South Florida’s weather forecast calls for flurries of snow set to blanket pockets of Fort Lauderdale and Miami. At least, that’s what you’ll tell the kids.
Because we live in a region that hasn’t snowed since 1977, South Florida relies, of course, on faux snow. As the yuletide season approaches, mounds of the fake stuff are pumped out to raise spirits at several holiday gatherings.
Christmas on Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale boasts a 20-ton snow mound for sledding. During Magical Snowfall at the Dolphin Mall, sheets of the white stuff will blanket strolling shoppers.
Here’s where you can make snow angels in South Florida’s winter wonderlands.
Christmas on Las Olas
5-10 p.m. Dec. 3 along Las Olas Boulevard between Southeast 6th and 11th avenues, in Fort Lauderdale; free; LasOlasBoulevard.com
A twinkling street celebration where families congregate for fun, eggnog (the spiked kind) and to compare tacky reindeer sweaters, Christmas on Las Olas this year expects to draw 40,000-plus revelers to the boulevard. The highlights: 30 performances on four stages with local choruses, outdoor movies and ice skating. The frosty centerpiece, on 9th Avenue, is Snow Mountain, where revelers can hop on a two-story, 70-foot downhill sledding ride.
Bayfront Holiday Village
11 a.m. Nov. 29 until 10 p.m. Dec. 25 at Bayfront Park, 301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; free via Eventbrite.com; 305-461-2700 or BayfrontHolidayVillage.com
An evolution of last year’s roller skate-off Bayskate Holiday Boogie, this year’s throwback nightclub on wheels takes over all of Bayfront Park. All-ages skaters will carve figure-eights to a soundtrack of old-school funk, soul, freestyle and rap provided by live DJs. There’s also a custom-built Santa Paws dog park and food trucks, a 50-foot animated Christmas tree and photos with Santa. Adults can rest their weary feet at North Pole Beach Club, a cocktail bar with Christmas-themed libations such as Peppermint Mojitos and Mistletoe Martinis. (Which sounds awfully familiar.) There’s a tree-lighting ceremony on Nov. 30 and SantaCon (an annual parade of costumed drunken Santas) on Dec. 12.
Holiday Fantasy of Lights
5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 (5K Run/Walk), 6 p.m. Nov. 24 (Family Bike Night) and 6-10 p.m. daily from Nov. 27 to Dec. 31 at Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek; $12-$18 per car, $40 per van/bus; 954-956-7266 or HolidayLightsDriveThru.com
You can drive through three miles of winding, snow-covered walkways illuminated by millions of twinkling lights, which take the form of houses, giraffes, palm trees, carousels, Santa and his reindeer and, of course, Art Basel tourists. (OK, not that last one.) And you can watch it all with 3D glasses. The display will be open on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but athletes and riders taking part in the 5K Run and Fitness Wall (Nov. 23) and Family Bike Night (Nov. 24) will have first crack at the course.
Garden of Lights
5-8 p.m. Dec. 13-15, Dec. 20-22 and Dec. 27-29 at Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Road, Davie; $12.95-$19.95, with 25 percent off admission after 5 p.m.; 954-473-2955 or FlamingoGardens.org
The exotic wildlife are resting but the botanical gardens will be wreathed in yuletide décor and thousands of lights, especially around the arboretum and Historic Wray Home. The Wray house will feature a new 3D projection-mapping light and music show at 6 p.m. nightly, along with an interactive life-size snow globe, make-your-own-holiday crafts, holiday snacks and Santa’s Snow Mound.
Magical Snowfall at Dolphin Mall
7 and 9 p.m. Nov. 27 until Jan. 5 at Dolphin Mall, 11401 NW 12th St., Miami; free; 305-365-7446 or ShopDolphinMall.com
Each night, visitors 12 and younger standing inside Ramblas Plaza will wave magic wands in unison (provided by the mall), which will unleash a literal snowfall. Snowflakes will fall in sprinkles and in flurries every day except on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Miami City Ballet presents George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker
Various times Dec. 13-Dec. 22 at Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, and Dec. 27-29 at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; starting at $30; 305-929-7010 or MiamiCityBallet.org
The closer you are to front row, the better. Longtime “Nutcracker”-philes already know the scene in Act 2 of the pas de deux: The light, ethereal melody of the celesta, followed by the ballerina’s dreamlike “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” Then a flurry of waltzing snowflakes scatters across the stage. That’s one unmissable highlight of Tchaikovsky’s ballet, which will be performed by Miami City Ballet with live orchestra.
