Free things to do in Fort Lauderdale: the beach and Riverwalk, city parks, weekly free music, library story times and free festivals through the year.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Facts come from the City of Fort Lauderdale, Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale, Broward County Library and each organizer’s own page, linked below. City events line: 954-828-8000.
A lot of the best of Fort Lauderdale costs nothing: the beach, the Riverwalk, big city parks, weekly free music and a calendar of free festivals. Here is what is free, and when.
At a glance
- Every day: the beach, the Riverwalk, city parks and playgrounds.
- Every Sunday: NoBe Sunday Block Party, 5 to 9 p.m.
- First Sunday of the month: Sunday Jazz Brunch on the Riverwalk, 11 a.m.
- This fall: Las Olas Art Fair Oct. 17-18; LauderBOO and Pumpkins and Palm Trees Oct. 24.
Every day
- Fort Lauderdale Beach. The city’s beach along A1A has a waterfront walkway. Check Ocean Rescue’s beach conditions and swim near a lifeguard.
- The Riverwalk. Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale’s promenade along the New River downtown, “Florida’s most beautiful mile,” runs through Esplanade Park.
- City parks. Snyder Park (nature trail, bike trail, butterfly garden, disc golf, free parking except at special events), Mills Pond Park (fishing, a radio-controlled car track), Holiday Park (walking trail) and more. Hours and addresses are in our parks and trails guide.
- Playgrounds and water playgrounds. See our kids’ activities guide.
Every week
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sundays, 5 to 9 p.m. | NoBe Sunday Block Party, outdoor music and street festival | Fishtales On 33rd, North Beach |
| Mondays, 10:30 a.m. | Family Storytime | Imperial Point Branch Library, 5985 N. Federal Highway |
| Tuesdays, 11 a.m. | Pre-school Storytime | Riverland Branch Library, 2710 W. Davie Blvd. |
| Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. | Toddler Storytime | Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave. |
| Fridays and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. | Ranger-guided walk (park entry $6 per vehicle) | Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd. |
Story times are from Broward County Library’s events calendar; the ranger walks from Florida State Parks.
Every month
- Sunday Jazz Brunch, first Sunday of the month, 11 a.m., on the Riverwalk; Nov. 1 and Dec. 6 are next on the city’s event calendar. Riverwalk describes it as a free outdoor jazz concert at Esplanade Park.
Free festivals through the year
| When | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 17-18, 2026 | Las Olas Art Fair | E. Las Olas Blvd., SE 6th to SE 11th avenues |
| Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026 | Riverwalk Fall Festival | Esplanade Park |
| Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 | Pumpkins and Palm Trees; LauderBOO | Las Olas Oceanside Park; Snyder Park |
| From Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026 | Light Up Lauderdale | New River, downtown |
| Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026 | Light Up the Beach | Las Olas Oceanside Park |
| Sunday, Nov. 22, 2026 | Winterfest Family Fun Day | Esplanade Park |
| Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026 | Christmas on Las Olas | Las Olas Boulevard |
| Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026 | Menorah Lighting Celebration | Las Olas Oceanside Park |
| Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026 | Winterfest Boat Parade (free from the shore) | New River and Intracoastal |
| June (2026: June 20) | Juneteenth Celebration | Carter Park |
| Labor Day weekend (2026: Sept. 6) | Labor Day Block Party | The Galt, NE 32nd Street |
Details for each are on our seasonal pages: Halloween events, fall festivals, holiday lights and Christmas events, Christmas parade and tree lighting, Father’s Day and Labor Day.
Free with a little planning
- The MKT at The LOOP, Las Olas Oceanside Park: free to browse, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. See the events calendar.
- Tunes on Top: Riverwalk’s free lunchtime concerts at Tunnel Top Plaza on Las Olas, Wednesdays and Fridays in the fall series.
- City events calendar: new free events are posted on the city’s event calendar, and in our weekly things to do this weekend roundup.
Related: walking and biking trails, dog-friendly Fort Lauderdale and things to do this month.
Frequently asked questions
What is free to do in Fort Lauderdale this weekend?
The beach, the Riverwalk and city parks are free every day. On Sundays the NoBe Sunday Block Party runs 5 to 9 p.m. in North Beach, and on the first Sunday of the month the Sunday Jazz Brunch plays on the Riverwalk at 11 a.m.
What free festivals does Fort Lauderdale hold?
Free city events include LauderBOO and Pumpkins and Palm Trees in October, Light Up the Beach and the other Light Up events in November and December, and the Labor Day Block Party at the Galt. Christmas on Las Olas and the Las Olas Art Fair are also free.
Are Fort Lauderdale city parks free?
City parks such as Snyder Park, Holiday Park and Mills Pond Park are free to enter; Snyder Park’s parking is free except at special events. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park charges $6 per vehicle.
Are library story times free in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Broward County Library story times at the Main Library, Imperial Point, Riverland and Galt Ocean Mile branches are free.
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