South Florida is about to get Barbie-licious.
The first-ever Barbie Dream Fest will take over the Broward County Convention Center starting on Friday, March 27 and going through Sunday, March 29.
“We wanted a place that Barbie would enjoy,” explains Melissa Anelli, founder and CEO of Mischief Management, which has teamed up with Mattel, Inc. to produce the event. “We wanted a a vibe match with the original Barbie atmosphere, you know — beaches, palm trees, a beautiful sunny place to dream big.”
The dream will also feature an appearance by Serena Williams, who is a South Floridian with a home in Jupiter, when the tennis legend/entrepreneur receives the inaugural Barbie Dream Fest Icon Award.
“Barbie has always stood for dreaming without limits,” Williams says in a news release. “She shows girls everywhere they can be athletes, leaders, creators — anything they imagine. I’m so excited to be part of the first-ever Barbie Dream Fest, where it’s all about celebrating the legacy of Barbie and inspiring the next generation to believe they can be anything.”
Anelli says everyone working on the event is buzzing with excitement about Williams’ involvement.
Barbie Dream Fest
Tennis superstar and entrepreneur Serena Williams, who has a home in Jupiter, will receive the first Barbie Dream Fest Icon Award. (Barbie Dream Fest/Courtesy)
“She’s incredible,” adds Anelli. “She embodies everything Barbie’s about, dreaming big, not letting previous conceptions of limits hold you back, being a role model, breaking barriers, being the absolute best you can be. Of the short list of people we wanted for this award, she was at the top.”
Also the world tour of “Barbie The Movie: In Concert” will touch down in Fort Lauderdale for the first time as part of the festival at 7 p.m. on March 27. The 2023 megahit film screening will be accompanied live by Barbie Land Sinfonietta, an all-women orchestra, performing both the score and pop songs from the soundtrack.
“It’s run by this woman, Macy Schmidt, who we’ve worked with on other … events before,” Anelli says. “And I think what ‘Barbie: The Movie in Concert’ has done is amplified an already incredible experience of watching the movie, of being with other people that enjoy it the way you do, feeling all the emotions that come with. You know, live music changes everything. It really brings your emotions up to the surface and so it’s going to be fun.”
Some of Barbie Dream Fest’s other highlights — with some comments from Anelli — will include:
• Ultimate Barbie Fashion Show (“People can wear their Barbie-best and walk on a stage.”)
• “Totally Hair” Glam Bar
• Walk-in Interactive Dream House
• Panels and meetups (“We wanted to get in women that come from across the spectrum of fields. So, STEM, arts, sports — all sorts of people who inspire … we want to make sure they see all different types of women being celebrated.”)
• 80s Disco Roller Rink
• Marketplace with vendors
• Dream Flow Morning Yoga (“Let’s not forget Barbie is all about wellness. She’s all about taking care of yourself.”)
• Animated film screenings
• Photo op installations
• Beyond The Stars cosmic celebration of astronaut Barbie (“We’re focusing on the Barbie astronaut aspect where you can go and take a photo in a Barbie [booth] that’s seen around space. You can look at some of the astronaut Barbies from over the years.”)
• Dynacraft Bike Course
• Barbie Party Zone presented by Michael’s
• Wall of Limitless Possibilities fan/collaborative art installation
“We also have guests coming from (Netflix’s) ‘Barbie Life in the Dream House,’ which is a very popular Barbie property,” Anelli adds. “We have some of the voice actors coming from that as well.”
Anelli created Mischief Management in 2009. The national company produces fan conventions such as BroadwayCon (for fans of theatre and stage musicals) and EnchantiCon (for fans of fantasy and magical worlds),
“We’re just so excited to do this. It’s time that Barbie had her own celebration and so we want to really bring home how cool this is and how excited we are that Mattel wanted to do this.”
If you go
WHEN & WHERE: Barbie Dream Fest takes place March 27-29 at the Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.
COST:
• Single Day Passes are $72 for adults and $33 for kids (3-12).
• Three-Day Passes are $152.50 for adults and $78 for kids (3-12).
• Three-Day Family Packs are $438 (two Three-Day Passes for adults and two Three-Day Passes for kids).
• Icon Pass is $502.50 (Three-Day Pass, reserved seating for Icon Award session featuring Serena Williams and a photo op as well as access to discounted hotel block).
• Dream Pass is $452.50 (priority queue for Mainstage programming and Marketplace; $50 coupon for Autograph & Photo Op experiences; shortcut queues for celebrity autographs & photo ops; access to 2027 presale and dedicated hotel block; swag bag; admission to “Barbie The Movie: In Concert” on Friday, March 27).
• Pink Pass is $252.50 (priority queue for Mainstage programming and Marketplace; access to 2027 presale and dedicated hotel block; swag bag; admission to “Barbie The Movie: In Concert” on Friday, March 27).
• “Barbie The Movie: In Concert” admission is $48 at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 27 (admission is included with General, Pink and Dream Passes, so no additional purchase necessary).
INFORMATION: barbiedreamfest.com
Emma Fierberg for Barbie Dream Fest
Barbie Land Sinfonietta, an all-women orchestra, will perform “Barbie The Movie: In Concert” at Barbie Dream Fest in Fort Lauderdale March 27-29. (Emma Fierberg for Barbie Dream Fest/Courtesy)