FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Crews were busy Wednesday preparing for one of Fort Lauderdale’s most cherished seasonal traditions: Light Up the Beach, an annual holiday celebration designed for the whole family.

Workers set up bounce houses for children while food trucks and local vendors lined the beachfront. One of the event’s biggest draws — Santa Claus — is also expected to make an appearance, taking his seat in a decorated chair along the shoreline.

The celebration features more than 50,000 holiday lights stretching along the beach. A Christmas tree, a menorah and a towering 20-foot inflatable snowman named Olas — positioned near Las Olas Boulevard and South Fort Lauderdale Boulevard — are set to anchor the display.

City officials said they anticipate a large crowd as residents and visitors kick off the holiday season.

“We hope everyone walks away with some holiday spirit,” said Todd Stilphen, the city’s community program manager. “It’s kind of hard, being in South Florida, to get in the spirit. But when they see everything we have here tonight — the arts and crafts, the vendors — I hope they can just get into the holiday spirit.”

The event begins at 5:30 p.m., with the lighting of the displays — including Olas the snowman — scheduled for 6:30 p.m. A concert will follow at 7 p.m.

Light Up the Beach illuminates Fort Lauderdale with 50,000 holiday lights

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Aaron Maybin