Ideas for free & inexpensive dates

If you prefer frugal fun, delighting your sweetie with a lovely inexpensive or free date is doable in South Florida.

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

Featured Events

Free outdoor movies in Downtown Hollywood. Load up your blankets & lawn chairs. Flicks are usually 8 p.m. Fridays. For other outdoor movies, read Drive-ins & outdoor movies

Live Entertainment

Free live entertainment at Hollywood Beach bandshell usually Wednesdays to Sundays
Free Starlight Musicals events, free live music 7:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. Fridays in summer, Holiday Park on Sunrise Boulevard & Northeast 10th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33304, Read feature
Gulfstream Park Village, shopping, dining & entertainment plaza, features live music, usually 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, 901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach 33009, read feature
ArtsPark Live featuring Roosevelt Collier on pedal steel guitar & JUke, 7 p.m. August 7, ArtsPark, Federal Highway & Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, lawn seating, no coolers, glass, foam or single-use plastic, website
Others, read Free live entertainment & other live events in Broward

2-for-1 Summer ‘LauderDEALS’

Recreation vendors & attractions in Broward offer 2-for-1 deals & other discounts during summer. Read Excellent value: 2-for-1 deals & other discounts for fun, recreation & retail in Broward

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 feature to see which establishments offer Trivia.

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. Lots feature free parking. Others feature fees — however, many are waiving fees until further notice. Use Broward Parks’ website & Florida State Parks website for information about different venues

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 TY Park in Hollywood is lovely venue for outdoor exercise & relaxation
ollywood 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
Birdwatching in Broward: free online workshop & free equipment on loan

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

Some farmer’s markets feature extra amenities, including yoga, bon fires and petting zoos. Farmers markets & flea markets in Broward
Unique Shopping Venues, Shopping Events & Artisan Fairs

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

Relax with Online entertainment

Pop popcorn, snuggle on the sofa and download a film for free. Or immerse yourself in opera. Or a virtual art tour. Or a local performing artist. Or a webcam of adorable animals. Opportunities for online entertainment are plentiful.

Redbox offers free movies and TV shows
From home, download movies from Broward Library
Friday Night Sound Waves playlist of performances from South Florida artists
Florida Grand Opera on YouTube
Online Art Activities & Virtual Art Tours from South Florida
Broward beaches featured on live webcams
ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale showcases visual and performing artists on Facebook , Facebook Live, Zoom and Instagram @artservefla

Artwork/Francisco Sheuat in Fort Lauderdale

Art exhibits

Coral Springs Museum of Art, 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
For daytime or evening dates, Downtown Hollywood Murals exhibit works nicely. About 30 murals are within in easy walkable route. It’s free. Download Florida’s Hollywood app for a self-guided tour. Fees for parking in downtown Hollywood apply. Read our feature
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…”

Art events

AT Village Arts District Open House & Art Walk events, usually fourth or fifth Saturdays, 521 NW 1st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33301, 954-760-5900, read our feature, verify if event is on online or 754-800-1640
Fort Lauderdale Art Walk usually 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. fourth or fifth Saturdays, 844 NE Fourth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33304, verify event is on online or 754-800-1640
events paused until fall — Art Walk in Wilton Manors, usually 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. third Saturdays,Wilton Drive around Northeast Sixth Avenue, website

Drive-in

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
- occasional discount — free for 1 person in vehicle Mondays & Tuesdays while promotion is offered, either with voucher from Swap Shop flyer or voucher from website
- outdoor screens
- Tune into sound via FM radio
- information online or 954-791-7927
Other drive-in movies

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