Well over a decade ago, the first Las Olas Wine & Food Festival took place.

Originally the event was held in November to commemorate Beaujolais Nouveau. After a few years it was moved to March and last year we celebrated it in May. This year the festival will be held in April.

When the festival began, the street was not closed and tastings took place in merchant locations and on the sidewalks. As the event grew and more vendors were involved, we began to flow over into the street and the decision was made to have a street closing.

In the early years the event spanned several days. On Thursday and Friday evenings there were tastings along the boulevard both inside and out. When the tastings ended at nine o'clock a number of restaurants held wine dinners with guest vineyards hosting. On Saturday afternoon a grand tasting was held under a tent and on occasion in the hotel dining area and patio. Saturday evening was a grand wine dinner culminating the event with exquisite wine and gourmet food held in the dining room of the hotel.

Over the years, many changes took place. The wine dinners were discontinued, and now they are back, the tastings moved onto the street and both wine and food were now offered. The event began with a VIP reception prior to the street festival all taking place in one spectacular evening.

Everyone who has attended knows that we attempt to make this event better every year.

Although it has grown considerably we try to control the numbers so that everyone has a pleasant experience. What sets our festival apart from the rest is not just our wonderful corporate sponsors but it's the fact that we unlike other wine and food festivals place a ticket cap so that patrons aren't waiting in long lines to sample food and wine! Sorry you won't find a cattle call, elbow to elbow, feeding frenzy environment at our event. What we do promise is a great variety of food, wine and musical entertainment making this a spectacular evening under the stars along Las Olas Boulevard, one of the most picturesque venues in town.

As we celebrate our 16th year the American Lung Association in Florida - South Area thanks those who have been loyal to us for all these years and look forward to making new friends through this vital fund raising event for our organization! Proceeds benefit lung programs, education, patients and research.