Things to do Labor Day weekend in South Florida

If you're free Labor Day weekend, South Florida offers plenty of things to do, including things that are free, relatively inexpensive, and offering discounts. Here are free and cheap things to do Labor Day weekend, plus a few splurges.

Tri-Rail

Tri-Rail, a train offering transportation to points in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach, offers a $5  fare weekends and holidays. The $5 fare per day is valid for all trips.

Food Trucks

For your dining pleasure, ArtsPark Food Truck event in Hollywood is 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. September 2  at the park on Hollywood Boulevard and Federal Highway, Hollywood 33020.  Entry is free. Food and beverages are offered for purchase.

Street parking  is $1.50 per hour. Garage Parking is $1 per hour. 

Garage locations are:

•  251 S. 20th Ave., between Harrison and Van Buren streets
•  251 N. 19th Ave., between Tyler and Polk streets

Parking information is online. 

Art Walk

Art and entertainment is the vibe at Fort Lauderdale Art Walk 6 p.m. to about 11 p.m. Saturday, August 31 in the arts district around  844 NE 4^th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33304. Events usually include live music, a vendor market and a chance to shop and dine in the area.

Other art excursions

Free DIY walking tour of murals on buildings and other structures in Downtown Hollywood.

Shopping without taxes

Florida is waiving state sales taxes on eligible items

• August 24-September 6 taxes waived on eligible storm and safety supplies, including some everyday items for pets and home.
• September 1-7 tools

Parks

Toss sandwiches and other scrumptious portable foods into a bag & delight in a sunny outdoor afternoon activity at a favorite park. Entry for lots of South Florida parks and natural areas is free, or relatively inexpensive. Enhance your excursion with a nature walk. Play Frisbee. Or work out at the fitness stations. Use the websites below to pick a perfect park.

• South Florida scenic parks and natural areas
• Florida State Parks
• Broward County
• Miami-Dade County
• Palm Beach County
• For local parks, refer to the Parks and Recreation page on each municipality's website

More Labor Day Deals and Events

• Zoo Miami $15 Mondays
• Water Taxi in Fort Lauderdale offers discount opportunities
• BAMM 2-for-1 deals & free entry at Broward attractions

Vendor markets

For fresh produce, gourmet treats and artisan items, Plenty of farmers markets and vendor markets are offered weekends, including:

Plantation farmers market

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at Volunteer Park, 12050 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation, 954-452-2558, website

The MKT at Las Olas Oceanside Park

• The market is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturdays  and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sundays with free entry.
• Extra activities and entertainment are often featured.  Yoga is often offered, sometimes free and sometimes for an extra fee.
• Las Olas Oceanside Park is at 3000 E. Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. Parking fees are usually about $4 an hour.

Julia and Henry's Flagler Street Market

• 1- 7 p.m. Sundays at 200 E. Flagler St. Miami, the rooftop of Julia and Henry's Food Hall.  Information is online.

Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show

If you like to shop and browse for home goods, the Fort Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show is an indoor event Friday, August 30, through Monday, September 2, featuring national and local businesses exhibiting items for the home. The event includes speakers, designer room vignettes and elaborate displays. Entry prices are $14 for adults, $10 for seniors and $1 for ages 4-12. Discount opportunities are available for some advance tickets. Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale 33316. Parking fees are $5 to $20.

Labor Day Weekend Festival

Fort Lauderdale Labor Day Weekend Festival is with live bands, vehicles on display, and shopping.

The event is 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday, September 1 at North Beach Restaurants and Shoppes, A1A and Oakland Park Boulevard, Northeast 32nd Street and Northeast 33rd Street from A1A to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Entry is free.

Attractions

Several attractions in Broward offer discount opportunities, including 2-for-1 deals as part of Broward Attractions and Museums Month. 

Attractions include these and others:

Flamingo Gardens

Flamingo Gardens in Davie is offering the 2-for-1 deal August 31 and in September. Regular prices are  $24 ages 12 and older, $17 for ages 3-11. A 20% discount, which is $19.20, is offered for seniors age 65 and older, veterans, military, college students,  AAA members and AARP members, with valid identification.

Butterfly World

Butterfly World in North Broward  is among the participants in the 2-for-1 deal in September, and other discount opportunities are offered. On weekends and holidays, the park fee is  $3 per vehicle with up to 8 people. Entry to Tradewinds Park is free on week days. Butterfly World, 954-977-4434, is at 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek 33073.

Water Taxi

Water Taxi in Fort Lauderdale is featuring $25 tickets August 30-September 2, which is a discount of about $15 from the regular adult price. Tickets for kids 5-11 are $20.

Water parks

Some of Broward regional parks feature water playgrounds, which are relatively inexpensive. The water parks, which feature different amenities in Deerfield, Hollywood and Pembroke Pines, offer discount prices after 3 p.m.

A separate park entry fee on weekends and holidays is $3 per vehicle with up to 8 people.

• Splash Adventure in Deerfield is $6 and $4.40 after 3 p.m.
• TY Park in Hollywood is $9.50 and after 3 p.m., it's $5.75
• Paradise cove in Pembroke Pines with water slides is $14.50 per day and  $9.50 after 3 p.m.

Other attractions

Palm Beach County

• Boca Raton Museum of Art: Free entry, art & music through September.
• CityPlace: Friday, Aug. 30, 6-10 p.m.: Elsten Torres (Grammy Award Winning Artist) – Latin, Pop & Acoustic; Saturday, Aug. 31, 1-4 p.m.: Mikayla Smith – R&B, Jazz, Top 40; and Saturday, Aug. 31, 6-10 p.m.: Kavilla – Top 40, Mix Party. Free admission.
• Cox Science Center and Aquarium > see available discounts for admission to science programs, exhibits, laser concerts and planetarium shows.
• Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: admission is free to explore nature with its trails, outdoor aquariums and more.
• Loggerhead Marinelife Center: features on-site hospital, research laboratory, free educational exhibits and aquariums. Located nearby the Juno Beach Pier.
• Manatee Lagoon: free admission to this waterfront attraction with interactive educational exhibits; an FPL Eco-Discovery Center, Riviera Beach.
• The Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach: year-round cultural center on the Intracoastal Waterway. Features a sculpture garden, botanical gardens, galleries and libraries, with free access to all. 

Miami-Dade County

• Miami-Dade Bike Trails Choose from 13 different trails around Miami-Dade County and enjoy a ride through lovely nature trails 
• Jazz at MOCA One of Miami's longest running free musical events, spend the evening listening to live jazz.
• End of Summer Luau Visit Smorgasburg Wynwood, an open-air market with live music and more than 20 food vendors.
• CityPlace Doral Catch the last weekend of the Umbrella exhibition plus live music and lots of other festivities and activities on Labor Day weekend.
• Discount admission to Deering Estate Take advantage of $5 admission on Labor Day weekend.

More free and cheap things to do Labor Day weekend in South Florida