Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap

Deals, discounts, free events, entertainment in Broward County

Free outdoor events & other fun & entertainment outside

POSTED BY
Patti Roth

Savor the outdoors. Especially when South Florida weather is delightful. Pick your favorites. Art fairs. Festivals. Picnics. Parades. Nature walks. Holiday festivities. Outdoor movies. Live music.

Photo/Friday Night Sound Waves representatives

Featured free outdoor events

Other featured outdoor events

Broward Parks  & Pedestrian-Friendly Promenades

Parks and natural areas offer fresh air and open spaces for relaxing strolls, invigorating nature walks, flying kites, reading, playing tennis and tossing Frisbees. Each park offers its own flavor, features and amenities. No doubt, your favorite park is an urban or suburban oasis.

For many venues, entry is free or relatively inexpensive.

A few examples:

Photo: Broward Parks

  • Fern Forest, features several nature paths, including its elevated boardwalk into cypress/maple swamp, 201 Lyons Road South, Coconut Creek 33063, 954-357-5198, read feature Nature Trails & Free Entry at Fern Forest in North Broward
  • TY Park in Hollywood, includes tennis, picnic tables & a 2-mile paved path  primarily around a lake for walking, running, biking & skateboarding, 3300 N. Park Road, Hollywood 33021, 954-357-8811, read 
  • Secret Woods, includes a boardwalk overlooking the New River, and assorted other nature walks, 2701 W. State Road 84, Dania Beach 33312,  954-357-8884, read feature
  • Quiet Waters Park, includes a butterfly garden & nature path, 401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach 33442, 954-357-5100 
  • Hollywood Beach Broadwalk — lovely 2.5-mile length between waves rolling ashore and  shops, hotels & restaurants, read feature
  • Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk — delightful stretch along the New River from about Southwest Fifth Street east toward Federal Highway, incorporating Esplanade Park, read feature
  • Snake Warrior’s Island Natural Area, primarily for nature walks  and watching birds, including wood storks, ducks, heron, anhinga, white ibis, and osprey; park includes picnic tables, 3601 SW 62nd Ave., Miramar 33023, 954-357-5161

Resources for Parks

Free Water Trolley

Riverwalk Water Trolley ferries riders to 8 points along scenic New River. It’s free. Read feature

Birdwatching

Libraries loan free equipment for birdwatching in Broward offered during summer

Outdoor Attractions

  • Flamingo Gardens in Davie features otters, flamingos and other wildlife habitats, among lush botanic gardens, read  feature, entry fees with discount opportunities
  • Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, features free-flight aviaries with butterflies and birds, read feature, entry fees with discount opportunities
  • Bonnet House in Fort Lauderdale, entry fees with discount opportunities, gardens-only entry is $10

Photo/Hollywood CRA

Outdoor Art Displays

  • Downtown Hollywood Mural Project includes about 28 vibrant paintings on the exterior of structures. Slip on sneakers and enjoy the art, enhancing the experience with information online or via an App. Touring the artwork is free. Fees may apply for parking. Read our feature
  • Art In Public Places display,”Walking Sticks With Stories To Tell” Northwest 27th Avenue and Northwest Sixth Street  in the Sistrunk neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, Description: “…vividly hued freestanding sculptures that reflect the West African traditions of the linguist staff, ornamental hairpin, Adinkra symbols and kente cloth colors, Walking Sticks with Stories to Tell embraces the rich cultural heritage of West Africa…”

Outdoor Yoga, some free

Mini golf & batting

AllGolf @ CB Smith Park in Pembroke Pines includes 2 18-hole mini golf course & a driving range, fees for miniature golf are $9 Mondays to Fridays, $10 Saturdays and Sundays for   18 holes, $2 extra for 36 holes, free for ages 4 & younger, 950 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines 33028, 954-441-1333, website

  • batting fees —  $2 for 20 pitches, use bats for free with ID

Entertainment & Events

  • Live music @ Gallupi’s restaurant, Live acoustic performers &/or  bands outdoors week days & weekends,1103 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach 33062, 888-573-4632, reservations recommended for weekends,drinks & appetizer minimum encouraged,entertainment listing featured on website
  • Live music @ Marina 84 in Fort Lauderdale, usually 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays outside patio @ Marina 84 Fort Lauderdale,  free, 2440 W. State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale 33312, 954-734-2424,  website

Food Trucks

Usually 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Volunteer Park in Plantation,  Read Food Truck events in Plantation

Outdoor movies in Hollywood

Free family-friendly films outdoors in ArtsPark on Hollywood Boulevard and Federal Highway in Hollywood. Bring lawn chair or blanket, movies are usually 8 p.m. Fridays, verify on Hollywood website

Swap Shop drive-in theater

  • 3291 W. Sunrise Boulevard, Lauderhill 33311
  • Prices are $7 for ages 12 and older, $2 for ages 5 to 11 and free for 4 and younger
  • website occasionally features voucher for free entry for 1 person in vehicle Mondays & Tuesdays,
  • 9 outdoor screens
  • Tune into sound via FM radio
  • information online or 954-791-7927

Other outdoor movies & drive-ins

Read Drive-in & Outdoor movies

Shopping Outdoors

Free surf, paddleboard & skimboard lessons in Deerfield

Island Water Sports offers free lessons 7 a.m. Saturdays. Participants need to pre-register online or via phone. Read feature

Cars on Display

  • Dream Car Classic, downtown Hollywood, usually 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. first Sundays, 1900 block of Hollywood Boulevard, 33020, free entry unless registering a vehicle, which is $20, 954-825-1027, website

Other ways to enjoy the outdoors

 

 

 

 

 

Miramar Cultural Center

Long Key Natural Area

3501 SW 130th Avenue
Davie , FL 33330
954-357-8797

Get Directions

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