The Great American Beach Party Returns May 28
A Free Event Celebrating Our Decades of Distinction and the City’s Centennial
Angela Sabina DiPietro, Public Information Specialist
(954) 828-4777 or angelas@fortlauderdale.gov
Fort Lauderdale – Celebrate this Memorial Day weekend at the City of Fort Lauderdale’s 2nd Annual Great American Beach Party recognizing the City’s Centennial on Saturday, May 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Fort Lauderdale Beach at A1A and Las Olas Boulevard. The free event will transform a portion of Fort Lauderdale’s world famous A1A into an entertainment mecca, featuring music, live performances, and activities for the entire family.
The Centennial “Decades of Distinction” Celebration will recognize five exemplary citizens in the Fort Lauderdale community:
· Louise Crocco – Girls’ Volleyball Head Coach at Cardinal Gibbons 1969-2008, 1,132 – 123 career record, 18 state championships
· Brent Jett – Raised in Fort Lauderdale and served as Space Shuttle Commander for Endeavour (STS-97) and Atlantis (STS-115), Space Shuttle Pilot for Endeavour (STS-72) and Atlantis (STS-81)
· Marcia Pinder – Girls’ Basketball Head Coach at Dillard High School, Florida’s All-Time Winningest High School Basketball Coach
· Rick Shaw – Radio Broadcast Legend
· George Smith – Head Football Coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School 1975-2010, 361-66 Career Record, 2 national championships, 6 state championships
Two stages will feature live bands that will perform classic oldies and rock n’ roll hits. Children and adults will enjoy an array of activities including face painting, hula-hoop, limbo and Twister contests, a water balloon toss and a sand castle building competition.
The event will also feature a classic car show. Vintage automobiles will line A1A giving beach-goers an up close look at more than 50 hot rods, ragtops and muscle cars.
New this year, an art show will include displays from several Fort Lauderdale artists. And a special historical area will also feature nostalgic photos, artwork and collectibles highlighting the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Centennial.
To top off the evening, event-goers will be treated to Chris MacDonald’s Memories of Elvis in Concert at 7:30 p.m. followed by a special screening of Girl Happy presented by the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival.
The movie will be shown at approximately 8:30 p.m. on a larger-than-life screen set in the sand off the corner of A1A and Las Olas Boulevard. The 1965 romantic comedy, starring Elvis Presley and Shelley Fabares, centers around a rock-and-roll singer hired to watch over the beautiful daughter of a Chicago gangster during spring break in Fort Lauderdale.
The City of Fort Lauderdale’s Great American Beach Party is co-sponsored by AutoNation, CH2M Hill, the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, FPL, Huizenga Holdings, Majic 102.7, Nova Southeastern University, Stephens Distributing Company and the Sun-Sentinel.
For more information, please call our 24-hour event hotline at (954) 828-5363 or visit www.fortlauderdale.gov.
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
The following locations are located near the event site.
Beach Place, 17 S. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard
Ritz-Carlton Garage, 1 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard
Offsite Event Parking Locations
The following parking garages are located downtown and guests are encouraged to use the Sun Trolley for transportation to the event, which operates from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. with trolleys running every 30 minutes. One-way fares are only $0.50 per person one-way. For more information, please visit www.suntrolley.com or call (954) 761-3543.
City Park Garage - $10 flat rate
150 S.E. 2nd Street
Sun Trolley Route: Las Olas/Arts & Entertainment Line, Stop #4 and 6
Pick-up is on S.E. 1st Avenue.
Arts & Science District Garage - $12 flat rate
101 S.W. 5th Avenue
Sun Trolley Route: Las Olas/ Arts & Entertainment Line, Stop #5
For more information on parking locations and rates, please visit www.fortlauderdale.gov/parking/parking.htm.
Traffic Advisory
A1A will be closed from Las Olas Boulevard north to Castillo from 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 28 to 1 a.m. on Sunday, May 29. 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.
|
