October 31st - Nov 3rd 2018.  FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW – You’ll see more than 1,000 vessels of all sizes: Catamarans, motor yachts, super yachts, center consoles, cabin cruisers, sportfishers, runabouts, bow riders, skiffs, trawlers and inflatables. Don’t miss AquaZone, featuring live paddleboard, kayak, hovercraft and free-dive demos in a 15,000-gallon pool.

Where: Various locations in Fort Lauderdale

Web: showmanagement.com

SAND ART TRIO – Not one, not two, but count ’em, three this year! You can’t go wrong with any of them: the Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship and Beach Festival on Fort Myers Beach, the International Sand Art Competition in Key West and the Annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival on Siesta Key near Sarasota. No matter which one you attend, you will be awed by the amazing out-of-sand creations.

Web: Respectively, fmbsandsculpting.com, sandisle.com and SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com

 SARASOTA CHALK FESTIVAL – Hundreds of artists use the pavement as their canvas and pastel chalk as their medium to create breathtaking oversized traditional 3D illusionistic paintings. You’re invited to participate in, attend and interact with the artists as they go about their work. There’s a different theme each year.

Where: Downtown Venice and the Venice Airport Fairgrounds

Web: chalkfestival.org

FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – Even though it’s now over 30, you can trust this gathering to give you a break from ordinary film and see entertaining feature-length movies, documentaries and shorts. Special guests and celebrities always abound.

Where: Mostly at Cinema Paradiso in Fort Lauderdale, but also at other venues.

Web: FLIFF.com

MORE FILM FESTIVALS! – Fort Lauderdale isn’t the only SoFla film festival game in town in November. There are five more: the Annual Naples International Film Festival, the Annual Key West Film Festival and three in Miami: France Cinema Floride, the Annual Miami Short Film Festival, Nov. 2-7, and the Annual Recent Cinema from Spain Festival.

Web: Respectively, naplesfilmfest.com, kwfilmfest.com, francecinemafloride.com, miamishortfilmfestival.com and recentcinemafromspain.com

ANNUAL KEY WEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACERS – If ever there was an Indy 500 of powerboat racing, this is it. It’s the finals of the eight-month long Super Boat International series. High-speed offshore powerboats race for 6.5 miles in Key West Harbor and surrounding waters and reach speeds of 140 miles per hour.

Where: Key West

Web: superboat.com

MEDIEVAL MANIA – It’s east coast versus west coast, with Camelot Days Medieval Festival on the former and the Sarasota Medieval Fair on the latter.  Either one will take you back to days of yore, with living chess games, jousting competitions, battling knights, jesters, jugglers, birds of prey and lots of good grub and grog.

Where: Respectively, T. Y. Park in Hollywood and Ringling Woods behind the Sarasota Fairgrounds.

Web: Respectively, camelotdays.com and sarasotamedievalfair.com

SOUTHEASTERN CIRCUIT RODEO FINALS – If you haven’t been to the friendly town of Davie, this would the perfect time to go. Some of the top rodeo performers in the country take part in all the exciting events: bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. The big prize: Top all-around cowboy. Winners will advance to the Nationals in Las Vegas later in the year.

Where: Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie

Web: davieprorodeo.com

NASCAR’S FORD CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND – This is it, racing fans – there’s no more wiggle vroooooom, as all three of NASCAR’s premier racing series crowns (Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Trucks) will be decided in one weekend. You’ll see the best drivers in the world compete for the titles. Upgrade your experience with the Pre-Race Pit Pass.

Where: Homestead Miami Speedway, Homestead

Web: homesteadmiamispeedway.com

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW – Don’t just be a spectator – test drive all the latest models, all in one place. But don’t be afraid to gawk, too. Check out Million Dollar Alley and see (sorry, you can’t test-drive these!) the newest from Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Ferrari Lotus and Bentley, just to mention a few. Don’t miss the Memory Lane exhibit, which features 20 classic cars from yesteryear, and the Havana Classics, a trip back to Cuba’s 1950s cars and style.

Where: Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach

ANNUAL DELRAY BEACH WINE & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL – Sure, you’ll sample wonderful wines and tasty treats from the sea, but there’s so much more. An array of crafters and artists, a food and wine pairing seminar and great live music are also on the menu. Experts from Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley and Italy will be on hand to make you get the most out of the event.

Where: Along Atlantic Avenue in downtown Delray Beach

WHITE PARTY WEEK – More than 15,000 partygoers will enjoy six days and nights of nonstop entertainment and help fight against HIV/AIDS at the same time.

Where: Various locations throughout Miami-Dade County

Web: whiteparty.org

THE GREAT GROVE BED RACE – Are you ready for some mattress mayhem or perhaps a bed-on collision? You may see both at this annual tongue-in-cheek race as costumed five-member teams barrel their homemade beds on wheels through the streets. Awards will be given for the fastest, best-décor, engineering, crowd favorite and funniest contraption.

Where: The streets of Coconut Grove

Web: thegreatgrovebedrace.com

FAIRCHILD FALL GARDEN FESTIVAL & RAMBLE – It’s South Florida’s most beloved garden party.  Included will be seasonal cooking classes, home gardening demonstrations, and a beer garden – all mixed in with the usual Ramble traditions, such as art, antiques, rare books, gourmet food and more than 15,000 plants for sale.

Where: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables

Web: fairchildgarden.org

ART! KEY WEST! – This annual event features events rotating among the island’s multiple cultural districts. Highlights include live mural painting, gallery openings and showcases, performance art, theater and musical performances.

Where: Various locations in Key West

CAPTIVA HOLIDAY VILLAGE – Joyful sights and sounds will fill the beaches, bays and lanes of this cozy village for five straight nights starting in late November. Packed with holiday activities for the entire family, this event includes nightly entertainment, tree lightings, Junkanoo Parade, Santa visits, a decorated golf cart parade, musical performances, fireworks and much more.

Where: Various locations on Captiva Island

Web: captivaholidayvillage.com