Fort Lauderdale’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival will return with all the bells and whistles and Budweiser Clydesdales on Saturday.
The key difference will be the celebration’s new location on Fort Lauderdale beach, currently overrun by the annual hordes who come to our shores to worship at the altar of St. Natty Light.
While a move of the city’s traditional downtown parade was a necessity due to construction on Las Olas Boulevard, a Spring Break vs. St. Patrick face-off on Fort Lauderdale beach may give new meaning to March Madness. What’s the Vegas over-under on how many Spring Breakers try to mount a Clydesdale?
Again, the city will re-create all the events you know and love in the new location: The traditional street striping ceremony will take place at Las Olas and A1A at 4:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a party until 7 p.m. at Las Olas Oceanside Park.
The St. Patrick’s Day Festival, highlighted by a performance by U2 tribute band Vertigo, will be at Las Olas Intracoastal Promenade Park on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The parade is noon to 2 p.m. Saturday along A1A, going south from Terramar Street to the festival. Visit STPatsFTL.com.
FRIDAY
Weekend beers: If you’re looking for something not green to drink this weekend, Mathews Brewing Co. in Lake Worth Beach took home three gold medals at the Best of Florida Beer Championship in Tampa last week. Its winning entries included Orange Goblin (gold medal, fruit beer category); White Goblin (gold, Belgian-style light ale); Them Bones (gold, ESB pale mild bitter); and 561 PILZ (silver, bohemian-style pilsner). Other local winners announced Feb. 1 were Prison Pals Brewing in Oakland Park with its Premium Lager (gold, American-style lager) and Phil the Freedom (gold, hoppy lager); NOBO Brewing Co. in Boynton Beach for its French Vanilla Coffee Porter (gold, coffee stout or porter); Yeasty Brews Artisanal Beers in Lauderhill for Chillin With my Gnomies (gold, herb and spice beer); and Tarpon River Brewing in Fort Lauderdale for its popular Prickly Pear Zinger (bronze, fruited American-style sour ale). Visit Facebook.com/BestFloridaBeer.
The man show: The touring male-stripper showcase Men in Motion is designed “exclusively just for women,” according to promotional material, which also assures us that “Guys are welcome!” Life is so complicated these days. The gents will rock out at Holy Mackerel Small Batch Beers in Fort Lauderdale at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets start at $20+ for GA seating, but if that’s not close enough for you, there are several levels of VIP, meet-and-greet tickets. Visit MenInMotionDancers.com.
Weekend laughs: Tim Dillon has the eponymous podcast, earned acclaim at major festivals and been seen on Comedy Central and Netflix, but the stage that may have shaped him the most was a stretch on a double-decker bus during Tim Dillon’s Real NYC Bus Tour. TimeOut called the “delightfully morose” Dillon “one of our favorite stand-ups in NYC, and certainly the most deranged tour bus guide you’ll ever have.” Dillon has performances through Saturday at the Palm Beach Improv in West Palm Beach. Tickets start at $40+ at PalmBeachImprov.com.
Time to Nicole again: Festival of the Arts Boca will welcome esteemed South Florida vocalist Nicole Henry to the stage at Mizner Park Amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. Friday for a show that will showcase her critically lauded album, “Time to Love Again.” The album — which features a who’s-who list of local jazz cats, among them Pete Wallace (piano), Jean Caze (trumpet), Aaron Lebos (guitar), Camilo Velandia (guitar) Dan Warner (guitar), John Michalak (saxophone), Eduardo Rodriguez (percussion), Richard Bravo (drums), David Chiverton (drums) — encouraged a wave of critical praise on its release in 2021. As a reviewer for All About Jazz said of Henry: “It may be premature to compare her to Sarah Vaughan, as some of her fans are wont. Time will tell, but she is in the ballpark.” Tickets start at $15+ at FestivalBoca.org.
Free jams: A weekend of free music and other events organized by Miami Beach Live! will continue at Lummus Park on South Beach (Sixth Street and Ocean Drive) from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday with the World Baseball Classic & Miami Marlins Family Fest Concert. Pegged to WBC games that get under way this weekend at the Marlins’ loanDepot Park, the festival will include performances by the Spam Allstars (6 to 7 p.m.), PALO! (7:30 to 8:30 p.m.) and Tito Nieves (9 to 10 p.m.). Admission is free. Visit MiamiAndBeaches.com.
Mindful music: The 10th annual Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance brings art, yoga, meditation, food and drink, and a strong lineup of local and nationally touring musicians to historic Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami this Friday through Sunday. Led by Donna the Buffalo, performers include Daymé Arocena, Marlow Rosado, Afrobeta, The Resolvers, Juke, Cortadito, Pepe Montes Conjunto, Miami Bloco and others. Advance tickets cost $42+ for Friday, $53+ per day for Saturday or Sunday admission. A three-day pass costs $128+. (Ticket prices are higher at the gate.) For schedule and more information, visit VirginiaKeyGrassroots.org.
Green on Clematis: St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at O’Shea’s Irish Pub in downtown West Palm Beach not only come a week before March 17, but also cannot be contained to a single day. The landmark pub will close the 500 block of Clematis Street for its annual free-admission block party from Friday through Sunday, opening at the crack of 9 a.m. each day and featuring Irish food and drink, Irish bands and, of course, drag shows. O’Shea’s annual Irish Fest Pub Crawl is 9 p.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday. Visit OSheasPub.com.
O’sneak peeks: The night before they do the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Delray Beach, Palm Beach County Firefighters Pipes & Drums will join the Greater Boston Firefighters Pipes & Drums at Tim Finnegans Irish Pub in Delray Beach at 7 p.m. Friday. Visit TimFinnegansIrishPub.com. … The NYPD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums will be at Bo’s Beach in Fort Lauderdale at 7 p.m. Friday (visit BosBeach.com), then perform at sister restaurant Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill after the Fort Lauderdale parade at 7 p.m. Saturday (visit Bokampers.com).
Ticket window: Snoop Dogg‘s High School Reunion Tour with Wiz Khalifa, Too $hort, Warren G and Berner will stop at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, on Aug. 11, with tickets on sale at 9 a.m. Friday at LiveNation.com. … Dierks Bentley‘s Gravel & Gold Tour will stop at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre on July 15, with opening acts Jordan Davis and Caylee Hammack. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday at LiveNation.com. … Lionel Richie and Earth, Wind & Fire will stop at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise on Aug. 25. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster.com. … Slightly Stoopid and Sublime With Rome will be at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre on Sept. 3. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday at LiveNation.com. … Pierce the Veil and The Used will perform at Mizner Park Amphitheatre in Boca Raton on May 27, with tickets on sale 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster.com.
SATURDAY
WWII and U2 music: An annual event for more than five decades, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival in downtown Delray Beach has always felt like the most solemn of local St. Pat’s events, continuing that theme on Saturday with World War II veterans serving as grand marshals. The noon parade will flow into the free festival on Old School Square from 1 to 7 p.m., featuring food and drink, kids’ activities and live entertainment, including a set from U2 tribute band Vertigo. Visit StPatsDelray.com.
Gardens of R&B icons: The 16th annual Jazz in the Gardens series returns to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday and Sunday, this edition distinguished by a performance by captivating R&B singer Erykah Badu on Sunday. Saturday performers include Jill Scott, Jodeci, El DeBarge, Ari Lennox and Adam Blackstone, while the Sunday lineup showcases Badu with Gap Band icon Charlie Wilson, Sean Paul, Keyshia Cole, Mike Phillips and more. Single-day tickets cost $105+, with two-day passes starting at $135+. Gates open at 3 p.m. each day (parking lots at 2 p.m.), with music starting at 4 p.m. Visit JazzInTheGardens.com.
ArtsPark nights: The attractive ArtsPark in downtown Hollywood will kick off the free Hollywood ArtsPark Experience series with a 7 p.m. Saturday performance by acclaimed New Orleans brass band The Soul Rebels, aided by opening act Erica Falls. Other performers in the series, produced by The Rhythm Foundation, include Jamaican reggae singer Protoje (April 16) and indie-country duo Larkin Poe with an opening set by local blues provocateur Uncle Scotchy (May 7). These shows are BYO blanket and chair. Visit RhythmFoundation.com.
.Paak & Chic: Miami Beach Live! continues from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Lummus Park on South Beach with an hourlong vinyl DJ set by Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee) beginning at 7:30 p.m., followed by a performance by R&B icons Nile Rodgers and Chic at 9 p.m. Admission is free. Visit MiamiAndBeaches.com.
Good fit: While the rest of us are loading up on green beer, The Square in downtown West Palm Beach will host District Fit, an all-day fitness and wellness festival on Saturday. A collaboration with local nonprofit Digital Vibez, the event will include a lineup of free and donation-based classes incorporating yoga, cycling, dance, HIIT and meditative workshops. Donations (suggested $10) will support Digital Vibez’ mission to guide youth in diverse communities through dance fitness, technology and the arts. Visit DistrictFitWPB.com.
Take the kids: Because it’s still winter, Rapids Waterpark opens on Saturday, with more than 40 slides and attractions spread over 35 acres in Riviera Beach. Later in the season, the park expects to open a new attraction, Mega Mayhem, a dueling water-coaster ride more than 800 feet long. Single-day tickets cost $54.99+ for admission Monday-Friday (no holidays), $59.99+ for admission on Saturday-Sunday and holidays, while season passes cost $109.95+ for admission through Nov. 26. Visit RapidsWaterpark.com.
SUNDAY
Sunday with St. Pat: Downtown Hollywood has arguably South Florida’s largest and most energetic St. Patrick’s Day parades, returning at 1 p.m. Sunday with the NYPD Emerald Society Pipe & Drum Corps leading a milelong collection of marching bands, floats and antique vehicles, heading north to Hollywood Boulevard, looping around Young Circle and heading west on Harrison Street. The St Pat’s festival takes place noon to 6 p.m. around the stage at 19th Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, where Uproot Hootenanny and crowd favorites U2 By UV will perform. Visit StPatricksFestival.com.
Crazy Eighth: No South Florida bucket list is complete without doing the free Calle Ocho street festival, which returns to Little Havana on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Stretching over 15 blocks along Miami’s iconic Eighth Street, the festival is a celebration of Cuban music (dozens of artists on eight stages), food and culture, putting an exclamation point on Carnaval Miami festivities. Grammy winner Aymee Nuviola, the Queen of Carnaval Miami 2023, will perform on the Telemundo Stage at Southwest 22nd Avenue. Visit CarnavalMiami.com.
Flea turns 4: Carley Sumner’s Flamingo Flea celebrates four years of good vibes noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Tarpon River Brewing in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The pet- and family-friendly afternoon will include indoor-outdoor displays from local creatives, live music and TRB brunch and beers. Visit FlamingoFlea.com.
Night of the Oscars: The Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival will roll out the red carpet for the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday at the waterfront estate of philanthropist and FLIFF Chairman of the Board Steven Savor. Corks pop at 7 p.m., with an open bar, food, live entertainment and a screening of the Oscars on 10 large screens indoors and out. Attire is black-tie. Advance tickets (required) cost $175 (members $125) at FLIFF.com/awardsnight.
Staff writer Ben Crandell can be reached at bcrandell@sunsentinel.com. Follow on Instagram @BenCrandell and Twitter @BenCrandell.
