Free in West Palm Beach: the Norton on Saturdays for city residents, Manatee Lagoon, Grassy Waters trails, Clematis by Night and library programs.

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Facts come from each place’s own website, linked below: the Norton Museum of Art, Manatee Lagoon, the City of West Palm Beach, the Mandel Public Library, CityPlace and the Downtown Development Authority. “Free” means the organizer says it is free. Updated when a free offer changes.

West Palm Beach has plenty of free days out: an art museum that is free for city residents every Saturday, a manatee-viewing center with free admission and parking, miles of free trails, a free concert every Thursday and free story times at the library.

Good to know

  • City events: Community Events, 561-822-1515
  • Library: Mandel Public Library, 561-868-7700
  • Manatee Lagoon: 561-626-2833

Museums and nature

Place What is free Address
Norton Museum of Art City residents every Saturday with valid ID; children 12 and under always 1450 S. Dixie Highway
Manatee Lagoon Admission and parking, whenever it is open 6000 N. Flagler Drive
Grassy Waters Preserve All trails, including the Cypress Boardwalk 8264 Northlake Blvd. and 3125 N. Jog Road

The Norton is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; closed Tuesday. Active military, veterans and Florida teachers also get in free with ID, the museum says.

Manatee Lagoon is FPL’s Eco-Discovery Center, with a 16,000-square-foot hall of hands-on exhibits and an observation deck. Manatee season is Nov. 15 to March 31. Free programs include Saturday story time for ages 3 and up, with registration.

For trail distances and trailheads, see our walking and biking trails guide.

Downtown, every week

  • Clematis by Night, Thursdays, 6 to 9 p.m., on the waterfront. Free; bring a chair. Details.
  • CityPlace live music on The Lawn, Friday and Saturday evenings and weekend afternoons. Schedule.
  • GreenMarket and the Antique and Flea on Clematis Street, Saturday mornings in season; browsing is free. See farmers markets.
  • Library programs at the Mandel Public Library, 411 Clematis St.: story times, LEGO building and more, all on its calendar.

Free spots to sit and walk

From the Downtown Development Authority’s list of romantic spots:

  • A 556-foot boardwalk near Flagler Drive leads to one of three mangrove islands in the Lake Worth Lagoon.
  • The Ben’s lawn, 251 N. Narcissus Ave., by the Intracoastal, with colorful sculptures.
  • CityZen Garden, 400 Datura St., a small garden of bamboo and flowers.
  • The mural “I Lost My Shoe When I Saw You” by Lonac at Quadrille Boulevard and Clematis Street.

Free for kids

  • City playgrounds and splash pads, including the Centennial Fountain at 150 N. Clematis St. See kids’ activities.
  • Dreher Park, 5701 Dreher Trail South: playground, fishing pier, trails and a dog park.

Free seasonal events

The city’s biggest free events are seasonal: Clematis by Fright in October, the tree lighting and Sandi the sand tree in December, and the New Year’s Eve party on the waterfront. See Halloween events, holiday lights and New Year’s Eve.

What this means for you

  • City residents: bring ID to the Norton on a Saturday.
  • Manatee Lagoon is best from mid-November to March.
  • Thursday night on the waterfront is the city’s free night out.

Related: downtown and Clematis Street, date night and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Norton Museum free for West Palm Beach residents?

Yes, every Saturday with valid ID, the museum says. Children 12 and under are always free, and Bank of America cardholders get in free on the first full weekend of each month.

Is Manatee Lagoon free?

Yes. Admission and parking are free at Manatee Lagoon, 6000 N. Flagler Drive, open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Mondays from April 1 to Nov. 14 and open daily in manatee season.

Are Grassy Waters Preserve trails free?

Yes. The city says the preserve’s trails are open to the public free of charge. No pets are allowed.

Is Clematis by Night free?

Yes. The city’s concert series on the downtown waterfront is free, Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.