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Mary Lou Cruz

Mary Lou worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel for 21 years. She was a special sections writer in the advertising department for 7 years and worked in the newsroom for 14 years. Before her newspaper career, she worked in the airline and travel industry and has lived in Brazil, Puerto Rico and vacationed in more than 25 countries. Motto: "Learning to live a frugal lifestyle is both an art and a science." She can be reached at marylou@miamionthecheap.com.

Fall festivals in Palm Beach County If you know of a free or cheap Halloween event or fall festival we should cover, please email the details to news@southfloridaonthecheap.com. You can also enter your events of any price range at our community calendar. Pumpkin patches, fall festivals, Oktoberfests and Halloween events in South Florida Pumpkin Patches …

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The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach hosts seasonal special events that feature taiko drumming performances and other activities, including a seasonal sunset stroll. For more details, visit Sunset Stroll – Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. The seasonal Sunset Stroll is a rain-or-shine event, April-September.  Check back with us to find out when …

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The City of Boynton Beach continues to offer a free concert series on the First Friday at 5 p.m., monthly in 2025. There will be food trucks and beverage vendors and activities for kids, plus an artisan market. First Friday @ 5 When: First Friday of each month, from 5 to 9 p.m. Where: Amphitheater, …

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Celebrate Halloween with the animals! Annual Halloween Celebration at Busch Wildlife What: Trick-or-treating, Trivia, Tattoos, & more When: Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Where: Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, 17855 Rocky Pines Road, Jupiter Cost: Free Website Trick-or-treat along the nature trails while supplies last, after joining the staff for the following special …

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There’s music in the air, so get ready to gather and groove to weekly and monthly entertainment. It’s free music and more on The Lawn at CityPlace in the heart of West Palm Beach. For a complete listing of performers and more details, visit cityplace.com/cityplace-live-music or visit this page for a list of recurring weekly events. …

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While the autumn air in South Florida can’t compare to being up North, the spirit of the season is just as vibrant and that means that no matter what the temperature, it’s always a great time to visit an annual pumpkin patch. Pumpkins are delightfully versatile. They’re not only food, but they’re also decorative, and …

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The Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach is so much more than a mere museum and it also offers opportunities for discounts for many of its programs. Now, it is also offering half-off admission on Sensory Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m. on the following days: Sept. 6 Oct. 4 Nov. 1 …

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If you haven’t been to Manatee Lagoon in a while, here’s the perfect time to visit. This information has been updated for 2025. Exhibits include three life-sized manatee statues, a seagrass exhibit and a Florida mangroves exhibit. Entry to Manatee Lagoon is free. Parking is also free.  Recurring events Manatee Rescue Adventure When: Saturdays and …

Read More about New ‘rescue’ adventure at Manatee Lagoon in Riviera Beach, weekends

The Cornell Art Museum in Delray Beach has no admission fee, however donations are appreciated. The Museum is housed in the restored 1913 Delray Elementary School building on the Old School Square campus.  While entry to the Museum is free, there may be fees for special events to help defray costs paid to performers or …

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You just get home from work and the kids are hungry and you’re tired. If it’s Tuesday and you’re near West Boca, you’re in luck. Here’s a weekly seasonal event for the whole family. Tasty Tuesday When: Tuesdays, weather permitting, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Where: Sunset Cove Amphitheater, 20405 Amphitheater Circle, Boca Raton. Features: …

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Living on the CheapSouth Florida 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.

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