When kids are out of school on summer break, parents in South Florida appreciate ideas for fun things to do. Especially, if those activities are free. Inexpensive. Or offered at an appealing discount.
We’re pleased to offer some nifty suggestions. Please return to the site, we’ll be adding other ideas.
Featured
Top Picks
- Funtastic Fridays are free family-friendly events 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. most Fridays at ArtsPark in Hollywood, featuring entertainment and activities such as a bounce house, face painting and games, free
- Free family-friendly movies in Hollywood most Fridays, free, including Jurassic World
- Free family-friendly films in Pembroke Pines Saturdays during Summer
- Dinosaur exhibit at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, with discount opportunities
- Free family-friendly films at shopping plaza in Pompano including August 16
- Davie theater offers summer kids’ flicks for $1, or $5 for 10 tickets in summer
- Waterparks & water playgrounds
- Free lunches & snacks for youngsters & teens in summer at libraries
- Free Museum Days & Museum Deals
- Swimming instruction, water safety events & discount voucher for swimming instruction
- 2-for-1 summer deals for attractions, activities, restaurants & more in Broward
- Kids eat free & kids’ restaurant deals
- Tri-Rail in South Florida offers $5 all-day fares on weekends, free for kids ages 4 and younger
- Open-air bandshell on Hollywood beach offers free music performances usually Wednesdays to Sundays
- Marine Environmental Education Center includes rescued Sea Turtle
- ArtWalks & Art events & Other Places To Enjoy Art, plenty are free
- Broward parks offer playgrounds, nature hikes, nature exhibits, bike paths, boat rentals, basketball courts, water parks and other amenities. Browse the website for events, activities and features that interest your family
- Use your free Broward library card In addition to access to free movies, video games and books, library branches offer a wealth of free activities, resources and entertainment, such as dance parties, art projects and Lego fun. Download books, music and movies, check out digital devices or use high-tech equipment in Creation Station. Broward Library offers play area for pre-schoolers Read about Broward libraries on the website
- Deals for free & discounted entry for Popular South Florida Attractions
- Junior Farmer’s Camp for ages 5 to 8 Tradewinds Park, Pre-registration required, 954-954-357-8870
- Free lunches for youngsters @ Broward libraries
- Nature Detective for ages 8 to 11 @ Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek, Registration required, 954-357-5198
- Parades, fun, fireworks & entertainment for July Fourth
Free Things To Do Outdoors
- Funtastic Fridays are free family-friendly events 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. most Fridays at ArtsPark in Hollywood, featuring entertainment and activities such as a bounce house, face painting and games
- ArtWalks & Art events & Other Places To Enjoy Art, plenty are free
- Watch glass-blowing experts work in Hollywood
- Free family-friendly movies in Hollywood most Fridays
- Broward parks offer playgrounds, nature hikes, nature exhibits, bike paths, boat rentals, basketball courts, water parks and other amenities. Browse the website for events, activities and features that interest your family. Broward Parks and nature centers are typically free on week days, and some are also free on weekends. For those with fees, the weekend and holiday price is $1.50 for guests ages 6 and older. Some activities and amenities are free, others, such as waterparks, involve in an extra fee.
- Farm tours with barnyard animals at Tradewinds Park weekends, weather permitting, $3 (not including weekend park entry fees, which are $1.50 for ages 6 and older)
- Fun for youngsters at Splash Pad in Wilton Manors
- Youngsters Ride Free on Brightline Railway valid to September 30, with eligible purchase of adult fare
Free Things To Do Indoors
- Free kids’ films at Paragon theater in Davie , offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
- Free family-friendly films in Pembroke Pines Saturdays during Summer
- Free family fun nights Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 26 – August 6 at community center, 108 N. 33rd Court, Hollywood, includes music, board games, 954-967-4236
- Broward Library offers play area for pre-schoolers
- Plantation Historical Museum always free entry
- Free entry to ArtServe art gallery in Fort Lauderdale
- Free Museum Days & Museum Deals
- Model Train Exhibit in Davie, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, free entry
- Free entry to BaCA or Bailey Contemporary Arts gallery, 41 NE 1st St., Pompano Beach 33060, 954-284-0141, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, website
- Free entry to gallery at Miramar Culture Center, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays and first and third Saturdays, 954-602-4500
- Free entry to Sunrise Art Gallery, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise 33351, 954-747-4646, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays
- Free entry to gallery at Miramar Culture Center, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays and first and third Saturdays, 954-602-4500
- Free day at Art & Culture Center of Hollywood most third Sundays, free
- Broward libraries show free movies occasionally at library branches, loan DVDs and offer access to free movies online. Information is on the Broward Library website
- Broward libraries. In addition to access to free movies, video games and books, library branches offer a wealth of free activities and entertainment, such as dance parties, art projects and Lego fun. Noteworthy features include online access to books and movies and Creation Station. Read about Broward libraries on the website
- Lyrical Lounge free open mic for Teens
- ArtWalks & Art events & Other Places To Enjoy Art, plenty are free
Inexpensive things to do & deals
- Weekday Movie deals in West Broward
- $1 kid flicks this summer at Regal theaters in South Florida in summer
- Davie theater offers summer kids’ flicks for $1, or $5 for 10 tickets in summer
- Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale offers First Saturday deals. For teens and adults, a discounted fee of $10 is valid first Saturdays of July, August, September and October. Entry is free for kids ages 12 and younger
- Farm tours with barnyard animals at Tradewinds Park weekends, weather permitting, $3 (not including weekend park entry fees, which are $1.50 for ages 6 and older)
- Waterparks & water playgrounds in Broward
- Water Taxi Deals , including free for kids 11 and younger, July 8 – August 31
- $7 roller skating Wednesdays in North Lauderdale & Davie
- Discounts at 2 movie theaters in Broward Tuesdays
- 2-for-1 summer deals for attractions, activities, restaurants & more in Broward
- Tri-Rail in South Florida offers $5 all-day fares on weekends, free for kids ages 4 and younger
- Old Davie School museum offers deals
- Kids eat free deals at restaurants in South Florida
- Groupon deals for trampoline fun, laser tag & other indoor activities in South Florida
- Youngsters earn a free book with Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program
- Unlimited entry in summer to several popular South Florida attractions with South Florida Adventure voucher, $30-$50
- Free Museum Days & Museum Deals
Events, deals & other family-friendly budget-friendly things to do
- Free music performances Fridays at Fort Lauderdale beach
- Dinosaur exhibit at Flamingo Gardens in Davie, with discount opportunities
- Free & Inexpensive Moth Week Activities at Long Key in Davie July 20, 21 & 27
- TooJay’s restaurants offer kid eat free deals with purchase of adult entrée in July & August, valid for 12 and younger when you request the deal at participating restaurants
- Free events with food trucks in Broward, including week nights
- Play trivia at restaurants & bars in Broward
- Open-air bandshell on Hollywood beach offers free music performances usually Wednesdays to Sundays
- Free Old Town Untapped art, food & entertainment events in Pompano most first Fridays, free
- Free Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk & tour of painted buildings most third Saturdays, free
- Free FAT Village artwalk events in Fort Lauderdale most fourth or fifth Saturdays, free
- Youngsters Ride Free on Brightline Railway valid to September 30, with eligible purchase of adult fare
Other summer events
Read about other free things to do and deals for entertainment and activities on Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap and subscribe to the free newsletter.
Find more free and cheap things to do with kids this week:
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Friday, August 23, 2019
Saturday, August 24, 2019
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Monday, August 26, 2019
See our full Calendar of Events
Previous events
June 1 Children’s BookFest at North Regional Library in Coconut Creek, free
June 8 h2o Art Festival for World Oceans Day in Hollywood
June 8 Caribbean-American Heritage festivities, 6900 Miramar Parkway, Miramar 33023, information online or 954-602-3178, free
June 15-16 Featured Creatures at Flamingo Gardens, fees apply
Juneteenth Sweet Potato Pie Festival in Pompano June 15, free, at Northwest Branch Library & Apollo Park, includes entertainment, games for children, vendors and food, 1580 NW 3rd Avenue, Pompano Beach 33060
June 15 Juneteenth festivities Washington Park Community Center, Hollywood 33020
Star Trek vs. Star Wars Trivia & fun, free June 29
Free Astronomy Program with Telescopes at Fern Forest, June 28
July 20 2 p.m. Symphony of The Americas in Sunrise, 10610 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise 33351, $18 adults, $10 kids
Vintage Fair & collectibles Show July 20 & July 21 @ Festival marketplace
Free dive-in movie “Finding Dory” in Pompano, August 2
Family Fun & Fit Day includes fun & free haircuts for kids & free backpacks with school supplies, while supplies last, free entry August 3
Free kids’ films at Paragon theater in Davie , offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays
Model Train Exhibit in Davie, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, free entry
Free back-to-School event & free backpacks at Festival Marketplace August 10
August 10 Sunrise Comiccon, $14 & $20
