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36 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLESChristmas on Las Olas continuedThe stage on SE 8th Avenue will once again be sponsored by longtime Christmas on Las Olas supporter Truly Nolen, while The Whitfield %u2013 the new luxury hotel soon to be added to the allure of Las Olas %u2013 is sponsoring the SE 10th Terrace stage. And of course, so that everybody can remember the good times, Joe DiMaggio Children%u2019s Hospital returns to present the The Good Times Roll photo booth bus on SE 8th Avenue. Las Olas Capital Arts is flag sponsor.%u201cLas Olas is the focal point of Broward County and it has the opportunity to be really special. Christmas on Las Olas brings a staggering number of people that come to the boulevard each year to enjoy the unique holiday atmosphere and celebrate holiday spirit here,%u201d said Charlie Ladd, Las Olas Association Board member and developer along with Steve Hudson of the highly anticipated The Whitfield Hotel.The boulevard will be closed off to traffic from SE 6th Avenue to SE 11th Avenue and will be decorated with festive Christmas lights, holiday d%u00e9cor, revelers donning Christmas and Elf attire, and of course lots of holiday cheer. As you stroll along Las Olas, you will be treated to 30 live performances on our three entertainment stages located on 6th Avenue, 8th Avenue and 10th Avenue with singers, dancers, and theatrical artists, and of course, the big guy himself, Santa Claus. There will be kids and adults of all ages representing many local schools and arts organizations putting on special shows for your holiday enjoyment. As always, the many wonderful shops, restaurants, and galleries on Las Olas will be festive and looking forward to your visit on this magical night! And as you make your way along the boulevard taking in the sights and sounds, you%u2019ll also find a few of our famous %u201cElf Pubs%u201d to serve you a variety of adult and non-adult holiday libations.This is a free event put on by our local business community for the benefit of our community. The event has grown so popular that it is now covered by local, regional and even national media, bringing valuable media exposure benefitting our Las Olas Boulevard community. Over the years, the traditional one-day, family-oriented celebration has entertained thousands of families, business professionals, community leaders and movers and shakers generating thousands of dollars in valuable media exposure for Las Olas and Fort Lauderdale. Guests come from all over the Greater Fort Lauderdale area as well as from surrounding MiamiDade & Palm Beach counties. And our seasonal visitors who happen to be here at the time are wowed by seeing tens of thousands of people strolling and smiling on the boulevard, full of the holiday spirit!With this being the 62nd Anniversary, we also wanted to take a look back at the event over previous years through the eyes of a few locals close to the Christmas on Las Olas experience. With that, Jodi Tanner, Vice President of the Las Olas Association reached out and asked a few friends of Las Olas to share some of their favorite memories of Christmas on Las Olas over the years: LUKE MOORMAN, LOA President and owner of Carroll%u2019s Jewelers, said %u201cI remember singing on stage as a young kid, walking around Las Olas in a character outfit and watching Santa drive down the boulevard in a convertible.%u201dPAM ZIRKLE of the Las Olas Company told us %u201cI love seeing people getting ready for the busy holiday season to begin.%u201d CAROLINE CARRARA, our New & Trending editor and realtor, recalls: %u201cMr. Moorman was always dressed in his festive holiday wear, like Father Christmas. And every year since