Cities turn 50: It’s party time

It’s a 50th birthday celebration in northwest Broward next year — times four. Tamarac, North Lauderdale, Parkland and Coral Springs are celebrating the half-century mark with events throughout 2013.

North Lauderdale’s events include an ice cream event with the city’s firefighters in February, a “social” with the City Commission in September, and a tour of the police station in May — with guests getting free doughnuts.

“They were good sports about it,” Mike Sargis, parks and recreation director, said of the city’s sheriff ’s deputies and the doughnuts. The city budgeted $25,000 for events.

Tamarac’s events, budgeted at $50,000, include groundbreaking for a new park in the Mainlands community Jan. 25 — and then a free movie at the site. The movie, which still has to be determined, will be of 1963 vintage, or approximately so. There will be hot dogs, popcorn and drinks, all on the house.

In Coral Springs, events will cost $150,000 — of which $100,000 comes from sponsors. Events include a festival in January, a police car show in April, and a “birthday block party” with cake and entertainment in July. Three days after the block party, there will be a 50th anniversary outdoor concert.

In Parkland, there will be free birthday cake at a park in March and a concert in May — but officials don’t know yet who will perform. The city had earmarked more than half of its $95,000 birthday budget for a free Rick Springfield concert, but he pulled the plug after the event was made public in advance of his ticket-required concert in January in Coconut Creek.

And Tamarac, Coral Springs and Parkland partnered to have a classic car parade April 28 that will start in Tamarac, run through Coral Springs and end in Parkland.

For information in Tamarac, go to tamarac.org; in Coral Springs go to coral springs 50.org.

In Parkland, call 954-757-4105. In North Lauderdale, call 954-724-7061.