Living in Oakland Park has been invited to be a part of the City of Oakland Park’s Youth Day Event – one of Oakland Park’s most important events of the year. The event is an annual celebration geared toward children and families to celebrate youth. This year’s Youth Day event is being held on Saturday, March 5.
Whether you’re new to the area and are looking for an event for the whole family or are a life-long Oakland Park resident who is looking to celebrate the young people in the community, Youth Day welcomes everyone.
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Youth Day: A Homegrown Oakland Park Tradition
Youth Day started in 1957 and is a long-standing Oakland Park tradition. It is a celebratory event for people of all ages who are looking for a fun-filled day of carnival rides, live music, food, and more.
According to Cristina Curry, the Special Events Coordinator at the City of Oakland Park and mastermind behind this year’s event, many Oakland Park residents recall attending Youth Day as kids. Today, these same residents look forward to celebrating Youth Day each year with their own children.
Live Music, Carnival Rides, Delicious Food, and So Much More!
Youth Day is full of activities the whole family can enjoy. Chow down on some delicious food, jam out to some live music, and let your children experience the thrill of carnival rides. Or, explore the different vendors in the booths to get to know your local community. The night even wraps up with an extravagant fireworks show.
More importantly, the City of Oakland Park will celebrate Grand Marshals who are chosen for their dedication and service to the community.
Where Everyone Can Be a Superhero
This year’s Youth Day theme is Where Everyone Can Be a Superhero. When Cristina Curry came up with the theme back in 2020, she was thinking about the everyday heroes the community encounters on a daily basis, and how it’s important to bring those heroes the recognition they deserve.
Where Everyone Can Be a Superhero was intended to be the theme for the 2020 event, but the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way. The idea behind the theme was actually thought up before the term “essential worker” became a part of most peoples’ everyday vocabulary. But, two years later, the true intention behind the theme is much more apparent. Cristina believes it has much more meaning after enduring nearly two years of the pandemic.
Needless to say, the theme is perfectly fitting for where the community stands today. Organizers aim to celebrate heroes in the community such as doctors, nurses, and first responders while also inspiring kids to have dreams and goals to become future heroes, themselves.
Celebrating Heroes in the Making
In the past, Youth Day featured a Little Miss Oakland Park pageant. However, in the spirit of the heroes theme and in keeping up with the times, Cristina Curry explains they are doing something a little different this year.
Instead of a pageant, Youth Day is having an award ceremony to recognize future leaders of Oakland Park. Nominations for this prestigious title are coming from the city’s schools.
Ticket Sales and Other Details
While there is no entry fee, the rides are not free. Wristbands for rides may be purchased for $15 on presale or $20 day-of at the event. Starting Monday, February 14, wristbands can be purchased at the following locations:
- Collins Community Center
3900 NE 3rd Ave, Oakland Park, FL 33334 - Ethel M. Gordon Oakland Park Library
1298 NE 37th St, Oakland Park, FL 33334 - Oakland Park City Hall
3650 NE 12 Avenue, Oakland Park, FL 33334
At the event, individual ride tickets will be sold for $1 each. Most rides require 2-4 tickets per ride.
The parade will begin at 10:00 A.M. at Jaco Pastorius Park and proceed south on Dixie Highway. Participants will turn west on NE 38th Street, north along NE 5th Avenue, and finish around 11:30 A.M. at the Wimberly Field Athletic Complex.
After the parade, the opening ceremonies will begin, welcoming people and encouraging them to partake in this spectacular day-long event featuring live music, carnival rides, delicious food, and even a firework show.
Come and Say Hi to Us!
Living in Oakland Park will have a booth at Jaco Pastorius Park as well as be participating in the special Youth Day Parade. Come say hi to us and grab some candy, water – we will even have water for your furbabies – a free t-shirt and sign-up to participate in our raffle!
We hope to see everyone there!
