Weston City Hall will let residents take the Mayor's seat on Monday, Oct. 26. From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., anyone who walks into the Commission Chamber at 17200 Royal Palm Boulevard can sit at the center of the dais, meet the Mayor and leave with a photo taken by city staff. There is no charge and no appointment. It is the city's event for Florida City Government Week, and it anchors a week in Weston that otherwise runs through the Weston Branch Library, two city parks and one garden just over the Davie line.

Monday, Oct. 26: Mayor for a Moment at City Hall

The city is calling the afternoon Mayor for a Moment. Residents of every age are welcome, and the city notes that no campaigning is involved. Bring a phone or camera; staff will take the picture of you or your family on the Commission dais, the same platform where the City Commission sits for its meetings. The city describes the visit as quick, so it fits after school pickup. Weston City Hall is on Royal Palm Boulevard, and the city's main number is 954-385-2000. A downloadable flyer is posted with the city's announcement.

Wednesday, Oct. 21: Book club, knitting and Spanish at the library

The Weston Branch of the Broward County Library, at 4205 Bonaventure Boulevard, has three adult programs on Wednesday. The Weston Book Club, led by the branch's librarians, meets from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Conference Room (Room 107), and October's book is The Women by Kristin Hannah. The club meets on the third Wednesday of each month, and the library takes registration on its event page.

Earlier that afternoon, the Knitting and Crochet Club gathers from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. It is a working group rather than a class: members bring their own projects, trade techniques and show each other new stitches. The Weston Friends of the Library sponsors it. Before that, Spanish Cafe at the intermediate level runs from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m., with branch staff and volunteers working on vocabulary, pronunciation and conversation.

Weekday afternoons: Game Time for teens

Teens ages 12 to 18 can stop in after school for Game Time, which the branch runs from 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20, through Friday, Oct. 23, and again on Monday, Oct. 26, and Tuesday, Oct. 27. The program uses the computer lab and the teen room, with board games, card games and multiplayer play on a Nintendo Switch and a PlayStation 4. No registration is listed for it.

Monday, Oct. 26: Windows 11 tips

The same evening as the City Hall photos, the library holds Windows 11 Quick Tips from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The session covers short, practical shortcuts and newer features, with the instructor answering common questions about changing the interface and working with apps and files. The library lists it for adults and takes registration online.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24 and 25: Halloween weekend at Flamingo Gardens

Just east of Weston, Flamingo Gardens at 3750 South Flamingo Road in Davie closes out its Harvest Festival Weekends with a Halloween Party Weekend, and guests are invited to come in costume. Included with admission each festival weekend: hayrides from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (last ride at 4:15 p.m.), pony rides for small children, farm animal encounters and, new this year, mini Highland cows from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The pumpkin patch and pumpkin painting cost extra. Admission is $24 for ages 12 and up and $17 for ages 3 to 11; members and children 2 and under get in free. The garden asks visitors to call 954-473-2955 to check the schedule before going.

Around town: a refreshed park, and one on the way

Gator Run Park, at 1101 Park Boulevard, reopened in September after an upgrade that added a new playground and pavilions, expanded parking and two courts that work for both basketball and pickleball. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Next in line is Windmill Ranch Park on Bonaventure Boulevard, next to Everglades Elementary School. The city is rebuilding it with its own parking lot and an entrance straight off Bonaventure, which it never had before; visitors used to reach it through school property. The plan includes an open play field and event lawn, an accessible playground with a shade canopy, a sand court for beach volleyball and beach tennis, a basketball and pickleball court, a Bankshot family basketball area, outdoor exercise equipment, a shaded picnic area, a soft-surface walking path and restrooms. The city says the park will reopen in the coming months.

Plan your week

Mayor for a Moment: Monday, Oct. 26, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., Weston City Hall, 17200 Royal Palm Boulevard; free, no appointment. Weston Branch Library programs: 4205 Bonaventure Boulevard; sign up for the book club, knitting club, Spanish Cafe and Windows 11 session through the Broward County Library events calendar. Flamingo Gardens: Oct. 24 and 25, 3750 South Flamingo Road, Davie, 954-473-2955. Looking ahead, the city's calendar lists Moonlight Movie in the Park with Toy Story 5 on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

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