diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
index 1fe05bb..4b90f14 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/Sidebar.svelte
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 		famStore.initialized ? famStore.rewards.filter((r: any) => r.status === 'requested').length : 0
 	);
 
-	let { famName = '', session = null, isParent = false, role = 'child' } = $props();
+	let { famName = '', session = null, isParent = false, role = 'child', isDemo = false } = $props();
 
 	let famSlug = $derived(page.data.famSlug ?? page.params.fam);
 	let memberName = $derived(session?.memberName || page.params.username || '');
@@ -43,10 +43,10 @@
 	);
 
 	let footerItems = $derived([
-		...(memberName
+		...(memberName && !isDemo
 			? [{ href: `/${famSlug}/${memberName}/preferences`, label: 'Preferences', icon: prefsIcon }]
 			: []),
-		...(isParent && memberName
+		...(isParent && memberName && !isDemo
 			? [{ href: `/${famSlug}/${memberName}/settings`, label: 'Settings', icon: settingsIcon }]
 			: []),
 		{
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/server/email.ts b/frontend/src/lib/server/email.ts
index 95350b9..b1ea3a8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/server/email.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/server/email.ts
@@ -1,14 +1,31 @@
 import { Resend } from 'resend';
 import { RESEND_API } from '$app/env/private';
 import { getAccessEmailTemplate } from './email-templates';
+import { getPlatformFlags } from '$lib/server/platform';
 
 const resend = new Resend(String(RESEND_API));
 
+let demoCache: { value: boolean; at: number } | null = null;
+const DEMO_TTL_MS = 10_000;
+
+async function isDemoMode(): Promise<boolean> {
+	if (demoCache && Date.now() - demoCache.at < DEMO_TTL_MS) return demoCache.value;
+	try {
+		const flags = await getPlatformFlags();
+		demoCache = { value: flags.demo === true, at: Date.now() };
+		return flags.demo === true;
+	} catch {
+		demoCache = { value: false, at: Date.now() };
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
 export async function sendPasswordResetEmail(opts: {
 	to: string;
 	resetLink: string;
 	famName: string;
 }) {
+	if (await isDemoMode()) return;
 	const { to, resetLink, famName } = opts;
 
 	await resend.emails.send({
@@ -30,6 +47,7 @@ export async function sendParentInviteEmail(opts: {
 	famName: string;
 	otp: string;
 }) {
+	if (await isDemoMode()) return;
 	const { to, inviteLink, famName, otp } = opts;
 
 	await resend.emails.send({
@@ -52,6 +70,7 @@ export async function sendAccessUnlockedEmail(opts: {
 	codeValue: string;
 	dashboardUrl: string;
 }) {
+	if (await isDemoMode()) return;
 	const { to, famName, codeName, codeValue, dashboardUrl } = opts;
 
 	const template = getAccessEmailTemplate(codeValue);
@@ -70,6 +89,7 @@ export async function sendWelcomeEmail(opts: {
 	famName: string;
 	dashboardUrl: string;
 }) {
+	if (await isDemoMode()) return;
 	const { to, famName, dashboardUrl } = opts;
 
 	await resend.emails.send({
@@ -112,6 +132,7 @@ export async function sendMentionEmail(opts: {
 	message: string;
 	dashboardUrl: string;
 }) {
+	if (await isDemoMode()) return;
 	const { to, parentName, authorName, message, dashboardUrl } = opts;
 
 	await resend.emails.send({
@@ -138,6 +159,7 @@ export async function sendClaimRequestEmail(opts: {
 	rewardValue: string;
 	dashboardUrl: string;
 }) {
+	if (await isDemoMode()) return;
 	const { to, parentName, childName, rewardName, rewardValue, dashboardUrl } = opts;
 
 	await resend.emails.send({
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/server/migrate.ts b/frontend/src/lib/server/migrate.ts
index 1b99a76..77a2e7b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/server/migrate.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/server/migrate.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { SCHEMA_PLAN } from '@shared/pb/schema';
 import { PB_ENDPOINT } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
 import { PB_EMAIL, PB_PASSWORD, MEMBER_SECRET } from '$app/env/private';
+import { getPlatformFlags } from '$lib/server/platform';
 
 let token: string | null = null;
 let tokenExpiry = 0;
@@ -20,6 +21,11 @@ async function auth(): Promise<string> {
 	return token!;
 }
 
+async function isDemo(): Promise<boolean> {
+	const flags = await getPlatformFlags();
+	return flags.demo === true;
+}
+
 async function getCollection(name: string): Promise<any | null> {
 	const t = await auth();
 	const res = await fetch(`${PB_ENDPOINT}/api/collections?filter=name='${name}'`, {
@@ -444,8 +450,10 @@ export async function migrate(): Promise<void> {
 	await ensureAccessCodes();
 	await ensurePlatform();
 	await ensureDefaultSeasons();
-	await seedDemoFamily();
-	await seedDemoCompletions();
+	if (await isDemo()) {
+		await seedDemoFamily();
+		await seedDemoCompletions();
+	}
 	console.log('[migrate] Done');
 }
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/+layout.server.ts b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/+layout.server.ts
index aeb214f..449d86c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/+layout.server.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/+layout.server.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import { createPbClient } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
 import { createServices, type ChatActor } from '$lib/server/services';
 import { ensureFamAccess } from '$lib/server/access';
 import { seedDemoCompletions } from '$lib/server/migrate';
+import { getPlatformFlags } from '$lib/server/platform';
 
 async function paydayCheck(famId: string, pbToken: string) {
 	try {
@@ -47,8 +48,8 @@ async function resolveChatIdentity(
 }
 
 export async function load(event) {
-	// Demo family: rotate 3-week completion data on every visit (idempotent).
-	if (event.params.fam === 'showboaters') {
+	// Demo family: rotate 3-week completion data on every visit when demo mode is on (idempotent).
+	if (event.params.fam === 'showboaters' && (await getPlatformFlags()).demo) {
 		seedDemoCompletions().catch(() => {});
 	}
 
@@ -94,6 +95,8 @@ export async function load(event) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	const demoMode = (await getPlatformFlags()).demo;
+
 	return {
 		// Canonical fam slug — from the URL param ([fam] routes). Client code
 		// reads page.data.famSlug; never copy it into local $state.
@@ -117,6 +120,7 @@ export async function load(event) {
 		chat,
 		pbToken,
 		fam,
-		famAccess
+		famAccess,
+		demoMode
 	};
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/+layout.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/+layout.svelte
index 738a751..5482c8a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/+layout.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/+layout.svelte
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 	let session = $state<Session | null>(data.session);
 	let isParent = $state(data.isParent);
 	let role = $state(data.role);
+	let isDemo = $state(data.demoMode);
 	let famName = $derived(
 		famStore.initialized ? (famStore.fam as any)?.name || page.params.fam : page.params.fam
 	);
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@
 		class="app-shell {bgPattern ? `pattern-${bgPattern}` : ''}"
 		style={`${bgSizeVw ? `--s:calc(${bgSizeVw} * 1vw);` : ''}--c1:${bgShades.c1};--c2:${bgShades.c2};--c3:${bgShades.c3};--c4:${bgShades.c4}`}
 	>
-		<Sidebar {famName} session={data.session} {isParent} {role} />
+		<Sidebar {famName} session={data.session} {isParent} {role} {isDemo} />
 		<TopNav
 			role={data.session ? role : ''}
 			seasons={famStore.seasons.filter((s) => s.active !== false)}
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/+page.server.ts b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/+page.server.ts
index a2bc0d0..76b729f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/+page.server.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/+page.server.ts
@@ -1,19 +1,27 @@
 import { fail, redirect } from '@sveltejs/kit';
 import { pbUser, createPbClient } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
 import { createServices } from '$lib/server/services';
+import { getPlatformFlags } from '$lib/server/platform';
+import { pbAdmin } from '$lib/server/pocketbase';
 
 export async function load(event) {
 	const session = event.locals.user;
+	const demoMode = (await getPlatformFlags()).demo;
+	const isDemoParent = session?.username === 'demo';
+	const famSlug = event.params.fam;
+	const username = event.params.username;
+
+	// Demo parent visiting a child's route → load child kanban view.
+	const demoParentVisitingChild = demoMode && isDemoParent && session?.username !== username;
 
 	// Parent (role=parent, session auth) → admin overview.
 	// Branch on role, NOT presence: a child who OTP-logged-in also has a
 	// `users` session (locals.user) and must not hit the parent path.
-	if (session && session.role === 'parent') {
-		const famId = session.famId;
-		const famSlug = event.params.fam;
-		const username = event.params.username;
-		if (session.name && session.username && session.username !== username) {
-			throw redirect(303, `/${famSlug}/${session.username}`);
+	if (session && session.role === 'parent' && !demoParentVisitingChild) {
+		if (!(demoMode && isDemoParent)) {
+			if (session.name && session.username && session.username !== username) {
+				throw redirect(303, `/${famSlug}/${session.username}`);
+			}
 		}
 		const s = createServices(pbUser(event), session);
 		const [
@@ -27,15 +35,15 @@ export async function load(event) {
 			completions,
 			settings
 		] = await Promise.all([
-			s.crud.list('members', famId),
-			s.crud.list('chore-templates', famId),
-			s.crud.list('assigned-chores', famId),
-			s.fam.weeklySummary(famId),
-			s.fam.get(famId),
-			s.crud.list('rewards', famId),
-			s.crud.list('bonus-configs', famId),
-			s.crud.list('completions', famId),
-			s.settings.get(famId)
+			s.crud.list('members', session.famId),
+			s.crud.list('chore-templates', session.famId),
+			s.crud.list('assigned-chores', session.famId),
+			s.fam.weeklySummary(session.famId),
+			s.fam.get(session.famId),
+			s.crud.list('rewards', session.famId),
+			s.crud.list('bonus-configs', session.famId),
+			s.crud.list('completions', session.famId),
+			s.settings.get(session.famId)
 		]);
 		return {
 			role: 'parent',
@@ -52,18 +60,23 @@ export async function load(event) {
 		};
 	}
 
-	// Child (users auth, role=child) → kanban
-	const famSlug = event.params.fam;
-	const username = event.params.username;
+	// Child (users auth, role=child) → kanban.
+	// Also demo parent visiting a child's route.
 
 	// A child should always land on their own kanban route.
-	if (session?.username && session.username !== username) {
-		throw redirect(303, `/${famSlug}/${session.username}`);
+	if (!(demoMode && isDemoParent)) {
+		if (session?.username && session.username !== username) {
+			throw redirect(303, `/${famSlug}/${session.username}`);
+		}
 	}
 
 	const pbToken = event.cookies.get('pb_token') || '';
 	const famId = session?.famId || '';
-	const childId = session?.id || '';
+	// When a demo parent visits a child's route, session.id is the parent's PB
+	// record. Look up the actual child user by username so chores load correctly.
+	const childId = demoParentVisitingChild
+		? (await pbAdmin.getList('users', `famId='${famId}' && username='${famSlug}:${username}'`))?.[0]?.id || ''
+		: session?.id || '';
 
 	const empty = {
 		role: 'child' as const,
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/preferences/+page.server.ts b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/preferences/+page.server.ts
index e7828d4..21335d9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/preferences/+page.server.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/preferences/+page.server.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,16 @@
 import { redirect } from '@sveltejs/kit';
 import { servicesFor } from '$lib/server/servicesFor';
+import { getPlatformFlags } from '$lib/server/platform';
+
+async function isDemoMode(): Promise<boolean> {
+	return (await getPlatformFlags()).demo;
+}
 
 export async function load(event) {
+	if (await isDemoMode()) {
+		return { verified: false, role: '', token: '', memberId: '', famId: '', memberName: '', memberColor: '', pattern: '', themeSize: '', themeOpacity: '', email: '', demoMode: true };
+	}
+
 	const session = event.locals.user;
 	const famSlug = event.params.fam;
 	const username = event.params.username;
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/settings/+page.server.ts b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/settings/+page.server.ts
index dddbe88..b9572ba 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/settings/+page.server.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/[fam]/[username]/settings/+page.server.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { issueAccess, createChild, inviteParent } from '$lib/server/member-otp';
 import { sendParentInviteEmail } from '$lib/server/email';
 import { slugify, handle, famUsername } from '@shared/slugify';
 import { applyAccessCode } from '$lib/server/access';
+import { getPlatformFlags } from '$lib/server/platform';
 import {
 	createBillingPortalSession,
 	cancelSubscriptionAtPeriodEnd,
@@ -18,7 +19,15 @@ function famIdOf(event: RequestEvent): string {
 	return event.locals.user.famId;
 }
 
+// In demo mode, settings is disabled for all users.
+async function isDemoMode(): Promise<boolean> {
+	return (await getPlatformFlags()).demo;
+}
+
 export async function load(event: RequestEvent) {
+	if (await isDemoMode()) {
+		return { members: [], fam: null, seasons: [], accessCode: null, subStatus: null, demoMode: true };
+	}
 	const famId = famIdOf(event);
 	const pb = pbUser(event);
 	const [members, fam, seasons] = await Promise.all([
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.server.ts b/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.server.ts
index 1d7901f..987770b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.server.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.server.ts
@@ -89,12 +89,15 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async (event) => {
 			pbAdmin.getList('bonus_templates', 'global = true')
 		]);
 
+		const platformFlags = await getPlatformFlags();
+
 		return {
 			authenticated: true,
 			fams: famsWithStats,
 			codes: codeList,
 			choreTemplates: choreTemplates as any[],
 			bonusTemplates: bonusTemplates as any[],
+			platformFlags,
 			totalFams: fams.length,
 			totalMembers: famsWithStats.reduce((s, f) => s + f.memberCount, 0),
 			totalRewards: famsWithStats.reduce((s, f) => s + f.totalRewards, 0),
@@ -121,6 +124,7 @@ export const load: PageServerLoad = async (event) => {
 			codeCount: 0,
 			choreTemplates: [],
 			bonusTemplates: [],
+			platformFlags: {},
 			loadError: e instanceof Error ? e.message : 'Failed to load platform data'
 		};
 	}
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.svelte
index 84c6966..f298f52 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/admin/+page.svelte
@@ -188,6 +188,20 @@
 							</button>
 						</form>
 					</div>
+					<div class="flag-row">
+						<span class="flag-name">demo</span>
+						<span class="flag-desc">Showboaters demo family with sample data for prospectus viewers</span>
+						<form method="POST" action="?/togglePlatformFlag" use:enhance>
+							<input type="hidden" name="flag" value="demo" />
+							<button
+								type="submit"
+								class="toggle-btn"
+								class:active={page.data.platformFlags?.demo}
+							>
+								{page.data.platformFlags?.demo ? 'ON' : 'OFF'}
+							</button>
+						</form>
+					</div>
 					<div class="flag-row">
 						<span class="flag-name">rewardsTargets</span>
 						<span class="flag-desc">Multi-target reward rules (Competition / Collaboration)</span>