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Free & cheap fun at Palm Beach cultural center

The Society of the Four Arts’ 2022-2023 season program is out, and it is packed with free, fun and cheap things for adults and children to do at the Palm Beach cultural center.

The venerable institution was founded in 1936 on the eastern shore of the Intracoastal Waterway. Today, it is a 10-acre campus with a gallery, gardens and performance space – allI sustained by some of Palm Beach’s most affluent residents. Years ago, it adopted the motto: Four Arts for Everyone.

What are the Four Arts, anyway? The Society of the Four Arts defines them as Drama, Art, Music and Literature. Here’s a chance to experience Palm Beach culture on a dime.

Red-upholstered seats face a curtained stage.

The seats covered in red upholstery to match the lush stage curtains give the Walter Gublemann Auditorium at the Society of the Four Arts a warm storybook feel. Photo: Courtesy Four Arts

Teen programs

Outside the Lines: Mixed Media Botanicals
April 1, 2023, 10:30 a.m.

Free programs for young people ages 12 to 18 are offered with reservations required. All materials are provided. To register, email kinglibrary@fourarts.org or call (561) 655-2766.

Garden Club Flower Show 2023

Mark your calendar for the Garden Club of Palm Beach “In Bloom” Flower Show flower. It is April 15 and 16. The free show is only held every other year, and it is a can’t-miss highlight of springtime. It will be held in the Esther B. O’Keeffe Gallery, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. Visit this page for more details.

You’ll also find children and family events as well as a book club and movie screenings. Live performances can range to $40 a ticket and up, but some are free.

Image courtesy of Sundance Film Festival

Navalny: A Sundance documentary

  • Film screening: 5:30 p.m., Friday, April 21, 2023
  • Shown in: The Walter S. Gubelmann Auditorium
  • Tickets: $10 for nonmembers

See this page for more details.

More in the mostly-for-adults: Friday Film Series

See a movie in the Walter S. Gubelmann Auditorium on the historic campus for 10 bucks. Tickets are available in advance and doors open 30 minutes before screening.

  • Friday, April 7, 2023
    2 and 5:30 p.m.: I am Sam
  • Friday, April 21, 2023
    5:30 p.m.: Argo
  • Friday, April 28, 2023
    5:30 p.m.: Navalny
  • Friday, May 5, 2023
    5:30 p.m.: The Dig
  • Friday, May 19, 2023
    5:30 p.m., Downfall: The Case Against Boeing

See this page for more event details.

“There is something for everyone at The Society of the Four Arts. Enjoy a midday stroll in the beautiful Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden and Four Arts Botanical Gardens,” Four Arts spokesman David Darby said.

He pointed out that new this season are six designated family-friendly programs to go along with preschool and family story times and school-age programs offered by the Four Arts Children’s Library.

The society has a limited number of members, and they get the first chance at tickets. But there are often tickets available for purchase by we non-members, and the free events are open to all.

In addition to the events below, the Four Arts offers free monthly school-age programs in cooking, art and floral design. Dates and classes will be announced at fourarts.org. Required reservations may be made by calling the Children’s Library at (561) 655-2776.

You’ll find the Four Arts at 100 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach.

Here are some of my favorite free and cheap opportunities at the Society of the Four Arts.

Preschool story time

The Society of the Four Arts offers preschool story time most Mondays and Thursdays at 10:30 am October through April for children 4 years old and younger. The story time is free, and no reservations are needed.

Topics range from Fire Prevention Day to Owls to Friends and Bunnies.

For more information, visit fourarts.org or call (561) 655-2776.

Children raise their hands at storytime.

Nothing captures a child’s imagination like a good story. Photo: Courtesy Four Arts

Family story time

These delightful free gatherings at the Children’s Library are offered to children 8 years old and younger at 10:30 am on select Saturdays November through April. No reservations are needed.

An arts and crafts activity follows each story time. For more information, visit fourarts.org or call (561) 655 2776.

Cream-colored three-story building.

The Society of the Four Arts’ beloved Children’s Library is housed in its elegant administrative building on Royal Palm Way. Photo: Courtesy Four Arts

Sculpture and botanical gardens are free

The Philip Hulitar Sculpture Garden and Four Arts Botantical Garden are always free. The Garden Club of Palm Beach planted the botanical garden in 1938. The gardens are open from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. each day except for major holidays, and they close during inclement weather.

Look for free hard-copy guides to the garden and historic buildings next to the King Library and Dixon Building or scan the QR code displayed there to open the tour on your smart device.

Free decent-led tours of the sculpture garden are offered at 10 a.m. Wednesdays from December through April. Individuals and groups of up to 10 are welcome, according to the Four Arts’ guide. Arrive 15 minutes early and meet the docent at the garden entrance next to the King Library.

Opulent bouquets of flowers placed on a concrete garden beach.

The lavish Garden Club of Palm Beach Flower Show in 2021 at the Society of the Four Arts. Photo: Carolyn DiPaolo

Biography Book Club

Each group will focus on the life of a prominent person. A suggested reading list of available books from the King Library will be distributed once registers. Attendees must read at least one of the books and come ready to discuss. To register, email kinglibrary@fourarts.org or call (561) 655 2766.

Other book gatherings are offered on select Wednesdays at 1:30 and select Tuesdays at 5:30 pm. Find out more at fourarts.org.

There’s so much more at the Four Arts: including an art museum, master classes and lectures. Once you visit, you will appreciate this jewel of Palm Beach.

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More free and cheap things to do in Palm Beach County:

Monday, March 27, 2023

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

Bunny Pet Photos

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Mall at Wellington Green

Jam Session

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Arts Garage

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Regal Theatres: Discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays

All Day | $5.00-7.00 | Regal Cinemas Multiple Locations

Discounts at Cinemark on Tuesdays

All Day | Discounted | Cinemark

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

Tasty Tuesdays with Food Trucks

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Amphitheater in Boca Raton

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

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

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Early Birding with Al

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

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

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

Friday, March 31, 2023

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

Live Music at The Square: Jordan Laurenti

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Square, West Palm Beach

Northwood Village Art, Dine and Design

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

Saturday, April 1, 2023

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

Earth Day festivities & beach cleanup in Hollywood

FREE | Marine Environmental Education center

$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

Egg Hunt at Community of Hope Church

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

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

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

Heritage Day Parade

11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Anchorage Park, North Palm Beach

Heritage Day Festival

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

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

Downtown Palm Beach Gardens free concert

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

April Fool's Art Walk at The Peach

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

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Free entry to museums with bank card

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

$5 all-day fares weekends on Tri-Rail

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

Tamarac Farmers Market

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

Displays & interactive exhibits

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

13th Annual Downtown West Palm Beach Art Festival

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

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

Monday, April 3, 2023

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

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Regal Theatres: Discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays

All Day | $5.00-7.00 | Regal Cinemas Multiple Locations

Discounts at Cinemark on Tuesdays

All Day | Discounted | Cinemark

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

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

Tasty Tuesdays with Food Trucks

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Amphitheater in Boca Raton

Comedy Night

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Arts Garage

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

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

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

Thursday, April 6, 2023

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

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

Food Truck & Music Series Nobody's Fault, classic rock

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

Friday, April 7, 2023

Frood Truck Friday, Boca

FREE | Sugar Sand Park

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

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

Art After Dark at Norton in West Palm

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

First Fridays @ 5 concert in the Amphitheater

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Centennial Park, Boynton Beach

Downtown Delray Art Walk

6:00 pm to 12:00 am | FREE | Downtown Delray Beach

First Friday Art Walk

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Arts Garage

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

Gopher Tortoise "Shell-a-bration Day,"

FREE | Okeeheelee Nature Center, West Palm Beach

$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

Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt

8:30 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Maddock Park, Lantana

Easter Bunny Fire Engine Visit, North Palm Beach

9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Village of North Palm Beach

Annual Egg Hunt, North Palm Beach

9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Anchorage Park, North Palm Beach

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

PB residents get $5 admission to Mounts Botanical Garden

9:00 am | $5.00 | Mounts Botanical Garden, West Palm Beach

Egg-stravaganza

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Centennial Park, Boynton Beach

Egg'stravaganza

10:00 am | FREE | Samuel J. Ferreri Community Park, Greenacres

Egg Hunt, Wellington

10:00 am | FREE | Wellington Village Park

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

Downtown Palm Beach Gardens free concert

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

Krush Party Band: Legends of Motown

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Seabreeze Amphitheater, Jupiter

Sunday, April 9, 2023

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

$5 all-day fares weekends on Tri-Rail

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

Tamarac Farmers Market

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

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

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

In Bloom” Flower Show
When
April 15, 2023-April 16, 2023 @ 10:00 am-4:00 pm
What
In Bloom” Flower Show
Where
Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach
Cost
FREE
Add to Calendar: Google Outlook/iCal
When
April 21, 2023 @ 5:30 pm
What
Navalny: A Sundance Film Festival documentary
Where
Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach
Cost
$7.00
Add to Calendar: Google Outlook/iCal

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