Indoor events and places to visit when it’s rainy

Rainy days and hot days in South Florida offer an opportunity to focus on indoor fun. Be a tourist in your in your town and savor fresh sights, attractions and things to do. If you're on a budget, various venues offer free or inexpensive entry, and some offer deals. It's a good idea to phone a venue first to verify it's open.

Featured indoor events

StemBeez

Wonderland's Enchanted Hive: A STEMBeez Adventure in 2024 is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23, and entry is free.  The event features activities and demonstrations that focus on Science , Technology, Engineering and Math. 

The venue is Broward College North, 1000 E. Coconut Creek Parkway, Building 46, Coconut Creek 33066. The event is indoors. Register online.

Live music

Bohemian Trio is featured 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24, and entry is free.

The  venue is Bailey Hall is at Broward College. The performances are presented by the school's  Visual and Performing Arts Department. 

Baily Hall is at  3501 Davie Road, Davie.

Theater

“The Crucible” is being performed at 8 p.m. March 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30 and 2 p.m. March 23 and March 30, and entry is free.

The  venue is Bailey Hall is at Broward College. The performances are presented by the school's  Visual and Performing Arts Department. 

Baily Hall is at 3501 Davie Road, Davie.

Theater

Sea Shorts Play Festival offers an entertaining show for adults featuring Seaside Players .

Performances in 2024 include  7 p.m. Friday, March 22, 4 p.m. Saturday, March 23 and  Sunday, March 24, with reservations suggested. E-mail seashorts1@yahoo.com for reservations. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the show. 

The venue is Jarvis Hall is at 4505 N. Ocean Drive, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea 33308.

Free things to do

ArtServe, Fort Lauderdale

Free entry at ArtServe, which features exhibits of work by local artists and a shop with items for sale.  ArtServe, 954-462-8190, is at 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

Plantation

Plantation Historical Museum offers free entry to browse exhibits & occasional free events, including trivia games.

A model train exhibit is featured.

Plantation Historical Museum 954-797-2722, is at  511 N. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation 33317.

Riviera Beach

Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach features indoor exhibits and outdoor areas overlooking the water. Feature: Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach offers exhibits, tours & webcam for free.

Coral Springs

Coral Springs Museum of Art offers free entry, 2855A Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs 33065, 954-340-5000,  website. 

Libraries

Lots of local library branches  in greater Palm Beach and Broward offer workshops, films, live entertainment, puppet shows and other fun activities. Some branches offer high-tech equipment that is free to use.  Information is on Broward and Palm Beach area library websites.

DIY workshops

Participating Home Depot and Lowe's stores offer occasional free DIY workshops for kids and adults.

Hollywood

Marine Environmental Education center, MEEC, in Hollywood offers educational exhibits and entry is free. Donations are accepted.

MEEC is a partnership of Broward Parks and Recreation and Nova Southeastern University.

The oceanside venue  is usually open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays at Hollywood North Beach Park, 4414 N. Surf Road, Hollywood 33019. It's a good idea to phone ahead, 954-357-5125, to ensure the venue is open the day you are venturing out.

More inexpensive fun & deals

• $9 roller skating Wednesdays  in Davie
• Groupon deals for trampoline fun, laser tag & other indoor activities in South Florida
• Play trivia at restaurants & bars in Broward For plenty of venues, it's free to play, especially if you're ordering drinks or food.
• Bowling deals in Broward
• Arcade deals at Bowlero lanes
• Silverball Retro Arcade in Delray offers deals
• Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale offers deals
• Happy Hour deals at The Square in West Palm Beach
• Happy Hour at Mizner Park in Boca Raton
• Shop for upcycled, repurposed and recycled items. Resource Depot in West Palm offers new, used & upcycled items at discount prices

Dine out

Some restaurants offer discounts and deals

• Wendy’s gives away free fries (any size!) every week for the rest of the year
• National Pretzel Day freebies and deals for 2024
• Dairy Queen serves $1 cones for young athletes this spring and summer
• How to get totally free MUG Root Beer product — up to $8
• Kentucky Fried Chicken introduces new ‘Taste of KFC Deals’ value menu
• Ikea in Sunrise offers restaurant discounts
• Arby’s offers ‘two for' Everyday Value Menu
• Arby’s is giving away four free sandwiches weekly in April
• Outback Steakhouse offers 3-course Aussie meal deal for $16.99
• New menu deal: Two for $25 Sizzlin’ Skillets at Applebee’s

Online events, entertainment & educational fun

• From home, download free digital movies, e-books, workshops, lessons & music from Broward libraries and Palm Beach libraries
• Live webcams from beaches and public areas in Fort Lauderdale, Delray, Dania, and lots of others
• Space Out! Online videos, activities & apps from NASA
• Broward Library offers events online
• Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale offers videos on YouTube & other social media
• National Parks webcams
• NASA STEM activities for students
• Free educational websites
• National Geographic Kids features online quizzes, games & videos
• Activities & projects for kids from Michael's

Other Webcams

• live webcams @ beaches in Broward
• meerkat webcam from ZooMiami
• Otters at Play video from MODS in Fort Lauderdale, video on YouTube
• Otter webcam & other online entertainment & fun from Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida
• coral city urban coral reef in Miami
• Wildlife cams in Africa
• Niagara Falls

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