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Abbot Kinney Festival 2014
Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanAbbot Kinney Festival 2014

16 free things to do in Los Angeles this September

Michael Juliano
Written by
Michael Juliano
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You've planned a day at one of LA's best beaches and penciled in an outdoor movie screening, but there are far more free things to do in September before summer wraps up. From a surf dog competition to a slew of summer concert finales, these are the best ways to make the most of your month without breaking into your wallet.

Sept 3-5
Fiesta Hermosa; Downtown Hermosa Beach

Strip down to your skivvies and roam the 400-plus stalls at this waterfront street fair.

Sept 3-Nov 27
Gaetano Pesce: Molds (Gelati Misti); MOCA Pacific Design Center

Scope out the colorful, pliable, body-like forms of the lauded Italian artist's cast-resin vases, chairs and lamps.

Through Sept 4
Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park; Old Zoo

Close out summer with the free series' last performances of The Tempest.

Sept 4
Rhondesia; SkyBar

Throw together your most daring ensemble for this anything-goes pool party from A Club Called Rhonda.

Sept 7
The Archive of Ice; Machine Project

Drill into the details of ice core science and encounter a piece of ancient ice during this presentation.

Photograph: Courtesy Velaslavasay Panorama

Sept 10
Los Angeles International Neon Jubilee; Velaslavasay Panorama

Celebrate the relighting of the 1939 neon Union Theatre marquee as the Velaslavasay Panorama hosts a daytime street fest (and ticketed evening reception) in its honor.

Sept 17
Glendale Open Arts & Music Festival; Glendale Central Park

Get to know Downtown Glendale at this inaugural free community festival with music performances, arts and craft markets, beer and wine gardens, access to the Museum of Neon Art and a public art installation.

Sept 24
Tarfest; La Brea Tar Pits

Pay tribute to LA's bubbly asphalt pools with this annual afternoon of live music, DJs, dance and live artwork.

Sept 24
Museum Day Live!; Various locations

Take advantage of an afternoon of free museum admission at institutions like the Autry, Grammy Museum, Japanese American National Museum and more.

Sept 24
Block Party of the Century; Downtown Culver City

Toast to Culver City's centennial with a free downtown block party as well as the ticketed "Taste of Culver City."

Sept 24, 25
Watts Towers Day of the Drum and Simon Rodia Jazz Festival; Watts Towers

Get your feet stomping at this annual duo of pan-African and jazz festivals.

Photograph: Courtesy Imeh Bryant

Through Sept 25
South Park 20 Experience; Paley Center for Media

Come on down to South Park and celebrate 20 seasons of the foul-mouthed fourth graders with photo ops, free episode screenings and a South Park-inspired art exhibit.

Sept 25
Surf City Surf Dog; Huntington Dog Beach

Start teaching your pooch how to carve waves for this annual surf competition.

Sept 25
Abbot Kinney Festival; Abbot Kinney

Take every artsy street fair you’ve ever attended and add in innumerable food trucks plus all the stereotypes about Venice.

Ongoing
Free concerts; Various locations

Listen to some tunes without breaking the bank with free shows at the Echo, the Satellite, Grand Park and more.

Ongoing
Free museum days; Various locations

Make the most of free days at LACMA, the Natural History Museum and more, plus always-free museums like the Hammer, Getty and Broad.


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