It’s time to put your dancing shoes on, Oakland Park! The city will be hosting Dancing in the Street on Friday, April 22 from 6 – 10 p.m. This family-friendly event will deliver an evening of live music, delicious food, kid’s festivities, and more. The street party will be free and all ages are welcome to attend.
Dancing in the Street: A Street Dance Party
Dancing in the Street is a street dance party where the city will close off a stretch of the road in the City’s Downtown Culinary Arts District. Multiple bands and musicians of different genres will spice up the evening with music. All are encourage to come out and dance the night away ! While this is the fourth year that the city has hosted the event, it is the first time since 2019 since the streets of downtown have been filled with music, laughter and dance as a result of the COVID-19 quarantine.
In addition to live musicians and bands, professional dancers will be on stage and in the crowd, encouraging people to get on the dancefloor. A local dance studio will even make a special appearance doing performances and simple instructionals, so you can go learn new dance moves and dance along with the pros.
Christina Curry, the Special Events Coordinator with the City of Oakland Park, says the city “wants to support local businesses on the main street during the event. They will all be open and participating in the dance party and also offer specials throughout the night.”
Several of the restaurants will be serving food, grilling outside, and serving alcohol, so you can get some good food, have a few drinks, and show off your best dance moves. If dancing isn’t quite your cup of tea, there’s plenty of food, drinks, and other festivities for you. They will even have a block set up with mobile artists and crafters where you can buy gifts, home decor, and more.
Live Music
This event features multiple stages dedicated to playing live music throughout the event. One of the main stages at the north end near City Hall will have Caribbean Waves playing their upbeat Caribbean dance music. According to Cristina Curry, Caribbean Waves are extremely interactive with the crowd and great at stirring up one heck of a dance party.
The other main stage at the south end will be set up in front of Big Dog Station, where Mr. Nice Guy will be playing tunes, pumping up the crowd, and hosting a dance party of their own.
Other crossroads will feature a range of music genres, including a Latin band, soft rock, and acoustic guitars and soloists.
Activities for Kids
Dancing in the Street is a free, fun, and exciting event designed for the whole family to enjoy. One area will be designated the kids’ activity area, featuring bounce houses, balloon artists, and a kid-friendly DJ.
There will also be street chalk for kids, giving them plenty of opportunities to let their creativity and imagination flow.
Dancing in the Street: The Details
When and Where
Dancing in the Street is being held by the City of Oakland Park on Friday, April 22, from 6 – 10 pm. The party will be held along NE 12th Avenue between Oakland Park Boulevard and Park Lane (NE 38th Street).
Road Closure
The city will begin closing the street at 1:00 p.m. for setup, so be sure to take an alternate route if you need to travel that way.
Parking
Attendees are encouraged to park in the parking area north of City Hall, along NE 12th Terrace, or in the parking lot behind Tatts and Tacos. The city will have a shuttle service running continuously to help attendees get from their cars to the dance party.
They are also encouraging using rideshare services as they will have a designated rideshare drop-off and pickup area located on the north side of City Hall.
Admission
Free! Bring some money to buy food and drinks at the restaurants and bars located on the main street to support Oakland Park’s local businesses, though, as these businesses will be open and actively participating in the event.
Dancing in the Street will be an exciting evening for everyone to get outside, let loose, and dance with family and friends. Save the date now and we’ll see you on the dance floor!
