[🌞 #FFFTL] What's Happening Here - The June 18–28 Edition

17 Events This Week; 6 To Save For Next Weekend; Plus A Dozen Ways To Beat The Heat

Jun 18, 2026

Thursday, June 18th, 2026 - Hey Lauderdale - It’s a loaded week. Pride takes over Wilton Drive, Juneteenth gets marked three different ways, and mango season peaks right as the heat does. We’ve got several ways for you to beat that heat👇👇👇

Stuff You Won’t Want To Miss This Week:

Thursday, 6–9pm | Food Truck Night at Brian Piccolo Park. Broward’s rotating food-truck night lands in Cooper City. A low-key weeknight dinner out that doesn’t cost much.
Thursday evening | “FRESH SoFlo Summer Flavors” Chef Experience Dinner. A communal-table chef dinner in Sunrise built around South Florida summer produce. Around $92 a seat, so a real night out.
Friday, 5:30pm | Coral Springs Juneteenth Celebration & Comedy Show. A Juneteenth evening with live comedy at the Center for the Arts. An easy way to mark the day without leaving Broward.
Friday 7pm | Starlight Musicals at Holiday Park. Free outdoor concerts on the football field, a 46-year FTL summer tradition newcomers always miss. Bring a blanket and a cooler. (Runs again next Friday, the 26th.)
Saturday, 3–11pm | Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade & Festival. The Drive shuts down for one of South Florida’s biggest Pride street parties. Vendors and music all afternoon, then the parade after dark. Go for the people-watching, stay for the block-party energy.
Saturday, 7pm | The Juneteenth Experience: MainStage. Live performance at the African American Research Library, part of the city’s bigger Juneteenth programming. Worth knowing the library doubles as a cultural venue.
Saturday, 8pm | Josh Groban & Jennifer Hudson at Hard Rock Live. Two huge voices on one stage in Hollywood. A bucket-list arena night if you don’t mind the casino trek.
Saturday, 10am–2pm | Pup Stroll on Las Olas. Bring the dog to the Riverside Hotel for a morning of vendors and very good boys. An easy, peak-Las-Olas Saturday morning.
Saturday | Yoga by the ocean (International Yoga Day). A yoga session at Las Olas Oceanside Park with the water right there. Outdoors, low-commitment, a good reset.
Saturday, 5pm | Doc Reno’s Wingsfest. A wing-eating, beer-drinking summer fest up in Margate. Go hungry; this one’s about volume.
Saturday, 8pm | Renata the Band at Tin Roof. Live band downtown, no cover-charge fuss. A simple Saturday-night-out option on Andrews.
Sunday, 2–6pm | Island SPACE Caribbean Mango Festival. Peak mango season gets its own party: tastings, Caribbean food, and vendors at the Dodge City Center. Very South Florida, very seasonal.
Sunday | Coca-Cola Caravan at Las Olas Oceanside Park. A pop-up at the oceanside park if you’re already down at the beach.
This Weekend, 12–8pm | Smorgasburg South Florida. The huge open-air food market in Flagler Village. 40-plus vendors, 15 countries, free to wander.
Daily · from 10am | The Science of Guinness World Records (MODS). The science museum’s summer exhibit on record-breaking. A good backup when the heat wins.
This week · 3pm | Mae West in “Sunset Boulevard”. A staged show at The Foundry, the intimate theater most people here don’t know about.
Weekdays · through Jun 30 | History Fort Lauderdale: “Three by the River” Artists-in-Residence Exhibition. A local artists-in-residence show at History Fort Lauderdale on the river. Quiet, downtown, the kind of small-museum thing locals walk right past.

Next weekend (Jun 26–28) And Worth Planning Ahead

Fri, Jun 26 · 9am | Estate sale: art, Swarovski & decor. An Oakland Park house clearing out art, crystal, and odd decor. The estate-sale crowd shows up early for a reason.
Fri, Jun 26 · 6–8pm | The Art of Language: opening reception. An evening reception for a new exhibit on Sunrise Blvd. Art and a wander, if that’s your speed.
Sat, Jun 27 · 3–7pm | Flamingo Flea at Marina Village. The curated maker-and-vintage market sets up on the water. The kind of small-biz browsing where you actually find something. Go at golden hour.
Sat, Jun 27 | House Pilates Society at the beach. A pop-up beachside pilates session at the oceanside park. A workout with a view. (confirm time)
Sun, Jun 28 · 12–5pm | Free Neighbor Day at NSU Art Museum. The museum drops admission for locals, with two new shows just opened (Frantz Zéphirin and “Close to Home”). Cheapest culture you’ll get all month.

😉 Hey - quick question. Did we miss anything? Each week we do our research but you might know of an event, an organization, or a local business that deserves some love here in our weekly basket of goodies. Just hit reply to this email and let us know!

Featured Fort Lauderdale

Summer is here. And its hot!!

You can go to the beach. But while they are still cleaning up the sargassum seaweed invasion of the last couple of weeks, what if you tried one of the local water parks?

In the Classifieds section below we shared a link to discounted Brightline tickets are part of their summer promotion. And that got us looking at all the fun water parks are that within riding (or driving) distance.

Paradise Cove Waterpark - 401 SW 2nd St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
Perfect for families with toddlers and teens alike, this local favorite features a massive interactive water playground and a relaxing lazy river to drift the day away.
Castaway Island Waterpark - Mardi Gras Park, 3800 SW 92nd Ave, Davie, FL 33328
Offering two separate water playground structures and a lagoon-style swim area, it’s the ultimate spot for younger kiddos to splash safely while parents relax in the shade.
Water’s Edge Park, City of Tamarac - 7500 W Oakland Park Blvd, Lauderhill, FL 33319
This neighborhood gem boasts a modern, vibrant splash pad packed with spraying fountains that offer a quick, budget-friendly way to beat the afternoon heat.
Splash Adventure Waterpark at Quiet Waters Park - 401 Powerline Rd, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 (Hop off at the Brightline Boca Raton Station!)
This zero-depth entry water playground features a massive 400-gallon tipping bucket and interactive sprayers designed to keep the little ones endlessly entertained.
Rapids Waterpark - 6566 N Military Trl, West Palm Beach, FL 33407 (Hop off at the Brightline West Palm Beach Station!)
As South Florida’s largest water park, it packs a punch with 40 thrilling attractions, including a giant wave pool and dueling water coasters for big-kid families seeking high-energy fun.
Tidal Cove Miami - 19999 W Country Club Dr, Aventura, FL 33180 (Hop off at the Brightline Aventura Station!)
This upscale, 5-acre resort-style water park features gravity-defying raft rides and a surf simulator for thrill-seekers, alongside a pristine Kids Cove for the younger crew.

Summer means slides, spray zones, and giggles at these best kid-friendly waterparks in and around Greater Fort Lauderdale.

So... You Think You Know South Florida

You probably already know... the World Cup games are underway and folks are excited.

What you might not know... not only do we have games here in Miami, but lots of venues are also hosting watch parties. You don’t need stadium tickets to feel the electricity. The Greater Lauderdale area has turned into a massive, interconnected viewing party.

No matter what kind of fan you are, Broward County has a spot with your name on it. The local scene essentially breaks down into two vibes:

Neighborhood Hangouts

If your ideal match day involves a cold pint, familiar faces, and a table of friends screaming at the top of their lungs, the local pub and sports bar scene is thriving.

Local staples like Bokamper’s Sports Bar are hosting live watch parties for the matches, complete with massive TV setups and game-day energy.
Neighborhood favorites like LauderAle Brewery are turning into “Summer of Soccer” hubs with big screens and rotating food trucks, while spots like Baires Grill on Las Olas are bringing massive, passionate crowds (especially when Argentina plays!).
Over in southwest Broward, places like Agave Bandido and Twin Peaks in Pembroke Pines are keeping the energy high for every single match.
The consensus on the local Reddit threads? Find your community, pick your local watering hole, and get there early if you want a stool!

The “Feels Like You’re at the Stadium” Experience

If you want to feel the collective roar of thousands of fans, Broward County and the Florida Panthers have you covered with some massive, stadium-scale events.

Amerant Bank Arena (Sunrise): They are throwing four massive, official free watch parties on their giant jumbotron inside the arena! They are highlighting major match days, including Colombia vs. Portugal (June 27), the Quarterfinals (July 11), and the World Cup Final (July 19). Best of all? Admission and parking are totally free (though you need to RSVP for tickets on SeatGeek). They’re even rolling out a family-friendly fan plaza outside with food trucks, face painting, and games.
Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater: For another massive outdoor screen vibe, Miramar is hosting six days of free watch parties covering 12 matches.

Broward County Transit (BCT) is actually running special Park & Ride shuttle services to the Amerant Arena watch parties from locations like Miramar, Sheridan Park, and Broward Boulevard, so you can skip the traffic hassle entirely.

Whether you’re squeezed into a booth at your local sports grill or high-fiving strangers in an NHL arena, there’s no excuse to miss out on the action.

Where will you be watching the next match? Use the “Say Hey! Chat” (for Members) to share and invite friends to join you.

More Treats To Try

We don’t let just anyone sponsor this newsletter. Here’s who “made the cut” this week:

(Hit reply to this email if you want to reach over 1300+ local families for just $100)

👉 Buy YOUR OWN Classified Ad Here 👈
Here’s a plug for the 14‑year‑old owner of Tater Tots Plushies, a mobile plush‑making business. She offers to bring a full bear‑stuffing experience directly to senior centers, adult day programs, birthdays, parties, school events, and so much more! Interested? Book with us here: linktr.ee/tatertotsplushies no party too big or too small!
Did you know you can take off season tours of the Miami Heat All Access Arena and facilities? Minimum group of 4 required. Tell Victoria you heard about it from us.
Friend of the newsletter (Hey! Laura Duksta that’s you 🙂) shared this new children’s book coming out from her friend Angela Yoder. Please support her Kickstarter. Over 183 backers already!
Urban Air Adventure Park Plantation offers the ultimate way to keep kids active all summer long and beat the heat and rain. For Summer Group Packages full of nonstop indoor adventure call or email today! Lea@elevatedvg.com or 561-831-4311 for fast turnaround.
Summer is getting hot and Brightline is offering deals on getting families to the closest water parks (Aventura, Boca, West Palm, or Orlando).

Just hit reply to this email to get started. Work with us to reach over 1300+ Greater Fort Lauderdale families.

Quote Of The Week

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” ~ Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is an American memoirist, essayist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years.

Flotsam & Jetsam

Answer ten questions and get a chance to win a million dollars?

Almost sounds too good to be true. But judge for yourself. The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) is running (in true alignment with its core mission) a public awareness campaign that will challenge your assumptions… and it’s brilliant!

They are asking people to look more closely at what’s behind the affordability crisis?

Americans are working harder than ever and still can’t afford the basics. Housing, healthcare, education, and childcare; the costs keep climbing.

So their goal is to help Americans understand what’s really driving rising costs—clearly, honestly, and grounded in real economics. It’s what FEE has done for 80 years.

The 10-Question Quiz takes 3 minutes. Twelve finalists will be chosen and flown to Atlanta for a chance at the big prize (and more).

Beware - this is a creative and unique way to get folks to reexamine and maybe even challenge some of their core beliefs. Americans can’t afford healthcare. Going to college? Buying a home? But what’s really behind it? You might think you know. FEE has a million dollars that says, What if you’re wrong?

Disclosure: I am a fan of FEE’s work and a couple of years ago did some writing for their “entrepreneur-in-residence” program.

Word Play Of The Week

“Pride and joy”

Fitting, with the Drive about to throw the year’s biggest party. The phrase is centuries old and means your “pride and joy” was whatever you were proudest of. This weekend, the whole city qualifies. We support all members of our extended family. ~ Source

‘Under-The-Radar’ Openings Job Board

Lot’s of folks offering cool positions here locally. Maybe there’s one for you or a friend?

Samuel shared that NYY Steakhouse is looking for bussers. Located in the Seminole casino. The pay is good for the position and opportunities are abundant once your foot is in. Must be18+
Craft Beer Brewer. 26° Brewing Company. Pompano Beach, FL. A dream role for a beer enthusiast with a strong technical background.
Social Programs Facilitator & Mentor. The Friendship Circle. A deeply rewarding community role. You will be designing dynamic social experiences, field trips, and events for children and adults with special needs, while also partnering with local businesses on Las Olas and beyond to create vocational training programs.
Teaching Artist at Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The Center hires working artists to teach across its education programs. Contract and flexible, and you'd be shaping the next round of FTL theater kids.
Do you have a listing you would like to place here for next week? Hit reply and let us know.

Lastly… One Big Idea For Your Week

Who will you be this week? We only want you to be fully yourself.

Tell Us How We Are Doing

Every week we are working to improve #H!L every week, both for your reading experience and to provide a cutting-edge media apprenticeship opportunity for our learners.

We want to hear from you. What do you love? What could we do better FOR YOU? And most importantly, what FTL businesses and experiences should we be highlighting?