SUNDAY OCTOBER 11 - SATURDAY OCTOBER 17, 2026
Happy Sunday, 561.
This week has a pickle festival with its own mechanical bull, a kids gym that just opened its doors in Boca, a 48-hour pizza dough in Delray, a 1,659-acre park with a live-animal exhibit hall, and a pumpkin patch behind a pizzeria. The FAU countdown is on too, 13 days to kickoff and 40% off for subscribers. It's a good week to be in the 561.
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A Live-Animal Exhibit Hall Is Hiding Inside 1,659 Acres on Forest Hill Blvd
Most people know Okeeheelee for the BMX track and the golf course. The quieter move is the nature center tucked into the pine flatwoods: live animal exhibits, interactive displays, and almost 2 miles of trails that start right at its door. The park itself runs 1,659 acres with 8 miles of bike paths and two lakes, open sunrise to sunset every day. Go Saturday morning before the heat does.
Read the Full Story → · Plan Your VisitThere Is a Mechanical Pickle Bull at South County Regional Park This Weekend
The South Florida Pickle Festival takes over Burt Aaronson South County Regional Park off Park Access Road in west Boca, Saturday noon to 8 and Sunday 11 to 5. Every pickle creation is $5 or less, the rest of the pickle-themed menu is $10 or less, and between bites there's a pickle eating competition, a Pickle Marketplace of local vendors, a free kids' zone, and the aforementioned mechanical pickle bull. SteelHouse plays Saturday at 6. Tickets are $10 per time slot, kids 8 and under free, parking $5 a car.
Read the Full Story → · Venue →There's a Pumpkin Patch Behind a Pizzeria in Delray
Walk through the retro candy shop and ice cream parlor on S Military Trail and you're on a farm out back. Your petting zoo ticket lets you hand-feed goats, mini horses, donkeys and sheep, and $5 buys five minutes cuddling Boots and Big John, the farm's two young Highland cows. The pumpkin patch is included with petting zoo admission this fall, and kids 2 and under are free. Do the animals first: the petting zoo and pumpkin patch close at 7 (last entry 6:30), while Bambini's Garden Pizzeria in the same building stays open until 8:30, so make it dinner.
Read the Full Story → · Venue →A Kids Gym for Ages 6 Months to 18 Just Opened on SW 18th St
The Rec Room opened its doors this month in west Boca with programs that ladder from Baby Movers at 6 months up through Performance training for 17-year-olds, plus birthday parties and private training. Strength, gymnastics, movement, sports performance, and yoga for kids, Monday to Friday 9 to 7 and weekends 9 to 2. Tour it this week while class spots are still fresh.
Read the Full Story → · Venue →
Big Hearts, Modern Medicine, and $50 Off Your Pet's First Exam
Paws Veterinary Clinic runs on a simple promise: big hearts, modern medicine, small-town feel. The medicine side is serious, with urgent and walk-in care, dental, surgery, diagnostics and imaging, laser therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen treatment, an advanced, non-invasive option you won't find at most neighborhood vets.
They're open Monday to Saturday 8 to 5 and Sunday 9 to 3, and right now new clients get $50 off their pet's first exam. Book at the link or call (561) 566-7297.
Claim $50 Off Your First Exam →
The Pizza Dough on N Congress Ave That Rests for 48 Hours
Two Italians who import their ingredients from Italy, a food truck still parked out front, and a strip-mall counter with exactly one bench. The dough is the whole point: unbleached imported Italian flour, no bromides, rested 48 hours, which is why The Infatuation called the Neapolitan pie "at once crisp and delicate." Order the Margherita first and eat it off the hood of your car like everyone else does.
Read the Full Story → · Review →Aged Steaks, Handmade Pastas, and a Disco Ball on Federal Hwy
DeLuca's runs timeless steakhouse favorites next to Italian classics: aged steaks, hearty chops, fresh seafood and handmade pastas, under what they call South Florida's largest mirror disco ball. A DJ and live singer keep the room moving while you eat. Reservations are on OpenTable, and Saturday nights fill first.
Read the Full Story → · Venue →
Local deals are live in The 561 Scoop app right now. Here are three:
 40% off FAU vs. Rice tickets |  20% off Dine-in and takeout |  15% off Any service, Boca Raton |
Plus many more. Get the free app, tap Deals, and follow the steps to redeem.
Get the Free App →iPhone app. No account required.
Which local deal would you actually use this month?
Tap one. We use your answers to line up the deals you want.
A restaurant or barA spa, salon or med spaA fitness class or gymA kids' activity or campA home service (cleaning, pest, AC)THU 15 OCT |
Clematis by Night: 56 Ace FREECentennial Square & Great Lawn · 100 N Clematis St, West Palm Beach Modern country rock on the downtown West Palm waterfront, 6 to 9 PM. Bring a chair or dance; 56 Ace plays to keep the floor packed either way. 📅 Add to Calendar |
FRI 16 OCT |
Five Champions, Five Courses: A Culinary Reunion Hosted by Chef Paul Niedermann TICKETS FROM $165Buccaneer Waterfront Bar & Grill · 142 Lake Dr, Palm Beach Shores Five Hell's Kitchen champions, Paul Niedermann, La Tasha McCutchen, Kori Sutton, Trenton Garvey and Ryan O'Sullivan, each cook one course with a paired wine. One night only, on the water in Palm Beach Shores. This event is independently organized and is not sponsored by, endorsed by, affiliated with, or associated with Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay, ITV, FOX, or any of their respective owners, affiliates, or licensors. Hell's Kitchen is a trademark of its respective owner and is used solely to identify the chefs' prior accomplishments. 📅 Add to Calendar |
SAT 17 OCT |
Dan + Shay: The Young Tour 🎟 TICKETSiTHINK Financial Amphitheatre · 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach The country duo's Young Tour hits West Palm Saturday at 7 PM. Lawn seats and a cooler-weather amphitheater night; this is the week's easy concert call. 📅 Add to Calendar |
FRI 23 OCT |
Rally for Rescue Pickleball Tournament TICKETS FROM $150The Palms Indoor Pickleball · 4660 Communication Ave, Boca Raton A round robin tournament at the newly opened indoor facility, 9 AM to 1 PM, benefiting Child Rescue Coalition. Play for a reason. 📅 Add to Calendar |
FRI 23 OCT |
Slime-O-Ween After Dark $45 PER CHILDSlimeology Studio · Boca Raton A drop-off Halloween night for ages 6 and up, 5 to 7 PM: two glow-in-the-dark slimes, a make-your-own potion, pizza, and a Thriller flash mob. 📅 Add to Calendar |
THU 5 NOV |
Boca Night Market FREESanborn Square · 72 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton Local makers, artists, snacks and treats under the royal palms, 6 to 9 PM. The city's free BocaConnect shuttle will even drive you there. 📅 Add to Calendar |
SAT 7 NOV |
The Tequila Fest '26 TICKETS FROM $85Mizner Park Amphitheater · 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton All-inclusive from 5 to 8 PM: 20+ local restaurants sampling dishes and unlimited tastings from 30+ tequila and mezcal brands, food included in the ticket. VIP gets in at 4. 📅 Add to Calendar |
| Boca Raton Museum of Art Boca Raton Last day today for two shows: Tyree Gran's Anatomy of a Practice and Modernisms: Art from the Manes Collection. |
| Downtown Delray Restaurant Month, Extended Delray Beach Fifteen downtown restaurants stretched their September deals through October, including Big Al's $50 cheesesteak meal for two. |
| The Grove Delray Beach Parking just got easier: complimentary valet for every guest as of October 1. |
| Maman West Boca The New York French cafe is now open in Shadowood Square, with a bakery counter, a kitchen running until 4, and a happy hour bar. Maman hosted us. |
| Boca Helping Hands Boca RatonGive Back The food pantry books individual and group volunteer shifts online. Start with the orientation video on their site. |
Before it was Delray, the town carried the name of the Michigan congressman who founded it in 1894. What was it called?
Answer at the bottom of this email.
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Linton. Congressman William S. Linton founded it in 1894. After the freezes of the 1890s wiped out early crops, residents renamed it Delray in 1898, after the Michigan town some of them came from.
That's the scoop for Issue No. 032.
Have a great week, 561.