It's quite an exciting week here in Fort Lauderdale! Concerts, festivals, butterflies, and even a scenic 5K through the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding Downtown.

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is hosting their 3rd Annual “Bugfest-by-the-Sea” Dive Festival July 27-August 2. The week-long event features a series of fun and exciting events for divers and lobster lovers: a “bug” hunting contest with thousands of dollars in prizes, a bug hunting seminar, wreck diving workshop with Shadow Divers legend John Chatterton, underwater photo and video contests, free photo workshops, a PADI Digital Underwater Specialty Certification Course, free beach diving clinics, underwater pier and reef clean-up, SS Copenhagen Beach Dive, coral reef film presentation, a beachfront lobster cookout, and a Florida lobster mini-season kick-off party!

On July 30, the Hard Rock Live (1 Seminole Way, Hollywood) will present Gavin DeGraw, along with Matthew Nathanson and Andrew McMahon. The singer-songwriter (and Dancing with the Stars contestant!) is best known for his hit songs “Chariot” and “I Don’t Want to Be” - which served as the theme song to the popular TV drama “One Tree Hill”. He has sold more than a million albums in the US since his rise to fame in the early 2000’s. The show at the Hard Rock starts at 7:30.

Don’t miss the classic rock band YES performing at the Hard Rock Live on August 1. Formed in the late 1960’s, the English band achieved great success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. With hit songs like “Owner of a Lonely Heart”, Yes is considered one of the most popular, influential and critically acclaimed acts in the history of the progressive genre, and have influenced other big name bands like Dream Theater and Rush. Nine of their twenty studio albums have reached the top ten on either the UK or the US charts, with two reaching the number one spot in the UK. They have sold 13.5 million certified units in the US. See them perform 4 decades worth of hits at the Hard Rock at 8pm. Tickets start at $39.

The Museum of Discovery & Science (401 SW 2 Street) will be hosting “Butterfly Weekend” from 12-4pm on August 2 & 3. Learn how to build a butterfly garden, participate in a butterfly release and see the amazing IMAX film, “Flight of the Butterflies” in 3D on the BIGGEST screen in South Florida. Through spectacular 3D imagery, audiences will witness beautiful butterflies flying off the screen into their arms. Based on a remarkable true story, the epic film immerses audiences in a triumphant journey of perseverance that spans thousands of miles and several generations -- tracking real monarch butterflies to their mysterious Mexican winter haven where audiences will discover a truly spectacular sight: hundreds of millions of REAL live butterflies in one of the most amazing places on Earth. You can also get Butterfly Garden Tips: Learn what types of plants, dirt and species of butterflies you can put together in a butterfly garden, and take home some seeds to start your garden. Don’t miss the Butterflies Live! Presentation: Grab your seat for some fun with a live, interactive show about butterfly anatomy and life cycles. Learn all about the short but amazing life of a butterfly during this exciting program. The presentation is followed by a Butterfly Release!

Beginning at 7:00am on August 2, The KID Hero 5K is a USATF-certified run/ walk course beginning at Huizenga Plaza (1 E. Las Olas Blvd.) and weaving through scenic and historic sections of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Pre-Registration (by August 1) is $35 for adults / $15 for children 17+under. Participants are encouraged to release their inner superhero by dressing up in their best costume. Sign up in teams or individually and you can raise funds on behalf of the children and families at KID. KID will provide water, sports drinks, and healthy snacks. Fun post-race activities include a celebratory breakfast party with delicious food, great music, and plenty of laughs. A healthy, fun, and charitable way to spend a Saturday morning in Fort Lauderdale!

Stay tuned for more information on events held throughout the greater Fort Lauderdale area. And to learn more about our great city - or for information on Fort Lauderdale Real Estate - visit us at www.gayleborden.com or contact The Gayle Borden Group at 954.525.3355.