Light Up Lauderdale Creates Must-See Holiday Light Display

In Downtown Fort Lauderdale

 

Fort Lauderdale, FL – In a first for Downtown Fort Lauderdale, thousands of lights in glittering displays have been installed from East Las Olas Boulevard through Riverwalk Park, creating a new South Florida holiday lighting destination. Viewers can walk or drive through the festive displays through Jan 8. Strolling along the Riverwalk, or cruising by in a boat, will provide great views of the displays.

 

“Light Up Lauderdale,” Downtown’s free, month-long holiday light celebration, is funded by Riverwalk Trust, Las Olas Association and the City of Fort Lauderdale, partnering with lighting company Brandano Displays. The area will also serve as an illuminated backdrop for the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on Dec. 15.

 

The holiday lighting display stretches from SE 16th Ave. along Las Olas Boulevard, west through Riverwalk Park to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Focal points include Huizenga Plaza, the Stranahan House, the Historic District, Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Esplanade Park and Downtown restaurants, retailers and office buildings.

 

"We are working to create a premier holiday season shopping and entertainment destination,” said Patrick Brandano, president of Brandano Displays. “There is no place in the country with this combination of upscale retail, entertainment, public landscape, waterfront, great weather and architecture as a background for a spectacle of holiday lighting. Add the Winterfest Boat Parade to the mix, and there is no doubt that Light Up Lauderdale will become a tradition for residents and guests every holiday season."

 

“We want to create continuity throughout the Downtown, tying everything in as one destination. The beauty of our plan is its pedestrian scale,” said Andrew Hillier, president of Tangled Spider Design Group and president of the Las Olas Association.  “This is a strong start in creating a national-caliber event.”

 

Downtown building owner and vice president of Riverwalk Trust Tom Vogel loves holiday traditions and is spearheading the initiative on behalf of the Riverwalk Trust. “We want people to visit Downtown for a show or dinner and extend their experience with a walk along Riverwalk and Las Olas,” he said. “For Riverwalk Trust, it is all about creating a vibrant community in Downtown along the New River.”

 

For more information about any of the upcoming Light Up Lauderdale events visit  www.LightUpLauderale.com or call (954) 468-1541.

 

Other supporters of Light Up Lauderdale include The River House Restaurant, Hilton, The Miami Herald, Magic 102.7, Tangled Spider Design Group and Smith & Knibbs Public Relations.

 

Known for the successful Signature Brick Program (over 24,000 sold), the Riverwalk Trust serves as the catalyst in building and nurturing Riverwalk as a vibrant community connected by the New River. Riverwalk Trust accomplishes this mission through advocacy, communication, events, membership and marketing activities. The Riverwalk Board is currently pursuing projects to enhance and protect the integrity of the Riverwalk community, such as uniform design guidelines for thoughtful development, funding for capital improvements and park enhancements, ongoing activities for visitors and Riverwalk Park completion.

 

The Las Olas Association is an alliance of shop owners, restaurateurs and other business owners on Las Olas Boulevard whose primary mission is to promote the vitality of this unique venue.  This group has a decades-long tradition of providing events such as Christmas on Las Olas, the Las Olas Wine & Food Festival, art shows and green markets; all with the objective of providing value to the community and to visitors, alike.