Fort Lauderdale Area Celebrates Centennial With Festival

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Broward County, Florida, home to the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, is celebrating its centennial anniversary with a three-day public festival of arts, culture and community. The three-day event, called Duende, will run October 2 to 4.

Duende kicks off on Friday, October 2, with a Fright Night Grand Opening Takeover, featuring street performers, live bands, flash mobs, dance, light shows, street art and DJs. The event will take place on SW 2nd Street in downtown Fort Lauderdale between 11 a.m. and 3 a.m. Saturday. Also taking place Friday evening is Duende Funtastic Friday at Hollywood ARTSpark Young Circle. The family event will be hosted in the Meadow from 5 to 8 p.m, followed by Duende ARTSPark Movie featuring “The Boxtrolls” animated movie (PG) from 8 to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, October 3, Esplanade Park will host the Party of a Century with cross cultural music, dance and performances by musical acts that represent Greater Fort Lauderdale, including salsa, reggae, pop and hip hop. The family-friendly, free event will include a petting zoo, costume tent, bounce house, interactive art booth, edible art stations and more. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In the evening, visitors can head to the Broward Center for “We…” The Passion & Rhythm of the People, a Broadway-style event created by the Cirque Dreams Founder Neil Goldberg. The show takes place from 8 to 10:30 p.m. (This event requires tickets, ranging in price from $25 to $85.) Also taking place is LEGACY, a 10-member band featuring music from the 50s through 70s, performing a free show from 8 to 9:30 p.m. at Hollywood ARTSpark.

On Sunday, October 4, local bands will compete for the Most AMPed Band title will 12 artists will compete in an ARTwar competition. Both events will take place in Pompano Beach.The free event takes place from 3 to 10 p.m.

The inaugural event will become an annual tribute to the arts in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.

–Lissa Poirot



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