City of Fort Lauderdale Hosts "Holiday Happenings"
City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida - Venice of America
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City of Fort Lauderdale Hosts “Holiday Happenings”

Festive Lineup of Activities Highlights the Holiday Season

Petula Burks, Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4742 or petulab@fortlauderdale.gov

Fort Lauderdale – The City of Fort Lauderdale invites you to celebrate the holidays at the Kwanzaa Celebration and the “Downtown Countdown” New Year’s Eve Celebration.  Details of the festivities are as follows:

KWANZAA CELEBRATION ON DECEMBER 31

The City of Fort Lauderdale will pay homage to the 6th principle of Kwanzaa from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2008.  Kuumba, which means creativity, will be celebrated through ethnic dances, tribal storytelling, art exhibits, stage performances and a Karamu Feast of native foods. The celebration will take place at Bass Park, located at 2750 N.W. 19th Street.  Admission is free.

Kwanzaa, which means first fruits of the harvest, is a unique African American celebration of family, community and culture.  This seven-day spiritual, festive and joyous holiday is based on seven principles (one for each day of observance): unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.  The holiday is celebrated December 26 through January 1.

The City of Fort Lauderdale’s Kwanzaa Celebration is co-sponsored by the Kwanzaa Coordinating Committee and the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center.  For more information, please call Bass Park at (954) 828-8498 or visit the City’s website at www.fortlauderdale.gov.

NEW YEAR’S EVE CELEBRATION ON DECEMBER 31

The City of Fort Lauderdale invites you to one of the Southeast’s largest New Year's Eve Celebrations -- the annual Downtown Countdown! This free event will take place on Wednesday, December 31, 2008 on SW 2nd Street from SW 4th Avenue to SW 5th Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The spectacular celebration will feature family friendly activities in Esplanade Park from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. including bounce houses, DJ William Penn House, games, and the ball lighting.

Live musical entertainment from local rock and roll band "Grindstone" will begin at 8:30 p.m. and will continue until 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2009.

At the stroke of midnight, the lighted ball will drop from the sky to officially kick-off 2009.

For more information, call the event hotline at 954-828-5363. News media please call Petula Burks at (954) 828-4742 to reserve space in the media staging area.