South Florida’s October calendar includes free community gatherings, Caribbean Carnival events, food festivals, film screenings and cultural celebrations across Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
Old Town Untapped: Cultural Arts & Music Block Party returns to Pompano Beach at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, near Bailey Contemporary Arts Center at Northeast First Street and North Flagler Avenue. The family-friendly event will feature live music by Mama Fuma, food trucks and contemporary art. The nearby arts center will also open its “Into Neverland” exhibition with a reception and docent-led tours.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, the Las Olas Autumn Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church parking lot, 1224 E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. Admission is free, and plans include a DJ, entertainment by Violet Jeffries, a Flamingo Flea Marketplace, cornhole, children’s games, fall photo opportunities and local food and drink vendors.
Also on Oct. 3, the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach will hold Nuestra Cultura Community Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free Hispanic-culture celebration will include music, dance lessons, a film screening, bilingual story times, a pull-string piñata party, dominoes and art activities.
Miami-Broward One Carnival will stretch across two weekends, beginning with Miami Junior Carnival and Pan Jamboree on Oct. 3 at Tamarac Sports Complex. Other events include the Red Road Fete n J’ouvert Festival on Oct. 9 at Tamarac Village Amphitheater, followed by Official J’ouvert on Oct. 10 and the Parade & Bacchanal Sunday Fete on Oct. 11 at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill. Miami Junior Carnival is free; tickets are required for the other listed events.
Fort Lauderdale’s Broward Center for the Performing Arts will host Arts Launch Broward 2026 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. The free season-opening showcase will bring together nearly 90 arts organizations and include music, dance, theater and multidisciplinary performances, as well as a preview of Slow Burn Theatre Co.’s “Come From Away.” Reservations are encouraged.
Dania After Dark Oktoberfest Beerfest is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 10 at Dania Beach City Hall. Admission is free, while beer sampling packages for visitors 21 and older carry separate fees. Organizers also list food trucks, live music, a pumpkin patch, a kids’ zone and contests.
In West Palm Beach, Taste of West Palm Beach will bring together more than 30 restaurants at CityPlace from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 16. The culinary event includes chef-led experiences, demonstrations and entertainment, with ticket proceeds benefiting the Palm Beach County Food Bank. General admission is listed at $75 and VIP admission at $130.
The OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival will present films from 20 countries in Broward from Oct. 15-22, Miami-Dade from Oct. 19-25 and through virtual presentations from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1. Tickets start at $17.
Deerfield Beach’s annual Brazilian Festival is planned for 2 to 10 p.m. Oct. 17 at Quiet Waters Park. The event is expected to include samba dancers, street food, children’s rides, about 100 vendors, capoeira and beach tennis demonstrations, plus performances by Gabby B, Negritude Júnior and West Boca Raton High School’s Vanguard Brass. General admission is $20, with VIP tickets listed at $45.
That same day, the Cox Science Center and Aquarium in West Palm Beach will mark its 65th anniversary with a Founders’ Day Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program includes live entertainment, food trucks, fall activities, science experiments, outdoor games, face painting, a bounce house and muralists, along with the launch of the center’s “Cats & Dogs” exhibit. Hands-on science activities will continue through Oct. 23.
