Photo: Kutumba Theatre Project
Cooler weather is the perfect excuse to get out and color your calendar. Here are five hand-picked November and December events in Fort Lauderdale, each matched with a place to eat, plus one holiday outing the whole family can enjoy.
Fort Lauderdale's cooler months bring a talk with a Swiss artist who works in melting wax, a film festival at Savor Cinema, a psychological thriller on a downtown stage, free piano concerts on Sistrunk Boulevard, and a holiday ballet at The Parker. The best nights out pair a show with a great meal, so each pick below comes with a restaurant to try before or after.
1. FLIFFShorts: Life Unscripted at Savor Cinema
Saturday, November 7, 12 p.m. · Savor Cinema, 503 SE 6th Street · $10
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Start the weekend with a Saturday noon screening. Life Unscripted is built around real-life stories with a focus on family, health and well-being, so you walk out with plenty to talk about over lunch.
Where to eat: Catch & Cut, 1309 E. Las Olas Boulevard. An upscale steak and seafood restaurant in the Las Olas district, with elevated cuts, fresh coastal flavors and a welcoming patio.
2. JOB at Empire Stage
November 12–29 · Empire Stage, 1140 N. Flagler Drive · $30
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Max Wolf Friedlich's JOB, presented by Kutumba Theatre Project, is a razor-sharp psychological thriller. After a workplace crisis, Jane must convince Loyd, the company-assigned therapist, that she is ready to return to work. As their session unfolds, nothing is as it seems. This 85-minute pressure cooker will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final moment.
Where to eat: The Katherine, 723 E. Broward Boulevard. Chef Timon Balloo's global-inspired restaurant, with seafood and vegetables at the center of the menu and a natural wine list that pairs well with a night at the theater.
3. Urs Fischer Art Talk at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale
Saturday, November 14, 3 p.m. · One East Las Olas Boulevard · $16 general, $10 seniors (65+), free for members and children 17 and under
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Swiss artist Urs Fischer joins Bonnie Clearwater for a conversation about experimental art and impermanence, tied to the museum's Frozen Gestures exhibition. Fischer often works with materials that do not last. His Julian, a monumental wax-candle portrait of the artist Julian Schnabel, is designed to be lit and gradually melt away. Come curious and leave with a new way of looking at what art is made of.
Where to eat: Timpano Las Olas, 450 E. Las Olas Boulevard. A reimagined contemporary Italian restaurant on the boulevard, with modern takes on classic dishes, a rare whiskey program and craft cocktails for a stylish night out.
4. CHOPIN for ALL at the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center
Saturday, November 7 and Saturday, December 5, 3 p.m. · 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard · Free
November with Paul Ji · December with Oliver Moore
Admission is free and seating is first come, first served, so arrive early. The 2026–2027 CHOPIN for ALL season opens in November with Paul Ji, a semifinalist from the 11th National Chopin Piano Competition. In December, fellow semifinalist Oliver Moore takes the keys. Two afternoons, two pianists, no ticket price.
Where to eat: Naked Farmer Las Olas, 111 E. Las Olas Boulevard. Farm-to-table plates made from seasonal Florida ingredients and cooked on site, a fresh, casual finish to an afternoon of piano.
5. For the Kids: The Nutcracker at The Parker
December 18–19, 7 p.m. and December 20, 3 p.m. · Lillian S. Wells at The Parker, 707 NE 8th Street · $35–$123
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Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida's The Nutcracker follows Clara from a joyful holiday party into a world of snowflakes, the Mouse King and the Kingdom of Sweets. The company's professional dancers share the stage with talented local children, and Tchaikovsky's score carries the whole evening. It is a holiday tradition that young audiences will remember.
Where to eat: Tarpon Bend Food & Tackle, 200 SW 2nd Street. A casual, welcoming spot for American classics, burgers, fries, wings and fresh seafood, an easy pick for families before the curtain.
Why Get Out This Season
Culture works best when people show up for it. A sculptor who makes art meant to melt away, a thriller that keeps you guessing until the last line, a free piano concert on a Saturday afternoon, and a ballet that puts local kids onstage beside professional dancers: each one is a reason to get dressed and go.
Sometimes supporting the arts starts with simply showing up! Every seat filled, every free concert packed and every curtain that rises for a local company keeps this city's stages lit. Pick one show, book the table nearby and let the night take you from there. Fort Lauderdale's culture is waiting, and it is more fun with a friend.
