Naughty Santa shenanigans, hula dancing holiday hotties, happy hour toy drives at surf bars -- must be December in South Florida.
This week's calendar is filled with opportunities to get into the spirit, whether you're looking to slam a few craft beers with some hip pals in Fort Lauderdale, celebrate a whole world of beer options in Wellington, or help someone who's not as fortunate.
If you need a respite from office parties and the soul-crushing madness of the mall, here's a look at a few food and drink happenings this week and weekend in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach County, and beyond:
Tonight:
European Brewcation -- This craft beer tasting at the Blind Monk in West Palm Beach includes brews from Spain, Germany, Holland, and England. Every beer is paired with tapas and the cost is $25 per person. The event is 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday:
Charity dinner at Grease Burger Bar -- Grab a burger and help a 12-year-old boy suffering from an extremely rare form of cancer at a benefit dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. at Grease Burger Bar in West Palm Beach. Dinner is $20 for adults and $10 for kids younger than 13.
Thursday:
Dogfish Head tap takeover -- Dogfish Head will take over the taps at The Laser Wolf in Fort Lauderdale, with nine brews on tap. Rumor has it even the hard-to-find 120 Minute IPA will be available.
Third Annual Toys for Tweets Charity TweetUp -- Bring an unwrapped new toy (or a cash donation) to this charity event and get one free drink and snacks from 6 to 9 p.m. at LongBoards Restaurant in West Palm Beach. You can register for this event online.
Friday:
Delray Beach Holiday Bus Loop -- The Bus Loop gives adults a chance to cut loose and party down without having to worry about things like parking and -- more important -- driving. The loop returns to Delray with safe transport and a free drink or treat at participating bars from 6 to 11 p.m.
Saturday:
Grand Opening Block Party -- World of Beer in Wellington will celebrate its grand opening from 5 p.m. to closing with a ribbon cutting, music, and lots of food and beer. This latest WOB is located at 2465 State Road 7 in Wellington.
Santacon Fort Lauderdale -- A merry ol' bar crawl, Santacon is a convergence of holiday cheer with participants dressing as St. Nick or Santa's helpers and hitting a string of night spots in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The happening starts at 6:30 p.m.
Huladay Party at Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale -- Screw hot cider; the drinks of choice at this holiday party come with festive little umbrellas. The iconic Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale will host the Huladay Party at 9 p.m. and festive beachy dress is suggested.
Down the Line:
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