You've planned a day at one of L.A.'s best beaches and figured out where to see fireworks, but there are far more free things to do in July after the long weekend. From an OC surf fest to a slew of summer concerts kickoffs, these are the best ways to make the most of your month without breaking into your wallet.
July 1–Sept 17
Paul McCarthy + Takesada Matsutani + Monika Sosnowska; Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles
Catch a trio of contemporary art exhibitions this summer at the Arts District gallery.
July 1
So Cal Corgi Beach Day; Rosie's Dog Beach
Hit the beach with fellow devoted dog owners at this adorable corgi meetup.
July 2, 3
'Merica Fest'; Angel City Brewery
Salute the nation at this all-American party, complete with a beer garden, barbecue and backyard games.
July 4
Fourth of July Block Party; Grand Park
Watch Downtown L.A. light up for free at this patriotic street party.
July 5–26
Summer Concert Series at the Grove; The Grove
Head to the alfresco shopping mall for nostalgia-drenched concerts from the Gin Blossoms, Letters to Cleo, Asia and more.
July 6–27
Rebel Rebel; Hammer Museum
Catch a month of female-fronted acts during this free Thursday night concert series at the Hammer.
Photograph: Courtesy Silver Lake Picture Show
July 6, 20
Silver Lake Picture Show; Sunset Triangle Plaza
Catch free film screenings at Silver Lake's pedestrian plaza, including The Notebook and A League of Their Own this month.
July 7
Ringo Starr's Peace & Love Birthday; Capitol Records Building
Join the iconic Beatles drummer to celebrate his 77th birthday and a call for peace and love.
July 8
Tiki Night; Egyptian Theatre
Travel to the tropics during this annual celebration of all things tiki, starting with a free art, memorabilia and clothing market.
July 8, 9
Renegade Craft Fair; L.A. State Historic Park
Stock up on handmade wares at the mother of all indie craft fairs.
July 14, 28
Summer Nights in the Garden; Natural History Museum
Spend an evening outside with live music, garden-inspired cocktails, hands-on science projects, botanical tours and food trucks.
July 15, 16
Lotus Festival; Echo Park Lake
Celebrate the bloom of Echo Park Lake's beloved floating flowers with this food, music and cultural fest.
July 15, 22, 29
Sound in Focus; Century Park
Catch headlining sets from Miguel, Paul Oakenfold and Rodrigo y Gabriela at this KCRW and Annenberg-presented series.
Photograph: Courtesy JapanLA/Dave Tada
Through July 24
Studio Ghibli Pop-Up Shop; JapanLA
Stock up on limited-edition plush and apparel inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films during the first official U.S. pop-up shop from the iconic studio.
July 27–Aug 31
Sunset Concerts at the Skirball; Skirball Cultural Center
Grab a seat in the Skirball's courtyard for the kickoff of this free concert series, starting with Sean Watkins.
July 29–Aug 6
U.S. Open of Surfing; Huntington Beach
Hit the beach to cheer on the country's biggest pro surfers at this annual competition.
Through July 30
American Horror Story: The Style of Scare; Paley Center for Media
Get creeped out with a visually stunning assortment of costumes, set pieces and props from every season of the chilling anthology series.
Through Aug 17
Twilight Concerts; Santa Monica Pier
Listen to tunes by the beach as this beloved series continues with sets this month from Marcia Griffiths, Eric Burdon & the Animals and Miami Horror.
Through Aug 18
Shakespeare by the Sea; Various locations
Enjoy one of the many free performances of Macbeth or The Taming of the Shrew put on by Shakespeare by the Sea throughout summer.
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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