Skip to Content

Ideas for free and cheap dates in Broward

If you appreciate frugal fun, delighting your sweetie with a lovely inexpensive or free date is doable in Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Broward County.

Plenty of exciting events and interesting activities are free. Others are relatively inexpensive. With extra dollars in your wallet, splurge on sparkling wine, a fancy dessert, or other romantic indulgence.

Ideas for Free & Inexpensive Dates

Adore Art

Downtown Hollywood Mural Project/Photo Hollywood CRA

  • Downtown Hollywood ArtWalk events, usually 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. third Saturdays,  include tours, live entertainment and exhibits from artisan vendors. Especially interesting are demonstrations featuring artist  Daniel Pontet painting with his foot to rhythm of live drumming. 
  • Downtown Hollywood area offers an interesting outdoor display of artwork.  Downtown Hollywood Murals. About 30 are painted on structures in easy walkable route, read feature
  • Free entry at ArtServe featuring work of local artists in Fort Lauderdale
  •  Public Art 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…”
  • Coral Springs Museum of Art offers free entry Mondays – Saturdays,  9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5:30  p.m. Mondays, Fridays & Saturdays, 2855A Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs 33065, 954-340-5000,  website

Live Entertainment

Photo: Deposit Photos

Play Trivia

A variety of restaurants and pubs offer entertaining interactive Trivia nights, which are usually free to play, especially if you’re ordering drinks or something to eat.  Read Play trivia at restaurants & pubs

Photo/Broward Parks

Admire nature

Stroll among shady trees, rippling streams and singing songbirds.  Pick a path in a lush forest. Or perhaps you prefer salty air and surf. Pack a picnic. Entry for some parks is always free, and often parking is free. For those with fees on weekends, or everyday, entry is relatively inexpensive.  Use Broward Parks’ website & Florida State Parks website for information about different venues

For a romantic evening excursion, register for a Night hike , usually $5 per person.

Parks with inviting nature paths & scenic settings include these & others

  • 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
  • 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 Nature Trails & Free Entry at Fern Forest in North Broward
  • Quiet Waters Park, includes a butterfly garden & nature path, 401 S. Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach 33442, 954-357-5100 
  • 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
  • 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 Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale offers scenic setting for walks & outdoor recreation
  • Deerfield Beach Arboretum, Features native and exotic trees and plants from around the world. Includes flowering tropical trees,  palms, wetlands and others, 2841 W. Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach 33442, 954-480-4494, free entry

Free Water Trolley

Step aboard. Rivewalk Water Trolley ferries riders to 8 points along scenic New River in Fort Lauderdale. It’s free. Read feature

Free surf, paddleboard & skimboard lessons in Deerfield

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

Shop

Ride The Rails

Step aboard and skip South Florida traffic. Tri-Rail is relatively inexpensive & offers $5 all-day fares on weekends.  The train  Tri-Rail offers $5 fares on weekends

Roller Skating

Artwork/Francisco Sheuat in Fort Lauderdale 

  •  

Putt-putt & pitches

  • 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
    • $10 & $13 for driving range
    • batting cages  $2 for 25 pitches, $8 for 100 pitches
    • 950 N. Flamingo Road, Pembroke Pines 33028, 954-441-1333, website

Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation

Other frugal date ideas & deals

Free and cheap things to do in South Florida this week

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Discounts for Miami-Dade County Fair

All Day | Discounted | Miami Dade County Fair & Exposition

Egg-venture at Zoo Miami

All Day | $18.95-22.95 | Zoo Miami

$3 Breakfast Deals

$3.00 | Wendy’s, Multiple Locations

Early Birding with Al

8:30 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Jazz at Jackson

12:00 pm | FREE | Alamo Park

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Daily Shark Feeding

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Street Stages

4:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Old Post Office

Trucks & Music: Zendatta, a tribute to The Police

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Center Promenade, Wellington

Live music at Clematis by Night

6:00 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Live music at Doral Yard

7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

$12 Adult Skate Night in Fort Lauderdale

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $12.00 | Xtreme Action Park

2023 Big Read Keynote with Ross Gay

7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Black Archives Historic Lyric Theatre

Friday, March 31, 2023

Discounts for Miami-Dade County Fair

All Day | Discounted | Miami Dade County Fair & Exposition

Egg-venture at Zoo Miami

All Day | $18.95-22.95 | Zoo Miami

Live music @ The Square: Weekends, times vary

FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

$3 Breakfast Deals

$3.00 | Wendy’s, Multiple Locations

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Daily Shark Feeding

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Beachcombing for Beach Treasures

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Art After Dark at Norton in West Palm

4:00 pm to 9:30 pm | Discounted | Norton Museum of Art

Food truck gathering at Tropical Park

5:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Tropical Park

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Northwood Village Art, Dine and Design

6:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Northwood Village

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Jam on percussion for free

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | South Florida Center for Percussive Arts

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Jazz at MOCA: TBA

8:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

Live Music at Doral Yard

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Free outdoor films in Hollywood

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | ArtsPark

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU free every Saturday

All Day | FREE | Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU

Gold Coast Museum free first Saturday

All Day | FREE | Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Discounts for Miami-Dade County Fair

All Day | Discounted | Miami Dade County Fair & Exposition

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Egg-venture at Zoo Miami

All Day | $18.95-22.95 | Zoo Miami

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

Live music @ The Square: Weekends, times vary

FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

Earth Day festivities & beach cleanup in Hollywood

FREE | Marine Environmental Education center

$3 Breakfast Deals

$3.00 | Wendy’s, Multiple Locations

$5 all-day fares weekends on Tri-Rail

5:00 am to 11:30 pm | $5.00

Plantation Farmers Market

8:00 am to 12:00 am | FREE | Volunteer Park Plantation

Spring Egg Hunt & fun in Margate

9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Margate sports complex

Egg Hunt at Community of Hope Church

9:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Community of Hope Church, Loxahatchee Groves

Beach trash pickup & Turtle Tours in Hollywood

9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Marine Environmental Education center

Wings Over Homestead

9:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Homestead Air Force Reserve Base

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon

Easter Eggstravaganza

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Leisure Services & Athletic Complex, Village of Palm Springs

Spring Fling

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Dr. Paul Vogel Community Park

Peter CottonTail Springfest in Tamarac

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Tamarac Sports complex

Spring Fest in Wilton Manors

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Hagen Park

Royal Egg Hunt in Sunrise

10:00 am to 1:00 pm | $5.00 | Sunrise Sportsplex

April Pool's Day in Miramar

10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Miramar Aquatics

Spring Fling in Pompano

10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Pompano Community Park

Egg-Palooza

10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | SoFlo Church, West Palm Beach

LagoonFest 2023

10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Environmental Learning Center, Vero Beach

13th Annual Downtown West Palm Beach Art Festival

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

Sawgrass Farmer's & Artisan's market

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Sawgrass Mills

Opera program designed for kids in Fort Lauderdale regiser online

11:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | First Presbyterian of Fort Lauderdale

Heritage Day Parade

11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | North Palm Beach Library

Art Workshop: Painting with Plants

11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Bakehouse Art Complex

Spring Eggstravaganza

11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Florida Technical College

Easter Egg Hunt and Summer Camp Expo

11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | The Shops at Sunset Place

Dania Arts & Seafood fest

11:00 am to 8:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Dania Beach Frost Park

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | $3.00-4.50 | Tradewinds Park

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Heritage Day Festival

12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Anchorage Park, North Palm Beach

April Pools Day

12:30 pm to 4:00 pm | $1.00-3.00 | John Denson Pool, Boynton Beach

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Daily Shark Feeding

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Downtown Palm Beach Gardens free concert

3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown at the Gardens

Free Jazz in the Park

4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Ed Burke Recreation Center

April Fool's Art Walk at The Peach

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Peach, West Palm Beach

Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $19.00 | Tinez Farms

Live Music on the Plaza

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | CityPlace Doral

Cultural Saturdays at Dania Ponite

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

South Florida Symphony Orchestra free in Weston

6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Weston Town Center

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Live Music at Doral Yard

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Night sky viewing with telescopes

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Fox Observatory

Discount late-night movies

11:30 pm to 2:00 am | $5.00 | Coral Gables Art Cinema

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Discounts for Miami-Dade County Fair

All Day | Discounted | Miami Dade County Fair & Exposition

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Egg-venture at Zoo Miami

All Day | $18.95-22.95 | Zoo Miami

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

Live music @ The Square: Weekends, times vary

FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

$3 Breakfast Deals

$3.00 | Wendy’s, Multiple Locations

$5 all-day fares weekends on Tri-Rail

5:00 am to 11:30 pm | $5.00

Pinecrest drive-up Farmer's Market

8:00 am to 2:00 pm | Pinecrest Gardens

Family AutoFest

8:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Village Park, Wellington

Palmetto Bay Farmer's Market

8:30 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Coral Reef Park

Tamarac Farmers Market

9:00 am to 12:00 am | FREE | Veterans Park

Vizcaya weekly farmer's market

9:00 am to 2:00 pm | Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Wings Over Homestead

9:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Homestead Air Force Reserve Base

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon

Spring Fling Eggstravaganza at LOOP in Fort Lauderdale

10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Las Olas Oceanside Park

Dream car classic in Hollywood

10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Hollywood

13th Annual Downtown West Palm Beach Art Festival

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

Sawgrass Farmer's & Artisan's market

10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Sawgrass Mills

Kids' Graffiti Drawing Class

10:00 am | $16.00 | Museum of Graffiti

Free live music at Jazz Brunch in Fort Lauderdale

11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk

Farmer's Market at Village of Merrick Park

11:00 am to 5:00 pm | Merrick Park

Dania Arts & Seafood fest

11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Dania Beach Frost Park

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | $3.00-4.50 | Tradewinds Park

Discount for Pixar Putt Putt in Fort Lauderdale registration required

11:30 am to 2:00 pm | Discounted | Las Olas Oceanside Park

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Merrick House Museum Guided Tours

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Merrick House Museum

Bunny Eggstravaganza

1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Westland Mall

Bluegrass festival and acoustic jam

1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Greynolds Park

Daily Shark Feeding

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Family Sundays at Dania Pointe

2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Dania Pointe

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Ocean Drive Promenade Music Series

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ocean Drive Promenade

Tropical Sundays Live Music

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

$12 Adult Skate Night in Fort Lauderdale

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $12.00 | Xtreme Action Park

Comedy Night at Nightlife Brewing Co.

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co.

Salsa dance class

9:00 pm | FREE | Ball & Chain

Monday, April 3, 2023

Egg-venture at Zoo Miami

All Day | $18.95-22.95 | Zoo Miami

Live music @ The Square: Weekends, times vary

FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

$3 Breakfast Deals

$3.00 | Wendy’s, Multiple Locations

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Adrienne Arsht Center

Miami Arts Charter School choral music

12:00 pm | FREE | Miami Shores Community Church

Staff Guided Nature Preserve Tours

12:30 pm | $7.00-15.00 | Deering Estate

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings

12:30 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Daily Shark Feeding

1:00 pm | $10.00 | Sandoway Discovery Center, Delray Beach

Sea Turtle Talk

2:00 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Free movie: "Sing 2" (PG)

2:30 pm | FREE | Wellington branch library

Free group bike ride in Fort Lauderdale

7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | Tarpon River Brewing

Comedy Night at Sandbar Sports Grill

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Sandbar Sports Grill

Patti Roth

About Patti Roth

Patti Roth, the editor of Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap, scouts out state and national deals, discounts and coupons for our readers, finding the real deals and presenting them in an easy-to-read format. A veteran newspaper and magazine writer and a longtime South Florida resident, she has written for The Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Travel and Life, E Environmental Magazine, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, US Architecture and Earth911.com. Send your cheap tips to her at info@fortlauderdaleonthecheap.com.

Living on the CheapMiami on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

Living on the Cheap in the Media