Fort Lauderdale goes all out on New Year's Eve, marking the occasion with a massive street festival downtown. The festivities usually take place on Southwest Second Street & Southwest Fifth Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The program starts with family-friendly events lasting from 4:30 pm to 1 a.m. Adults can enjoy a live concert, food, beverages, and special entertainment.
Fort Lauderdale Anchor Drop
The main highlights of the celebration, which usually attracts about 100,000 people, are the countdown and a 100 ft (30 m) anchor drop. The larger-than-life illuminated anchor is the main symbol of local festivities: it is 20 ft (6 m) tall and embellished with thousands of LED lights. In addition, the event hosts a special kids' countdown and various activities, such as bounce houses, face painting, games, contests, and a disco with a DJ.
In addition to the street festival, many restaurants, bars, and clubs host their own events. The most popular NYE parties take place at The Warf, Riverside Hotel Skyline Terrace, B Ocean, and others. Beach-front hotels and yacht cruises with music and champagne are also extremely popular on New Year's Eve in Fort Lauderdale. Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, hosts gourmet food stalls, starting from 8 pm.
Miami New Year's Eve
Just some 30 mi (50 km) south of Fort Lauderdale lies the famed resort city of Miami, which is also a great destination for your New Year's Eve. The main party with a fantastic fireworks show takes place at Bayfront Park and is labeled the largest NYE bash across South Florida. Besides pyrotechnics, the program features concerts, dance party, and cruises.