Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Fun weekend events include Tri-Rail Day and ship tours
Ready to ride the rails? Tri-Rail’s Ride and Play Day is Saturday, which means select trains will be filled with kid-friendly characters, balloon artists, magicians and radio personalities. Saturday riders also get discounts to a number of South Florida attractions, all for a flat full-day rate of $5.
If ships are more your thing, replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships the Niña and the Pinta will be open for public viewing this weekend in Jupiter.
This weekend is also the Hatsume Fair at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, and South Florida is bursting with Earth Day events.
The big news for foodies is the end of the season for Knaus Berry Farm in Homestead. The famous farm closes for the season Saturday, so time is running out to get your cinnamon rolls and fruit shakes. The farm, 15980 SW 248th St., Miami, is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through Saturday.
The area’s best events for families this weekend also include:
Tour the Niña and the Pinta replica ships, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today through Sunday.
The Niña and the Pinta, replicas of Columbus’ ships, will arrive this afternoon at Harbourside Place, 200 U.S. 1 in Jupiter, and will be open for public viewing throughout the weekend. The Niña replica was built by hand without power tools and is considered to be the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built. The Pinta was recently built in Brazil and is a larger version of the ship. Self-guided tours are $8.50 for adults, $6.50 for ages 5-16. No reservations necessary. Groups can schedule a 30-minute guided tour with a crew member at 787-672-2152. ninapinta.org
Free Friday at Miami Children's Museum, 4-8 tonight.
Every third Friday events include interactive activities, crafts and storytelling. Children can also explore bilingual interactive exhibits related to arts, culture, community and communication. Miami Children's Museum, 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami. miamichildrensmuseum.org
Funtastic Friday Goes Green, 5-8 p.m.
Enjoy family fun with a DJ, face painter, games, bounce houses and celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with environmental exhibits, nature opportunities and recycling exhibits. ArtsPark at Young Circle, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood. Free. hollywoodfl.org
Pompano Pier Food Truck Round Up, 6-10 tonight.
Food trucks, music and fun. Bring blankets and folding chairs. 222 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach. pompanobeachfl.gov
Laser Fridays, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.
On the third Friday of each month, the Frost Planetarium hosts a throwback to classic laser light spectacles with classic music and old-school laser light visuals under the planetarium's 67-foot dome. Admission includes laser glasses. Check schedule for various shows. $10 adult; $8 child. Frost Planetarium, 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. frostscience.org
Beatles tribute band Across the Universe, 7:30-9:30 tonight.
Free concert at Mickel Park, 2675 NW Seventh Ave., Wilton Manors. wiltonmanors.com
Planetarium Nights, 7:30 tonight.
A fun demonstration and journey with the stars in an inflatable planetarium. The telescope will be out for at least one hour after the scheduled start time, weather permitting. Children’s Science Explorium, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton. scienceexplorium.org
Free park entry day Saturday.
All 392 national parks offer free entry Saturday, the first day of National Park Week. The parks include Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park off Key West. Admission to Biscayne National Park in Miami is always free. .nps.gov/ planyourvisit/fee-freeparks.htm
2018 South Florida Pet Expo, 10 a.m.-6 p.m Saturday.
Four-legged friends can receive spa treatments from local groomers, sample treats and try on furry fashions. Pet owners can meet trainers and learn care tips from animal welfare organizations. Low-cost vaccinations and free nail trims. Free. South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach. southfloridapetexpo.com
Dog Adopt-A-Thon, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m Saturday.
Looking for a new family member? Visit with our furry friends to find their forever home. Adoption fees vary. Memorial Park, 9001 SW 51st St., Cooper City. coopercityfl.org
Tri-Rail Ride and Play Day, 11 a.m.-3 p.m Saturday.
Get on board for a day of fun with kid-friendly costumed characters, balloon artists, magicians and radio personalities on four select trains, plus get Ride & Play offers. Riders with a validated Saturday ticket receive deals at Palm Beach Zoo, Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale, Perez Art Museum Miami, Frost Museum Of Science and Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. TriRail is $5 all day; kids younger than 5 free. Get details at tri-rail.com /ride-and-play-2018.
Hatsume Fair, Saturday and Sunday.
Celebrating the first bud of spring, the Morikami’s largest annual event, Hatsume, transforms the park into a Japanese spring festival. It features three stages with continuous entertainment. Enjoy martial arts demonstrations and taiko drumming shows, Japanese games and activities, cosplay and fashion contests, avenues of art, craft and plant vendors, and Japanese street fair food vendors. $6-$17. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach.