Free things to do in Palm Beach Gardens: splash pads, movies on the field, story time, the GreenMarket, city festivals, and free sea turtle and manatee centers.
Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. Facts come from the City of Palm Beach Gardens special events page, which says all events listed there are free unless noted, the city’s parks pages, Downtown Palm Beach Gardens and each attraction’s own site, linked below.
A lot of what Palm Beach Gardens does for fun costs nothing. The city runs a series of free community events, from monthly movies on the field to its Fall Festival and tree lighting, and its biggest park has free splash pads. Two of the area’s best-known attractions, a sea turtle hospital in Juno Beach and a manatee center in West Palm Beach, also charge no admission.
Who to call
- City events and parks: Recreation Department, 561-630-1100, 4404 Burns Road
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center: 561-627-8280
- Free CPR classes: Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue, class page
Free city events, 2026-27 season
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 1-25 | Art in Public Places Scavenger Hunt | Public art across the city |
| Saturday, Oct. 24, 4 to 7 p.m. | Fall Festival (moved indoors) | Burns Road Community Center, 4404 Burns Road |
| First Tuesday, October to May, 9 a.m. | Stories in the Park | Burns Road Playground |
| Friday, Nov. 6, 6:30 p.m. | Films on the Field: “Toy Story 5” | District Park, Field 10 |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m. | Veterans Salute Celebration | Veterans Plaza Amphitheater, City Hall |
| Nov. 13-14 | Gardens Harvest & Holiday Bazaar (free admission) | Burns Road Community Center |
| Dec. 1-18 | Santa’s Mailbox | Burns Road Community Center |
| Friday, Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m. | Films on the Field: “Elf” | District Park, Field 10 |
| Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 to 8 p.m. | Tree Lighting | District Park |
| Friday, Jan. 1, 6:30 p.m. | Films on the Field: “The Lego Movie” | District Park, Field 10 |
| Friday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. | Films on the Field: “Space Jam” | District Park, Field 10 |
Details: Halloween events, Christmas parade and tree lighting and Black Friday and holiday shopping.
The Art in Public Places Scavenger Hunt runs through Sunday, Oct. 25: follow the clues the city posts, find each artwork, scan the QR code on its “You Found Me” sign and fill out the form to claim a prize. No purchase is necessary.
Parks and splash pads
- The Gardens North County District Park, 5101 117th Court North: two spray pads, two playgrounds and a nature trail, sunrise to sunset.
- Gardens Park: three playgrounds, including an accessible one.
- City walking loops from 0.40 to 0.98 miles at Lilac, Oaks, Burns Road and Lake Catherine parks; see walking and biking trails.
- Downtown Palm Beach Gardens splash pad, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Pets are not allowed in city parks. More: parks and trails.
Markets and Sundays
The Gardens GreenMarket is free to browse every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall, 10500 N. Military Trail, with live music, seating and a free blood pressure check at the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center booth.
Free attractions nearby
- Loggerhead Marinelife Center, 14200 U.S. Highway 1, Juno Beach: sea turtle hospital and ocean center, open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free admission.
- Manatee Lagoon, 6000 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach: free admission and parking, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; open daily Nov. 15 to March 31 and closed Mondays the rest of the year.
- Jupiter’s dog-friendly beach: 2.5 miles of beach where dogs can run off leash; see dog-friendly Palm Beach Gardens.
Learn something, watch something
- Free hands-only CPR classes from Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. No certification card is issued. Register through the city’s page.
- Outdoor movie nights at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens, 7 to 9 p.m. on the Green Space: Oct. 30, Nov. 13 and Dec. 18, on the center’s calendar.
What this means for you
- Bring blankets and chairs to Films on the Field; Chick-fil-A sells food at the November and December screenings, according to the city.
- Hot day: free splash pads at District Park and Downtown.
- Rainy day: free admission at Loggerhead Marinelife Center or Manatee Lagoon.
More: kids’ activities and things to do this weekend.
Frequently asked questions
What are free things to do in Palm Beach Gardens?
The city’s splash pads and playgrounds, Films on the Field movie nights, Stories in the Park, the Sunday GreenMarket and the Fall Festival and tree lighting are all free. Loggerhead Marinelife Center and Manatee Lagoon nearby have free admission.
When are the free movies in Palm Beach Gardens?
Films on the Field runs at 6:30 p.m. at District Park, Field 10: Nov. 6, Dec. 4, Jan. 1 and Feb. 12. Downtown Palm Beach Gardens also holds outdoor movie nights on Oct. 30, Nov. 13 and Dec. 18.
Is Loggerhead Marinelife Center free?
Yes. The sea turtle hospital and ocean center at 14200 U.S. Highway 1 in Juno Beach has free admission and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Does Palm Beach Gardens offer free CPR classes?
Yes. Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue runs free hands-only CPR classes with Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. They do not issue a certification card; register on the city’s page.
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