FREE THINGS TO DO IN GREATER FORT LAUDERDALE

EIGHT BEACHES, SO MANY WAYS TO PLAY

Enjoy a day of fun in the sun at eight distinct beaches in Greater Fort Lauderdale, spanning 24 miles. Meditate as you watch the sunrise on beautiful Deerfield Beach, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s cove-like beach with a fishing pier, sand volleyball courts and surf lessons. Hillsboro Beach boasts the brightest lighthouse on the East Coast with monthly tours through the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society. Heading south, enjoy Pompano Beach, a favorite spot for families with playgrounds, a fishing pier, dive shops and boat charters. Catch the Old Florida “beach village” vibe of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea’s half-mile hamlet and snorkel (no boat needed) from the shore along three-tiered reefs. Stroll, jog or bike along the Fort Lauderdale beachfront promenade, a charming cosmopolitan spot. Dania Beach is home to some of the least crowded stretches of shoreline, and a favorite for kayaking, swimming and picnicking. Hollywood is retro-cool and laid-back with a 2.5-mile Broadwalk that is ideal for walking, cycling (try a fun-cycle) and jogging. In Hallandale Beach, visitors can enjoy beautiful stretches of beach and exciting nightlife.

NATURAL WONDERS; PARKS & NATURE CENTERS

Greater Fort Lauderdale is a gateway to the Everglades and more. Enjoy some of Mother Earth’s most amazing wonders. Here’s a sampling: Climb (or take the elevator) to the observation tower or follow the boardwalk at Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park in Hollywood, a mangrove estuary and habitat for wading birds and other native wildlife. Snake Warrior’s Island in Miramar is a 54.4-acre nature preserve along the Great Florida Birding Trail. Fern Forest Nature Center in Coconut Creek offers a serene setting with picnic shelters, an amphitheater and Royal Fern Hall. Deerfield Island Park, accessible only by boat, is a 53.3-acre nature-oriented park offering outdoor recreational activities and is open only on the weekends with free boat shuttle to the island. Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill is the only certified U.S. cricket stadium and is free on weekdays with soccer/football fields, netball, tennis, basketball and a water playground. Tree Tops Park in Davie features 23 acres of nature trails. Enjoy free entrance to all county parks Monday through Friday.

Woman walking down wooden descending pathway in the trees

ALL FOR FUN, FUN FOR ALL

Day or night in Greater Fort Lauderdale there’s something to do for everyone under the sun. Check the events calendar for news on many free events and happenings. Your Greater Fort Lauderdale experience can be as busy as you wish! And remember, window shopping is fabulous and free throughout the area, but save room in your suitcase for great bargains and finds at local boutiques and designer outlets.

MUSIC:  

Sistrunk Marketplace, live music four nights a week, 5:30-11pm. Dancing Under the Stars with free concerts at Hollywood Beach Theatre on the Hollywood Broadwalk programmed by the Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort Wednesday-Sunday. Dance the Night Away at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Friday and Saturday. Sunday Jazz Brunch along Fort Lauderdale’s scenic Riverwalk, first Sunday of each month from 11am-2pm.

SPORTS:

Cheer on the runners at A1A Marathon in February along the beach; Free Yoga in the Park Saturday mornings at various parks in the City of Plantation, 9:30-10:30am (December-May); Free surfing lessons Saturday mornings from Island Water Sports, Deerfield Beach; Florida Panthers NHL Practice sessions, (October-April), Florida Panthers IceDen; Dream Car Classic in Hollywood first Sunday of the month, 10am-2pm; Cars @ThePointe third Sunday of the month in Dania Beach, 10am-2pm.

ART WALKS & PUBLIC ART:

Multiple communities come together to celebrate local creativity with food, drink, live music, street performances, interactive exhibitions and more. Fort Lauderdale Artwalk, last Saturday of the month starting at 6pm in the MASS District (844 NE 4th Ave.); Downtown Hollywood Artwalk, third Saturday monthly, 5-10pm with a walking tour of the mural project and a collection of curated outdoor murals by local, national and international recognized artists - located at 1945 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, FL 33020. Keep an eye out for fascinating public art including Thrive, the colossal installation by Daniel Popper at 301 SW 1st Ave., Fort Lauderdale (next to The Wharf).

Evening Art Walk in Hollywood Florida

MARKETS:

Green Market Pompano Beach, Saturday (November-April); Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop, flea market, daily; El Prado Park, Sunday (December-May), Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Farmers Market; New River Open Air Market in Fort Lauderdale, every Sunday, year-round; Farmers’ Market at The Shops at Pembroke Pines, Sunday; Las Olas Oceanside Park Farmer’s, Antique And Artisan Market, every Saturday and Sunday; Yellow Green Farmers Market, every Saturday and Sunday, Hollywood; Coconut Creek Hometown Market, the first and third Saturday of each month from 9am to 2pm, November-April.

FREE FESTIVALS & EVENTS: 

Las Olas Art Fair, January, March, October, downtown Fort Lauderdale; IGNITE Broward, January, pop-up art installations in Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach; Fort Lauderdale Air Show, May, Fort Lauderdale beach; Stonewall Pride, June, Wilton Manors; Wicked Manors, Halloween, Wilton Manors; Christmas on Las Olas, November; Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade, second Saturday in December, along the Intracoastal Waterway; Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade, second Friday in December; Hollywood Beach Candy Cane Parade, in December.

FREE ADMISSION:

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, free admission and extended hours the first Thursday of every month, 11am – 7pm; Art and Culture Center/Hollywood, free admission to all guests on the third Sunday of each month.

GETTING AROUND:

The LauderGo! MicroMover is a FREE, eco-friendly shuttle that operates daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Riders can use the “Ride Circuit” app to request a ride anywhere within the service area, which covers downtown Fort Lauderdale, Las Olas and Fort Lauderdale beach. You can also get a free ride along the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale with the LauderGO! Water Trolley, running daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

SEE BELOW FOR MORE FREE THINGS TO DO.