Boca Chamber Festival Days is the Boca Chamber’s annual outreach to the non-profit community. During the month of August, non-profit Chamber Members join forces with for-profit Chamber Members to hold events with a goal of raising awareness and funds for the non-profit member’s philanthropic efforts all month long. Events range from small to large, taking place almost every day of the month, at various locations throughout the city of Boca Raton.  A list of events are summarized below with more details available on the Boca Raton Chamber website as well as those of the supporting organizations for individual events.

Thursday, August 1st, a combination of audience votes and judges’ selections will determine three finalists who will perform to see who will be chosen as this year’s “Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl Idol.”  The winner will be honored to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at FAU Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 21 for the opening ceremonies of the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl.  Admission to the August 1 live performance event is $35 per person and includes food and beverages. Proceeds from the event will benefit Spirit of Giving’s Back to School Bash. Tickets may be purchased through Spirit of Giving atwww.spiritofgivingnetwork.com/bocabowlidol. For information about the event and the top eight, visit www.cheribundibocaratonbowl.com.

The showcase of local talent continues on Monday, August 5th when Crazy Uncle Mike’s hosts this year’s “Boca’s Got Talent,” sponsored by Laureen Pannullo (Confident Bookkeeping Services), and John McClaskie (Leading Edge Mortgage Corp). The event will feature local professionals who sing, dance and perform other unique acts to benefit the Faulk Center for Counseling–a nonprofit mental health organization, providing free and low-cost mental health counseling to uninsured and underserved individuals in our community. Admission is $35 per person and includes both one drink and appetizers and can be purchased via online donation to the center.

Boca Chamber Festival Days 2019

July 27 Community Back to School Bash (Spirit of Giving)
August 1 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl Idol (Spirit of Giving)
August 5 Boca’s Got Talent (Faulk Center for Counseling)
August 7 8th Annual FondueRaiser (Lynn Cancer Institute/League of Ribbons)
August 8 Soleil Warriors (Connected Warriors)
August 10 Guided Tour of historic Boca Raton Resort (BR Historical Society & Museum)
August 12 Back The Blue (Boca Raton Police Foundation)
August 13 Feed Your Funny Bone (Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services)
August 14 Bingo for a Cause (AACY)
August 16 Caribbean Dreamin’ (Be Like Brit)
August 17 Big Fall Kickoff (YMCA)
August 18 Beer & Bingo Bash (ChildNet)
August 19 Margarita Monday (KidSafe Foundation)
August 20 Midsummer “Cosmos” Party (Boca Raton Museum of Art)
August 22 Cruise on Land (Edgewater at Boca Pointe-ACTS)
August 23 Battle of the Bartenders (Best Foot Forward)
August 24 Guided Tour of historic Boca Raton Resort (BR Historical Society & Museum)
August 25 Bowling for Bread (Boca Helping Hands)
August 26 Sips & Sushi (Place of Hope)
August 27 Lip Sync Battle (Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc.)
August 28 Taste of the City (FAU’s Center for Autism & Related Disabilities)

Please help us get the word out about these great events for a good cause!

For more details on these and other Boca Chamber Events, visit the events calendar at: www.bocaratonchamber.com

Local divers and fans of lobster will enjoy a series of events in and around Lauderdale by the Sea to celebrate the kickoff of lobster mini-season which officially begins after the stroke of midnight on Wednesday, July 24th and ends at midnight, Thursday, July 25th, 2019. The Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea celebrates Florida’s two-day lobster mini-season with a fun week of events, including the Great Florida Bug Hunt, a Mini-Season Kickoff Party at Plunge Beach Hotel, lobster chef competition and a free music concert to benefit Diveheart, a non-profit that teaches people with disabilities how to scuba dive, and much more!

Sponsored again by Reef Safe, this year’s event is from Tuesday, July 23, 2019, to Saturday, July 27, 2019, and features a free concert on July 27 to benefit Diveheart, a non-profit that teaches people with disabilities how to scuba dive.  In addition to great Reef Safe sun care products, participating divers can win $15,000 in cash and dive gear prizes and trips.

Unlike the Keys, divers during lobster mini-season, divers are permitted to night dive for lobsters and bag up to 12 bugs per day!

You can find the latest lobster mini-season regulations at Florida Fish and Wildlife.

Online registration opens on June 1, 2019. The contest fee is $20. Divers receive a BugFest Goody Bag and BugFest T-shirt.

BugFest 2019 events

• Tuesday, July 23rd, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Free Bug Hunting Seminar with “Chiefy” at Plunge Beach Hotel (4660 El Mar Dr., Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, FL 33308). Celebrate with live music by The Scuba Cowboy, appearances by ScubaRadio mermaids, fresh bites and free locally-crafted draft beer for the first one hundred people to sign in.
• Wednesday, July 24th – Catch & Cook at the Sands Marina & Resort in Pompano Beach
• Thursday, July 25th, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Free BugFest Lobster Chef Competition  diver awards and a speed painting performance by Dale Henry. at the Beach Pavilion/Ocean Plaza where Commercial Boulevard means the ocean.
• Thursday, July 25th, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Free BugFest Mini-Season Diver Awards Party at the Beach Pavilion/Ocean Plaza.
• Friday, July 26th, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. – Free Florida Reef Fish ID Presentation at Jarvis Hall in Lauderdale by the Sea.
• Saturday, July 27th, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Free Anglin’s Pier Clean-Up Dive with Gold Coast Scuba and PADI’s Project Aware, followed by a free barbecue at Ocean Treasures Hotel on El Mar Drive.
• Saturday, July 27th, 6:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. BugFest concludes on Saturday night with an evening of live music in Anglin’s Square to benefit Diveheart, a non-profit that teaches people with disabilities how to scuba dive. Bands scheduled to play this free concert include Weedline, The Capricorn Blues Band, The Coppertones and Wolfhawk. $20 raffle tickets will benefit Diveheart. Prizes include a 2-Night Stay at the Hilton Bimini with round trip ferry transportation; a week-long liveaboard trip with Scuba Adventures on Blackbeard Cruise to the Bahamas Out Islands; a Hollis Wrist Dive Computer, and other prizes. This is the third annual concert BugFest has held for Diveheart.

A number of other events, including beach diving clinics and photo contests are also free.

More Information

Details and registration available online at: www.discoverlbts.com/bugfest/

Event updates and discussion can be found at: www.facebook.com/pg/BugfestByTheSea/

If you still have questions about BugFest, call Steve at (954) 640-4209 or e-mail [email protected].

Dating back to the 12th century, Midsommar, or Solstice celebration, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, which in 2019 falls on Friday, June 21st. A considerable part of the Nordic states core traditions, the short dark days of winter are replaced with warm light-filled days and celebrated by dancing around a maypole, covering oneself in greenery and flowers, and feasting on herring and copious amounts of vodka.

To mark the occasion, ABSOLUT Vodka brings the spirit of Midsommar to Fort Lauderdale’s famed coastline in conjunction with the  launch of their new ABSOLUT Juice Strawberry and ABSOLUT Juice Apple. Taking place throughout July and August, the eight-week fest, Midsommar Splash Fort Lauderdale Beach, offers a variety of unique events, experiences, and activities to gather with friends and make new ones through food, fashion, community, and cocktails.

“Alongside our friends at Absolut Vodka, the Fort Lauderdale Beach business community looks forward to sharing the essence of the Swedish Midsommar celebration with our locals and visitors alike,” stated Arianne Glassman who oversees marketing for the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Beach Improvement District. “Although around the globe, so much of the Midsommar tradition is shared here, as summer is a wonderful time to spend the longer days outdoors, and affords the ability to enjoy new experiences and make new friends.”

Absolut Vodka Local Events Calendar:

July & August, ABSOLUT Heaven. Heavenly Spa by Westin adds a splash of excitement to your summer spa routine with a half dozen ABSOLUT Vodka inspired spa treatments which include a complimentary ABSOLUT Strawberry or Apple Juice Frozen Cocktail Pops and a take-home cocktail recipe book.

Every Saturday, Janet & Juice. Celebrate the season and flavors of summer as Bahia Mar mixologist Janet hosts a weekly tasting at the newly renovated High Tide Lounge every Saturday afternoon 12 PM – 1 PM. Like what you taste, take home a recipe book and 20% off ABSOLUT Juice cocktails at the bar all day.

Thur., July 4, ABSOLUT Splash. Before the fireworks take to the sky, make some waves at Bahia Mar at Waves Pool Deck and High Tide Lounge, featuring an open to the public Pool Party and Concert with the Shane Duncan Band, ABSOLUT Juice cocktail tastings, games, food and more.

Thur., July 4, ABSOLUT Sparkle. Beachside BBQ, 4th of July Fun and Games, and the best seats in town for the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Fireworks Show take place at Courtyard by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Beach’s Seabreeze Poolside Bar and Oceanfront Sundeck.

Thur., July 11, ABSOLUT Up-Cycle. The question, “Where do all the bottles go” is answered at this hands-on workshop with Bottle-Heaven owner Anthony Dee at Spazio, who turns bottles both big and small into functional pieces including glassware, planters, and lamps.

Sun., July 14, Vinyasa & Vodka. Bottoms up for this all levels yoga class on the sky deck at Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach, followed by the ultimate detox / retox with crafted cocktails alongside ABSOLUT Vodka’s master mixologist, shopping and vitamin “shot bar.”

Wed., July 17, ABSOLUT Ink. National Tattoo Day on July 17 might be the date to get that ink you’ve been contemplating, even if only a temporary and the henna variety, and there is no place more apropos to get inked than at Lona where tattoo enthusiast and master chef, Pablo Salas reigns at this special Ladies Night.

Thur., July 18, Cocktail Crawl Along A1A. Wave your ribbon wand and sound the bells as Spazio, Tsukuro and Café Ibiza celebrate Customer Appreciation Day, with an Absolut Midsommar Tasting Tour along A1A.

Fri., July 19 and Fri., August 16, Full Moon Party. A total sensory experience of tastes, sights, and sounds from Wild Thyme Restaurant on the 5th Floor Pool Deck overlooking the ocean at The Atlantic Hotel & Spa.

Sat., July 20, Dig & Drink. Cultivate your creativity and dig in for two lively hours of planting, creating and laughing with new friends, as Spazio hosts a special Plant Nite Brunch where you will craft your own ABSOLUT Juice Cocktail and keepsake floral Terrarium.
Thur., July 25 ABSOLUT Community. One person can make all the difference in a child’s life, and this July, during Make a Difference in Children’s month, Café Ibiza aims for that person to be you, by hosting an all-day dining fundraiser and Happy Hour in support of the 18th Annual Hispanic Women of Distinction Awards to benefit Take Stock in Children.

Sun., July 28, Shark Week, Dive In Movie. Fins Up for a day of fun in the sun as Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach swims into “Shark Week” with an ABSOLUT Megalodon-Size Pool Party & Dive-In Movie Night featuring the 2018 box office shark-thriller, “The Meg!” The all-day event features food, music, shopping, and more.

Wed., July 31, ABSOLUT Darkness. Marking the second New Moon of the month, called the Black Moon, Tsukuro celebrates the powerful Moon known for creative manifestation with dinner in the dark blindfold tasting, craft cocktail, fire performances, magic and more.
Thur., August 8, Beach Sweep & Drinks. ABSOLUT Vodka is on a mission to expand how the world thinks about its people and the planet. Join them along with organizers and volunteers from the Fort Lauderdale Beach Sweep for a special Happy Hour Fundraiser at Café Ibiza to bring awareness to Water Quality Month and impact on our beaches.

Sat., August 10, Cocktails & Flower Crowns. Every woman deserves a crown, and as part of the traditional Midsommar garb for both girls and boys, florist Shauna Sweeney of Harmony Floral Designs will take guests through an interactive class to make one’s one-of-a-kind and eco-friendly flower crown to wear all summer long.

Thur., August 15, Rose Soiree. Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach brings together a collaborative of artisanal crafters, cocktails and cuisine, plus live music and interactive experiences, for a full moon celebration on their Sky Deck and Spinnaker Lounge.

Sat., August 17, Midsummer Nights Dream. In true W Fort Lauderdale fashion, the hotelier best known for what’s new and next (and the most outrageous parties) is keeping details under wraps for this invite-only party.

View event details and ticket information, plus ongoing Midsommar Spa Offers, Dining and Cocktail Experience, Specials and Stay & Play Offers at MidsommarSplash.com