Join us for the Winterfestivities!
Our favorite time of year is coming and that means we are halfway to the Winterfest Boat Parade! Do you have your Santa Tracker? Shake, Color, Search for Great Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale and Get Ready for December 15th! We kick off our events with the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale … so mark your calendars!
Winterfest Culinary Contest
Event Date: September 14, 2012
Winterfest Culinary Contest at the Culinary Institute at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
Students compete to have their winning dishes displayed at the Winterfest White Party. Recipes and winners listed on the Press Section of this website. Presenting Sponsorship: $10,000
Winterfest White Party – an exclusive sponsor event
Event Date: November 2, 2012
Winterfest White Party Hosted by Harbor Beach Marriott. Be a part of the media glitz as Winterfest kicks off the Holiday Season. Musical performances highlight the parade’s theme throughout the evening at this exclusive party f
or sponsors, media partners and select Winterfest guests. Jewelry display from Carroll’s Jewelers. Unveiling of this year’s poster and entertainment. Special room rates for this event. Title Sponsor: Gray Robinson, P.A. Epicurean delights from Timpano, Anthony’s Runway 84, 3030 Ocean, Coral Ridge Yacht Club, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza.
Winterfest Fantasy Boat Student Art Contest In cooperation with AT&T The Real Yellow Pages
Event Date: November 9, 2012. Deadline to enter is November 9th for Students in grades 3rd, 4th and 5th. Winner’s artwork will grace the inside pages of the AT&T The Real Yellow Pages. 1177 children participated in the contest with 30 entries printed in the 2011 directories. All winners’ will receive an invitation to a Winners’ Reception at Art Serve. Sponsors: AT&T, ArtServe and Broward County Fair. Awards Sponsorship: $5,000
Winterfest Family Fun Day
Event Date: November 25, 2012 Florida Panthers’ Slap Shot Game, Florida Marlins Prize Wheel, Mermaids, Baseball Throw, climb the Rock Wall, Bounce House, Sun Sentinel’s Kids’ Town, Mobile Mike and much more! Stop by the Culinary Courtyard presented by Michelob Ultra to enjoy Perrier products, Miami Food Trucks Coca Cola / Evian and festival foods – all for sale.
Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Black Tie Ball Hosted by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at the Hard Rock Live
Event Date: December 8, 2012 Reception 6 – 8 p.m. Dinner and Dancing 8 – midnight
The Ball is the most elegant of our festivities and by far the highlight of Fort Lauderdale’s social season. Enjoy the JM Lexus Welcome Reception as you bid on over 250 items in the Fidelity Investments Silent Auction. A live auction takes place inside the ballroom with items such as a 2013 JM Lexus, Wine Estate Vacation and a shopping spree from Carroll’s Jewelers. Bid on weekend vacations, dinner at your favorite restaurant, sports memorabilia, fine art, collectibles and much more. Enjoy wines and spirits. Tickets are on sale on this website for $225-$350 per person or $2000-$3500 per table of 10.
Winterfest Grand Marshal Reception
Event Date: December 14, 2012
This Winterfest Celebration welcoming our 2012 Grand Marshal includes dignitaries and celebrities who join us to celebrate. Winterfest style. RECEPTION BY INVITATION ONLY. at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This fabulous reception is the prelude to the parade. Many local VIP’s, dignitaries, sponsors will be on hand to welcome this year’s celebrity Grand Marshal. Fort Lauderdale’s Mayor, Jack Seiler, will give the Grand Marshal a key to our beautiful city and Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale will present a brick in his/her name(s) for the Riverwalk Celebrity Walk of Fame on the banks of the staging area of the Parade. The Reception is powered by South Florida Ford.
Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade December 15, 2012 6:30 p.m. 
Starting on the New River in Fort Lauderdale and traveling to the Intracoastal north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. Winterfest Parade – LIVE WEBSTREAM and later Comcast “On Demand”. The 41st Annual Boat Parade will stage on the New River along the docks west of Stranahan House to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The Parade travels East to the Intracoastal Waterway as it continues North to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. This year’s theme embraces the beauty of our waterways during the Holiday Season. From the vast numbers of private boats to the giant showboats and corporate mega yachts, the 100 parade entrants, will be adorned with hundreds of thousands of lights, music, entertainment, decorations, celebrities, musical groups, beauty queens and many other exciting entries expected to be viewed by over one million spectators. Boat entries are now being accepted. FREE viewing along the parade route. If you don’t want to miss a single entry – find your spot East of the Stranahan House. 2012 Parade highlights: Grand Marshal Showboat, Galleria Mall Reindeer Barge, Sky Limo Barge and the Baptist Health Santa Showboat. Wheelie Magic and Kid KJ are not confirmed. Parade Sponsorships: $8,000 – $75,000 (Cost to enter a private boat is ONLY $35 – download under applications). Visit the Winterfest website to get ready for the Parade and on December 15th watch the parade on your computer. Special thanks to Comcast and WSVN. Watch us on December 22nd – First Airing of the Television Special on WSVN!
Grand Stand Viewing Area ~ Party in the Park presented by Perrier. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Fort Lauderdale. For the best seats on land to view the Parade, reserve your reserved and assigned seats online (ticket/merchandise section of this website). Seats are $22.00 per adult / $17.00 per child 10 and under (plus tax). FREE interactive games for the whole family in the Chris Evert Hospital Safety and Family Fun Zone. Experience the Florida Panthers’ Slap Shot Game, Florida Marlins Prize Wheel, Baseball Throw, climb the Rock Wall, Bounce House, Sun Sentinel’s Kids’ Town and much more! Stop by the Culinary Courtyard to quench your thirst and festival foods – all for sale. Sponsors: Perrier, Michelob Ultra
VIP Viewing Area By Invitation Only
The most prestigious location to watch the Winterfest Boat Parade! Close to 400 community leaders, dignitaries and Winterfest Sponsors will enjoy the ambiance of the Riverside Hotel located moments from the beginning of the parade route. This event includes a magnificent buffet and cocktails. The area is also host to the television show and our boat parade judges. This area is Winterfest’s way of saying thank you to all of our Board of Directors and Sponsors.
Winterfest Winner’s Circle Hosted by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center
February 2013 6 – 9 p.m. This event will honor all the winners of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade and the Shoreline Decorating Extravaganza presented by Universal Property and Casualty Insurance. This wrap up party recognizes parade entries, decorated home and business owners, corporate sponsors, board of directors, and Winterfest supporters. One lucky winner win for the People’s Choice Award. Remember to vote for your favorite decorated home or parade entry by visiting the Winterfest website – by voting – you are saying thank you to those that went the extra mile to become a winner! Sponsor: Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center.
Winterfest Volunteer Party at Duffy’s Sports Grill
March 2013 Winterfest “Thank You” party to all the volunteers that help to make our year successful. Hosted at Duffy’s on 17th Street Causeway, it is a perfect place for this casual affair.
