Maintaining Tradition and Spreading Holiday Cheer Winterfest Style

November 2020 – IFEA Magazine

Submitted By Dawn Read Diehl

Direct Link to the Magazine Article:

“As published in the International Festivals & Events Association’s “i.e.: the business of international events” quarterly magazine. The premiere association supporting and enabling festivals and events worldwide. For more information on the IFEA, go to www.ifea.com.”

Disney’s Aladdin brings A Whole New World of entertainment to the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Black Tie Ball presented by Ford

Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 10, 2019) Winterfest, Inc. and Disney Theatrical Productions announce the theme of the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Black Tie Ball presented by Ford in association with Republic National Distributing Company. Your Broadway wish will be granted during the premier social event of 2019. On Saturday, December 7th, the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Black Tie Ball will host special performances from Disney’s Aladdin.

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood will produce the event with luxurious and exotic décor.  “We are looking forward to blending the magic of Disney’s Aladdin with the creative minds of our outstanding production team,” said Susan Renneisen, vice president of community affairs and special events for Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL. “As the 2019-2021 chairwoman of Winterfest, Inc. and co-chair of the Black Tie Ball, I always look forward to captivating the beauty, inspiration, and awe of Broadway. The entertainment and overall experience of this gala is unprecedented because of Winterfest’s affiliation with Broadway Across America.”

The Seminole Hard Rock Ballroom will transform into a cave of wonders for South Florida’s signature holiday gala boasting over 900 attendees.  With just one rub of a magic lamp, guests will journey to the fictional land of Agrabah. Live performances and colorful décor will transport attendees from the moment they step into The Red “Magic Carpet” Reception. As the evening progresses, décor will immerse guests into Aladdin’s adventures as he stumbles upon the magic lamp, wish-granting genie and beautiful Princess Jasmine.

It doesn’t take three wishes to attend this year’s gala. Tables of 10 range from $3000-$5000 and reservations are now being accepted. This highly desirable event will sell out quickly. Didn’t get the digital invite? Click on the link: http://bit.ly/WinterfestBall2019, visit winterfestparade.com or call 954.767.0686 for more details.

Disney’s Aladdin will play a limited two-week engagement at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale from January 8 – 19, 2020.

About Winterfest, Inc.

Winterfest is a Florida not-for-profit organization based in Broward County that produces a variety of events including the free public event known as the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – “The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade.” Approximately one million spectators view the Parade on the 12-mile route along with millions more via television and the internet bringing National and International recognition to South Florida.  Winterfest also hosts annual events to enhance the community’s image and provide unique, wholesome family entertainment. For more information on Winterfest, please contact the office at (954) 767-0686 or their website: www.winterfestparade.com.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is the flagship casino resort of Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.  It isa world-renowned entertainment, gaming and hospitality destination that features a AAA Four Diamond-rated, 465 room luxury hotel; expansive gaming offerings including first-in-class slots, high-stakes table games and South Florida’s premier poker room; spa and fitness center; award-winning dining and nightlife; and the popular Hard Rock Event Center which hosts celebrity performances, comedy acts and sporting events. A $1.5 billion expansion slated to open October, 2019, will bring 638 new, luxury guestrooms to the first-ever, guitar-shaped Guitar Hotel and 168 upscale guest accommodations, including unique swim-up suites, in the  adjacent Oasis Tower at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. Upon completion, the property will have a combined total of 1,271 rooms. The project will also unveil a lush, “Bora Bora” style lagoon with private cabanas and butler service; a 42,000 square-foot Rock Spa®; a 13.5 acre recreational water experience for swimming, kayaking and paddle boarding; 19 dining outlets and 20 bars and lounges; an expansive gaming floor housing 3,100 slots, 193 table games and a 45-table poker room; 120,000 square feet of premier meeting and convention space including a 38,000 square-foot, carpeted exhibition hall; and a 26,000 square-foot retail promenade.  The highly anticipated Hard Rock Live entertainment venue with a 7,000 person capacity, will showcase A-list entertainers, comedy acts, Broadway performances, sporting events and live broadcast productions. The integrated resort is located on 87 acres of the Hollywood SeminoleReservation along State Road 7, (U.S. Highway 441), and is 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 30 minutes from downtown Miami and Miami International Airport. For more information, visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, call 800-937-0010 or follow us: Facebook: SeminoleHardRockHollywood, Twitter: @HardRockHolly, Instagram: @HardRockHolly

About Aladdin

Aladdin, the hit musical based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre to critical acclaim on March 20, 2014 and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years, breaking 14 New Amsterdam Theatre house records; worldwide it has welcomed more than 10 million people and grossed over $1 billion. Its global footprint includes productions in Tokyo, Hamburg and on tour across North America.

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, the show features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and six-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).  

Aladdin, adapted from the animated Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights,” is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical.  Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance.  This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage.

The animated film Aladdin was released by Disney in 1992 and was a critical and box office smash, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year.  

The film won the Oscar for Best Original Score and introduced the hit song “A Whole New World,” which won the second of the film’s two Academy Awards as Best Original Song.  The Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle recording of the tune soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Aladdin is designed by seven-time Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, six-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken Travis.

The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer, hair designer Josh Marquette and makeup designer Milagros Medina-Cerdeira.  The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly. 

For more information, visit AladdinTheMusical.com/tour, Facebook.com/Aladdin and Twitter.com/Aladdin.

Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher presents Aladdin, the US tour, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin, starring Jonah Ho’ Okano (Aladdin), Kaena Kekoa (Jasmine), Zach Bencal (Babkak), Colt Prattes (Kassim), Ben Chavez (Omar) and Korie Lee Blossey (Genie) directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw

December 15, 2018 – “Best of the 80s” Theme

Go Back In Time with the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade

Parade Date: December 15, 2018 with the theme: “Best of the 80s”

Video Flashback courtesy of Hotwire Communications: https://youtu.be/X7WRofAFbyc


BOATERS: Join The Biggest 80s Party on the Water!

Boater “Dudes / Dudettes”— 

We want to welcome you to the “Rad” Winterfest Family and join the Parade on December 15, 2018 when we “Like Totally” go back in time!

Enter your decorated boat for only $35* (* privately owned / no advertising) on our website: https://winterfestparade.com/parade-application

Want to advertise your business? Entry fees start at only $250.00

Don’t want to decorate? Consider teaming up with a nonprofit organization to create   a “Fresh” entry OR be a “ Totally Tubular” Control Boat on Parade night.

For more   information, visit: https://winterfestparade.com/events/control-boat-meeting                                      

Questions? Don’t be “wiggin’ out”! Call Winterfest: 954-767-0686

 

Winterfest Recognized with Multiple SFEA Kaleidoscope Awards

The best and brightest were spotlighted this week at the Southeast Festivals and Events Association’s Kaleidoscope Awards, in Murfreesboro, TN on February 26th.  The ceremony was held in conjunction with the 15th Annual SFEA Conference. Top festivals and events throughout the southeast were recognized for their outstanding contribution to the events industry.

“The quality of submissions continues to increase each year making it more difficult for the judges to select the winners,” noted Brenda Pierce, executive director for SFEA.  “Of course, to ‘win gold,’ becomes all the sweeter when there is additional competition and the recognition a festival receives for winning is priceless.”

The name “kaleidoscope” was selected due to the colors in the logo image that represent the many different elements and facets within festivals and events.  A call for entries was posted last fall and all southeast festivals and events were encouraged to participate.  A panel of experts in event planning, marketing and tourism spent an entire day reviewing the entries from eight states. The judges looked for originality, creativity, media impact, volunteer programs, and the overall impact to the community.

Winterfest, Inc. producers of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade – the World’s Most Watch Boat Parade – headquartered in Broward County, Florida, won in multiple Kaleidoscope Award Categories. The 2017 Winterfest poster painted by local Fort Lauderdale artist, April Renee Kirk, won silver in the promotional poster division. The Parade’s television commercials produced by WSVN, Channel 7, won Bronze and the Winterfest Black Tie Ball digital invitation won Silver produced by Blue Truck Media, Inc.

The Kaleidoscope Awards were sponsored by Classic Tents & Events, Norcross, GA and Pit Stop Portable Restroom Company, Marietta, GA. Classic Tents’ representative Karen Alcock and Pit Stop representatives Brett and Amanda Roques presented the awards to the winners.

Southeast Festivals & Events Association Award Winner Decal

Family Fun Day

Two smiling little girls with face paint at the 2022 Winterfest Family Fun Day

Winterfest Family Fun Day at Esplanade Park

For an exciting day of family fun in Fort Lauderdale, head on over to Esplanade Park for Winterfest’s Family Fun Day. Main sponsors include Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Publix Super Markets. This event offers many FREE activities for kids of all ages–and parents, too! This holiday event features giant slides such as Polar Express Slide, Catabella Express Train, and other activities.

Our Family Fun Day is in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale in front of the Museum of Discovery and Science and it is packed with exciting family activities. You can get your face painted by our lovely artists, check out the Florida Renaissance Pirate Ship, hang out with the most adorable puppies from Pet Rescue Row, hear the sounds of a Fifth Third Bank‘s Race Car, and so much more!

If you work up an appetite, there will be plenty of food and beverage options for sale. Samples and so much more.

TITLE SPONSOR: Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

PRESENTING SPONSOR: Publix Super Markets

SPONSOR: La Croix, SOS Conservation Village, iHeart Radio, Ave Maria

List of Event Highlights and booths:

  • Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Face Painting, Balloon Art, Bounce Houses, Teddy Bear Clinic
  • Stoked on Salt Ocean Conservation Village
  • Experience Catabella Express Train, Polar Express
  • Free bicycle helmets from Epilepsy Alliance
  • Photo booth with Santa & kids’ games!
  • Y-100
  • Pet Rescue Row and Puppy Kissing Booth
  • Give-a-ways and Activities with the Florida Panthers, South Florida Ford, Fifth Third Bank NASCAR Show Car, Ave Maria Community, Florida Children’s Theatre, Nova Southeastern University, and SO MUCH MORE!

With great food, fun activities, and live music, this is an event you don’t want to miss out on. It’s a perfect day on the New River / Riverwalk for the entire family. Don’t miss the excitement for 2023, contact us today to be a sponsor at 954-767-0686

Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital logo
Publix Logo
Fifth Third Bank logo
LaCroix logo
Ave Maria logo
Museum of Discovery and Science Logo

Become a 2023 Sponsor

  • Sponsors receive Tickets to Winterfest Events – the Winterfest White Party, Grand Marshal Reception, VIP Area, and Captain’s Cup
  • 10×10 Booth prominently displayed
  • Logo inclusion in a variety of Winterfest Promotions including Family Fun Day Flyer and Social Media
  • Other media opportunities

Photos are on our Facebook page.

PRESS CREDENTIALS: All media requests must be submitted using an email address from the media’s active domain address. The submission must include a commitment from an editor/publisher noting where and when the story/photos will be printed/uploaded on social media platforms.

Any social media influencers must submit their handles, viewership and pre-/event day promotions plan when requesting credentials.

Below Deck Star to Sail in Winterfest

2015 Celebrity Capt Lee @BelowDeck

‪#‎StudoftheSea‬ Bravo Star Capt Lee of Below Deck will be a celebrity in Winterfest on December 12, 2015. Capt Lee and his lovely wife, Maryanne, recently joined Winterfest board member Kim Bokamper, President & CEO Lisa Scott-Founds and David Founds for dinner to discuss details (Runway’s Vinnie also shown in photo). Cannot wait to see‪#‎CaptLR‬ ‪#‎RockTheWaterways‬ ‪#‎WinterfestSoFlo15‬

Get a Glimpse of Winterfest!

AmericanBand

Baptist

Get your tickets today to see this year’s WOW Showboats!

In honor of this year’s theme “TV’s Greatest Hits” – Winterfest will have an  American Bandstand Barge in the Parade December 13, 2014. Get ready to start singing “I’m on, because I’m on the American Bandstand.”

And what would the Parade be without Santa. The Baptist Health South Florida Showboat will have additional holiday cheer with the nominees of the Winterfest Jr. Captain aboard the entry.

President Barack Obama Recognizes CEO of Winterfest

President and CEO Lisa Scott-Founds received a letter from President Barack Obama congratulating her on her achievements, dedication and passion for Winterfest.

The framed letter was given to Ms. Founds during the GrayRobinson, P.A. Winterfest White Party presented by Publix prior to the announcement of the 2014 Grand Marshal for the Parade Flo Rida on Saturday, November 15, 2014.
President Obama letter to Lisa Scott-Founds