Events
Blink and You Miss It, Look Up and You Won’t Forget It
Jets, Grit and Beachside Thunder as the Air Dot Show Hits Fort Lauderdale and the Sky Turns Up the Volume. From Thunderbirds Precision to Raptor Power, Fort Lauderdale Won’t Stay Quiet for Long.
April 9th, 2026
There’s a moment at an air show where everything else fades out.
It starts like any beach day. Music somewhere in the distance, people settling into chairs, the ocean doing its thing. Then a roar cuts through the air, and suddenly everyone is looking up.
That’s when it clicks.
The Air Dot Show Fort Lauderdale returns May 9th and 10th, and if you’ve never been, it doesn’t take long to understand why people come back year after year.
Chris Dirato, Senior Vice President of the Bitner Group, has seen that moment play out countless times.
“The Thunderbirds… that’s the real magnet,” he said.
Where the Sky Turns Into a Stage
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds don’t just fly. They perform.
Tight formations, perfectly timed passes, aircraft moving so close together it feels like they’re connected. It’s controlled, calculated, and still somehow looks unreal.
Dirato pointed out something people feel without always realizing it.
Air shows carry a built-in energy.
“Air shows inherently are patriotic in nature,” he said.
That energy only ramps up this year with the 250th anniversary of the country woven into the entire Air Dot Show tour. Each stop, including Fort Lauderdale, carries that added significance.
“We’re very proud to put forth these kinds of shows,” he said, noting that every event on the tour stands as part of that larger celebration.
When the Raptor Shows Up, Everything Changes
There’s a difference between impressive and hard to process.
The F-22 Raptor falls into the second category.
“It’s the most maneuverable fighter jet in the world,” Dirato said, still sounding impressed even after seeing it again and again. “Every time I see it… I’m amazed. You just look at it and go, how is that possible?”
That reaction isn’t unique. It’s almost expected.
The Raptor doesn’t just fly. It bends expectations midair.
Then a Helicopter Steals the Show
Just when it feels like nothing else could top it, the Red Bull Air Force helicopter enters the picture.
And suddenly the rules change again.
“You watch that helicopter… doing all these maneuvers… and you say, how does a helicopter do that?” Dirato said.
It’s not supposed to move like that. That’s the point.
What the Crowd Feels, the Pilots Feel Too
From the beach, it’s easy to get lost in the spectacle.
From the cockpit, it’s something else entirely.
Dirato referenced conversations with demonstration pilots who can see everything from above. Packed beaches. Thousands of people lined up along the shoreline. Energy building with every pass.
“They get charged up over it,” he said.
That connection runs both ways.
Fort Lauderdale, in particular, has a reputation for showing up.
“We’ve always had packed beaches,” he said.
The Part You Don’t See
What looks effortless from the ground comes from repetition most people never witness.
Pilots train relentlessly leading into the season. Daily flights. Multiple runs. Every move rehearsed until it becomes instinct.
“They spend months… practicing daily, sometimes two and three times a day,” Dirato said.
And once they’re in the air, the physical demands don’t ease up.
“They’re pushing upwards of 9 Gs,” he added.
That’s the kind of pressure that requires elite conditioning just to handle, let alone perform under.
“They have to be in great shape,” he said.
Behind every pass is a full team as well. A large team makes sure everything is dialed in so pilots can push those limits safely.
A Different Kind of Inspiration
There’s another layer to all of this that often hits quietly.
Air shows aren’t just about what’s happening in the moment. They can shift how someone sees their future.
“They can be an educational moment for kids,” Dirato said.
A day at the beach turns into something else when a kid looks up and realizes that flying like that isn’t just something in movies.
It’s real. And it’s possible.
Fort Lauderdale Has Its Own Feel
Every city on the tour brings something different. Fort Lauderdale stands out.
“There’s a pizzazz to it,” Dirato said, pointing to the stretch along A1A where the beach, hotels, and skyline all become part of the experience.
People watching from balconies. Crowds filling the sand. Boats lined up offshore. It all blends together into one continuous viewing area.
And it’s not something you rush through.
“You get yourself a good spot… and spend the day there,” he said.
In and out of the water. Eyes back to the sky. Repeat.
The Reaction Says Everything
Ask anyone who’s seeing it for the first time and the response tends to land in the same place.
“Awe,” Dirato said.
He compared it to a ballet in the sky. Smooth, precise, almost too clean to fully process in real time.
Except this version comes with jet engines.
Why It Keeps Pulling People Back
There’s no real substitute for it.
Dirato didn’t overcomplicate the final pitch.
“You want loud, boisterous excitement, amazement… come to the Fort Lauderdale Air Show,” he said.
That’s all it needs.
Once you hear it, feel it, and watch it unfold overhead, it tends to stick.
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Luli Fama celebrates its Paradise Found Cruise ’27 swimwear and resortwear collection with a luxury Miami launch at its Dadeland Mall boutique.
August 20, 2026
Miami swimwear favorite Luli Fama is stepping into Cruise ’27 with Paradise Found, a new swimwear and resortwear collection inspired by tropical escapes, exotic prints and effortless vacation glamour.
South Florida Insider has already taken a closer look at the Luli Fama Paradise Found collection, and it feels made for Miami.
The new Cruise ’27 collection combines the bold, body-confident swimwear Luli Fama is known for with elevated resort pieces designed to move effortlessly from the beach and pool to cocktails and dinner.
On Thursday, August 20, Luli Fama will celebrate Paradise Found with an exclusive evening at its newest Dadeland Mall boutique in Miami, complete with fashion, light bites, personalized surprises, and a luxe espresso martini bar.
Inside Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 Collection
Paradise Found is inspired by the feeling of discovering a hidden tropical retreat.
Think lush landscapes, warm golden hour light, exotic patterns, and silhouettes made for somewhere beautiful.
The collection features Luli Fama signatures, including flattering ruched details, seamless construction, adjustable fits, and statement swimwear, alongside an expanded selection of resortwear.
We especially love the pieces that blur the line between swim and ready-to-wear.
Flowing dresses, sleek coverups, and body-skimming silhouettes make it easy to transition from a sun-drenched afternoon to an evening out without losing that relaxed resort feeling.
It is sensual, polished, and unmistakably Miami.
Luli Fama Brings Luxury Resort Style to Miami
There is a reason Paradise Found feels so natural in South Florida.
In Miami, resortwear is not reserved for vacation.
A swimsuit can become part of an outfit. A coverup can take you to lunch. A flowing resort dress can carry you from an afternoon by the water straight into cocktails and dinner.
Luli Fama has always understood that lifestyle.
Paradise Found takes it a step further, creating a Cruise ’27 wardrobe that feels as appropriate for a tropical getaway as it does for a weekend in Miami.
The campaign captures that mood beautifully, pairing the collection with palms, lush greenery, tropical architecture and the kind of sun soaked setting that makes you want to extend your vacation indefinitely.
Paradise Found Comes to Luli Fama at Dadeland Mall
Luli Fama will bring the world of Paradise Found to life on Thursday, August 20 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at its newest boutique at Dadeland Mall in Miami.
The intimate celebration will bring together invited guests, influencers, celebrities and media for an early look at Cruise ’27.
Luli Fama is also dressing invited guests in pieces from the brand, allowing the new collection to be experienced the way it was designed to be worn: in motion, styled and out for the evening.
Luli After Hours Espresso Martini Bar
Fashion is only part of the experience.
For the Paradise Found celebration, Luli Fama is introducing Luli After Hours, an Espresso Martini Bar inspired by the glamour of the collection.
Guests will be able to sip three specialty espresso martinis created for the evening.
The Luli Babe puts a polished spin on the classic espresso martini, while Golden Hour pairs salted caramel with edible gold shimmer. Miami After Dark takes a richer approach with chocolate hazelnut and a cocoa dust finish.
Along with cocktails, guests can expect light bites, curated details and a special personalized surprise.
The result feels less like a traditional retail event and more like checking into a private resort for the evening.
A Miami Swimwear Brand Celebrates at Home
For a brand with such a strong connection to South Florida, launching Paradise Found in Miami feels especially fitting.
Luli Fama has built its identity around colorful, confident swimwear and resort fashion with a distinctly tropical point of view.
Paradise Found carries that identity into Cruise ’27 while giving it a more elevated, escapist mood.
And with Luli Fama’s newest boutique now at Dadeland Mall, Miami shoppers have another destination to experience the brand in person.
After getting our own closer look at Luli Fama’s Paradise Found Cruise ’27 collection, we can safely say the name fits.
Paradise has officially been found, and this time, it is in Miami.
Check out the collection HERE
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