Free things to do in Boca Raton: the Science Explorium, telescope nights, Free Fun Saturdays at the history museum, trails with free parking and free city events.
Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Everything here is free according to the organizer’s own page, linked below. Where parking or a permit costs money, we say so.
A lot of Boca Raton costs nothing. The city runs a free children’s science center, free nature talks and telescope nights, free library story times and a busy calendar of free community events, and its longest trails have free parking. The history museum opens its doors free once a month.
Good to know
- City recreation: 561-393-7810; Community Events
- Free downtown shuttle: BocaConnect, free within its red downtown zone
- Free parking downtown: City Hall and the Downtown Library (city)
Science and nature
- Children’s Science Explorium, Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail; 561-347-3912. A free hands-on science center for ages 5 to 12 and their caregivers. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends (Explorium). Free drop-in demonstrations run at 3:30 p.m. one weekend a month.
- Eyes to the Skies telescope nights: free, informal stargazing in the Camino parking lot behind the Explorium, weather permitting. The next is 8 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 (city calendar).
- Nature Connections at Gumbo Limbo, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd.: free weekend talks on native plants and animals at 11:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays; walk-ins welcome (city calendar).
- Gumbo Limbo boardwalk and tower: open 7 a.m. to sunset daily (Gumbo Limbo).
Trails with free parking
| Trail | Length | Free parking |
|---|---|---|
| El Rio Trail | 4.8 miles | Yamato Road Tri-Rail station |
| Patch Reef Trail | 3.5 miles | Patch Reef Park, 2000 W. Yamato Road |
| T-Rex Trail | 1.42 miles | Start at the Tri-Rail station |
Details in our walking and biking trails guide.
Museums and history
- The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum, 71 N. Federal Highway: Free Fun Saturdays on the first Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with activities that change monthly (Free Fun Saturdays). Next: Saturday, Nov. 7, and Saturday, Dec. 5.
- Public art: Public Art Boca’s new “Ode to Boca” mural on the Mizner Park Amphitheater stage doors, and mosaics, murals and art swings at Wildflower Park, 551 E. Palmetto Park Road, according to the city’s Fall Recreator.
Libraries
The Downtown (400 NW Second Ave.) and Spanish River (1501 NW Spanish River Blvd.) libraries are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Free programs include drop-in family story time for ages 0 to 5 at 10 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, the Thursday Night Speaker Series and outdoor movie nights (Fall 2026 Recreator, PDF).
Free city events, 2026-27
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Howl-O-Ween dog party | Countess de Hoernle Park |
| Sun., Oct. 25 | Monster Mash pumpkin dive | The Swim Center |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | “Hocus Pocus” outdoor movie | Spanish River Library |
| Thu., Nov. 5 and Dec. 10 | Night Market, 6 to 9 p.m. | Sanborn Square |
| Wed., Nov. 11 | Red, White & Boca Veterans Day | Mizner Park Amphitheater |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Holiday Tree Lighting | Mizner Park Amphitheater |
| Wed., Dec. 2 | Holiday Street Parade | Federal Highway downtown |
| Tue., Dec. 8 | Surf’s Up Santa | Mizner Park |
| Sun., Dec. 13 | FAU Tuba Christmas | Mizner Park Amphitheater |
| Select summer Fridays | Summer in the City concerts | Mizner Park Amphitheater |
More on our Halloween, holiday lights and parade and tree lighting pages.
Downtown strolls
- Mizner Park: the central green is a city park with fountains and paths, open until 2 a.m. and lit at night, according to the city (Mizner Park guide).
- Sanborn Square Park, 72 N. Federal Highway: one of the city’s historic parks, with fountains, public art and a bike repair station, open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The beach: parking costs money
City beach parks (South Beach, Red Reef and Spanish River) charge for parking unless you hold an annual city beach permit, and from Oct. 1, 2026, the gatehouses no longer take cash (beach permits and daily rates). Rates are in our parks and trails guide.
Frequently asked questions
What can I do for free in Boca Raton? The Science Explorium, nature talks, telescope nights, library story times, trails and city events.
Is the history museum ever free? Yes, on the first Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Are the beaches free? Beach park parking costs money without a city permit.
Are there free concerts? Summer in the City in summer and Tuba Christmas on Dec. 13.
What this means for you
- Combine the Explorium with Sugar Sand Park’s playgrounds and splash pad for a free day out.
- Mark the first Saturday of the month for the history museum.
- Bring a card, not cash, if you do pay for beach parking.
Related: kids’ activities, walking and biking trails, things to do this month and Mizner Park.
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