22 Free Things To Do in L.A. Before Summer is Over

Feeling like you didn’t get out enough this summer? Were you a hermit crab secretly longing to be a social butterfly? Don’t fret. Change is possible.

There are still plenty of free things to do in Los Angeles between now and the turn to fall. And if you need to play catch-up, below is the list for you. Hope you find something to spark adventure.

Free Things To Do Until the End of Summer

LIFE CYCLES at Japan House LA -> Starting July 28, you can visit Japan House LA to see Tanabe Chikuunsai IV’s LIFE CYCLES exhibition, which includes a large-scale installation built from 10,000 woven bamboo strips held together by tension. The exhibition runs through January 15, 2023. Japan House is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More info here.

Night Sky Festival -> The Santa Monica Mountains National Park Service hosts Park After Dark: Night Sky Festival at Paramount Ranch on July 30. The event includes telescopic viewing of the stars and kid-friendly activities. Event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. More info here.

Dance DTLA -> The Music Center’s signature summer series continues on Fridays through September 2. Dance instructors will be on hand to teach guests easy-to-follow steps, allowing everyone to get into the groove right from the jump. Very family-friendly and very free. No reservation required. More info here. More info here.

Steep Summer Market -> Eat, drink and shop small local businesses during Steep’s bi-annual Summer Market on August 6. The outdoor event includes over 20 local food vendors, local makers, and independent businesses. Runs 5 to 9 p.m. More info here.

Shakespeare in The Park -> ISC’s Shakespeare in The Park concludes the summer with performances of Macbeth in Griffith Park on Wednesdays to Sundays starting August 6. The productions are free to attend, but donations are strongly encouraged. More info here.

Summer Night Cinema -> On Tuesday, August 2, Summer Night Cinema at The Hammer screens Fanny: The Right to Rock, a 2021 documentary centering on a 60’s era Filipina-American garage band that almost made it big. The series then continues with two more films to wrap up the summer: The documentary Wattstax on August 9, and George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing on August 16. All events feature gallery access, plus drinks and bar bites for purchase. More info here.

Angel City Brewery Avocado Fest -> On August 6, Angel City Brewery celebrates the release of two crowd-favorite seasonal brews – Avocado Ale and Guavocado Ale with a party featuring a DJ, Aerialist, food, and avocado themed games such as avocado juggling and an avocado eating contest. More info here.

Girlpool at Amoeba -> Catch a free performance by Girlpool at Amoeba Music on August 10. Show is all-ages starts at 5 p.m. More info here.

Levitt Pavilion Concerts -> The summer-long series of free concerts at McArthur Park goes on hiatus for the first weekend of August before picking back up with Friday-Sunday events every week through September 4. All free to attend. No reservation required. More info here.

KCRW Summer Nights -> KCRW’s signature summer concert series continues next month with a visit to Descanso Gardens (August 13) featuring sets by KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez and Jeremy Sole. Things keep going with a Chinatown Summer Nights edition on August 20, an event at the Bowers Museum on August 28, and then a Grand Performances visit on September 3 featuring Allison Russell. The series concludes with events at One Colorado (September 9 & 10) and then MOCA/JANM (September 22 & 29). See the full schedule and get more info here.

The LA 6 and the Underground -> The Torrance Art Museum’s latest main gallery resident is a new photography exhibition called The LA 6 and the Underground, which focuses its lens the inner city areas of Los Angeles, including Boyle Heights, Compton and DTLA. TAM is always free to visit. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info here.

Moonlight Movies on the Beach -> Long Beach’s most prolific outdoor movie series has six more dates (Tuesdays or Thursdays) between now and August 18. Films left on the docket include Weird Science, Spiderman: No Way Home, Luca, Star Wars Rogue One, The Princess Bride, and The Wizard of Oz.

Summer of Salsa ->  La Plaza de Cultura y Artes has two nights left in its Summer of Salsa concert schedule: La Obsesión and DJ Jimmy Rumba on August 19 and La Verdad and DJ Robby on September 9. Both events start at 6 p.m. Free to attend, no RSVP required. More info here.

CicLAvia – Meet the Hollywoods -> L.A.’s signature open streets event returns on August 21 with a 6.6 mile, car-free course spanning Hollywood Blvd, Highland Ave, and Santa Monica Blvd, stretching from the city limits of West Hollywood to an East Hollywood hub at the Vermont/Sunset Metro station. More info here.

Skirball Sunset Concerts -> Skirball Cultural Center Sunset Concerts continues every Thursday through August 25. The eclectic lineup of headliners for August includes Nefesh Mountain, Booker T. Jones,
ADG7, and Son Rompe Pera. Complimentary access to the museum’s exhibitions is included with entry. Get more info here.

D*Face at Corey Helford Gallery -> A new solo U.S. exhibition from world-renowned London-based artist D*Face, entitled Painting Over the Cracks opens on Saturday, August 6 at Corey Helford Gallery. On view through September 10, the show will feature over 70 new works and installations over two spaces in the gallery.

Off the 405 -> The Getty’s live music series concludes on August 27 with a performance by Standing on the Corner. Free tickets will be released starting on August 13. Event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Parking is extra. More info here.

Leimert Park Jazz Festival -> Catch over 8 hours of Jazz sets plus an arts pavilion, kids zone, wine lounge, and food trucks on August 27 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall. Admission is free, but VIP packages are available including shaded seating, drink tickets, and a meal. More info here.

Getty 25 -> This summer, The Getty has marked its 25th anniversary via a series of free pop-up community festivals held throughout Los Angeles County. Each event highlights curated experiences reflective of the host community, including interactive workshops, live music and performances, an artisan marketplace, food trucks, giveaways, photo booths, and more. The series concludes this August with events in Crenshaw (August 13-14) and Watts (August 27-28). More info here.

Summer Saturdays at Hauser & Wirth’s Garden -> Spend an afternoon enjoying music and cocktails in a garden and art setting during Summer Saturdays at Hauser & Wirth. Located in the Arts District no tickets are required to hang out in the garden where Manuela will be serving specialty drinks featuring items from the garden. Hauser & Wirth galleries will also be open that day for the public to explore. Events take place August 20 and September 17. More info here.

End of Summer Bash -> On August 27, One Colorado in Old Pasadena marks the end of summer with a special afternoon event featuring carnival games, a photo booth, live music, and a beer garden. More info here.

El Segundo Art Walk -> The El Segundo Art Walk is a self-guided art tour featuring over 50 business and works from 60 individual artists. Expect live music, art installations, a beer garden, and more. Runs 3 to 9 p.m. on August 27. Free to attend. More info here.

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