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Frequent readers of our site have probably noticed our ongoing collaboration with L.A. Metro over the past few weeks. The result? Fresh guides every Wednesday giving you the skinny on great free Los Angeles-area events you can get to by bus or rail.
But as we roll into June, Metro has tasked us with a special assignment. They wanted us to create the definitive guide to freebies in Los Angeles for the first leg of summer, 2023. So we scoured our inbox, event sites, and venues around the county to put together the handiest guide we could make. And as it turns out, almost all (like over 90%) of the free items on our list are Metro-accessible.
That’s pretty cool, because it means there are dozens of options for Angelenos who don’t want to drive, don’t want to shell out for gas, and don’t want to deal with the two parking lots (the one on the freeway and the one at the event).
And with the new Regional Connector opening on June 16, there will be even greater accessibility/service to Metro riders who are transiting through and within DTLA.
Bottom line: If you love free events in our city, chances are good Metro can get you there. The question is, where do you want to go?
Ideas start below.
Free Things To Do
M = Metro Accessible
June 9 M – Summer of Salsa kicks off at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes with a performance by Conjunto Oye! Go Metro: Take the B, D or L Lines to Union Station
June 9 M – Jazz at LACMA hosts a free concert a Scmidt Welcome Plaza featuring Theo Saunders Quartet. Go Metro: Take line 217 along Fairfax Ave or line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
June 10 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts with Nortec Bostich + Fussible, Nunca Jamas, La Banda Elástica DJ’s. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Westlake MacArthur Park station OR take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
June 10 M – June Jubilee: A Celebration of Black Excellence at the Central Library includes special speakers, workshops, informative discussions, live entertainment and family friendly interactive activities. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Pershing Square.
June 10 M – Grand Performances presents live showcases by 2023 COLA Artist Fellows Daniel Corral, David Ulin, and Jasmine Orpilla. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Pershing Square.
June 10 M – The Brevet performs at One Colorado in Old Pasadena as part of the Summer Sounds series Go Metro: Take the L Line to Memorial Park Station.
June 10 M – Music Under the Stars brings a live classical concert to Pasadena City Hall. Go Metro: Take the L Line to Memorial Park Station.
June 10 M – The 20th annual TARFEST music and arts festival held at Pan Pacific Park includes a day of interactive art by local artists and cultural musical performances. Go Metro: Take Line 16 along 3rd St OR Line 14 along Beverly Blvd.
June 10 M – Self-Help Graphics hosts a Family Workshop with American Museum of Ceramic Art Mud Mobile team at the East Los Angeles Library. Go Metro: Take the L Line to East LA Civic Center Station.
June 10 M – The Music Center’s Digital Innovation Initiative presents Cosmogony, a mind-altering digital dance performance broadcasted from Geneva, straight to the screens of Jerry Moss Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station.
June 10 M – The City of Pasadena hosts a PRIDE Movie in the Park screening of To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar in Central Park. Go Metro: Take the L Line to Del Mar station.
June 11 M – The annual LA Pride Parade brings performances, music a street fair, and more to Hollywood Blvd. Go Metro: Take the B Line to Hollywood / Highland station.
June 11 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts with Boogaloo Assassins, DJ Clifton Weaver aka DJ Soft Touch. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
June 11 M – Manhattan Village invites the public to participate in free outdoor Summer Health & Wellness classes from Corepower Yoga, Coreology and Cyclebar. Go Metro: Take Line 232 along Sepulveda Blvd.
June 11 – Sunday Funday at The Wallis returns in June with a kid-friendly performance by Nathalia, plus a dance session with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy.
June 11 M – The Hammer’s Family Flicks series screens A Hard Day’s Night (1964). Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd OR take Line 761 to Wilshire / Westwood.
June 12 M – The next edition of Astronomy on Tap pops up in Pasadena at Dog Haus Biergarten. Go Metro: Take the L Line to Del Mar station.
June 14 M – The Music Center’s Love Amplified Poetry Jam includes an outdoor screening of the short film Black is Beautiful followed by a poetry jam that includes spoken word, dance and music. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station.
June 15 M – Zócalo Public Square presents How Does a Community Save Itself?, an discussion with 2023 Zócalo Book Prize winner Michelle Wilde Anderson. Go Metro: Take the A or E line to Pico station OR take Lines 35/38 along Broadway.
June 16-18 – Grab a free ride on Metro! To coincide with the opening of the Regional Connector in Downtown Los Angeles, L.A. Metro will offer free rides on all Metro bus, rail, bike across all of Los Angeles County.
June 16 M – Bloomsday at The Hammer celebrates author James Joyce with an evening of stage readings, plus live traditional Irish music by Rattle the Knee and plenty of Guinness on tap. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd OR take Line 761 to Wilshire / Westwood.
June 16 M – Jazz at LACMA hosts a free concert a Scmidt Welcome Plaza featuring Katalyst. Go Metro: Take Line 217 along Fairfax Ave or line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
June 17 M – Grand Performances presents a performance by Iranian musician, poet, singer, and social activist Shahin Najafi. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
June 17 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts features Pan Afrikan People’s Arkestra, presented by dublab. Go Metro: Take B or D Lines to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
June 17 M – Arcy Drive performs at One Colorado in Old Pasadena as part of the Summer Sounds series Go Metro: Take the A line to the Memorial Park station.
June 17 M – The Music Center’s Digital Innovation Initiative presents Cosmogony, a mind-altering digital dance performance broadcasted from Geneva, straight to the screens of Jerry Moss Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station.
June 17-18 M – 30th annual Pasadena Chalk Festival pops up at the Plaza of the Pasadena Convention Center. Go Metro: Take the A Line to the Memorial Park station.
June 18 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts hosts a Father’s Day celebration with Utopia DJ’s KG Superstar + DJ Adé, Katalyst Collective. Go Metro: Take B or D Lines to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
June 18 M – CicLAvia South L.A. returns with a car-free course along Vermont Avenue. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo/Vermont station.
June 18 M – Juneteenth Wellness Day at California African American Museum includes a Self-Care Yoga session and Sound Bath. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo Park station.
June 18 – Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance is a free Father’s Day car show in the heart of Beverly Hill.
June 19 M – Leimert Park Juneteenth Festival brings 300 Black owned businesses and multiple stages of live music and DJs to Leimert Park. Go Metro: Take the K Line to Leimert Park station.
June 22 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Twelfth Night at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro. Go Metro: Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey.
June 22 – The City of San Gabriel kicks off summer with a Surf’s Up Block Party featuring live entertainment, fun activities such an inflatable rock wall, food trucks and more.
June 23 M – The Music Center’s Dance DTLA hosts an evening of Hip Hop. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station.
June 23 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts hosts a Tribute to Mexican Composer Agustín Lara featuring Julian Torres & Marco Antonio Godoy, and Trio Casablanca. Go Metro: Take B or D Lines to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
June 23 M – Grand Performances presents The Poetry of Pride with Brian Sonia-Wallace. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
June 23 M – Peterson Automotive Museum hosts a free screening of Scooby-Doo (2002) with special pre-screening activities. Go Metro: Take line 217 along Fairfax Ave or line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
June 23 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Twelfth Night at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro. Go Metro: Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey.
June 23 M – Ovation Hollywood’s monthly Friday Movie Nights series screens Disney’s Luca. Go Metro: Take the B Line to Hollywood / Highland station.
June 24 M – Art Share L.A. hosts Comeback Fest, an all-ages community festival celebrating Los Angeles creatives through art, music, poetry, film and food. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Little Tokyo Station.
June 24 M – The Getty’s Off the 405 concert series continues with a performance by Makaya McCraven Go Metro: Take Line 761 to Getty Center Dr / Sepulveda Blvd.
June 24 M
June 24 M – The Astronomers perform at One Colorado in Old Pasadena as part of the Summer Sounds series. Go Metro: Take the A line to the Memorial Park station.
June 24 M – Grand Performances presents Sona Jobarteh and The Nubian Sound Group. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
June 24 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts hosts a Hip-Hop concert featuring King Tee, Kid Frost, Toddy Tee, Tha Union Station MC’s, Bgirl Deya Deyas, Beatboxing by Boxy Dee, DJ Rude One, and others. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
June 24 M – The Compton Pride Festival brings live performances and family fun to Compton College. Go Metro: Take Line 60 to Artesia/Harbor.
June 24 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Twelfth Night at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro. Go Metro: Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey.
June 24 M – Head to Venice Fest for a day of fun for all ages featuring local bands, yoga, games, and classic cars on display. Go Metro: Take Line 33 along Venice Blvd.
June 24 – See stars, planets and even galaxies during Griffith Observatory’s Public Star Party with the help of organizations such as the Los Angeles Astronomical Society.
June 25 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts hosts a Banda / Tex-Mex concert featuring Banda Las Angelinas and Los Rock Angels. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
June 25 M – Angel City Brewery hosts an Out Block Party. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Little Tokyo Station.
June 29 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Hamlet at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro.Go Metro: Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey.
June 30 M
June 30 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Hamlet at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro. Go Metro: Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey.
July 1 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Hamlet at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro. Go Metro: Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey.
July 2 – Polliwog Park Amphitheater hosts Concerts in the Park with a performance by pin up singing group Satin Dollz who will bring their unique WWII USO camp style show to the city of Manhattan Beach.
July 4 M – Gloria Molina Grand Park 4th of July Block Party returns for 2023. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station
July 4 M – Fourth of July Fireworks on the Waterfront in Long Beach. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Downtown Long Beach station.
July 5 – Independent Shakespeare Co.’s annual Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival kicks off (full calendar of dates TBD).
July 6 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Twelfth Night at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro Go Metro. Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey.
July 6 M – KCRW Summer Nights with The Hammer Museum. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd OR take Line 761 to Wilshire / Westwood.
July 7 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Hamlet at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro. Go Metro: Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey).
July 7 M – The Music Center’s Dance DTLA hosts a West African Dance Night. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station.
July 7 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts hosts a funk and soul concert featuring Tolliver and Haus of Derma. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
July 8 M – Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts presents an evening of Cumbia and Mexican Folklorico with Super Estrella Online, La Tocada, and others. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
July 8 M – Grand Performances presents Viver Brasil. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
July 8 M – NoHo Summer Nights presents a concert with Element Band at North Hollywood Recreation Center. Go Metro: Take the B Line to North Hollywood station.
July 8 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Twelfth Night at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro Go Metro: Take Line 246 to Shepard / Gaffey).
July 9 – Torrance Art Museum hosts a House Party featuring all vinyl DJ sets spinning tunes throughout the decades. Era-inspired outfits are strongly encouraged.
July 9 M – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Twelfth Night at Hesse Park in Ranch Palos Verdes. Go Metro: Take Line 344 to Hawthorne Blvd & Hesse Park
July 9 – Manhattan Beach’s Polliwog Park Amphitheater hosts Concerts in the Park with a performance by rock and pop 90’s cover band SO RAD.
July 12 – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Twelfth Night at Valley Park in Hermosa Beach.
July 13 M
July 13 – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Hamlet at Valley Park in Hermosa Beach.
July 14 M – The Music Center’s Dance DTLA hosts a Reggaetón night. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station.
July 14 M – Summer of Salsa at LA Plaza continues with Conjunto AFRO-SON. Go Metro: Take the A, B or D Lines to Union Station.
July 14 – Shakespeare By the Sea performs Twelfth Night at Cesar E. Chavez Park in Long Beach.
July 15 M – Grand Performances presents Chicano Jazz Legend, Garrett Saracho. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
July 15 M – KCRW Summer Nights with MOCA Geffen & JANM. Go Metro: Take the A or E Lines to Little Tokyo Station.
July 15 M – NoHo Summer Nights series screens Selena at North Hollywood Recreation Center. Go Metro: Take the B Line to North Hollywood station.
July 15-16 M – The annual Lotus Festival returns to Echo Park Lake celebrating the people and culture of Indonesia. Go Metro: Take Line 92 to Glendale / Santa Ynez.
July 16 – Manhattan Beach’s Polliwog Park Amphitheater hosts Concerts in the Park with a performance by retro cover band U.S. 99.
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