There’s something special about downtown Fort Lauderdale in December: the glow of palm trees wrapped in twinkle lights, the smell of something sweet drifting from Las Olas cafés and the soft hum of holiday music blending with city traffic. But the real magic begins when the 30-foot Christmas tree at The Plaza on Las Olas comes to life during the Jack & Jill Center’s 24th Annual Light Up Downtown celebration.
This year’s event on Tuesday, Dec. 2, marks the unofficial start of the city’s holiday season. Locals trade boardroom chatter for cocktail clinks, and community leaders mingle with families, neighbors and anyone who can’t resist a good tree lighting. There’s live music, festive bites and plenty of holiday cheer to go around, all set against the backdrop of twinkling lights reflecting off the downtown skyline.
While it’s easy to get caught up in the photo ops (and trust us, this tree knows its angles), Light Up Downtown is more than just a beautiful moment—it’s a meaningful one. The event supports the Jack & Jill Center, a Fort Lauderdale institution that has been strengthening families through early childhood education and family programs for nearly 80 years.
So yes, it’s a night of cocktails, music and sparkle, but it’s also a reminder of what makes this city shine: its people. For a few hours, Las Olas transforms into a scene straight out of a tropical snow globe: warm, bright and full of heart.
In Fort Lauderdale, we don’t wait for winter to feel festive. We just flip the switch, raise a glass and let the lights do the rest.
