Things to do in Fort Lauderdale this month: October 2026

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Rebuilt on the 1st of each month. Events come from the City of Fort Lauderdale’s event calendar and the organizers’ own pages; check them before you go, because times change. City events line: 954-828-8000. For this weekend only, see things to do this weekend; for galleries, theater and concerts, see arts and exhibitions this month.

The rest of October in Fort Lauderdale brings the Las Olas Art Fair, two free Halloween-season events on Oct. 24 and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1. The holiday lights start on the Riverwalk on Nov. 5.

Plan ahead

• Art fair weekend (Oct. 17-18): East Las Olas Boulevard is closed from SE 6th to SE 11th Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday to 11 p.m. Sunday. See our road closures story.
• Boat show week (Oct. 28 to Nov. 1): expect heavy traffic around the beach and the 17th Street Causeway, with the Las Olas and Sunrise bridges already down to shifted lanes. See road construction and closures.
• King tides: the city expects higher tides Oct. 24-31 and Nov. 5-11, with some street flooding. Report impassable roads at 954-828-8000.

Food and drink

• Museum of Discovery and Science’s 30th Annual Wine Event, Friday, Oct. 23, at the museum, 401 SW 2nd St. VIP entry at 5:30 p.m.; the grand tasting runs 6:30 to 10 p.m. Ticketed. Details

Music and art

• 39th Annual Las Olas Art Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, along Las Olas Boulevard. Free; juried artists sell their own work. Details
• Diwali Celebration, 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at Las Olas Oceanside Park, 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd. Free: live music, dance performances and food and merchandise vendors. Details
• Sunday Jazz Brunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, at Esplanade Park, 400 SW 2nd St. Free. Details
• Hamilton, Nov. 10-22, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave. Details
• Broadway, ballet, the symphony and the museum shows are on our arts and exhibitions page.

Family and Halloween

• Riverwalk Fall Festival, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Esplanade Park. Free: pumpkin painting, games, sand art, food trucks and vendors. Details
• Pumpkins and Palm Trees, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Las Olas Oceanside Park. Free: a pumpkin patch, live music, carnival food, market vendors, kids’ crafts and photo stations; costumes, pets included, are welcome. Details
• LauderBOO, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Snyder Park, 3299 SW 4th Ave. Free trick-or-treat stations, carnival games, bounce houses, crafts and the Native Village animal exhibit. Details
• 18th Annual Old School Reunion, Saturday, Oct. 24, at Carter Park, 1450 W. Sunrise Blvd. Free: a domino and whist tournament from 10 a.m. to noon in the recreation center and an Old School Dance at 7 p.m. in the gym. Details
• Halloween Fest at Bonnet House, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 900 N. Birch Road. $25 adults, $8 ages 6 to 17, free for 5 and under. Details
• Wicked Manors, 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, about a mile north. Ticketed, rain or shine. Details

Trick-or-treat hours are on our trick-or-treat page, and haunts and parties on our Halloween events page.

The boat show

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show returns Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at six sites including Bahia Mar, Las Olas Marina, Hall of Fame Marina and Pier Sixty-Six. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, the show says. Tickets, parking and shuttles are on our Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show page.

Early November

• Light Up Lauderdale: Get Lit Kickoff, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Esplanade Park. Free: holiday music, kids’ crafts and Santa, opening 10 weeks of lights along the New River. Details
• 20th Annual Liquid Youth Fort Lauderdale Running Festival, 6:15 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, from Las Olas Oceanside Park: a 5K, 10K, half marathon and half marathon relay along the beach. Details
• Light Up the Galt, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, at North Beach Restaurants and Shoppes, NE 33rd Avenue and NE 33rd Street. Free; tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Details
• Holiday Fantasy of Lights, Coconut Creek: Stroll Through the Lights 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 ($15 a person), Bike Through the Lights 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15 ($12 a bike), and the drive-thru nightly from Saturday, Nov. 21, 6 to 10 p.m. ($20 a car early bird online). See our Holiday Fantasy of Lights page.
• Light Up the Beach, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at Las Olas Oceanside Park. Free: more than 50,000 lights, the 20-foot beach snowman, the Fort Lauderdale Symphonic Winds and Santa. Details
• Winterfest Family Fun Day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, at Esplanade Park. Free: crafts, free boat rides and photos with Santa. Details

The Winterfest Boat Parade is Saturday, Dec. 12: see our Winterfest Boat Parade page. Thanksgiving, including the Turkey Trot on Nov. 26, is on our Thanksgiving page.

Every week

• NoBe Sunday Block Party, 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 27 at Fishtales On 33rd, 3355 NE 33rd St. Free. The westbound lane of NE 33rd Street closes 4 to 11 p.m. City listing
• The MKT at The LOOP, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Las Olas Oceanside Park. Details
• Farmers markets: see our farmers markets guide for days and times.

Also this month

• Household hazardous waste drop-off for Fort Lauderdale residents, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Northside Baseball Complex, 1660 NE 10th St., Pompano Beach. Bring proof of residency. See trash and recycling.

Have an event to list? Send it through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

What is there to do in Fort Lauderdale in October 2026?

Highlights include the free Las Olas Art Fair Oct. 17-18, the Riverwalk Fall Festival Oct. 17, Pumpkins and Palm Trees and LauderBOO on Oct. 24, the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, and Halloween events on Oct. 31.

When is the Fort Lauderdale boat show in 2026?

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show runs Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 2026, at six sites including Bahia Mar, Las Olas Marina, Hall of Fame Marina and Pier Sixty-Six. Tickets are sold online only.

Are there free events in Fort Lauderdale this month?

Yes. The city lists the Las Olas Art Fair, Pumpkins and Palm Trees, LauderBOO, the Old School Reunion at Carter Park and the Diwali Celebration as free. Light Up Lauderdale on Nov. 5 is free too.

When do the holiday lights start in Fort Lauderdale?

Light Up Lauderdale opens with the free Get Lit kickoff, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Esplanade Park. Light Up the Galt is Nov. 12 and Light Up the Beach is Nov. 19.