The Ten Best Things to Do in South Florida This Week

Friday

Oh, how the Riptide Music Festival has grown. Starting a couple years ago as a comparatively small music shindig, this Fort Lauderdale Beach fest has boomed into quite the experience. This year’s Riptide spans three days, including a nostalgic Friday with The Jacksons, Sugarhill Gang and Baha Men, modern rockin’ Saturday with Panic! At the Disco, Young the Giant and Cold War Kids, and '90s-rock loaded Sunday featuring 311, Live, Collective Soul and Third Eye Blind. Don’t forget your sunscreen. Friday through Sunday at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, 1100 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; riptidefest.com. Tickets start at $90 and packages go up to $4,900.

No, Rumble at the Rock isn’t the name of a magical Sean Connery film where he wrestles someone at Alcatraz. It is, however, the latest evening of Florida Boxing at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. During an evening promoted by Kris Lawrence, the Heavyweight Factory and All-Star Boxing, undefeated Colombian bantamweight champ Yeison Vargas will slug it out against Ricardo Espinoza. 7:15 p.m. on Friday at Hard Rock Event Center, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood; ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $60 to $500.
Saturday

Okay, so maybe your Halloween costume didn’t take home the gold in October? Well, stop being down on yourself there, champ... and enter a Christmas costume contest on Saturday. That’s right, get your jingle on as part of the Belgian Beer Block Party in WPB. Additionally, there will be nearly 20 Belgian and imported beers to try, tasty waffles, pizza and brats and live tunes to enjoy. Noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday at West Palm Brewery and Wine Vault, 332 Evernia St., West Palm Beach; facebook.com. Admission is free.

If an event named Mutts and Martinis isn’t everything we want, then what is, people? For a 13th year, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale is hosting this fundraising spectacle, benefiting a slew of local rescue groups. All well-behaved, leashed pups are welcome to join. Humans can enjoy two drinks, light bites, tunes and a canine-themed silent auction with admission. 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at America’s Backyard, 100 SW Third Ave., Fort Lauderdale; facebook.com. Tickets cost $25.

Hanukkah begins this Sunday, December 2. But before you gather with your family for eight days of reflection, unity, and fun, head out to CityPlace for a special menorah lighting at the Chanukah Family Festival. Family activities include an acrobat show by the Sky Riders, crafts for kids, and live music. 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at CityPlace, 700 S Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; cityplace.com. Admission is free.

How can you call yourself a legitimate South Floridian if you’ve never been to the Bonnet House? Well, if you’re looking for an excuse to finally venture to the beachside icon (or just wanna go for a unique experience), its Holiday Magic Evenings are now in full swing. Enjoy Christmas decorations, lights, strolling carolers and tours with nightly entertainment from the likes of Singing Sons and Broward Center Spotlights. 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and daily through December 7 at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, 900 N. Birch Rd., Fort Lauderdale; bonnethouse.org. Admission costs $20 with various discounts available.
The holiday season is upon us, and while, for many, that means a time of celebration, it can be a difficult period for the less fortunate in society. LauderAle wants to spread the cheer around with its 2018 Toy Drive. Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the Fort Lauderdale brewery beginning Saturday, December 1 through Saturday, December 15 and get one dollar off your beer. Bring more than one toy and you'll receive $5 off your beer. All toys benefit Kids in Distress, a national agency working for the prevention of child abuse and the treatment of abused and neglected children. 3 p.m. Saturday through December 15, at LauderAle, 3305 SE 14th Ave., Fort Lauderdale; facebook.com. Admission is free.

Sunday

Turn on cable news and the world’s kind of a bummer right now. So, turn off Wolf Blitzer, march yourself down to the Broward Center and see Robin Spielberg. It’s basically impossible to leave one of the pianist/composer’s shows in a foul mood. For this show, Spielberg will play tunes from her nearly 20 albums, share seasonal stories and spread the holiday cheer through music. 2 p.m. on Sunday at Amaturo Theater at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Ffth Ave., Fort Lauderdale; browardcenter.org. Tickets cost $17.50 to $35.

Wednesday

Depending on when you visit The Irishmen in Boca Raton, it can be quite the rowdy/karaoke-filled/spirited spectacle. Well, on Wednesday, it’s going to be a spectacle in a different way. There will be a Christmas Wreath Workshop hosted by Ready Set Party Events, where you can down a Christmassy cocktail and make your own wreath masterpiece. If you’ve ever wanted an arts and crafts session in one of your favorite bars, here it is. 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at The Irishmen, 1745 NW Boca Raton Blvd., Boca Raton; facebook.com. Tickets cost $55.

Another big-time Art Basel is going down in Miami this week. Delray Beach doesn’t want to be left out of the party, so the Cornell Art Museum is hosting a Beyond Art Basel event. The contemporary spectacle will feature cocktails, live performance art and artist meet-and-greets with NYC’s John Messinger and Jonathan Rosen, Lilibeth Rasmussen out of Denmark and Paris’ Pia Myrvold. 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday at Old School Square Cornell Art Museum, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; facebook.com. Tickets cost $10.