FORT LAUDERDALE & BROWARD COUNTY
The Weekender
Your curated guide to the best events this week
☀️ WEEK OF MAY 8 - 15, 2026 🌊
Hey Weekender 👋
The Air Show is back over Fort Lauderdale Beach Saturday and Sunday — Thunderbirds, the F-22 Raptor, Red Bull's helicopter, the works. It also happens to be Mother's Day weekend, so brunches at Shooters, Jay's, and OCEAN2000 are all locked in for Sunday. Miami City Ballet closes its 40th anniversary season at the Broward Center the same weekend. The week wraps with a stacked Friday — Bill Burr at Hard Rock and Jason Mraz at the Broward Center, same time, same night.
⭐ The One Thing
Fort Lauderdale Air Show 2026
Two days of Thunderbirds, the F-22 Raptor demo, and Red Bull's aerobatic helicopter ripping across the shoreline — landing on Mother's Day weekend. Free from the public beach if you stake out a spot by 11; reserved beach boxes, dune seating, and rooftop watch parties if you'd rather not stand in the sun. The week's defining weekend, and the kind of Saturday that gets a city talking on Sunday morning.
📅 Saturday & Sunday, May 9–10 · 12:00–3:00 PM · 📍 Fort Lauderdale Beach · Las Olas & A1A · 💵 Free / from $35 · Plan Your Spot
🌊⛵ Sun, Sand & Sea
Outdoor adventures, water sports, fitness & all things active
Fort Lauderdale Air Show 2026
Sat & Sun May 9–10 · 12 PM · 📍 Fort Lauderdale Beach · Las Olas & A1A · Free / from $35 · Details
Two days of Thunderbirds, the F-22 Raptor demo, and Red Bull's aerobatic helicopter. Free from the public beach if you stake out a spot by 11; reserved viewing if you'd rather sit.
The MKT at Las Olas Oceanside Park
Sat & Sun May 9–10 · 9 AM · 📍 Las Olas Oceanside Park · Fort Lauderdale Beach · Free · Details
Beachfront Saturday market with produce, prepared food, and handmade goods. Time it before the Air Show crowd hits.
Yoga on the Lawn
Sat May 9 · 9:30 AM · 📍 Las Olas Oceanside Park · Fort Lauderdale Beach · Donation · Details
Lisa Pumper leads it on the main lawn every Saturday through June. Roll out a mat, then walk to the MKT.
Air Show Rooftop Watch Party — Mother's Day
Sun May 10 · 11 AM · 📍 Atlantic Hotel · Fort Lauderdale Beach · Ticketed · Details
Sky-level views of the Thunderbirds with a cocktail in hand. The Mom-friendly version of standing in the sun for three hours.
🍷🍤 Sip & Savor
Food festivals, pop-ups, markets, fairs, tastings & culinary experiences
Air Show Brunch at OCEAN2000
Sat & Sun May 9–10 · 11:30 AM · 📍 Pelican Grand Beach Resort · Fort Lauderdale Beach · From $120 · Details
Coastal cuisine and a reserved beachfront seat for the full air show. Books out early — and the Sunday Mother's Day buffet faster than the Saturday seating.
Mother's Day Brunch at Shooters Waterfront
Sun May 10 · 10 AM–4 PM · 📍 Shooters Waterfront · Fort Lauderdale · $99 adults / $45 kids · Details
Intracoastal brunch buffet — raw bar, carving stations, and the boat traffic doing its thing. The classic Mom move.
Mother's Day Brunch at Jay's
Sun May 10 · 11 AM · 📍 Jay's · Flagler Village · $85 prix-fixe · Details
Brunch in a restored 1920s church in Flagler Village with live entertainment. The room is the move.
Mother's Day Rooftop Brunch at Oceanic Pompano
Sun May 10 · 10 AM · 📍 Oceanic · Pompano Beach · $69 adults / $20 kids · Details
Rooftop oceanfront buffet with made-to-order omelets, fresh seafood, and complimentary prosecco for moms. Pompano's brunch flex.
🎨🌳 Out & About
Arts, culture, community events & local discoveries
Miami City Ballet: Spring Mix 2 — ¡Vamos! To the Beach
Sat May 9 · 7:30 PM | Sun May 10 · 1 & 6:30 PM · 📍 Au-Rene Theater · Broward Center · Downtown Fort Lauderdale · From $45 · Details
Miami City Ballet closes its 40th anniversary season with a beach-themed bill — Twyla Tharp's Deuce Coupe, Paul Taylor's Company B, and a Durante Verzola world premiere.
Illuminated Concert: Dancing Queen (ABBA Strings)
Sat May 9 · 8:30 PM · 📍 Aviva Lawn at Pier Sixty-Six · Fort Lauderdale · Ticketed · Details
A live string quartet rewrites the ABBA catalog under the lights on the Aviva Lawn at Pier Sixty-Six. Mother's Day weekend, set to Dancing Queen.
Richard Clayderman Live!
Sat May 9 · 8 PM · 📍 The Parker · Fort Lauderdale · Ticketed · Details
The French pianist who has sold something like 150 million records, at The Parker for exactly one night.
Brazilian Voices & Fushu Daiko: Taiko & Batucada
Sat May 9 · 7:30 PM · 📍 Amaturo Theater · Broward Center · Downtown Fort Lauderdale · Ticketed · Details
Brazilian vocal harmonies meet Japanese taiko drumming. The bill is the pitch.
Symphony of the Americas: Don't Rain on My Parade — The Music of Barbra Streisand
Sun May 10 · 2 PM | Tue May 12 · 7:45 PM · 📍 Amaturo Theater · Broward Center · Downtown Fort Lauderdale · Ticketed · Details
Deborah Cox, Solea Pfeiffer, and Monique Abbadie close the SOTA season with the Streisand catalog. Mother's Day matinee or Tuesday night — pick your room.
Old Town Mini Untapped — Joey Calderaio
Fri May 15 · 📍 Bailey Contemporary Arts · Pompano Beach · Free · Details
The smaller, mid-month version of Old Town Untapped. Live music behind BaCA, walking distance to dinner.
👨👩👧👦🎉 The Whole Crew
Family-friendly events for all ages
South Florida Cappies Gala
Tue May 12 · 7 PM · 📍 Au-Rene Theater · Broward Center · Downtown Fort Lauderdale · Ticketed · Details
The 24th annual high school theater awards. Big night for student performers — and surprisingly fun even if you don't know one.
Posnack School Presents: Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr.
Wed May 13 & Thu May 14 · 📍 Aventura Arts & Cultural Center · Aventura · Ticketed · Details
Hochberg Lower School's kid-cast version of the Disney classic. Two nights, charming as it sounds.
Like Nastya — Live Nastya Universe
Thu May 14 · 📍 Broward Center · Downtown Fort Lauderdale · Ticketed · Details
The kid YouTuber with a billion-plus subscribers brings the live show to Broward Center. If you have a child under 10, you already know.
🥂✨ The A-List
Galas, upscale experiences & unmissable headliners
Bush with Mammoth and James and the Cold Gun
Tue May 12 · 7 PM · 📍 Hard Rock Live · Hollywood · From ~$101 · Details
Gavin Rossdale's Bush, with Mammoth (Wolfgang Van Halen) opening. A clean 90s-rock-into-the-now bill.
Eagles: The Long Goodbye — Act III
Wed May 13 · 8 PM · 📍 Hard Rock Live · Hollywood · From ~$402 · Details
The Eagles at Hard Rock Live — the farewell tour, still farewelling.
Bill Burr Live
Fri May 15 · 8 PM · 📍 Hard Rock Live · Hollywood · From ~$149 · Details
Burr at Hard Rock Live. No further pitch needed.
Jason Mraz: Still Yours 2026 Tour
Fri May 15 · 8 PM · 📍 Au-Rene Theater · Broward Center · Downtown Fort Lauderdale · Ticketed · Details
Acoustic, breezy, exactly the Friday night that ends with everyone humming on the walk to the car. Special guest: Gregory Page.