 11th Avenue.

Another festive holiday event will take place in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea on December 3, as the charming village celebrates their annual Christmas-by-the-Sea. From 5:30pm-9:30pm, Anglin’s Square (Commercial Blvd & A1A) will feature holiday carolers and dancers, a Yuletide market, children's activities, a commercial holiday window decorating contest, visits with Santa and the lighting of the town's Christmas tree at 6:30PM.

If you’d like to experience a great performance at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts (201 SW 5th Avenue), the Florida Grand Opera will present Madame Butterfly December 4-6. The beautiful opera is the classic tale of a Japanese geisha as she catches the fancy of a caddish American naval officer. She crosses cultural boundaries to become his bride and grapples with a serious dilemma, while faithfully awaiting his long delayed return. Puccini’s tale of tradition, romance, sacrifice, and yearning is one of the world’s most beloved operas. Tickets start at just $21.

On December 6, the Bonnet House (900 N. Birch Road) will host the Orchid, Garden & Gourmet Food Festival from 9am-4pm. The event will include the 8th Annual Orchid & Exotic Plant Sale and includes orchids, exotics, tropicals, herbs, fruit trees, garden art, gourmet food trucks, libations, gardening lectures, cooking demos, live music, Farmer’s Market and much more!! Admission is $15 for the day.

We’re looking forward to an exciting week here in Fort Lauderdale, and a festive start to the holiday season – one of the most anticipated times of the year! We love sharing how spectacular our community is and the array of events that are available here each week. So check out our website regularly in order to stay up-to-date on all that Fort Lauderdale has to offer and to learn more about this great city. Additionally, you can browse our Fort Lauderdale Real Estate listings anytime by visiting www.GayleBorden.com or call Gayle Borden at 954-525-3355.