From Wednesday, October 28, through Sunday, November 1, two of the boat services that normally run on Fort Lauderdale's rivers change their schedules for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Water Taxi suspends its regular service and runs only to the show stops. The City's free LauderGO! Water Trolley on the New River doesn't run at all. This year the show's Saturday is October 31. The busiest show day and the city's Halloween night share a date, and the river shuttles that usually connect downtown will be working for the show.
This is the 67th year of the show. Visit Lauderdale describes it as the world's largest in-water boat show, with more than 100,000 attendees, 1,000 exhibiting brands and 1,300 boats spread over six venues.
What runs on the water, and what doesn't
On a normal day the Water Trolley is free, runs daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and stops at Riverwalk Laura Ward Park, Esplanade Park, Tarpon River, New River Yacht Club, Downtown and Smoker Park. Two other stops, Huizenga Plaza/Bubier Park and Riverfront Plaza, are already listed as unavailable because of ongoing construction. The City's Water Trolley page says service stops completely from October 28 through November 1, 2026, because of the Boat Show.
Water Taxi keeps running that week, but only between the show stops. Its boat show page lists the fares and hours.
| A normal week | October 28 to November 1, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| LauderGO! Water Trolley | Free, daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. | Not running |
| Water Taxi | Regular routes | Regular service suspended; boat show stops only |
| Water Taxi fare during the show | Standard fares | $15 daily pass, $65 five-day pass, children under 5 free |
| Water Taxi annual passholders | Regular access | Ride the show service free |
Water Taxi's show-week hours are noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The show itself is open noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday's preview day, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The boats keep running for an hour after the docks close, and then they stop.
Put those hours next to Halloween. On a normal Saturday the Water Trolley would run on the New River until 10 p.m. On Saturday, October 31, the last Water Taxi run is at 8 p.m., and there's no free trolley. After that, nothing on the river carries passengers, right when the evening's events downtown begin.
Halloween this year happens on land
The Halloween events running alongside the show are mostly away from the marinas. Several are near the river, but none rely on the boats.
Esplanade Park is normally a Water Trolley stop. On October 31 it hosts HOWLERWEEN, billed as "The Ultimate Halloween Event for Pets & Their Hoomans," from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 400 SW 2nd St. The event page has the details. Since the trolley is off that day, you'll be getting there by car, bike or on foot.
The Fort Lauderdale Fire and Safety Museum at 1022 W. Las Olas Blvd. has its open house that Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with free admission. The museum's visit page says the open houses happen on the last Saturday of every month, so this one lands on Halloween by the calendar.
Bonnet House at 900 N. Birch Road holds its Halloween Fest on October 31 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults, $8 for ages 6 to 17, and free for children 5 and under.
Las Olas Oceanside Park at 3000 E. Las Olas Blvd. hosts The MKT on both show-weekend days. The organizer lists hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The evening events are indoors and downtown. Sonic Live in Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. on October 31 at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Ave. Later that night, Hush: A Silent Night begins at 9 p.m. at War Memorial Auditorium, 800 NE 8th St., for guests 21 and over. Both start after the show has closed for the day, and the Hush start time is an hour after the last Water Taxi run.
The week, day by day
The show takes up five days, and things happen in the city on each of them. Here is how the week lays out from a resident's calendar:
- Wednesday, October 28. Preview day at the show, noon to 7 p.m. The Water Trolley is off starting today, and Water Taxi switches to show-only service from noon to 8 p.m.
- Thursday, October 29. Galleria Fort Lauderdale, 2414 E. Sunrise Blvd., hosts a free Boo Bash from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., according to the Sun Sentinel's family Halloween roundup. It starts before the show closes for the day, at a location well away from the marinas.
- Friday, October 30. Another full show day, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with Water Taxi running show routes until 8 p.m.
- Saturday, October 31. Halloween. In order: The MKT at 9 a.m., the Fire Museum open house at 10 a.m., HOWLERWEEN at 11 a.m., Bonnet House at 11 a.m., Sonic at 7:30 p.m. and Hush at 9 p.m. The show closes at 7 p.m. and the last Water Taxi runs at 8 p.m.
- Sunday, November 1. The show closes early at 5 p.m., Water Taxi ends at 6 p.m., and The MKT is back at Las Olas Oceanside Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you have kids and the forecast turns, the Museum of Discovery and Science at 401 SW 2nd St. is running The Original MAGNA-TILES Experience. MODS is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
If you do go to the show
Residents who go have a few details to plan around. Tickets are digital only and sold at flibs.com, and there is no on-site ticket booth. Children under 6 get in free with a ticketed adult, and tickets for ages 6 to 12 are discounted. Active military and veterans can get a free general admission ticket for Sunday, November 1.
At the Broward County Convention Center, the "Hook the Future" kids fishing clinic with Don Dingman runs at noon and 2 p.m. on both weekend days, and kids can take home a free fishing rod and reel. The Convention Center also has the FLIBS Kids Corner, with face painting and crafts. One way to fit both into Saturday is the noon clinic followed by Bonnet House before it closes at 4 p.m. Bonnet House is on N. Birch Road on the barrier island, the same side of the Intracoastal as Bahia Mar and the beach.
A couple of things are new at the marinas this year. Las Olas Marina will have a floating pickleball court, where yacht crew members can play a friendly tournament. Visit Lauderdale also says the newly reimagined Pier Sixty-Six North will hold brokerage vessels over 100 feet, Hall of Fame Marina will hold new-build yachts, and Las Olas Marina will hold boats from 60 to more than 200 feet.
If you already have a Water Taxi annual pass, you can ride the show service at no extra cost. With the regular routes suspended, it's the only Water Taxi service on the river that week.
If you're thinking about what life on the water in Fort Lauderdale looks like over a full year, show week included, Alex Fernandez is glad to walk through it with you. Schedule a Private Consultation.
