Ring in the New Year with fun and entertainment. South Florida offers a wide variety of places to play and sights to see. Lots are free or relatively inexpensive. Some popular attractions offer discount opportunities.
New Year's Day 2025
Fern Forest. Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation
Parks
Delight in the outdoors at a local, regional or state park. Take a nature walk. Swing on swings. Pack a picnic.
Some parks offer free entry, others feature a relatively low fee.
- Deerfield Arboretum offers free entry and a walking path with flowering tropical fruit trees, exotics, palms, wetlands, bamboo, natives, butterfly garden, and tropical rain forest with waterfalls. It is part of a public park, is at 2841 W. Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach 33442. Parking is free.
- Florida State Parks entry fees for state parks usually $2-$10 per person or per vehicle. Some parks in Florida offer First Day Hikes.
- Palm Beach County Parks
- Broward County parks, holiday and weekend fees are $3 per vehicle for up to 8 people and $20 for over 8 people at regional parks, some natural areas offer free entry
- Miami-Dade Parks are open, with a few exceptions
- Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale is ideal for waterfront walks
- Hollywood Broadwalk is an oceanside promenade, popular for walking, skating and occasionally live entertainment
- Other local municipal parks and natural areas may be open, please verify with your town parks and recreation department
Holiday Lights
Perhaps you want to linger in the holiday vibe. Free displays include:
North Broward
‘Deck The Halls' residential holiday lights & displays in Coral Springs offers addresses and photos of an array of decorated homes
Plantation
Free festive walk-up display of holiday lights and decorations in Plantation
North Miami
Enchanted Place North Miami is a neighborhood holiday display at 1800 NE 137th Terrace, North Miami 33181
Holiday Lights & Events With Fees include
South Miami
The Berry Farm Winter Festival and Berry Bright Winter Nights is $14.39 for ages 3-12 and $18.51 for 13 and older. Taxes are extra. The Berry Farm is at 13720 SW 216th St., South Miami. The attraction features photo ops, hayrides, shaded bounce floors, playground free popcorn and other things to do.
Coral Gables
Fairchild NightGarden at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Entry fees are about $27 – $46. Parking is free. Fairchild Garden is at 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables 33156
Shopping
Plenty of businesses, retail stores and plazas are open, including
- Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop, flea market with indoor & outdoor vendor booths and a Ferrari museum, 3291 W. Sunrise Boulevard, Lauderhill 33311, 954-791-7927
- Festival Marketplace, Indoor venue with independent shops & vendors, 2900 West Sample Road, Pompano Beach 33073, 954-979-4555
Attractions in Broward County
Photo/Flamingo Gardens
- Xtreme Action Park indoor arcade and recreation venue in Fort Lauderdale, 954-491-6265, 5300 Powerline Road, Fort Lauderdale. The venue includes mini golf, virtual reality and lots of other things to do.
- Water Taxi in Fort Lauderdale Regular fares are $40, $35 for seniors and military, $20 for kids 5-11. After 5 p.m., Happy Hour fares are $25 and $20 for ages 5-11.
- Butterfly World, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek 33073. Discount opportunities are offered. Feature: Butterfly World: $5 off & other discounts
- Downtown Hollywood Murals is a free outdoor exhibit with paintings on buildings and sidewalks.
- Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale, 401 SW Second Street, Fort Lauderdale 33312, is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with discount opportunity for local residents. Regular fees for non-members are $23 for ages 2-12, $28 for adults and $26 for seniors. The fee for eligible military is $25. The venue offers a $3 discount for Broward, Palm & Dade residents with identification. Purchase tickets online.
- Flamingo Gardens botanical garden and wildlife attraction, 3750 S. Flamingo Road, Davie. Flamingo Gardens offers discount opportunities.
Attractions in Palm Beach County
- Silverball Arcade is at 19 NE Third Avenue, Delray Beach 33483, 561-266-3294; entry fees apply
- Boomers Boca Raton, recreation park, 3100 Airport Road, Boca Raton 33431, 954-347-1888, entry fees apply
Attractions in Miami-Dade County
- Fairchild Botanic Garden, 305-667-1651, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami
- Frost Science Museum, 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, 305-434-9600, website
- Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd St., 305-251-0400; website
Photo/Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail train runs in Palm Beach, Broward and Dade. Weekend and holiday rates are $5
Entertainment from home
- Download free digital movies, e-books and music, plus other online resources, from Broward County libraries, or other libraries you're affiliated with
- Museum of Discovery & Science in Fort Lauderdale offers videos on YouTube and other social media
- Live webcams at Broward County beaches
- Webcams at Palm Beach County beaches
- Webcams in Miami-Dade County
- Manatee webcam from Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach
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