Plantation has a full week ahead, and most of it costs nothing. Between Sunday, October 11 and Saturday, October 17, the city's west side gets a Halloween-flavored festival at Volunteer Park, Plantation Walk on University Drive hosts two separate car shows (one of them raising money for breast cancer research), and the weekly food truck night keeps rolling on Sunrise Boulevard. Here is what is worth leaving the house for, and why.

Sunday, Oct. 11: Second Sunday Car & Truck Show at Plantation Walk

On the second Sunday of every month, the open-air plaza at Plantation Walk (321 N. University Dr.) fills with everything from restored classics to modern muscle cars and lifted trucks. The show runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and it is free for spectators and for anyone bringing a show car, parking included. Owners can start rolling in as early as 9 a.m., and spots go first come, first served, so the best-looking machines tend to be parked by mid-morning.

What makes this one worth a Sunday is how low-effort it is. You can wander the rows, grab lunch at one of the restaurants on site, and stay for the afternoon acoustic set on the Plantation Plaza stage that closes the day. The top five cars each month pick up merchant-voted trophies, which gives the regulars something to compete for and gives you a reason to vote with your eyes. One rule to know: outside food and drinks are not allowed.

Wednesday, Oct. 14: Food Truck Night at Volunteer Park

Every Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m., the City of Plantation turns Volunteer Park (12050 W. Sunrise Blvd.) into a rotating food court on wheels. The lineup changes week to week, and the city points residents to the event's Facebook page to see which trucks are coming before heading over.

It is the easiest midweek reset in western Broward. Nobody has to cook, kids can burn off energy on the park's open fields while you wait in line, and the four-hour window means you can show up after practice or a late meeting and still eat. If you have never been, this is a good week to try it, since you will be back at the same park three days later.

Saturday, Oct. 17: Family Fall Festival at Volunteer Park

The biggest city event of the week runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volunteer Park. Put on by the City of Plantation with the Greater Plantation Chamber of Commerce, the Family Fall Festival packs a children's carnival, inflatables, games, arts and crafts, a DJ, costume contests and a haunted house into one morning. Plantation police and fire crews bring exhibits, local vendors set up, and every kid gets a free Halloween bag.

Admission is $5 per person for anyone 2 and older, which is a rare price for a full morning of carnival-style fun in South Florida. Our advice: bring the kids in costume. With a costume contest on the schedule and Halloween two weeks out, it is a free test run for whatever they plan to wear on the 31st. For questions, the city's Parks and Recreation department is at 954-452-2510.

Saturday, Oct. 17: Breast Cancer Awareness Car & Truck Show at Plantation Walk

That afternoon, from 2 to 8 p.m., Plantation Walk hosts its second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month Car & Truck Show. It is open to all makes and models of show quality, with trophies for Best of Show, Best Truck and Best Classic, plus a special award for the car that best carries the breast cancer awareness theme. Expect a lot of pink.

Spectators get in free. Show car owners pay a $30 entry fee through Eventbrite, the only ticketing the venue honors, and spectators can make cash donations through the same ticket page. Plantation Walk says every dollar raised goes to breast cancer research through the Orlando Health Cancer Institute. Live music starts at 4 p.m., and there is a 50/50 raffle along with a raffle for drivers and spectators. The event runs rain or shine.

The timing works nicely with the festival: spend the morning at Volunteer Park, head east on Sunrise or Broward Boulevard after lunch, and catch the late-afternoon light on the cars with live music in the background.

Any evening, Thursday through Sunday: Plaza Live

If none of the dated events fit your week, Plantation Walk's Plaza Live series puts South Florida musicians on its outdoor stage on select afternoons and evenings from Thursday through Sunday. Sets cover classic rock, reggae, Latin and Top 40, along with originals. Admission and parking are free, and the plaza is pet friendly, so it doubles as a dog walk with a soundtrack. Set times vary by day, so check the venue's live music calendar before you go.

Why this week is worth it

Plantation is often described as a place people drive through on the way to Sawgrass Mills or Fort Lauderdale. This week makes the case for staying put. Two parks and one walkable plaza, all within a few miles of each other, carry nearly a full week of things to do, and the most expensive item on the list is a $5 festival wristband. Put the Saturday double-header on the calendar now: a morning of costumes and carnival games at Volunteer Park, then an afternoon of chrome and live music at Plantation Walk, with your spare change going toward cancer research. That is a good Saturday in Broward County by any measure.