Free things to do in Los Angeles this month

It’s not just for big-budget action scenes: The L.A. River inspires and supports artistic creations of all sizes and scopes, and you can check a bunch of them out during this annual event from Friends of the L.A. River. Swing by L.A. State Historic Park for live music, performances by Aztec dance company Xipe Totec and eco-minded art activities, as well as food trucks and a marketplace with 40 booths from local vendors. Admission is free, but registration is required, so book your tickets online ahead of time. 

For the fourth annual installment of Live at the Music Center—a free summer concert under the stars—five-time Grammy winner esperanza spalding will bring her iconic bass-infused tunes and breathy vocals to the stage at Jerry Moss Plaza. Pack a picnic (sans alcohol), bring some chairs (no higher than 18 inches off the ground) and settle in for a night of spalding’s cool, jazzy sounds. No tickets are required, but RSVPing online is encouraged.

It’s that time of year again, Angelenos—the Arts District’s Angel City Brewery is back with its annual Avocado Fest, where adventurous beer lovers can order up a Kölsch-style avocado ale infused with fresh avo, cilantro and lime juice (plus a tropical take, the Guavocado Ale). Throughout the afternoon, expect all sorts of avocado-themed bites and activities, including avo juggling, pit counting and eating contests. Pair your pour with some shopping at a makers’ market hosted by the SoCal Etsy Guild.

The Wende Museum in Culver City is hosting its inaugural Zine Fest this weekend—a free celebration of creativity and independent publishing. Shop work from over 40 L.A. artists, try your hand at zine-making and figure-drawing at workshops, browse a pop-up library and check out the museum’s collection of Cold War-era underground “samizdat” publications—a reminder of the important role self-publishing has always played in resistance.

America’s largest pro surfing competition attracts the world’s elite, who compete for big money while wowing thousands of beach boys and girls with their skill, grace and innovative board designs. Heating up the festivities are live bands, a sports expo and after-parties with the friendly locals.

This two-weekend event celebrates Japanese culture with displays of taiko drumming, tea ceremonies, calligraphy, dancing and more. Crowds of nisei—the word refers to the first generation of Japanese to be born in America—gather for festivities and a parade through Little Tokyo that culminates with the coronation of the Nisei Week Queen (Aug 10, 4pm). The following weekend, the Nisei Week Plaza Festival offers plenty of live entertainment, shopping, games, Japanese food and sake. Most events are free and centered around the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, with the exception of Crazy Talented Asians—a showcase of AAPI creativity at the David Henry Hwang Theater (Aug 16, 8pm, $45). Find the full calendar of events here.

Just when you thought Shakespeare was sounding a little, well, dated, enter the Actors’ Gang. Each summer, the Culver City theater spins a different play from the Bard into a high-energy, family-friendly and free-to-attend production, often wrapped in an irreverent theme (think everything from Toy Story to Power Rangers). This time around, All’s Well That Ends Well gets an hour-long outer-space-meets-wild-west adaptation dubbed Roswell That Ends Well. You’ll find the play the first four weekends in August at Culver City’s Media Park.

We’ve seen plenty of hotels host poolside screenings, but this limited-time collab between Disney+ and booking platform Swimply is turning otherwise private, backyard pools into themed screenings—that you can attend for free. Look out for Alien in Northeast L.A., Honey, I Shrunk the Kids in La Habra and Camp Rock in the Valley. Note that space for each event is limited.

The Hammer revives its series of outdoor concerts, staying open late on three summer nights for an eclectic lineup of concerts, art-making, cocktails and food. Swing by on July 17 for L.A. rock band Dummy, July 31 for Colombian vallenato group Very Be Careful and August 19 for art rapper Open Mike Eagle. Each night kicks off with a happy hour (6:30–7:30pm) and DJ set, plus after-hours access to the museum galleries. The shows are free and first-come, first-served, but RSVPing ahead of time is encouraged. 

About a month and a half before the start of the NFL season, you can see the Chargers take the field at their training facility in El Segundo—and for free, no less. For four weeks in July and August, the team holds practices at the Bolt that are open to the public, with covered bleacher seating behind the north end zone. Admission is limited to 1,500 fans per session; tickets are available the Monday prior to each practice week (so sessions from July 21 to 26, for example, are available to book on July 14). Look out for a handful of themed days, including a family day, a celebration of women in sports and a happy hour with some Chargers legends—just note that select days are exclusive to season ticket holders.

A free, all-ages music and comedy festival that celebrates L.A.’s vibrant Eastside—what’s not to like? Now in its 15th year, Echo Park Rising is a one-day fest featuring dozens of performances from handpicked local up-and-coming bands and comedians. With Echo Park venues ranging from the Echo, Echoplex and Stories Books & Cafe to the Semi-Tropic, P.F. Candle Co. and Lowboy, as well as various special discounts and sales at local businesses, this is always a neighborhood affair not to be missed. Get the party started early with pre-festival family-friendly festivities at the Echo Park Farmers’ Market Friday at 3pm. 

On August 16, the Sunset Strip will return to its glory days when it was the epicenter of rock ‘n’ roll with a vinyl and music memorabilia market in the Pink Dot’s parking lot. Mix and mingle among booths from local record stores and vintage vendors while grooving to an all-vinyl DJ set. Tickets are free, but reservations are encouraged and can be made here (plus you’ll be entered in a giveaway). Stores and restaurants along the Strip are also getting in on the action with deals and specials, plus Sunset House LA is hosting a one-day gallery pop-up of music photography, there’s an official happy hour down the street at the Andaz, and Hotel Ziggy will keep the fun going at an after-party starting at 6pm.

Catch family-friendly performers during this annual summertime concert series in the Getty’s beautiful Central Garden, where kids can dance and sing along to the likes of 123 Andrés, Kymberly Stewart and Divinity Roxx. Picnics and blankets are welcome—lawn chairs, glass and alcohol are not. All the concerts are free, and you won’t need a ticket, though you will need a timed museum reservation.

Drive down the newly reopened PCH to the Malibu Pier and support the city’s small businesses as they rebuild and recover in the wake of the Palisades Fire. Every second Sunday this summer, the boardwalk will be filled with free live music (courtesy of Aviator Nation Dreamland), food and drink, plus pop-ups from local vendors. A portion of every purchase will support California State Parks. What better way to spend a summer Sunday?

One of L.A.’s best free live-music offerings, Jazz at LACMA has featured legit legends over its three-decade run at the museum. Seating for the program is available in the museum’s plaza on a first-come, first-served basis, though you’re welcome to picnic on the grass, too (you won’t really be able to see the show, but you’ll still hear it). You’ll find the series on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light) throughout the summer.

See a free salsa concert every second Friday of the summer—plus a rescheduled show on July 25—during this series at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. This year’s lineup includes Gabrielito y La Verdad, the Echo Park Project, Arsenio Rodriguez Project and Conjunto Oye!—all featuring Super DJ Robby. Each night kicks off with a free salsa dance class at 6pm, courtesy of Dancing 101 with Roberto. 

The Original Farmers Market is host to a plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor events, and its Thursday-night concerts during its Summer Music Series are some of its best. Take a load off near the end of the work week and stop by the Market Plaza from 7 to 9pm to hear a genre-spanning mix of live music. The series runs through August, but July is Altadena Musicians Month—nonprofit Altadena Musicians will be on hand collecting monetary and musical donations for artists impacted by the wildfires who’ve been separated from their instruments.

The Skirball puts on its annual series of free summer concerts, highlighting indie, folk and world music from L.A. and beyond. Guests can arrive early and visit the museum’s galleries for free, dine under the stars and grab a seat for the show in the beautiful central courtyard. The concert is free (and reservations are recommended), but parking is $20.

This summer’s lineup includes Helado Negro and Rodrigo Amarante (July 17), Meridian Brothers and La Perla (July 24), Frente Cumbiero and MULA (July 31) and Say She She and JOJO ABOT (Aug 7).

Wind down the weekend with a five-hour late-afternoon dance party on Grand Park’s performance lawn during this summer tradition. On two Sundays this summer (July 20 and August 17), head on over to the segment of the park just north of Hill Street for DJ sets celebrating L.A.’s house scene. Bring your own picnic gear or hit up the on-site food trucks.

Watch a movie inside Pasadena’s charming One Colorado shopping plaza during this free summer series. If you happened to have spent at least $50 per person cumulatively at the shopping center’s vendors earlier in the day, you’ll nab free VIP seating, which includes popcorn and a beverage, plus a free ticket to the IPIC.

Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. For 15 years running, Independent Shakespeare Co. has put on a series of lively productions each week, inviting audiences to take a seat on the grass (read: bring a picnic blanket) and enjoy performances like this month’s headliner—not Shakespeare, in fact, but Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. With construction of a permanent stage currently in process on the main lawn, this summer’s shows will again be held in the dell at the top of the Old Zoo—meaning available space is smaller, and although performances are still free, reservations are required.

This epic (and free) outdoor concert series features live performances by artists from around the world at the totally overhauled California Plaza stage in DTLA, where the shallow water separating the stage from the audience has been replaced by a proper event lawn. Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix of bands, DJ sets and dance parties. Saturday nights through August 23 you’ll find free concerts (though you should RSVP ahead of time to reserve a spot). And on Friday nights, you’ll find a mix of poetry, film and classical music during Fridays in the Amphitheater. 

Swing by Redondo Beach’s Fisherman’s Wharf on Thursday and Saturday evenings in the summer for a free series of concerts held on the west end of the pier. You can expect tribute shows on Thursdays (from the Eagles to Oasis cover bands) and local contemporary acts on Saturdays.

You know it’s summer in L.A. when the live outdoor music starts swelling all over the city, including at MacArthur Park’s Levitt Pavilion. The free Westlake concert series returns this summer with 10 Saturday shows. Expect a genre-spanning mix of local acts that range from cumbia to hip-hop to jazz fusion to punk. No RSVP is needed—just bring yourself, a lawn chair, a picnic, good company and open ears.

Take a seat under the arch at the former Hollywood & Highland for this free series of movie screenings, typically held on the last Friday of the month. Stop by the Ovation Hollywood booth for free popcorn and discounted treats from the TCL Chinese Theatre concessions stand.

The best things in life really are free—love, happiness and an evening spent watching movies on a giant inflatable screen at the beach. On select dates from June until August, pack up your folding chairs, grab your kids and head to Long Beach for this unique outdoor screening. Thanks to Alfredo’s Beach Club, you can give your babysitter the night off while you and the fam enjoy a host of kid-friendly flicks. Bring your own picnic, or munch on eats from the nearby snack stand. You’ll find the event on Granada Beach.

Summer’s just heating up, but thanks to a returning summer event series it’s set to be scorching: Beginning May 29, Santa Monica mainstay the Bungalow will host its night market every Thursday just a block from the beach. Over the summer, expect food from the likes of Tacos 1986, House of Empanadas, Lei’d Cookies and All About the Cinnamon. As in previous years, families can enjoy a kids’ play area with complimentary face painting. The event will  will also feature a variety of brand activations, celebrity guest appearances, and DJ and musical performances with more info to be announced as the summer kicks off. The fun runs every Thursday night through Labor Day, from 5 to 11pm. 

Culver City’s E Line–adjacent mixed-use development presents this free series of screenings, held on the lawn right next to the Metro stop. This summer’s slate revisits classic high school movies, including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You and Mean Girls. Tickets are free and include complimentary popcorn and two hours of parking validation.

The Getty Villa reopens to the public five and a half months after its Palisades Fire closure with this international loan exhibition dedicated to the Greek Mycenaean civilization and the kingdom of Pylos, which Homer immortalized in the Iliad and Odyssey. It’s the first major museum show in North America devoted to the Late Bronze Age Mycenaeans. See treasures excavators unearthed from Messenia, the Palace of Nestor and burial sites including the tomb of the Griffin Warrior (1450 BCE)—think clay tablets, gold cups, ornate weapons and tiny signets and sealstones adorned with awe-inspiring amounts of detail. 

The Getty Center’s new featured exhibition explores the transformative role photography has played in the history of the LGBTQ+ community as a tool for exploring gender, sexuality and self-expression since the mid-1800s. See examples of the homosocial, homoerotic and homosexual imagery that helped shape the world’s awareness of queer life. During your visit, be sure to check out the accompanying exhibition “$3 Bill: Evidence of Queer Lives,” a look at the contributions of LGBTQ+ artists in the last century, in the museum’s Research Institute Galleries. 

The California Science Center is inviting kids to get in the game with a new 17,000-square-foot exhibition about the power of play and the human body in motion. Besides teaching about the science behind sports, it also offers interactive challenges and video coaching from a team of Los Angeles-based mentor athletes including dancer Debbie Allen, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, Olympic medalist softball player Rachel Garcia and more. For the first time ever, the center has commissioned public art—all by local artists—to complement the exhibition, including a Dodgers mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. The free exhibition kicks off May 15 and will remain at the Science Center at least through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Broad’s upcoming special exhibition makes its way to Downtown L.A. from the 2024 Venice Biennale, where Jeffrey Gibson became the first Indigenous artist to represent the United States with a solo exhibition. Known for his signature use of geometric patterns, patterned text, vibrant color, glass beads and found objects, the Colorado-born artist explores his Indigenous identity and pays tribute to histories of resistance in thought-provoking and optimistic ways. The first-floor galleries will be transformed into a kaleidoscopic environment with 10 paintings, seven sculptures, eight flags, three murals and one video installation by Gibson. Expect an accompanying slate of performances, talks and workshops.

The Skirball’s latest pop culture exhibition takes a deep dive into the six-decade career of legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby. You might know him as the co-creator of Captain America, Black Panther, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and some of the Marvel universe’s most cosmic characters. But did you know he was also a first-generation Jewish American born to immigrant parents, World War II veteran and family man who split his time between New York and Los Angeles? Learn about his life and see Kirby’s original comic illustrations, as well as other works—many on view for the first time. Tickets to the Skirball will cost you $18—except on Thursdays, when entry is free with a reservation.