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Advice for 100,000 visitors expected at 5-day Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show: Plan ahead

Staffers tie up a boat at the Bahia Mar Marina in Fort Lauderdale in preparation for the 65th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors and 1,000 exhibitors for the five-day show between Oct. 30 and Nov. 3. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida ֱ)
Staffers tie up a boat at the Bahia Mar Marina in Fort Lauderdale in preparation for the 65th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors and 1,000 exhibitors for the five-day show between Oct. 30 and Nov. 3. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida ֱ)
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The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show returned to its maximum complement of seven venues last year for the first time since 2019. This year, more products will be on display and the show will have broader use of the city’s redeveloped Las Olas Marina north of the Las Olas Boulevard bridge, according to executives.

In addition, the Pier Sixty-Six redevelopment project on the east bank of the Intracoastal Waterway on the 17th Street Causeway — site of the Pier Sixty-Six North and Superyacht Village venues — is near completion.

Pre-Show Expectations

  • $1.79 billion statewide economic impact.
  • 100,000-plus visitors over five days.
  • 1,300-plus vessels on display.
  • 1,000 exhibitors.

The Seven Venues

Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale Beach

  • Location: 801 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
  • Highlights: Main entrance, show headquarters. Products on display include center console boats, superyachts. accessories and electronics.

Las Olas Marina

  • Location: 151 Las Olas Circle, Fort Lauderdale.
  • Highlights: Visitors to the marina can view brokerage yachts from 60 to 200 feet. The world-class marina  operated by Suntex boasts  restaurants, boutique retail and a pedestrian-friendly landscape. A nearby city-owned parking garage is available to visitors.
A rendering of Las Olas Marina on display at its groundbreaking on Thursday in Fort Lauderdale. Suntex Marinas, in partnership with the city, is constructing a $70 million world-class facility for superyachts that will feature boutique retail, fine dining, state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements and pedestrian-friendly landscape. The marina is the capstone of more than $130 million in public amenity improvements along the Las Olas corridor connecting pedestrians to the ocean.
Susan Stocker / South Florida ֱ
The redeveloped Las Olas Marina (shown in rendering) will offer more space for more yachts at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this year.

Hall of Fame Marina

  • Location: 435 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
  • Highlights: Brokerage and new-build yachts, now the home of the show’s Windward VIP Club, which includes “an open bar, gourmet food, luxury pop-up activations, private restrooms and more.”

Pier Sixty-Six North

  • Location: 2301 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale, north side of the causeway.
  • Highlights: Brokerage vessels exceeding 100 feet. Marina contains 164 slips.

Superyacht Marina

  • Location: 2150 SE 17th St.,  Fort Lauderdale, south side of the causeway.
  • Highlights: Largest yachts in the show. Exhibition hall, separate booths occupied by representatives of major builders who will consult with buyers about their next projects. There is also a designer pavilion which showcases details of planning exterior and interiors. Seminars on industry issues.

Broward County Convention Center

  • Location:1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale (west bank of Intracoastal).
  • Highlights: Fishing boats, runabouts, cruisers, marine accessories, fishing equipment, diving accessories and personal watercraft. Its parking garages house 3,000 spaces dedicated to the show.

Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina

  • Location: 1881 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale. (west bank of Intracoastal).
  • Highlights: “Quiet enclave” for superyachts 100 feet and above.

If  You Go:

Schedule

  • Opening Day – Oct. 30 – Wednesday – Noon to 7 p.m.
  • Oct. 31 – Thursday – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Nov. 1 – Friday – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Nov. 2 – Saturday – 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Final Day – Nov. 3 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tickets

There are no box office sales onsite at the show. Visitors must purchase digital tickets in advance, which will be scanned on entry. Entry onto vessels is exclusively at the manufacturers, dealers, or brokers’ discretion.

Prices vary depending on selection from a half-dozen ticket options. Children under 6 are free if accompanied by an adult.

Active military and veterans receive complimentary general admission on Sunday. They should send a copy of their ID to cxteam@informa.com to receive a ticket in advance.

Visit the show website to check out the best ticket options for you.

Pier Sixty-Six, with it's iconic Pier Top Lounge, remains under construction in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida ֱ)
The redevelopment of Pier Sixty-Six, with its iconic Pier Top Lounge, is nearing completion, offering a more appealing backdrop for those visiting the Pier Sixty-North and Superyacht Village venues during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida ֱ)

Parking

Driving onto the barrier island to attend the five venues there is not recommended, but the city-owned garage at Las Olas marina is available.

Three of the venues, Bahia Mar, Hall of Fame Marina and Las Olas Marina, are within walking distance of each other.

The Broward County Convention Center on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway is serving as the show’s transportation hub with more than 3,000 parking spots available at a flat rate of $20 per day and water taxi, shuttle, or golf cart services to and from all seven show locations.

Participating City of Fort Lauderdale garages (see interactive map on the website for 26 locations around town), are available via PayByPhone, a system that allows visitors to pay for vehicle parking in seconds. Download the app on iOS or Android, or call 1-888-680-7275.

General information

Visit flibs.com and download the show’s app to plan your visits ahead of time. Phone: 954-463-6762

Sources: Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show website, show spokespersons and executives.

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