The big one this year is the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade on Saturday, December 12, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale (preshow at 5:30 PM, parade and fireworks at 6:00 PM). Before that, Fort Lauderdale lights up the Galt (Nov 12), the beach (Nov 19) and Carter Park (Dec 11). Below you'll find every date, the Broward school breaks, and an easy plan to host your own holiday party with games from Crazy Games FL.
Broward holiday events 2026: the dates
These dates come straight from the event and city websites (checked October 29, 2026). Plans can change, so check the link the week before you go.
- Light Up the Galt: Thursday, Nov 12, 5:30–8:30 PM, tree lighting at 6:30 PM. North Beach Restaurants and Shoppes on the Galt Ocean Mile (NE 33rd Ave & NE 33rd St). Free, with live music, food and a kids' zone. (fortlauderdale.gov)
- Light Up the Beach: Thursday, Nov 19, 5:30–8:30 PM. Las Olas Oceanside Park, 3000 E Las Olas Blvd. Free, with more than 50,000 lights, "Olas" the 20-foot beach snowman, and a kids' zone with Santa and inflatables. (fortlauderdale.gov)
- Light Up Carter Park: Friday, Dec 11, 5:00–8:00 PM. Carter Park, 1450 W Sunrise Blvd. Free, with live music, bounce houses, train rides, face painters and holiday crafts, ending with the tree lighting. (fortlauderdale.gov)
- Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade: Saturday, Dec 12. Preshow at 5:30 PM, parade and fireworks at 6:00 PM, along a 12-mile route. The 2026 theme is "Party In The U.S.A.," celebrating America's 250th birthday. (winterfestparade.com)
Broward school breaks: the best party dates
Broward County Public Schools set these breaks for 2026-27:
- Thanksgiving break: Monday, Nov 23 – Friday, Nov 27, 2026
- Winter break: Monday, Dec 21, 2026 – Friday, Jan 1, 2027
Weekday break dates are great for a backyard or clubhouse party. Kids are home, parents want a plan, and weekday dates usually have more open slots than December Saturdays. The two weekends around the boat parade (Dec 5–6 and Dec 12–13) fill up first, so book early if you want one of them.
Can't make the parade? Host your own holiday party
Big public events are fun, but they're crowded, parking is hard, and little kids get tired fast. A party at home, at your HOA clubhouse, school or church lets the kids play for hours. Here are the games Crazy Games FL owns and runs, at the prices on our site today:
- Snowball Fight (from $349): teams toss soft foam "snowballs" from behind inflatable bunkers. It's all the fun of snow with none of the cold. Ages 4+.
- Candy Cane Run (from $399): a relay race with four 6-foot inflatable candy canes, plus cones and course markers.
- Reindeer Hop Race (from $299): kids bounce down the course on inflatable reindeer hoppers and tag the next teammate.
- Giant Ornament & Spoon Race (from $299): a holiday twist on the egg-and-spoon race, with giant ornaments on giant spoons. Ages 6+.
- Milk & Cookie Toss (from $399) and Jumbo Speed Stack Race (from $249) round out the Holiday Games lineup.
Add a treat station
A treat station turns games into a real party. Our Popcorn Machine starts at $199 and the Snow-Cone Machine starts at $99. Snow cones in December only make sense in South Florida, and the kids love them.
Three easy holiday party plans
- Backyard winter-break party (10–20 kids): Snowball Fight + Popcorn Machine = $548.
- HOA or clubhouse holiday party (20–40 kids): Candy Cane Run + Reindeer Hop Race + Snow-Cone Machine = $797.
- School or church family night (40+ kids): Snowball Fight + Candy Cane Run + Giant Ornament & Spoon Race + Popcorn Machine = $1,246. Run the games as stations so groups rotate every 10 minutes.
Our minimum order is $350. For a full price list, see our 2026 party rental price guide. Planning a school event? Our school winter carnival guide walks PTAs through it step by step.
Planning tips for a Broward holiday party
- Book 2–4 weeks ahead for December weekends. We have one of each holiday game, so once a date is booked for a game, it is gone.
- City parks need paperwork. Fort Lauderdale park pavilions are reserved ahead of time, and inflatables need extra insurance paperwork. Call the city's Parks & Recreation office before you book a park.
- Plan for an early sunset. It gets dark around 5:30 PM in December. Start games at 3 PM, or pick an area with good lighting.
- Delivery: setup and pickup are always included. Delivery is free within 15 miles of West Palm Beach. Broward addresses are farther out, so a delivery fee applies and shows at checkout. See the Fort Lauderdale area page or all areas we serve.
Thanksgiving break bonus (book by Nov 8)
Our Break-Day Snack Bonus is live. Book a Crazy Games party package or our own games for an event from Nov 11 to Nov 30, 2026, and get one free popcorn or cotton candy machine with 50 servings. That window covers Veterans Day and Thanksgiving break. You must book between Oct 12 and Nov 8, 2026. It's one free machine per booking, subject to availability, the $350 minimum applies, and the order must include at least one Crazy Games item. To claim it, mention the offer when you book. Delivery fees outside 15 miles of West Palm Beach still apply.
FAQ
When is the Winterfest Boat Parade in 2026?
It's on Saturday, December 12, 2026, in Fort Lauderdale. The preshow starts at 5:30 PM and the parade and fireworks start at 6:00 PM (winterfestparade.com).
When is winter break for Broward schools in 2026?
Monday, December 21, 2026 through Friday, January 1, 2027. Thanksgiving break is November 23–27, 2026.
Do you deliver party games to Fort Lauderdale and Broward County?
Yes. We deliver, set up and pick up across Broward. Delivery is free within 15 miles of West Palm Beach, and farther addresses pay a delivery fee that shows at checkout.
Which holiday game works best for little kids?
The Reindeer Hop Race and the Candy Cane Run are simple, quick and listed for ages 4 and up. The Giant Ornament & Spoon Race is listed for ages 6 and up.
How far ahead should I book for December?
Book 2–4 weeks ahead for weekends, and earlier for Dec 5–6 and Dec 12–13. Weekday dates during winter break usually have more openings.
Book your holiday games
Pick your date and games online at crazygamesfl.com, or call Crazy Games FL at 877-963-8368. We'll help you match the games to your group size and space.