The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show opens Wednesday, Oct. 28, for its 67th year, spreading more than 1,300 boats and about 1,000 exhibiting brands across six sites on the city's waterfront through Sunday, Nov. 1. The show is owned by the Marine Industries Association of South Florida and produced by Informa Markets, and its organizers bill it as the largest in-water boat show in the world. Last year's show drew more than 100,000 visitors.

Six sites, one ticket

A single ticket covers every location: Bahia Mar Yachting Center, the Broward County Convention Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, Pier Sixty-Six Marina, and Superyacht Village at Pier Sixty-Six South. The Convention Center is the show's transportation hub, with more than 3,000 parking spaces at a flat $40 a day. Complimentary shuttles and golf carts run between the sites for ticket holders.

The water taxi is the other way around the show. A one-day pass costs $15 and a five-day pass $65, children under 5 ride free, and service starts an hour before the gates open and runs until an hour after they close. Brightline also runs to Fort Lauderdale for visitors coming from Palm Beach County or Miami-Dade.

What is new this year

Las Olas Marina gets a floating pickleball court, with a tournament for yacht crew. The Windward VIP Cabana Club moves to Bahia Mar, while the VIP location at Superyacht Village stays in place. Inside the Convention Center, Blue Wild is adding hands-on exhibits. The show is also introducing a new digital show map powered by MarineSource.com and running REFIT X seminars.

The boats people come to see

The show expects more than fifty debuts. Viking is using Fort Lauderdale for four world premieres: the Viking 70 Convertible, the Viking 64 Sport Coupe, the Viking 50 Sport Coupe and the Valhalla 46 Sport Yacht. The Prestige M8 EVO and the Absolute Navetta 66 make their United States debuts, and the Aquila 35 Sport makes its debut in the Americas.

Other models on the show's list include the Pearl 100 Hybrid, the first hybrid in Pearl's fleet; the carbon fiber Delta 72; the Galeon 570 SKY; and the Princess C48, the first Princess offered with an outboard option.

At Superyacht Village, the largest boats on the docks include Draak, a 305-foot Oceanco built in 2014 and converted for research and exploration; Lady Christine, a 223-foot Feadship from 2010; and Scout, a 209-foot Hakvoort from 2019.

For families

The FLIBS Kids Corner has crafts and face painting. On Saturday and Sunday, Hook the Future kids fishing clinics run at noon and 2 p.m., and every child who attends goes home with a free rod and reel. Children 6 to 12 pay $19 for a one-day ticket, and children under 6 get in free with an adult.

A free day for veterans

Active military members and veterans can get one free general admission ticket for Sunday, Nov. 1. It has to be requested in advance through the form on the show's website.

Why it matters to the region

The Marine Industries Association of South Florida puts the show's annual economic impact at more than $1.79 billion. The association has more than 500 members and counts the region's marine industry as an $18.5 billion economic engine.

Hours, tickets and how to go

The show runs Wednesday, Oct. 28, from noon to 7 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 29 to 31, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are sold only online at flibs.com, and there is no box office at the gates. Adult one-day general admission is $48, good any one day Thursday through Sunday. A two-day general admission pass is $80. The Wednesday Preview ticket is $73 and is good for any one day of the show, and a two-day preview plus general admission ticket is $105. The Windward VIP Experience is $459 for one day and includes club access, an open bar, food, early entry and water taxi service.

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