Fort Lauderdale has been steadily building its culinary identity, and the Visit Lauderdale Food & Wine Festival is proof that the city is no longer just a beach destination, but it’s officially now also a food destination. The weeklong festival sprawls across Greater Fort Lauderdale with Michelin-recognized chefs, James Beard nominees, hands-on classes, and collaborative dinners that make the culinary scene feel both elevated and accessible.
The Grand Tasting on Las Olas was the festival’s casual fiesta this weekend, and I was happy to attend the event with my husband, excited to sample some bites and cocktails from restaurants and bars all over the city.
While we did experience some hot weather, DJs kept the tempo high and guests moved between tastings while holding tasting glasses, and ducked beneath tents to catch a breeze, not letting the heat stop them from enjoying the event.
Fresh seafood with citrus accents, bite-sized pastries finished with fruit glazes, tropical-leaning cocktails, and wines poured with equal parts knowledge and enthusiasm defined my afternoon. Crowds also gathered for chef demos, where cooking became the focus, and attendees enjoyed watching how unique dishes were made and how chefs creatively come up with their unique dishes.
The festival proves that saying yes to flavor and a bit of sunshine is always a good idea, and I highly recommend keeping an eye
out for the dates when the festival will happen in 2027, especially if you are a foodie eager to try the best that Fort Lauderdale has to offer residents and visitors.
Sunday: The Circus Reinvented
On Sunday, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® brought its Hype Crew to town for The Greatest Show On Earth®, a circus redesigned for a new era.
Gone were muted tones and nostalgia; what arrived was neon, kinetic, and unafraid to blur circus arts with street performance, sports, and dance.
I watched all of this with Marissa, Natalie, and Wyatt, my adopted niece and nephew at this point, and they were two of the best audience members.
They gasped, pointed at the performers, asked questions mid-act, and were the first to smile and applause. Their delight turned the show into even more of an immersive experience, and proved that the show is for the kids, but also for the adults joining them to watch and wonder right alongside them.
In the show, performers moved in bright colors, such as electric green, hot pink and acid orange, literally as if a box of highlighters had jumped into motion.
Breakdance-infused acrobatics turned into flips, unicycles ran across the stage with remarkable precision, and a German wheel spun with such velocity that you could tell that the risks were deliberate and well-practiced and perfected.
When each stunt happened, it made the audience’s applause rise, and at times, I did shut my eyes a bit anxiously.
But the talented crew made the magic happen every single time.
Then there was Bailey, the robotic dog whose personality transcended mechanics. Bailey bowed, posed, trotted, and engaged the crowd with sass and charm.
It was one of my favorite parts of the show, as she added to the event’s moments of comedic relief and even held her own upbeat dance party where two brave audience members participated and showed off their own dance moves.
The music was the show’s heart, from pop to EDM, leading to upbeat builds before stunts and adding perfectly to the action.
I do not recall being at a circus for a long time, and this one made me feel like revisiting the experience again.
South Florida makes participation easy. Festivals, previews, community events, and experiences arrive constantly, and we just must agree to step into them. So, make sure to keep an eye out for these events and others meant to entertain and capture everyone’s attention.
