Great American Beach Party

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Great American Beach Party. Saturday, May 24. Las Olas Oceanside Park. Free event featuring live bands, kids zone, art show, classic car show, sand sculpting demo, socom para-commandos, and a tribute to the US armed forces

Kick off the summer on Memorial Day weekend at the Great American Beach Party, a tradition in the City of Fort Lauderdale. Celebrate with family and friends as a portion of Fort Lauderdale’s world-famous beach transforms into an entertainment mecca.

Highlights from this free, family-friendly event include live bands, water slides, a kids zone, a classic car show, an art show, a sand sculpting contest, a SOCOM Para-Commandos parachute jump, a military tribute, the Walk of Fame ceremony, vendors, exhibitors, and so much more!

 

Saturday, May 24, 2025

 

Event Schedule

TIME  EVENT  LOCATION
 10 AM - 1 PM  Sand Sculpting Contest  Beach
     
 11 AM - 5 PM  Water Slides  Beach
     
 11 AM - 5 PM  Family Activities: Native Village,
 Face Painting, Arts   and Crafts,
 and Water Play Feature
 Las Olas
 Oceanside Park
     
 11 AM - 6:30 PM  Classic Car Show  Las Olas Blvd
     
 11 AM - 6:30 PM  Art Show, Vendors, and Exhibits  Las Olas
 Oceanside Park
     
 11 AM - 2 PM  DJ & Games  Las Olas
 Oceanside Park
     
 2 - 2:30 PM  SOCOM Para-Commandos
 Parachute Jump
 Beach
     
 2:30 - 2:50 PM  Military Tribute  Las Olas
 Oceanside Park
     
 3 - 3:30 PM  Walk of Fame Ceremony  Las Olas
 Oceanside Park
     
 3:30 - 6:30 PM  Shaw Davis and The Black Ties  Las Olas
 Oceanside Park
     

 

Walk of Fame

The City established the Walk of Fame in 2010 at the inaugural Great American Beach Party to pay tribute to the legendary Connie Francis on the 50th Anniversary of “Where the Boys Are,” the 1960 film which made Fort Lauderdale an overnight sensation and a “must see” destination for visitors.

Walk of Fame Honorees are recognized by making sustained, positive impacts in one or more of the areas listed below but not limited to:
• Providing a positive outlook for the future of our youth,
• Contributing to the quality of life for our citizens,
• Fostering the spirit of our community,
• Bringing positive recognition to the City, locally or nationally,
• Making Fort Lauderdale a place to live, work, or play,
• Encouraging people to visit Fort Lauderdale as a destination of choice.

As part of the awards program, each honoree receives a commemorative paver that is placed in the Walk of Fame to memorialize their outstanding accomplishments. The Fort Lauderdale Walk of Fame is located on the beach along the east side of A1A at Las Olas Boulevard. Walk of Fame Honorees are announced at the Great American Beach Party, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend.

2025 Walk of Fame Honorees

Robert Bekoff, Waterway Transportation Pioneer

  •  Innovator of water transit, bringing Fort Lauderdale’s canals to life.
Kathleen Cannon, LCSW, President/CEO United Way of Broward County
  • A devoted Social Worker dedicated to championing opportunity for all and ensuring every voice is heard and every person is valued.

 

Richard Gray, LGBTQ+ Champion. Trailblazer. Advocate.

  •  Pioneer of LGBTQ+ and accessible travel, elevating Fort Lauderdale on the global stage.

 

Paul M. Sallarulo, Community Leader and Philanthropic Force

  • Champion of philanthropy and leadership, shaping Fort Lauderdale through decades of service and generosity.

 

 

Transportation Information

Travel stress free! Avoid the traffic jam and the hunt for a parking space. Instead, enjoy a quick ride by the sea!


Beach Parking

$25 Event Rate (Honored until midnight.)

  • Las Olas Garage - 200 E. Las Olas Cir
  • Fort Lauderdale Beach Park - 700 Seabreeze Blvd
  • On-Street Parking - From Vistamar St to SE 5th St


Downtown Parking

Riverwalk Center Garage - 150 SE 2nd St

  • Hourly rates apply - Registered Residents $1.50/hour, Visitors $3.00/hour


Water Taxi

Departures every 35-40 minutes with service towards the beach at Stop #6: International Swimming Hall of Fame. Enjoy unlimited Water Taxi rides all day (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.) from any stop for one fare. For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.watertaxi.com

  • Fares
    • Adults/Senior/Military - $25
    • Kids 5-11 - $18
    • Kids Under 5 - Free
  • Pick-Up Locations
    • Stop 1: Stranahan House on Riverwalk, 420 SE 6th Ave
    • Stop 8: GALLERYone Double Tree Hotel, 2670 E. Sunrise Blvd
  • Drop-Off Location
    • Stop 7: International Swimming Hall of Fame

 

Traffic Advisory

Las Olas Boulevard between A1A and Seabreeze Boulevard will be closed from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. Poinsettia Street between A1A and Almond Avenue will be closed from 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 until 9 p.m. on Monday, May 26.

Northbound A1A traffic may access turnarounds at Cortez and Castillo Streets. Southbound A1A traffic may access turnaround at 600 Seabreeze Boulevard.

Motorists should expect heavy traffic and are encouraged to avoid the area and seek alternate travel routes or transportation.

Image of Beach Party traffic advisory map

 

 

Video

 

 

Photos

Visit our Photo Albums page to see our complete Great American Beach Party gallery.

Great American Beach Party 05-24-25

Updated on 05/25/2025 9:54 PM