Whether you’re a planner or prefer to play it by ear, it’s always fun to have exciting events to look forward to. Here are 25 to put onto your radar for the new year.

Through April 27, Wellington, nationalpolocenter.com .

Carve out space on your calendar from February through April, because the USPA and the National Polo Center-Wellington (NPC) return with a roster of events no hippophile will want to miss. The 2025 Gauntlet of Polo begins Feb. 7-23 with the C.V. Whitney Cup and continues with the USPA Gold Cup Feb. 24-April 20, culminating with a $100,000 prize awarded to the winner of the collective contest. It’s shaping up to be a wild ride.

Signature events, culinary classes and exclusive dinner series showcase Greater Fort Lauderdale’s culinary scene. Headline celebrity personalities and chefs in this year’s sixth annual event include Fabio Viviani, Nancy Fuller, Jason Smith, Alex Belew and social media personality Alexa Santos. Times, dates, locations and ticket prices vary.

Since launching 18 years ago, this comprehensive cultural experience has captivated the community with its diverse offerings by educating audiences through music, master classes, literary arts, open rehearsals and lectures. This year’s highlights include evenings with historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin, author and Florida man Carl Hiaasen, contemporary ballet, featuring performances by dancers from Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey; and culminates with the Boca Raton Centennial Celebration, a multimedia celebration of Boca Raton’s history, courtesy of Boca Raton Historical Society.

Jan. 17, Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, billyjoel.com .

The Piano Man endures, 50 years into his storied career, with a show at the Hard Rock Live — the perfect way to kick off the new year. Sing your heart out to iconic tunes like Movin’ Out, Only the Good Die Young and, of course, Piano Man when the living legend takes the stage in Hollywood.

Pile the family into the SUV and head out for some seriously old-fashioned fun: live music, squeal-inducing rides and engaging exhibits. This year’s theme is Imagine the Future and features 15 interactive exhibitions exploring how the ideas of science fiction could soon become a reality of tomorrow. Then there are the attractions that have been a staple of this event for 23 years: food vendors offering diet-busting treats, arts and crafts, and interactive activities.

The renowned contemporary art fair showcasing cutting-edge works from top galleries around the world returns for its third edition, bringing collectors, curators and art lovers together to explore paintings, sculptures, photography and mixed-media works. The opening night premiere kicks off with a gala that promises to be one of the city’s most extraordinary social events (details TBA in January).

This experience highlights meaningful, eye-catching interactive art by more than 30 prominent international kinetic artists whose works use movement or perceived movement to achieve its effects. Outdoor installations can be viewed via a self-guided walking tour through downtown Boynton Beach while the indoor exhibitions will be on display in the Boynton Beach Arts & Cultural Center. Also on-site: an “Artists’ Talks” symposium, children’s art activities, live music and food trucks.

A captivating celebration of jazz music set against the backdrop of Florida’s beautiful coastline. Featuring world-class musicians, the festival showcases a diverse lineup of performances, from classic jazz to contemporary fusion. Set in intimate venues and outdoor spaces, this is one unforgettable experience for music lovers. Watch the website for announcements about participating artists.

Sometimes living in the past can be a good thing — and this immersive event will let you do just that. In the setting of a vibrant 16th-century village, you’ll enjoy jousting tournaments, live music, interactive theater and an Enchanted Artist Marketplace where more than 100 merchants peddle period-inspired food and wares, plus games, historical reenactments and interaction with the performers. Get thee to the costume shop, now!

Celebrate the LGBTQ+ community by promoting love, equality and inclusivity at this colorful extravaganza, which features a lively parade, performances by top entertainers, live music and the Wet Pool Party (with bag check service for your convenience!). Its upbeat atmosphere and unwavering support for diversity are sure to boost your spirits and make for an emotional (in a good way!) day out.

Boating is second only to driving down here; perhaps that’s why every year, this world-class luxury yacht and boat exhibition, set in downtown West Palm Beach, brings together the latest in boating innovations, from superyachts and sailboats to marine accessories. Yacht-hop and check out all the glorious features on hundreds of vessels, chat with industry experts, check out on-site demonstrations and revel in the opulence of today’s waterborne offerings and the ultimate in marine design and technology.

Our beaches are our bread and butter but they’re also the hallmark of Fort Lauderdale. On this spring day every year, community members gather at B Ocean Resort to help preserve the coastline by cleaning up debris and raising awareness about environmental issues affecting our oceans. Help promote sustainability by pitching in, connect with kindred spirits, and take steps to make a lasting impact on coastal preservation.

Rev your engines, or at least get ready to enjoy a whole lot of engines revving, at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach. Created by the late Fast & Furious star Paul Walker and his brother, Cody, to support Walker’s charity Reach Out Worldwide (ROWW), FuelFest features a lineup of over 700 exotic cars, classic vehicles and custom builds, plus drifting exhibitions, musical performances and more. Gearheads can connect with fellow fans, explore vendor booths, and experience the latest in automotive trends.

Described as “raucous and robust, raw and wild, solemn and soulful, strict and structured,” the Spring Mix is a duality of postmodern and classical dance consisting of four distinct productions with scores by Philip Glass, Bach, Balanchine and Modest Mussorgsky.

Some of the hottest talents in music — Keith Urban, Jelly Roll, Shaboozey and Luke Combs among them — will converge upon Fort Lauderdale Beach to benefit the Rock The Ocean Foundation, which has raised nearly $5 million for ocean conservation initiatives over the past 11 years. Special hotel packages and incentives are available now when you buy passes online.

Spin over the roads less traveled on a route that starts in Fort Lauderdale, winds through St. Augustine and up the coast and ends up in Bar Harbor, Maine. Adventure Cycling designs the route which includes an array of bike paths close to metropolitan areas to keep riders off the city streets. Along the way, stops are planned in Alexandria, New Hampshire (just in time for spring), and at the Walkway Over the Hudson River, the longest pedestrian bridge in the world. Bonus: Hotels, hot showers and home-cooked meals daily are part of the package.

We South Floridians love food. We love eating it, talking about it, writing about it, posting it on Instagram — you get the idea. That’s why this gastronomic gathering along Las Olas Boulevard is always on our calendars. You’ll meet top chefs, sample cuisine from local restaurants and sip samples from renowned wineries, plus there’s live entertainment — and it all supports local charities. All-access VIP tickets are available in addition to general admission.

Take a break from streaming on your sofa to celebrate cinema in all its forms by taking in a curated selection of independent films, documentaries and international features through this platform for emerging filmmakers and seasoned directors alike. Screenings, panels, and exclusive premieres are on the agenda, set against the beautiful backdrop of Palm Beach.

Florida’s largest waterfront music and arts festival has drawn crowds to the West Palm Beach waterfront for 42 years to jam to three days of music. SunFest’s consistently impressive lineup of live performances spans genres from rock and pop to reggae and jazz, but it’s more than just a giant concert: there are also art displays, food vendors, and family-friendly activities for adults and youngsters alike. Organizers say they are taking time “to create something new and fresh” this year. Watch the website for updates.

If you’ve ever been to this high-flying event, you know you can anticipate an exhilarating weekend of goosebumps-inducing action in the skies above the Fort Lauderdale coastline. Acrobatic performances from world-class pilots, military jets and historic aircraft, plus jaw-dropping stunts against the backdrop of the Atlantic. Reserve your own Sand Box, a private viewing area with dedicated restrooms and food and beverage vendors; a VIP experience with the Flight Line Club offering tents for dining and a catered lunch and all-day beverage bar, or a VIP Penthouse, 10 floors up in the Pelican Grand, where you can observe the jets at eye level.

Home is where the heart is, but this gathering of top-notch designers, luxury home products, and displays of cutting-edge trends, from the latest in residential furnishings, decor, and technology is where the ideas are. Engage with experts and get inspired to elevate your living space from hundreds of exhibitors displaying thousands of products for kitchens and bathrooms, floors, landscaping, closets and more, plus get up to speed on the hottest smart home and solar energy technology.

More than 1,300 luxury yachts and boats from over 1,000 manufacturers come together for this monolithic expo in what is known as the yachting capital of the world. The iconic show, split between the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina and the Convention Center, draws boating enthusiasts, professionals, and buyers from around the globe to explore hundreds of vessels and attend seminars.

Movie buffs, celebrate the art of cinema at this always-anticipated cultural event, with its focus on storytelling and innovation. You’ll find a diverse lineup of films from up-and-coming filmmakers and established talents along with screenings, exclusive premieres and panels. It’s a dynamic experience for movie lovers and shines a spotlight on global cinematic talent.

Held in the heart of Royal Palm Beach lakeside at Village Hall, this outdoor market features farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, artisanal products and eco-friendly goods. In between picking your peaches, selecting some sourdough or mulling over the mushrooms, take a moment to enjoy cooking demonstrations, treats from a lineup of food trucks, handcrafted jewelry and art from local artists and live music.

Kari Barnett also contributed to this report.

Editor’s note: The 25th event, FortLauderdaleCon, appeared in the January issue of City & Shore , https://www.qgdigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=838019&p=16&view=issueViewer&pre=1 , before the online deadline.