Free events in LA: The best free things to do in the city
Free events in LA are not hard to come by, if you know where to look. Use this guide to find the best free things to do.
Find free events in LA to help you rediscover the city. Explore cultural institutions like the Getty and take advantage of some of the best live music LA has to offer without opening your wallet. Cheap eats are great, but nothing beats a free day out. Get inspired for your next date night or family outing with our list of free upcoming events.
RECOMMENDED: Full list of free things to do in LA
Ever Present
Ride the monorail to the Getty on select evenings during the summer for this experimental series of ephemeral performances. Formerly known as Friday Flights, the monthly series includes live music and a cash bar, and it takes its name from an engraving that marks the entrance to Robert Irwin’s central garden at the museum: “Ever present / Never twice the same / Ever changing / Never less than whole.” Ever Present kicks off with a guided meditation from Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith on the Getty’s sloping lawn (a limited number of yoga mats will be provided), plus an opening set by Cool Maritime and Emily Sprague.
Artists & Fleas Venice
The newest flea market on the block, the Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire is bringing records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the neighborhood’s famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.
“Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop”
Celebrate the photographers responsible for helping to define hip-hop’s visual identity with this display of unedited contact sheets for famous photo shoots. Author and curator Vikki Tobak has assembled over 140 works from more than 60 photographers alongside rare videos, memorabilia and music. The era-spanning exhibition features photos of both the anonymous faces who showed up to hear early hip-hop at clubs and roller rinks in the late-’70s, as well as the genre’s biggest stars: Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Salt-N-Pepa, Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B and more. You’ll spot instantly recognizable images, as well as behind-the-scenes moments, like Nas in the studio recording Illmatic and Kanye West getting a haircut during the cover shoot for The College Dropout. The exhibition pulls from a visual book of the same name, and it features a few Annenberg-only additions, including a contact sheet of Nipsey Hussle driving around town with his daughter sitting in his lap, as well as a photo of Mac Miller playing piano that was the inspiration for a memorial mural on Beverly Boulevard.
Asssscat
Every Saturday and Sunday, the UCB franchise’s longest-running, most beloved showcase starts when a base cast of the theater’s current top-brass—including founding UCB members Matt Walsh, Matt Besser and Ian Roberts—takes the stage. Then they introduce the surprise celebrity alumnae and friends who will be joining them (think Horatio Sanz, Ben Schwartz, Adam Pally). And finally, another special guest takes the stage, a non-improviser (think Flea, Cat Power, Rebel Wilson, Lena Dunham) who opens the show with a personal story, that’s deftly mined for laughs by the players. But you have to go to find out who’s there—that’s part of the fun. Looking for a cheap night out? Sunday shows are free, but seating is first-come, first-served, so be sure to arrive early.
L.A. Zine Fest
Forget blogs: Get out from behind your computer screen and into the world of printed lit at L.A. Zine Fest. The all-day event showcases over 175 exhibitors of zines and small press publications from across the country, bringing together the best of SoCal nerds for the exchange of art, ideas and more. Don't miss the fest's free readings and workshops.
We Rise
This 10-day event brings a sense of purpose and engagement to a series of programs, performances, workshops and an art exhibition, with artists including Shepard Fairey, Geoff McFetridge, Andrea Bowers, James Jean, Swoon and more. WeRise, based at 1262 Palmetto Street, tackles the critical need for early intervention, treatment and care for mental wellbeing.
Urs Fischer: ’Play’
Weave your way across the gallery floor as nine office chairs zip by in this technology-driven installation from imagination Swiss artist Urs Fischer. The office chairs are outfitted with wires and sensors that’ll propel them across the floor in increasingly less artifical-looking fashion thanks to an onboard AI that learns from each encounter with viewers.
“David Hammons”
David Hammons is one of the most important American artists today, though you wouldn’t necessarily know it. An artist of his stature would have been recognized by now in major museum surveys, but as one of the first African-American artists to have emerged in the context of Conceptualism, he has always remained elusive and apart from the largely white art world as matter of strategy. This show at Hauser & Wirth marks his first L.A. exhibition in 45 years.
“Guillermo Kuitca”
The Argentine painter’s abstract-leaning canvases incorporate layers of architectural plans and cartographic maps.
“Book of Beasts: The Bestiary in the Medieval World”
Acquaint yourself with the real and fabled beasts of the medieval world, like unicorns, lions and griffons, through a mix of 100 paintings, illuminated manuscripts, sculptures and more.
C.O.L.A.
The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery present this annual premiere of new works from a dozen handpicked local artists.
Fiesta Hermosa
Roam the 400 stalls at this arts festival, sample the fine foods and listen to the music—and then take a dip in the nearby Pacific. Look out for the Fiesta over both Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
Angel City Heritage Music & Arts Festival
Angel City Brewery celebrates its birthday with the Heritage Music & Arts Festival. The annual beer, food, art and music festival features brewmaster-led tours every hour for a behind-the-scenes look at how house craft brews are made. Fill up on grub from local food trucks, and when you’re ready to break from eating and drinking, rock out to L.A. musical talents, check out live painting, and rummage through artisanal wares from local artisans at the Beer Bazaar.
The Sesame Street Road Trip
Can you tell me how to get to… a pop-up, kid-friendly festival that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Sesame Street? Actually, not yet: This nationwide road trip has yet to announce its L.A. location. But familiar Sesame Street faces will show up this August for a stage show, giant maze, treasure dig, photo ops and a cookies-and-milk snack station.
So Cal Corgi Beach Day
Is it the stumpy legs? The size-too-big ears? The woolly rump? Whatever the cause, we love corgis, and so do the devoted dog owners at So Cal Corgi Nation. This semiannual meetup often invades the Huntington Dog Beach (100 Goldenwest St), just north of the southern entrance by Tower 22, but make sure to check the event's Facebook page for the latest location. RECOMMENDED: The cutest corgis at Corg-A-Palooza
Lotus Festival
Celebrate the bloom of Echo Park Lake’s beloved floating flowers with the annual Lotus Festival. Expect plenty of food, music, dragon boat races and—fingers crossed—the lotus flower beds in full bloom. The historic event celebrates the contributions of Asian-Americans to L.A., and this year, the 39th, will honor the Thai community.
Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park
Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. Independent Shakespeare Co. puts 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 season’s headliners: Twelfth Night and Pericles. Insider tip: Before the show starts, grab a bite from the concession tent, which features sweet treats from the Village Bakery & Cafe, homemade kettle corn and more.
Urban Air Market
Stock up on handmade wares at this open-air artisan market in Los Feliz, with more than 100 sustainable and ethical fashion brands. Find the market at the intersection of Hillhurst and Franklin.
US Open of Surfing
America’s largest pro surfing competition attracts the world’s elite, who compete for big money while wowing 200,000 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.
Lummis Day Festival
Celebrate the history and ethnic diversity of northeast Los Angeles at this annual music, dance and art festival. The three-day affair honors the late Charles Lummis, the journalist who founded the Southwest Museum, hand-built his own home (the Lummis House) and defended Native American rights and culture.
Picture This!
Animation meets live comedy at this stand-up series from Brandie Posey and Sam Varela. Comedians perform on-stage as local artists sketch them—and cross their fingers for a smooth reveal of the drawing. Of course, since this is L.A., you can expect top-notch talent among both the comedians and animators.
EA Play
Get your hands on some of the biggest upcoming releases in the gaming world as publisher EA hosts this public-facing fan event. Each timed ticket to the mini expo at the Hollywood Palladium includes the chance to play Battlefied V, Apex Legends, Anthem and a slew of EA Sports titles, as well as an inside look at the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
‘Bauhaus Beginnings’
Dive into the founding principles of the influential German art school at this Getty Research Institute exhibition, which includes over 250 rare prints, drawings, collages, notebooks and ephemera from the Bauhaus’s founding and early years.
Final Fridays
Nosh on bites from a rotating lineup of food trucks during this monthly hangout just outside the Rose Bowl, complete with foot golf, outdoor games, moon bounces, photo ops and stadium tours. Even entry is through the northern end of Lot K, just southwest of the stadium.
Mar Vista Art Walk
This fun neighborhood stroll highlights the numerous artists, musicians, shops and galleries of Mar Vista, where huge vivid murals brighten exterior walls everywhere you look. Since launching in 2015, the quarterly event has dramatically expanded, now featuring several clusters of activity along Venice Boulevard. Catch local musicians and performers throughout the evening, artists selling their works as well as creating new ones on the spot, grab food from trucks, and browse galleries and shops that stay open late. The walk takes place the first Thursday of March, June, September and November, each time featuring a different theme and the artists are curated by Monique Boileau and Mitchelito Orquiola.