The Great American Beach Party Returns May 26
Enjoy a Free Family Event to Kick off the Summer
Fort Lauderdale - Kick off Memorial Day weekend at the City of Fort Lauderdale’s third annual Great American Beach Party on Saturday, May 26 on Fort Lauderdale Beach at A1A and Las Olas Boulevard. The free event will begin at 11:30 a.m. when a portion of Fort Lauderdale’s world famous A1A will be transformed into an entertainment mecca, featuring music, live performances, and activities for the entire family.
Live bands will perform on two stages throughout the day entertaining crowds with classic oldies, rock n’ roll hits, smooth jazz and reggae. Featured artists will include Reminiss, Swahili, Across the Universe, Noreena Downey and the Landsharks.
Children and adults will enjoy an array of activities including a beach water slide, face painting, hula-hoop, limbo and Twister contests, a water balloon toss and a sand castle building competition. The event will also include a classic car show with more than 50 hot rods, ragtops and muscle cars and an art show that will feature up-and-coming local chalk artists.
At 4:00 p.m., a military tribute will take place to honor the men and women who serve our country in the United States Armed Forces. The ceremony will feature a precision freefall parachute drill by the U.S. Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team. The Para Commandos will skydive from 12,500 feet and land on a target positioned in the sand at Las Olas Boulevard and A1A.
As part of the event, each year individuals who have made significant contributions to the progress and advancement of the City are honored with induction into the Fort Lauderdale Walk of Fame, which is located along the east side of A1A at Las Olas Boulevard.
The official Walk of Fame induction ceremony will take place at 6:45 p.m. on the Great American Beach Party south stage, located at Las Olas Boulevard and A1A.
This year’s honorees include Entrepreneur and Philanthropist H. Wayne Huizenga; Legendary Fort Lauderdale Tennis Director Jimmy Evert; Hall of Fame Tennis Professional Chris Evert; and Comedian, Actor and Television Personality, Woody Woodbury.
Each honoree will receive a commemorative marble paver placed in the Walk of Fame to memorialize their outstanding accomplishments.
Prior to the start of the induction ceremony, a special presentation will take place on the south stage. Local artist Brooke Trace from NOBE Art Gallery will unveil a dramatic photo collage of the iconic “100” sign that was located at A1A and Las Olas Boulevard throughout 2011. The framed collage will be presented to the City for display in City Hall.
At 7:30 p.m., the Jake and Elwood Blues Revue takes to the south stage for 60 minutes of non-stop energy. You’ll be dancing in the street as the Blues Brothers perform their greatest hits, including Soul Man, Everybody Needs Somebody, Gimme Some Lovin', Sweet Home Chicago and many more.
The evening will be topped off with a free screening of the classic 1973 film American Graffiti, presented by the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. The movie will be shown in D.C. Alexander Park, located at A1A and S.E. 5th Street, beginning at 8:30 p.m. Starring Ron Howard, Cindy Williams and Richard Dreyfuss, American Graffiti is a nostalgic story about the adventures of a group of high school graduates on the night before they leave for college.
This year, the Great American Beach Party is proud to partner with IMG to kick off the Florida Open, part of the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series, which will take place at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, located at 1100 Seabreeze Boulevard. The free event includes qualifying matches on Friday, May 25, main draw on Saturday, May 26, and semifinals and finals on Sunday, May 27, which will be filmed for television on the NBC Sports Network. For more information about the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series, please visit the event website at www.josecuervoprobeachvolleyballseries.com.
The City of Fort Lauderdale’s Great American Beach Party is co-sponsored by AutoNation, Broward County's Cultural Division, Budweiser, the City of Fort Lauderdale's Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series, Majic 102.7, New Times, and the Sun-Sentinel.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
A1A will be closed from Las Olas Boulevard north to Castillo Street from 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 26 to 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 27. Traffic that is traveling north on A1A will be diverted west onto Las Olas Boulevard, north on Birch Road, east on Bayshore Drive and then back north onto A1A. Please note that Alhambra Street, Seville Street and Granada Street will be open to local traffic only. Motorists should expect heavy traffic and delays from S.E. 17th Street north to Bayshore Drive.
PARKING
City of Fort Lauderdale Beach Parking Lots
- Birch/Las Olas Intracoastal Lot: E. Las Olas Blvd and Las Olas Circle
- D.C. Alexander Lot: 501 Seabreeze Boulevard
- Fort Lauderdale Beach Park Lot: 700 Seabreeze Boulevard
- Oceanside Lot: 400 Seabreeze Boulevard
Other Event Parking Locations
Beach Place: 17 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard
Offsite Event Parking Locations
Event goers can park at the City Park Garage, located at 150 S.E. 2nd Street, and pick up the Sun Trolley one block south along Las Olas Boulevard. The Sun Trolley operates on a “wave and ride” system with no designated stops. To ride, simply wave your hand to flag the driver and indicate that you would like to board. Sun Trolley’s fare is 50 cents each way.
Riders can now download the “Sun Trolley Tracker,” a new app available for iPhone or Android devices. The Sun Trolley Tracker makes it easy to catch a trolley by enabling users to see where the trolley is on its route and providing the estimated time until it is available.
In addition to City Park Garage (150 S.E. 2nd Street), other downtown parking locations located within walking distance of the Sun Trolley’s Las Olas route, include:
- J-Lot (Andrews Avenue & N.W. 2nd Street)
- FRB Lot (300 N.W. 1st Avenue)
- City Hall Garage (100 N. Andrews Avenue)
- County Lot 2 (S.W. 1st Avenue & Broward Boulevard)
- Himmarshee Village (S.W. 2nd Street at 2nd Avenue, 3rd Avenue, 4th Avenue)
- Arts & Science Garage (101 S.W. 5th Avenue)
- H Lot (S.E. 8th Avenue & S.E. 2nd Court)
- V Lot (S.E. 13th Avenue & S.E. 2nd Court)
- P Lot (S.E. 15th Avenue & S.E. 2nd Court)
- N Lot (S.E. 9th Avenue & S.E. 4th Street)
For more details about Sun Trolley routes,
please visit www.suntrolley.com or call (954) 761-3543.
For more information about parking locations and rates,
please visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/parking/parking.htm.
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Great American Sand Sculpting Contest presented by Living Sand Cortez St.
On beach from Poinsettia St. to
11:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Art Show, Classic Car Show
A1A from Poinsettia St. to BeachPlace
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Reminiss (80’s Tribute Band)
North Stage
Noon - 2:00 p.m.
Swahili (Reggae)
South Stage
Noon - 5:00 p.m.
Family Activities: DJ, Games, Contests, Face Painter
On beach at Poinsettia St.
2:00 - 2:20 p.m.
Bahamian Junkanoo Review
South Stage to North Stage
2:20 - 3:40 p.m.
Noreena Downey (Jazz)
North Stage
2:30 - 3:50 p.m.
Across the Universe (Beatles)
South Stage
3:40 - 4:00 p.m.
Bahamian Junkanoo Review
North Stage to South Stage
4:00 - 4:50 p.m.
Para-Commandos Parachute Team/Military
Tribute
South Stage
4:50 - 6:45 p.m.
Landsharks (Beach Boys)
North Stage
4:50 - 6:45 p.m.
The Blues Revue
South Stage
6:45 - 7:30 p.m.
Walk of Fame Induction and
Unveiling Ceremony
South Stage
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Landsharks (Jimmy Buffett)
North Stage
7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Jake & Elwood Blues Revue Concert
South Stage
8:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Free Movie Showing of American Graffiti
D.C. Alexander Park
For more information on the Great American Beach party, please call (954) 828-5363 or visit www.fortlauderdale.gov.
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