1. Stranahan House Holiday River Tour
Where: Stranahan House and the New River
When: 7 p.m., December 15 to 23
Admission: $30 per person, advance booking required
More information: 954.524.4736, stranahanhouse.org/visit/victorian-christmas
Many of the New River’s finest homes save their best holiday décor for the side of the home you can’t see from the street. The Stranahan House’s annual boat tour gives you the best view – and also lets you enjoy our city’s pioneer house in all its Victorian Christmas finery. The evenings also include live music.
2. Southeast sixth Street Christmas Lights Display
Where: Southeast Sixth Street, Pompano Beach
When: Evenings
Admission: Free
Some of the best holiday displays are, of course, the ones that develop organically. On a block of one street in Pompano, just north of Lake Santa Barbara and west of the Intracoastal, neighbors go all out every year for displays that involve both lights and plenty of other decorations – manger scenes, toy trains – to look at. It’s all completely informal, so please be a good neighbor when you go. And enjoy!
3. Holiday Fantasy of Lights
Where: Tradewinds Park
When: 6 to 10 p.m. nightly through January 2
Admission: $15 per car, $40 per bus, $3 for a pair of 3D glasses. There are also several “value nights.”
More information: holidaylightsdrivethru.com
Tradewinds Park’s annual Christmas display is a tradition nearly a decade old. Cars drive through a backstreet in the park that’s positively woodsy (OK, ignore the turnpike and landfill just east of you) and enjoy all the bright lights and decorations. They hang and arch over the road, making this a memorable drive into the holidays.
4. Deering Holiday Wonderland
Where: The Deering Estate at Cutler
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in December
Admission: Estate admission is $12 for adults and $7 children ages 4 to 14
More information: deeringestate.org/holiday-season
Holidays in Fort Lauderdale mean visitors from up north. And visitors from up north mean that time-honored tradition, the day out doing tourist things in Miami. Stop in at the Deering Estate, the 305’s version of the Bonnet House, for some of its annual holiday cheer. Every December day (except Christmas Day), check out the beautiful, historic estate’s lights, décor and tree.
