Details

Created: May 29 2012

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL -- The City of Fort Lauderdale celebrated Memorial Day Weekend in style with the Third Annual Great American Beach Party.The city closed off AIA for three blocks north of Las Olas to make room for two stages playing live music, an antique car show, an art show and exhibit, and sand sculpting contest.

The event drew the largest crowd in its three year history with 10s of thousands of people in attendance.“The gorgeous, sunny blue skies and great weather helped draw people to the event along with a variety of music,’ said Chaz Adams, spokesperson for the City of Fort Lauderdale.  “We had all different age groups attending from families with kids enjoying the games and sand sculptures, adults enjoying the music and seniors appreciating the art and antique car shows.”

The Beach Party had great entertainment with bands playing a variety of music styles including Swahilli, playing reggae music; Noreena Downey, a jazz group; the Landsharks, playing Jimmy Buffet and Beach Boy tunes; and the Jake & Elwood Blues Revue.

Other beach activities featured were the Jose Cuervo Beach Volleyball Tournament, Para-Commander Parachute Team and a free showing of the movie American Graffiti.   Family events included a beach water slide, face painting, hula-hoop, limbo and Twister contests, a water balloon toss and a sand castle building competition.

IMG Worldwide, a global sport, entertainment and media business, and Jose Cuervo are sponsors of the Beach party and participated with the first stop of its Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Volleyball Series.   “We figured our event works well with the Great American Beach Party and will increase exposure and attendance for our tournament,” said James Leitz, senior vice president of IMG Action Sports, and owner/operator of the series. “It’s volleyball, the beach, and it’s fun.”

A big draw to the event has been the classic car show that included muscle cars and hot rods.  “People are drawn to the old classic cars, its nostalgic,” said Russ Gagliano, owner of Russ G Events.  “We like to participate because the music, the beach and cars create a great fun, party atmosphere.”

Russ G Events arranged for about 70 classic cars to participate in the Beach Party starting with a parade from Holiday Park to the beach and culminating with a showing of the classic car movie “American Graffiti” on a big screen at DC Alexander Park.  “We lined up the cars like it was a drive-in and let people sit in the cars and watch the movie.” Gagliano added.  “It was great fun.”

The Beach Party attendees also saw the induction of four more distinguished South Floridians into the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Walk of Fame.  They were recognized for their lifelong achievements.

This year’s honorees were Entrepreneur and Philanthropist H. Wayne Huizenga; legendary Fort Lauderdale Tennis Director Jimmy Evert; Hall of Fame Tennis Professional Chris Evert; and Comedian, Actor and Television Personality, Woody Woodbury.

As part of the awards program, each honoree will receive a commemorative marble paver that will be placed in the Walk of Fame to memorialize their outstanding accomplishments. The Fort Lauderdale Walk of Fame is located on the beach along the east side of A1A at Las Olas Boulevard.

The City established the Walk of Fame in 2010 at the inaugural Great American Beach Party to pay tribute to the legendary Connie Francis on the 50th Anniversary of “Where the Boys Are,” the 1960 film which made Fort Lauderdale an overnight sensation and a “must see” destination for visitors.

The sand sculpture competition was a big hit with hundreds of people setting up chairs to watch.  “We had great weather and a great turnout with 15 teams and 60 participants of all ages competing in two categories, family/open and corporate/community,” noted John May, LivingSand artist/sculptor from Fort Lauderdale.

The winner of the open category was Lee Stoops of Delray Beach who sculpted two lion heads entitled “Top Cats”.  St. Coleman’s School, directed by art teacher Carrie Bennet, won the community category also with a lion’s head, untitled.

{igallery id="9416" cid="31" pid="1" type="classic" children="1" showmenu="1" tags="" limit="0"}