The Five Best Things to Do in South Florida This Weekend

Eat, drink, and be merry this weekend by heading to one or more of the many festivals in South Florida. With weather this good, it would be a shame not to take a drive to the Garlic Festival. It's a chance to have stinky breath without worrying about having to mask the garlicky deliciousness. Perhaps you want to enjoy your day and do good at the same time. Then Lutzapalooza is right up your alley — Alligator Alley — when the charitable foundation hosts a motorcycle ride and then community festival complete with food, music, and fun. Maybe you feel like some fresh seafood or spending the day with the lords and ladies of King Henry's day. There's a festival for both.

Just a quick note about a highlighted Thing to Do from last week: This writer saw Groundhog Day the Musical and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Slow Burn Theatre Troupe did a great job converting the movie to a musical. However, it was a tad too long, and one of the songs, "Playing Nancy," didn't seem to fit. Overall, it was funny and there were a couple of great surprises. If you need a good laugh and a good time, go see it.
Get on your bikes and ride! Motorcycles, that is. The LCpl Janos V Lutz Live to Tell Foundation is set to host its inaugural county-wide Lutzapalooza Community Music Festival this Saturday in Sunrise. The day will begin with a 37-mile motorcycle ride that'll start at Alligator Alley Harley-Davidson and end at Markham Park. A VIP breakfast and registration will happen at 7 a.m., and the ride will begin at 9 a.m. The ride fee is $20 and includes admission to the music festival. VIP registration costs $75 and includes the ride, music festival, breakfast, shirt, motorcycle raffle ticket, and upfront lineup for the ride. The Lutzapalooza Community Music Festival will offer live music, guest speakers, military, police and fire vehicles, SWAT demonstrations, exotic animals, food from vendors, and family activities. Also expect a raffle for a 2019 Harley-Davidson. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, February 8, in Markham Park, 16001 State Rd. 84, Sunrise; livetotell.org. Music fest tickets cost $20.
Four high school buddies from Staten Island call themselves the Tenderloins, but Murr, Sal, Q, and Joe might be better known for their hit comedy show Impractical Jokers. James Murray, Sal Vulcano, Brian Quinn, and Joe Gatto will yuk it up Sunday night at the BB&T Center. The group's Cranjis McBasketball World Comedy Tour promises to be more of the sketch comedy and improv they do on their sometimes cringe-inducing reality game-show series. So, you know, it's for mature-ish audiences. 7 p.m. Sunday, February 9, at BB&T Center, 1 Panther Pkwy., Sunrise; thebbtcenter.com. Tickets start at $50.
Lake Worth might be a bit of a drive, but it'll be worth the miles to attend the self-described "Best Stinkin' Party" in the Sunshine State — the 21st-annual South Florida Garlic Festival — the one and only event where it's OK to stink. What began as a small festival in downtown Delray Beach is now a major event the boasts more than 30,000 guests. Gourmet Alley is the star, where more than 100 garlic-laced menu items (including garlic ice cream) will be offered. Among Garlic Fest's favorites are flaming shrimp scampi, garlic crab cakes, garlic bruschetta, garlic pizza, garlic Argentine barbecue with garlic black beans and rice, and garlic portobello sandwiches. Adult beverages will be available for purchase. The Wailers will be among the featured bands, along with the Expendables, DJ Lance-O, G.Love & Special Sauce, and Brothers Within. Also, a kids' amusement area with rides will keep the little ones occupied, and arts and crafts vendors will sell their wares. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, February 8, and and Sunday, February 9, in John Prince Park, 4759 S. Congress Ave., Lake Worth; garlicfestfl.com. Tickets cost $12.84 via eventeny.com.
One of the best reasons for living in South Florida is the seafood. Fresh out of the ocean, prepared in a delectable way, and displayed on your plate, it doesn't get any better than that. Or does it? Yes, it does, at the Boca Raton Seafood & Music Festival this weekend in Mizner Park. Not only will there be fresh seafood, but offerings also include meat and vegetarian dishes, all prepared fresh and onsite. There will be a plethora of side dishes to choose from and an assortment of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Once you are armed with dinner and drinks, relax under the stars and listen to great music by local and regional acts, including an Aretha Franklin tribute band, performing an assortment of jazz, soul, pop, rockabilly, blues, salsa, funk, rock, and other genres. Good food and good music sounds like a good time. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, February 7; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, February 8; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, February 9, in Mizner Park, 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; on Facebook. Admission costs $5.
Take a step back in time at the Florida Renaissance Festival every Saturday and Sunday from February 8 through March 22. A staple among festivals in the Sunshine States, the Ren Fest will offer its usual assortment of themed weekends. February 15 and 16 will be Vikings, followed by Time Travelers, Swashbucklers, Sirens, and, rounding out the festival, Potter's Witches and Wizards. Look for A.A. Ron, the wandering troubadour, who roams the village looking for “his lost love or his lost pants.” But maybe you'll want to avoid the bawdy Christopher the Insulter, another classic performer typical of this medieval-period fair. This year's featured cosplay roles include, among others, the Washing Well Wenches, King Henry VIII, and the two-man Bard and the Minstrel — a Renaissance-and-pirate-themed musical comedy. Believe it or not, there's also a pub crawl, hosted by the Duke of Norfolk and Don Pedro. The duo will take you on a tasting tour of five pubs and have you laughing your arse off. Games and fun are in abundance for grownups and kids, whether you try your hand at archery, balloon fencing, Jacob’s ladder, ax-throwing, and other Old-World experiences. There's entertainment aplenty and lots of vendors hawking unique goods, also a Ren Fest mainstay. 10 a.m. to sunset Saturdays and Sundays from February 8 through March 23 in Quiet Waters Park, Deerfield Beach; ren-fest.com. Tickets cost $27.50 for adults and $11.50 for children.