Look up... and all around, too!
Credit City of Dania Beach
Dania Beach is kicking off the holiday season with a spectacle that involves hundreds of feet of sky, a supersized skating rink and enough Santa sightings to keep the North Pole's PR team busy.
Light Up the Night Dania Beach returns Saturday, Nov. 14, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Dania Beach City Hall Campus, 100 W. Dania Beach Blvd. Admission, activities and parking are completely free.
This year's celebration is expanding onto Dania Beach Boulevard, with an America 250-themed drone show and ceremonial Christmas tree lighting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The synthetic ice-skating rink is doubling in size, while the Grinchmas Kids Zone brings bounce houses, interactive games and plenty of green holiday mischief.
"Light Up Dania Beach keeps on getting bigger and better every year and has become our most popular event,” Nannette Rodriguez, the city's Marketing and Communications Division Director, tells Browardist. “We received a note back from the North Pole that Santa and his friends will be in attendance as always. And, back by popular demand are our synthetic ice rink, which will be doubled in size, and the Grinchmas Kids Zone that will offer free interactive games, bounce houses and more,"
The historic Nyberg-Swanson House will host free character photo opportunities, while the Christmas Village takes over SW First Avenue with holiday shopping and crafts.
Onstage, expect Olsen Middle Band & Cheer, CW Dance Troupe, Merry Melodies and Diamant Dance Studio, with DJ Millz keeping the music going. There's even an Ugly Sweater Competition at 7:10 p.m.
Come hungry, too. Meathead's BBQ, Mr. Lobster, That's Amore Pizza, The Greek Gyro Truck, The Mexican Taco Truck, Fun Kettle Corn and The Coolest Ice Cream Truck are among the food vendors.
Dania Beach Boulevard will close between U.S. 1 and NW Third Avenue from noon to 10 p.m. Free parking and continuous shuttles are available from The Casino at Dania Beach, with shuttle service scheduled through 10:30 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the BSO Fire Rescue holiday toy drive.
