When to Go

Peak season is Thanksgiving through April, when cultural events (performing arts, visual art, concerts, and other outdoor entertainment) go full throttle. Expect extreme heat and humidity along with rain in the summer. Hurricanes come most notably in August and September. Tee times are harder to get on weekends year-round. Regardless of season, remember that Fort Lauderdale sunshine will burn even on a cloudy day.

Annual Festivals and Events

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The city hosts the world's largest in-water boat show in the fall. FLIBS has been the end-all, be-all of marine envy since 1960, with more than $2 billion in boats, yachts, superyachts, and accessories from every major manufacturer and builder worldwide. The city buzzes with parties to celebrate, while the official show takes place at several locations along the Intracoastal and A1A. Tickets are required. Bahia Mar Yachting Center, 801 Seabreeze Blvd., Beachfront, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33316. 954/463–6762; www.flibs.com/en/home.html. From $35 per day/per person.

Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Founded in 1986, this annual festival is a celebration of independent cinema, showcasing more than 100 American and international feature, documentary, and short films at various locations across Broward County. Cinema Paradiso in downtown Fort Lauderdale is the base camp. In addition to more than two weeks of screenings, seminars, events, and parties fill the calendar, but don't expect the pomp of a big-city film festival. With that said, the Florida Arts Council refers to FLIFF as the highest-rated film festival in the state of Florida and it's the only film festival in the South to receive four major grants from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 954/525–3456; www.fliff.com.

Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. Known as "the greatest show on H2O" and the largest one-day spectator event in Florida, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade's 12-mile route through Fort Lauderdale's main waterways draws about a million people every year. The theme and decorations change, as do the participating yachts and superyachts. If you can't make it, you can watch the event live on the Internet. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 954/767–0686; winterfestparade.com.

Wicked Manors. Every Halloween, Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors morphs into a massive street festival hosted by The Pride Center at Equality Park. Everyone is welcome, and more than 15,000 partygoers typically attend to enjoy the costumes, flash mobs, drinks, and drag performances, which are all based on a theme. The street is closed to vehicles throughout the event, from 6 to 11 pm. 954/463–9005; www.wickedmanors.org.