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Free & cheap things to do with kids this summer in South Florida

When kids are out of school for the summer, parents in South Florida appreciate ideas for fun things to do. Especially, if those activities are free, cheap or come with a discount. Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties offer lots of fun and entertainment for families, both indoors and outdoors.  

We have beaches, parks and pools, of course. We also have the Summer Savings Pass and the South Florida Adventure Pass, which offer substantial discounts on attractions. Free museum days in Miami-Dade and free museum days and deals in Broward also continue through the summer.

It’s always good to double-check with a venue before you head out in case something has changed.

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Free and cheap things to do with kids in Broward

Splash Adventure Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation

Pools, water parks and splash pads in Broward

Splash Adventure at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield & some other water parks and splash playgrounds  in South Florida offer reduced fees in the afternoons.

Lots of public parks feature splash pads that are open for free.

Splash pads include

  • Waters Edge Park in Tamarac offers a splash playground. Entry is free.  Tamarac Story Trail at Waters Edge Park
  • Osswald Park features a Splashpad, 2220 NW 21st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33311, 954-828-6455, free entry, adults need to directly accompany kids 7 & younger
  • Mickel Park in Wilton Manors offers a Splashpad with squirting water for youngsters. Entry to the park, playground and Splash Pad are free. Mickel Park, 954-390-2100,  2675 NW 7th Avenue, Wilton Manors 33111 
  • City Park, 6600 Sunset Strip, Sunrise 33313
  • Flamingo Park, 12855 NW 8th Street, Sunrise 33326
  • Cypress Preserve Park, 9020 NW 38th Street, Sunrise 33351
  • Welleby Park, 11100 NW 44th Street, Sunrise 33351
  • City Park in Oakland Park, 3900  NE Third Avenue  33309, parking is free

Story Trail in Waters Edge Park in Tamarac. Photo/city of Tamarac

Story Trail and Splash Playground

Enhance a walk in the park with a story. Tamarac Story Trail at Waters Edge Park features pages of a storybook displayed along a path.  The park includes a splash playground and other amenities. Entry is free.

Night Sky

Use telescopes for free at Fox Observatory in Sunrise.  Observatory in Markham Park is usually open Saturdays, weather permitting. Entry to the park is $1.50 for ages 6 and older until about dusk. If you enter in the evening, entry is free.

Photo/Weston Parks and Recreation

Skate Park

Entry is free for Tequesta Trace Park which features a skate park. Other amenities include sports fields & roller hockey rink, exercise path and playground.

Nature fun

Photo/Patti Roth

Sea Turtles

Turtle display is not open until further notice

Rescued sea turtles swim and eat in a saltwalter pool at at an environmental educational facility in Hollywood. Entry is free with donations encouraged. Rescued sea turtles in Hollywood

Free & inexpensive kid-friendly films & events

Photo/Tradewinds & Atlantic Railroad

Ride a teeny train

A little steam train runs on tracks around Tradewinds Park, usually 10 a.m. –  4 p.m. third full weekends, weather permitting. Fees are $1.50 for rides and $1.50 weekend park entry fee for ages 6 and older.

Free entry days

Plantation historical museum offers free entry

Las Olas Oceanside Park in Fort Lauderdale

Free Live entertainment

Deals & Other Fun in Broward

Things to do with dids this summer in Miami-Dade

Photo/Frost Art Museum

Free Passport for HistoryMiami

HistoryMiami museum offers Miami-Dade residents opportunities for free entry. Pick up a “Passport” which allows kids and their families to peruse the exhibits for free during summer. Information is online.

Free Art for Kids

Miami Beach Botanical Garden offers free art classes for kids.

Other free fun in Miami-Dade

Deals & discounts in Miami-Dade

Free and Cheap Things To Do With Kids This Summer in Palm Beach County

Photo/Manatee Lagoon an FPL eco-discovery center

Manatee Lagoon

Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach offers waterfront deck & interactive exhibits & it’s free  Other amenities include picnic area, shop and an augmented reality 3D animated solar tree exhibit.

Afternoon Discounts at Rapids Water Park

Rapids Water Park in Riviera Beach is relatively expensive.  A discount price of $30 is  usually offered 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with taxes and $15 parking extra. 

Rapids Water Park offers afternoon discounts

Other fun in Palm Beach county

Fitness & recreation

Photo/Tri-Rail

Robotics, AR & Electronic devices

For kids, teens & adults, exciting & educational electronic devices are free — on loan — from participating local libraries.  Broward libraries loan electronic & robotic devices, fitness equipment & other gear

Fern Forest Photo/Broward Parks & Recreation

Outdoors

Lush parks with shady trees and nature paths.  Lovely waterfront promenades. Refreshing pools and waterslides. South Florida offers a wealth of delightful outdoor spaces for family-friendly excursions. Examples include

Parks

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More free and cheap things to do with kids in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

Sunday, June 4, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Free live music at Jazz Brunch in Fort Lauderdale

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

Farm Tours at Tradewinds Park

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

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

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

New Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition for adults

1:30 pm to 4:30 pm | Mandel Public Library of West Palm 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

Ocean Drive Promenade Music Series

5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ocean Drive Promenade, Miami Beach

Tropical Sundays Live Music

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

Poinciana Fiesta and Celebration Party and Reception

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

$12 Adult Skate Night in Fort Lauderdale

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

Monday, June 5, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Free tour of the Adrienne Arsht Center

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

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Regal Cinemas kids' summer movies for $2

10:00 am | Discounted | Regal Cinemas

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

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

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Regal Cinemas kids' summer movies for $2

10:00 am | Discounted | Regal Cinemas

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

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

$9 deal for roller skating in Davie

6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | Discounted | Galaxy Skateway Davie

$12 Adult Skate Night in Fort Lauderdale

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

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

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

Live music at Doral Yard

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

Friday, June 9, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

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

Art After Dark Fridays: Entertainment, activities & times vary

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, Palm Beach

Night market at Dania Pointe

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

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

Summer Nights Pride Dance Party in Oakland Park

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Pastorius Park

Screen on the Green: Legally Blonde (PG-13)

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Wynwood Pride

7:00 pm | $18.69 | FunDimension

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, June 10, 2023

Museums free for military families this summer

All Day | FREE | South Florida Museums

Sensory Friendly Saturday

9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Miami Children’s Museum

Displays & interactive exhibits

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

Public Walking Tour

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach

PB residents get $5 admission to Mounts Botanical Garden

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

Royal Poinciana Walking Tour

10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Dade Heritage Trust

Free Family Fun Day

10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | HistoryMiami

Dragons and Mythical Creatures

10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Discounted | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

PAMM free day with family activities

11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM)

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

Summer party in Dania

12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Meli Park

Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feeding

12:30 pm to 12:50 pm | FREE | Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Boca Raton

Shark & Stingray Feedings

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

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

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

Family Day free admission

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Coral Gables Museum

Soul & Seafood Festival

3:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Riviera Beach Marina Village

Wynwood Pride

5:00 pm | $28.04 | Oasis Wynwood

Cultural Saturdays at Dania Ponite

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

Live Music at Doral Yard

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

Night sky viewing with telescopes in west Broward

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

 

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.

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