From lectures exploring Native American history to food-centered festivals celebrating Thanksgiving and more, you can immerse yourself in Broward’s arts community with art events and musical performances this November.
Broward Arts
Third Annual State of the Arts Address at Broward County Convention Center
Broward Cultural Division presents its third annual State of the Arts Address on November 6. This year’s event marks the countdown to the Cultural Division’s 50th Anniversary in 2026, and brings together artists, community leaders, and cultural partners throughout Broward. The event celebrates the achievements of the past year and impact of arts and culture in Broward. Featured speakers are Cultural Division Director Phillip Dunlap, County Administrator Monica Cepero, Broward Cultural Council Chair Janet Erlick, and several elected County officials. The event also covers arts and culture funding and upcoming projects and arts initiatives in the County.
Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free; advance reservations are required.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Broward Cultural Division’s Third Annual State of the Arts Address
WHERE: Broward County Convention Center 1950 Eisenhower Blvd. Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., Thursday, November 6
COST: Free (Reservations required)
INFORMATION: (954) 357-7457 and register on Eventbrite
BEST FOR: Adults
Cultural Rendezvous Series at Girls’ Club Gallery
The second event of the Broward Cultural Division’s Cultural Rendezvous Series features a conversation with artist Cornelius Tulloch at Girls’ Club Gallery.
The event is part of the six-part series of coffee and industry expert talks that bring together artists and arts professionals from across Broward. It is curated by Sophie Blanchet, public art and design project manager at the Cultural Division.
Cornelius Tulloch is a Miami-based artist whose work encompasses photography, architecture, and mixed media. Drawing on his African American and Jamaican roots for inspiration, he explores how bodies exist between borders and cultures. He will discuss his latest project, Porch Projects, that brings together architecture and art.
The event is free.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Cultural Rendezvous Series #2
WHERE: Girls’ Club, 330 Southwest 2nd Street, #102 Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5
COST: Free
INFORMATION: (954) 828-9151 or visit the Artscalendar event page and register on Eventbrite
BEST FOR: Adults
Native American History
Florida Talks: Seminole Portraits at Pembroke Pines City Commission Chambers
The City of Pembroke Pines and Florida Humanities present Seminole Portraits: Reflections Across Time, a lecture celebrating National Native American Heritage Month. Museum specialist and folklorist, Dr. Annette B. Fromm will discuss the evolution of American perspectives on Florida Seminoles and Native Americans and will explore how 19th century portraits were used to depict the Seminoles as a dying people to help justify removal from Native lands. Fromm’s lecture also discusses the historical and present-day Seminole Tribe, and touches on modern Seminole artists in Florida.
Seminole Portraits takes place Monday, November 3 at the Pembroke Pines City Commission Chambers. The event is free and open to the public.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Seminole Portraits: Reflections Across Time
WHERE: Pembroke Pines City Commission Chambers, 601 City Center Way, Pembroke Pines
WHEN: 6 to 7 p.m., Monday, November 3
COST: Free
INFORMATION: Visit the event page and register on Eventbrite
BEST FOR: Teens and adults
Real Thanksgiving: As told by Native Americans at Carver Ranches Branch Library
Discover the history behind the first Thanksgiving during this event at Carver Ranches Branch Library on November 20. This event discusses the Native perspective of the first Thanksgiving, which is often overlooked in popular retellings of the holiday. Learn the story of the Wampanoag Tribe (based in modern-day Massachusetts and Rhode Island), who first encountered the Pilgrims in 1620 and taught them essential skills to help them survive in Massachusetts. The event explores the cultural myths behind the Thanksgiving story and talks about what Thanksgiving means to Native people today.
This event is free and open to the public; registration is required.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Real Thanksgiving: As told by Native Americans
WHERE: Carver Ranches Branch, 4735 Southwest 18th Street, West Park
WHEN: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Thursday, November 20
COST: Free (Registration required)
INFORMATION: (954) 357-6245 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Teens and adults
Foodie Events
Riverwalk International Food Festival at Esplanade Park
The fifth annual Riverwalk International Food Festival celebrates South Florida’s diverse culinary scene on November 15 at Esplanade Park. Festival-goers can enjoy sampling cuisine from the many Latin American and Caribbean communities that call South Florida home and experience both traditional food and fusion dishes. The event features food, drinks, and music celebrating South Florida’s culinary traditions.
The Riverwalk International Food Festival is a free event that takes place along Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s Riverwalk at Esplanade Park.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: 5th Annual Riverwalk International Food Festival
WHERE: Esplanade Park, 400 Southwest 2nd Street Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 12 to 4 p.m., Saturday, November. 15
COST: Free
INFORMATION: Visit the event page or register on Eventbrite
BEST FOR: All ages
Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest at Volunteer Park Community Center
Island SPACE Caribbean Museum presents the fourth annual Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest at Volunteer Park Community Park. Highlighting the traditions of Caribbean flavors, visitors can try holiday beverages, enjoy music and performances representing different Caribbean nations, and, of course, sample rum cake and black cake. Access to the exclusive rum tasting room is also available for pre-sold tickets (only for patrons aged 21+).
Rum cake and black cake are popular Caribbean desserts with a history that goes back to the British colonial period when sugar production flourished in the Caribbean islands. Enslaved Africans endured brutal conditions under colonial rule to grow sugarcane and produce two important goods using sugar—molasses and rum. British colonists brought plum pudding and fruit cake recipes with them to the Caribbean and enslaved people adapted these recipes by incorporating spices, burnt sugar, molasses, and rum, to create entirely new dishes. Today, black cake is a holiday staple for Caribbean households, with each country having unique variations on the dessert.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Annual Rum Cake and Caribbean Black Cake Fest
WHERE: Volunteer Park Community Center, 12050 W Sunrise Blvd, Plantation
WHEN: 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, November 16
COST: $20, early bird tickets, $25, pre-sold tickets, $30, at-the-door tickets
INFORMATION: (954) 999-0989 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: All ages
Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival at Miramar Regional Park
Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival on Sunday, November 9 celebrates Caribbean culture through the flavors of Jamaican jerk cuisine. This outdoor festival includes live music and performances, culinary demonstrations and cook-offs, a kids’ activity zone with games, along with giveaways, and over 30 different vendors serving up jerk cuisine and other Jamaican favorites like oxtails and curry goat.
At the main stage, enjoy music by reggae legends, The Fantells, as well as Chalice and other musicians including Shuga. Cultural presentations will include poetry by Sharon Corinthian, performances by Sasa African Dance Theater, retellings of Caribbean stories with Queen Maxine, andmyoga session with Rocki Roland of Yogababe Studio. Culinary demonstrations by professional chefs and a chef “throwdown” will take place at the Culinary Pavilion, where festival visitors can enjoy samples and talk with food experts.
Tickets for “Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival” start at $45; free admission for children aged 10 and under.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival
WHERE: Miramar Regional Park, 16801 Miramar Parkway, Miramar
WHEN: 1 to 10 p.m., Sunday, November 9
COST: $45, general admission tickets, $175 VIP tickets, free, for children 10 and under
INFORMATION:
$45, general admission tickets, $175 VIP tickets, free, for children 10 and under
INFORMATION: (754) 213-5105 or purchase tickets through the festival website
BEST FOR: All ages
Music and Performances
Elaina the Poet Bringz The Jazz This Holiday at Pompano Beach Cultural Center
Elaina The Poet Bringz The Jazz This Holiday is a multi-disciplinary performing arts event at Pompano Beach Cultural Center. Hosted by the comedian Fefe, this community-focused event features Elaina the Poet, a South Florida-based spoken word artist, poet, and singer.
Elaina The Poet Bringz The Jazz This Holiday also features live performances from local jazz musicians, youth dancers, and youth singers. Radio personality Stitchiz, from 1035 The Beat Miami and iHeart radio, will make a special appearance during the event. Enjoy music from DJ S.O.S and visit local food vendors during the evening.
Tickets for Elaina The Poet Bringz The Jazz This Holiday are $40 for general admission, $45 for front-row seats.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Elaina the Poet Bringz The Jazz This Holiday
WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 West Atlantic Boulevard, Pompano Beach
WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday, November 22
COST: $40, general admission, $45, front-row seats
INFORMATION: (954) 682-7716 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Adults
Florida Youth Orchestra Concert at Bailey Hall
Florida Youth Orchestra presents a special concert at Broward College’s Bailey Hall on November 16. Music director, Dr. Claudio Jaffe, and the talented conductors and professional musicians who are part of Florida Youth Orchestra are dedicated to educating the next generation of classical musicians and enriching the South Florida community with the power of classical music. Florida Youth Orchestra includes over 300 members ranging from age eight to 18 with students from Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach county represented. The Orchestra has performed at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and twice at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
Florida Youth Orchestra’s Artist-in-Residence, Nestor Torres, and his band will perform with the Orchestra at the November. 16 performance. Torres, a classically-trained jazz flutist has released 14 solo albums and earned a Latin Grammy in 2001 for Pop Instrumental Album.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Florida Youth Orchestra Concert at Bailey Hall
WHERE: Bailey Hall, 3501 Davie Rd, Davie
WHEN: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 16
COST: Contact for Tickets
INFORMATION: (954) 558-3227 or visit the event page and contact Florida Youth Orchestra for tickets
BEST FOR: All ages
Gold Coast Jazz: Dirty Dozen Brass Band at The Broward Center for The Performing Arts
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band brings a lively performance of their music to Amaturo Theater on November 22. The New Orleans-based group will perform their unique sound they call “musical gumbo,” a blend of traditional brass band music with R&B, Soul, Funk, and Bebop jazz.
Founded in 1977, the seven-member ensemble group is rooted in New Orleans musical tradition and has collaborated with many artists and musicians, from the rock band Modest Mouse, to singer-songwriter Norah Jones, to jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie. Dirty Dozen Brass Band has toured in over 30 different countries and put out 12 albums during their long career. In 2023, they earned a Grammy for Best American Roots Performance for their collaboration with singer Aaron Neville on Stompin’ Ground.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Gold Coast Jazz: Dirty Dozen Brass Band – An Evening of New Orleans Jazz, Funk, & Soul
WHERE: Amaturo Theater at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 Southwest 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
WHEN: 7:45 p.m., Wednesday, November 12
COST: Tickets start at $65
INFORMATION: (954) 524-0805 or visit the event page
BEST FOR: Adults
