What's Happening in Palm Beach County: August 10-23

There is a rhythm to life in Palm Beach County during August that I have come to love. The pace slows just enough for you to notice the little things: the way the bougainvillea looks impossibly bright against a blue sky, the ease of getting a reservation at that restaurant you have been meaning to try, the comfortable familiarity of Thursday evening concerts where you start recognizing the same faces week after week. We are in the sweet spot of summer, and the calendar is full of reasons to get out and enjoy it. From Art After Dark at the Norton Museum to Led Zeppelin tribute concerts under the stars in Wellington, here is everything you need to know about what is happening across Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Palm Beach County from August 10 through August 23.

What's happening this week, August 10 through 16?

Monday, August 10

Adult Sketch Class with Shannon Walker — Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at 1450 S Dixie Hwy. A relaxed, guided sketching session in the museum's galleries led by artist Shannon Walker. All materials provided, no experience necessary. Included with regular museum admission of $18 for adults, with free admission for members. The Norton's current exhibitions include 60 Seconds: Polaroids from the Collection (through August 16), Galloping Steed: Celebrating the Year of the Horse in Chinese Paintings (through August 23), and Danielle McKinney: Shelter (through October 4). It is a wonderful way to spend a Monday afternoon surrounded by world-class art in an air-conditioned space, and the sketching class makes you look at each piece more carefully than you otherwise might.

Tuesday, August 11

Floral Arrangement & Candle Making Workshop — Candle Land Delray Beach
Time and pricing available through the venue at Candle Land Delray Beach. These hands-on workshops have become a popular regular offering, combining fresh floral arranging with custom candle pouring. A lovely midweek activity for anyone looking to try something creative and bring home something beautiful.

"100 Years of Surfing in Delray Beach & Beyond" Lecture — Delray Beach Historical Society
6:00 PM at 3 NE First St, Delray Beach. Free admission. Featuring a surfing Hall of Famer and the Executive Director of the Surfing Florida Museum. I mentioned this one in last week's post, and it deserves the repeat mention: how often do you get to hear about a century of local surfing history from the people who lived it? Delray Beach has been catching waves for generations, and this talk is a gem.

Thursday, August 13

Clematis by Night — West Palm Beach Waterfront
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM on the Great Lawn at 101 N Clematis St. Free admission. Concert lineup to be announced on the City of West Palm Beach website. Food trucks arrive at 5:30 PM. This is the longest-running free concert series in Florida for a reason, and a Thursday evening here is one of the most reliable pleasures in South Florida. Bring a chair, grab something from a food truck, and watch the sunset over the Intracoastal while live music plays.

Wellington Food Truck & Music Series: Bread Zeppelin — Wellington Amphitheater
Food trucks from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, music at 6:30 PM at 12100 Forest Hill Blvd. Free admission. This week's concert features Bread Zeppelin, a Led Zeppelin tribute band. Over 20 food trucks rotate each week, and the amphitheater's lawn seating makes for a relaxed evening. I love that Wellington does this every Thursday through the summer; it is a wonderful example of how Palm Beach County invests in community gathering spaces.

Friday, August 14

Art After Dark — Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach
5:00 PM to 10:00 PM at 1450 S Dixie Hwy. One of the best Friday night traditions in Palm Beach County. The museum stays open late with live music, pop-up talks, gallery experiences, and a cash bar. General admission is $18, but members and children under 18 get in free. The Norton's Art After Dark series draws a wonderful mix of art lovers, young professionals, and longtime residents. The museum's restaurant, The Café, stays open for dinner service until 8:00 PM too.

Saturday, August 15

Free Summer Saturday — Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free admission all day. Every Saturday through the summer, the Norton opens its doors at no charge. This is the ideal opportunity to explore the full range of exhibitions on view, including 60 Seconds: Polaroids from the Collection (closing August 16, so this is your last chance) and Art & Independence: America at 250. I always tell clients that one of the best things about retiring to a culturally rich community is having time on a Saturday to wander through a world-class museum without rushing.

LIVE BOWIE: David Bowie Tribute — Arts Garage, Delray Beach
8:00 PM to 10:00 PM at 94 NE 2nd Ave, Delray Beach. Tickets typically $35 to $45. Arts Garage is one of Delray Beach's cultural treasures, an intimate venue that hosts live music, theater, and art exhibitions in a converted retail space in the Pineapple Grove Arts District. A David Bowie tribute show in this setting promises to be something special.

Floral Arrangement & Candle Making Workshop — Candle Land Delray Beach
Another session of the popular workshop series. Check with the venue for exact timing and availability.

Sunday, August 16

Boca Farmers Market
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (4950 Communication Ave). Over 80 vendors selling fresh produce, artisan breads, local honey, organic meats, and handcrafted goods. Free admission. I have said it before, and I will say it again: summer is the best time to visit the farmers market. Smaller crowds, more personal conversations with the farmers, and produce that tastes like it was picked that morning.

The Good Day Market
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Alternating Sundays between West Delray and Boynton Beach. Check their social media for this week's location. Local produce, artisan vendors, live music, and a dog-friendly atmosphere.

What about next week, August 17 through 23?

Wednesday, August 19

Women's Wellness Party — Delray Beach
An evening focused on wellness, connection, and self-care for women. Check local event listings for venue and time. Events like this reflect the strong community networks that make Palm Beach County such a welcoming place for empty nesters and retirees looking to build new connections.

Thursday, August 20

Clematis by Night — West Palm Beach Waterfront
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Free concert on the Great Lawn. Concert lineup to be confirmed on the City of West Palm Beach website. Food trucks from 5:30 PM.

Friday, August 21

Art After Dark — Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach
5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Another Friday night with extended hours, live music, and special programming at the Norton. If you missed it on August 14, here is your second chance this month. With rotating exhibitions and fresh programming each week, no two Art After Dark evenings are the same.

Saturday, August 22

This Saturday is one of the busiest single days of the month in Palm Beach County. Mark your calendar now.

Free Summer Saturday — Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Free admission all day. A perfect way to spend a Saturday morning exploring world-class exhibitions without spending a dime.

Rock the Plaza — Ocean Plaza, Boynton Beach
2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Ocean Palm Plaza. Free admission. A family-friendly community event featuring live music, interactive activities, and local business showcases, hosted by the Boynton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. It is the kind of event that reminds me why community matters so much in the downsizing conversation. When you move to a new area, events like this are where you start putting down roots.

Ukrainian Cultural Fest — Waterfront Commons, Downtown West Palm Beach
4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Free admission. Hosted by the Ukrainian Association of Florida, this celebration features traditional Ukrainian music, dance performances, authentic food, and cultural displays. West Palm Beach's Waterfront Commons is a stunning setting for cultural festivals, with the Intracoastal Waterway as a backdrop and the city skyline beyond. Events like this showcase the rich cultural diversity that makes Palm Beach County so special.

Wellington Summer Concert Series: Grey Street (Dave Matthews Tribute) — Wellington Amphitheater
8:00 PM. Free admission. The Wellington Amphitheater's bi-monthly Saturday concert series continues with Grey Street, a Dave Matthews Band tribute act. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in for a night of music under the stars.

Sunday, August 23

Boca Farmers Market
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus. Every Sunday, year-round, rain or shine.

Hollywood Gems: Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) — Norton Museum of Art
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM in Stiller Auditorium. Included with museum admission; free for members, no registration required. The Norton's classic film series continues with this historical epic about Pearl Harbor. A cool, dark theater in August is a wonderful thing.

What weekly events should you have on your radar?

Beyond the one-time events above, these recurring staples keep Palm Beach County's social calendar full through the summer:

• Clematis by Night — Every Thursday, 6 PM to 9 PM on the West Palm Beach Waterfront. Free live music and food trucks. Without question one of the best free entertainment options in the county.
• Wellington Food Truck & Music Series — Every Thursday, food trucks 5 PM to 9 PM, music at 6:30 PM at Wellington Amphitheater. Free admission.
• Boca Farmers Market — Every Sunday, 9 AM to 1 PM at BRiC (4950 Communication Ave). Over 80 vendors. Year-round, rain or shine.
• Art After Dark at Norton Museum — Every Friday, 5 PM to 10 PM. Extended hours, live music, and a cash bar at one of the region's finest museums.
• Free Summer Saturdays at Norton Museum — Every Saturday through summer, free admission all day. A generous gift to the community.
• The Good Day Market — Alternating Sundays, 9 AM to 2 PM. Rotating between West Delray and Boynton Beach. Dog friendly.

Why does Palm Beach County work so well for empty nesters and retirees?

I have been helping families relocate to South Florida for more than 25 years. And in all that time, I have never found a more reliable indicator of quality of life than a community's event calendar. When I look at the two weeks ahead in Palm Beach County, I see a region that understands how to make life feel rich without requiring a big budget or a long drive.

Think about what is available in a typical week: a world-class museum that opens its doors for free every Saturday. A waterfront concert series that has been running longer than many of the restaurants along Clematis Street. A cultural festival celebrating Ukrainian heritage on a downtown waterfront. A tribute concert in a town's amphitheater where everyone brings their own lawn chair. A farmers market where the same vendor remembers your name and asks about your week.

These are not tourist experiences. They are the fabric of everyday life here. And for empty nesters making the decision to relocate, that fabric matters enormously. You are not just buying a home. You are choosing a community where you can be engaged, connected, and culturally stimulated from the moment you arrive.

On the practical side, Palm Beach County continues to offer compelling advantages for retirees. Florida has no state income tax and no Social Security tax. The homestead exemption can reduce your taxable property value by up to $50,000, and the Save Our Homes amendment ensures annual assessment increases are capped at 3% once you establish residency. Homeowners aged 65 or older with a household income under certain limits may qualify for additional exemptions. And with nationally recognized healthcare facilities like Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Delray Medical Center, and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, you have access to outstanding medical care without traveling far from home.

More than two dozen 55-plus communities across the county offer active, amenity-rich lifestyles. And with the Brightline station in Boca Raton providing rail access to Miami and Orlando, even a longer day trip is effortless.

Your quick-reference event list for August 10-23

Thinking about making Palm Beach County your home?

If the thought of free concerts on a waterfront lawn, Saturdays at a world-class museum, or Ukrainian festivals under the stars sounds like the kind of life you want to step into, I want you to know that it is absolutely within reach. I moved here from Ohio with my own questions and uncertainties, and I have spent the last 25-plus years helping hundreds of families find their footing in South Florida. The transition is real. But so is the reward on the other side.

Whether you are just beginning to explore the idea of relocating to South Florida, you are ready to tour 55-plus communities in Boca Raton or Delray Beach, or you want to sit down and talk through the financial reality of downsizing, I am here for that conversation. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just honest guidance from someone who has walked this path more times than I can count.