Here’s a Cheatsheet of Free Museum Days in L.A. For December 2022

As I said in last month’s free museum guide, the holiday season isn’t when museums generally rev up their free admission initiatives. Nonetheless, this month does have a few events of note at local museums and/or cultural landmarks that I want to highlight. Here are a few freebies that caught my eye:

• MOCA Together Thursdays (December 1 & 8) offer free admission, extended hours, and shuttle service between the two MOCA Downtown campuses.
• LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes is hosting an open house on December 3 for their new Legacy of Cacao exhibition. LA Plaza is always free to visit.
• Campo de Cahuenga hosts LUMINARIA on December 4, a community gathering put together by the Studio City Neighborhood Council that offers free admission to the historic adobe ranch.
• California African American Museum hosts a Black Comics Festival on December 10 featuring a keynote by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and screenwriter/novelist Aaron Covington. CAAM is always free to visit.
• The Gamble House gets festive on December 11 with decorations, live seasonal music, and shopping, plus free self-guided walk-throughs (a fairly rare occurrence!) of the historic home’s first floor.

Now, as I always say, if you want to review all your free options, make sure to review our big list of free museum days here. As for this month’s schedule, see below!

Free Museum Days in Los Angeles for December 2022

[DECEMBER 1] The Huntington (free every first Thursday. Note that you have to reserve passes for the free day in advance, and it books up fast. Reservations for December 1 free day has SOLD OUT, but if you want to try for January, check back on the week of Christmas)

[DECEMBER 1] Japanese American National Museum (free every Thursday)

[DECEMBER 1] Skirball Cultural Center (free on Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 1] USC Pacific Asian Museum (pay what you wish every Thursday)

[DECEMBER 1] Martial Arts Museum (free every first Thursday of the month from 3 to 6 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 2] Kidspace Children’s Museum (SOLD OUT … Free from 4 to 7 p.m. every first Friday. Advanced reservation required. Reservations open two weeks out from date of event).

[DECEMBER 4] Museum of Latin American Art (free every Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 4] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can every Sunday)

[DECEMBER 8] Japanese American National Museum (free every Thursday)

[DECEMBER 8] Skirball Cultural Center (free on Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 8] USC Pacific Asian Museum (pay what you wish every Thursday)

[DECEMBER 11] Museum of Latin American Art (free every Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 11] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can every Sunday)

[DECEMBER 11 USC Pacific Asian Museum (free admission every second Sunday)

[DECEMBER 13] Los Angeles County Museum of Art (free on the second Tuesday of each month. Also free for L.A. County residents with valid I.D. after 3 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays all month long)

[DECEMBER 13] Autry Museum of the American West (free on the second Tuesday of the month)

[DECEMBER 15] Japanese American National Museum (free every Thursday)

[DECEMBER 15] Skirball Cultural Center (free on Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 15]] USC Pacific Asian Museum (pay what you wish every Thursday)

[DECEMBER 18] Museum of Latin American Art (free every Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 18] Craft and Folk Art Museum (pay what you can every Sunday)

[DECEMBER 20] Los Angeles County Arboretum (free on the third Tuesday of each month. Limited reservations available starting December 1)

[DECEMBER 20] South Coast Botanic Garden (free on the third Tuesday of each month. Limited reservations available)

[DECEMBER 20] Descanso Gardens (free on the third Tuesday of each month. Limited reservations available starting December 1)

[DECEMBER 22] Japanese American National Museum (free every Thursday)

[DECEMBER 22] Skirball Cultural Center (free on Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 22] USC Pacific Asian Museum (pay what you wish every Thursday)

** NOTE THAT ALL MUSEUMS MENTIONED ON THIS LIST WILL BE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY **

[DECEMBER 29] Japanese American National Museum (free every Thursday)

[DECEMBER 29] Skirball Cultural Center (free on Thursdays, noon to 5 p.m.)

[DECEMBER 29] USC Pacific Asian Museum (pay what you wish every Thursday)

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As a reminder, it’s ALWAYS good to verify the status of free days before you visit, so be sure to check the official museum websites to verify visiting hours, parking costs, and any other pertinent details. Keep in mind free admission days may not include specially ticketed exhibitions. For any errors, omissions, or corrections, please email us at [email protected].

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