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As we glide through the final days of 2023, our latest really big list has one simple goal: Give you a bunch of ideas of how to end your year in Los Angeles, and make the start to 2024 your best yet.
To accomplish that feat, we’ve mapped out 5 weeks of L.A. events that include free holiday activations, free skating nights, free museums days, free movie nights, free discussions, free performances and… well… are you sensing a theme here?
And of course the best part is that every single one of our ideas is accessible by Metro bus or rail, which means no parking costs, no traffic, and no sweat.
So grab your TAP card, check the list (twice if necessary), and get yourself on track to another great year in the Southland.
Free Things To Do
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December 8: M Netflix Family Nights at Ice Santa Monica offers free skate sessions (first-come, first-served) on Tuesdays and Fridays through December 26. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 8: M Movie Fridays on Third Street Promenade presents a screening of Die Hard. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 9: M The Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade returns for the 61st edition, offering musical entertainment, food trucks, and a pre-parade fireworks display. Go Metro: Take Line 108 to Mindanao / Lincoln.
December 9: M Runway Playa Vista screens Elf as part of their Movie Under The Stars holiday series. Go Metro: Take Line 110 to Jefferson / McConnell.
December 9: M The December edition of the Canoga Park Block Party features 50+ vendors, including special holiday programming. Go Metro: Take Line 162 to Sherman Way / Owensmouth.
December 9: M Pawliday Market at PetSpace offers an array of pet-focused vendors plus sweet photo ops for you and your four-legged friends. Go Metro: Take Line 108/110 to Jefferson / Inglewood.
December 9: M The Getty celebrates the exhibition Alfredo Boulton: Looking at Venezuela (1928–1978) with a free jazz performance, discussion event, and complimentary bites. Go Metro: Take Line 761 to Getty Center Dr / Sepulveda Blvd.
December 9: M The Goddess Mercado brings 50+ vendors and live music to the East L.A. Civic Center: Go Metro: Take the E Line to East LA Civic Ctr Station
December 9: M The Winter Open House at Bergamot Station features a full day of gallery receptions, artist talks, food, and entertainment. Go Metro: Take the E Line to 26th St / Bergamot Station.
December 9: M Creative Communal brings it’s brand of holiday market to Runway Playa Vista on two Saturdays in December. Go Metro: Take Line 110 to Jefferson / McConnell.
December 9: M Earle’s on Crenshaw is co-hosting a Makers Market featuring live DJs and local vendors at Crenshaw Square on three Saturdays in December. Go Metro: Take Line 210 to Crenshaw / 39th.
December 9: M Metro presents We Are Here: Poetry Along the K at the Museum of African American Art at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Go Metro: Take the K Line to Martin Luther King Jr. Station.
December 9-10: M Jackalope Indie Craft Market brings 175 vendors to Downtown Burbank over a two-day event. Go Metro: Take Line 92 to Magnolia / San Fernando OR Take Lines 154/165/294 to 1st / Magnolia.
December 10: M Museum of Latin American Art hosts a children’s Make Your Own Holiday Ornament workshop. Go Metro: Take the A Line to 5th Street station in Long Beach.
December 10: M A Snowy Wonderland offers a free day of holiday fun in Inglewood at Crenshaw Imperial Plaza. Go Metro: Take Line 209/10 to Crenshaw / Imperial OR Take the C Line to Crenshaw Station.
December 10: M
December 10: M
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December 11: M The Hanukkah Celebration at the Beverly Center will offer an evening of live entertainment, arts and crafts, traditional treats and more. Go Metro: Take Line 14/105/617 to La Cienega / Beverly.
December 12: M Netflix Family Nights at Ice Santa Monica offers free skate sessions (first-come, first-served) on Tuesdays and Fridays through December 26. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 14: M
December 14: M
December 15: M Netflix Family Nights at Ice Santa Monica offers free skate sessions (first-come, first-served) on Tuesdays and Fridays through December 26. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 16: M Creative Communal brings its brand of holiday market to Runway Playa Vista on two Saturdays in December. Go Metro: Take Line 110 to Jefferson / McConnell.
December 16: M Earle’s on Crenshaw is co-hosting a Makers Market featuring live DJs and local vendors at Crenshaw Square on three Saturdays in December. Go Metro: Take Line 210 to Crenshaw / 39th.
December 16: M The Queer Mercado brings queer vendors, live music, food, and drag performances to the East L.A. Civic Center every third Saturday. Go Metro: Take the E Line to East LA Civic Ctr Station
December 16: M Runway Playa Vista screens Home Alone as part of their Movie Under The Stars holiday series. Go Metro: Take Line 110 to Jefferson / McConnell.
December 16-17: M Shogun Santa makes his annual appearance in Japanese Village Plaza. Go Metro: Take the A or E Line to Little Tokyo Station.
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December 17: M
December 17: M Great Music LA presents Classical Sundays at Six, featuring Cristina Montes Mateo (harp) & Friends. Go Metro: Take the D Line to Wilshire / Western station.
December 19: M Netflix Family Nights at Ice Santa Monica offers free skate sessions (first-come, first-served) on Tuesdays and Fridays through December 26. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 22: M Netflix Family Nights at Ice Santa Monica offers free skate sessions (first-come, first-served) on Tuesdays and Fridays through December 26. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 23: M Earle’s on Crenshaw is co-hosting a Makers Market featuring live DJs and local vendors at Crenshaw Square on three Saturdays in December. Go Metro: Take Line 210 to Crenshaw / 39th.
December 24: M The 64th annual LA County Holiday Celebration offers an afternoon of L.A.-based artists performing holiday favorites at The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station OR take the A or E Lines to Grand Ave Arts / Bunker Hill Station.
December 26: M Netflix Family Nights at Ice Santa Monica offers free skate sessions (first-come, first-served) on Tuesdays and Fridays through December 26. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station.
December 30: M Ovation Hollywood hosts a Kwanzaa Celebration featuring a performance from the Ujima dance & drum troupe, free cookies, crafting, and more. Go Metro: Take the B Line to Hollywood / Highland.
December 31 – REMINDER – To make your New Year’s Eve a little safer, Metro is offering free rides on all Metro bus, rail, bike across all of Los Angeles County.
December 31: M Gloria Molina Grand Park hosts the west coast’s largest free New Year’s Eve event, capped by a 3D countdown art show projected onto L.A.’s iconic City Hall. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center.
December 31: M The New Years Eve Fireworks & GLOW Party returns to Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey. Go Metro: Take Line 108 to Mindanao / Lincoln.
December 31: M Angel City Brewery is hosting an all-day, 80’s themed, no Cover NYE Party. Go Metro: Take the A or E Line to Little Tokyo Station.
December 31: M Soul Grain NYE Party at Common Space Brewery. Go Metro: Take Line 209/210 to Crenshaw / El Segundo
December 31: M Los Feliz’s Big Bar is hosting an all-day, space-themed New Year’s celebration. Go Metro: Take Line 180 to Vermont / Franklin.
January 1: M The 135th Rose Parade returns to Pasadena. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Del Mar Station, Memorial Park Station, Lake Ave Station, or Allen Station.
January 3: M Common Space Brewery kicks off the new year with their free first Wednesday comedy night. Go Metro: Go Metro: Take Line 209/210 to Crenshaw / El Segundo
January 4: M DTLA ArtNight runs every first Thursday of the month, activating 25+ galleries along Downtown’s Historic Core. Go Metro: Take the B or D Lines to Pershing Square station OR take the A or E or Lines to Historic Broadway Station.
January 5: M Norton Simon Museum offers free admission every first Friday of the month from 4 to 7 p.m. Go Metro: Take Line 182 / 256 to Colorado / Orange Grove.
January 5: M Los Angeles State Historic Park hosts a camp fire hang-out featuring treats and special programming every first Friday of the month. Go Metro: Take the A Line to Chinatown Station.
January 7: M 2024 Oshogatsu Family Festival—Year of the Dragon comes to the Japanese American National Museum. Go Metro: Take the A or E Line to Little Tokyo Station.
January 7: M Great Music LA presents Classical Sundays at Six, featuring Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra. Go Metro: Take the D Line to Wilshire / Western station.
January 7: M LA Made + Sid the Cat Present Hand Habits at Central Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium. Go Metro: Take the A, B, D, or E Line to 7th Street / Metro Center Station.
January 9: M The Los Angeles County Museum of Art offers free admission to all every second Tuesday of the month. Go Metro: Take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
January 9: M The Autry Museum offers free admission every second Tuesday of the month. Go Metro: Take Line 96 to Autry National Ctr.
January 13: M The January edition of the Canoga Park Block Party features 50+ vendors, including special holiday programming. Go Metro: Take Line 162 to Sherman Way / Owensmouth.
January 14: M Great Music LA presents Classical Sundays at Six, featuring Go Metro: Take the D Line to Wilshire / Western station.
January 15: M The 39th annual Kingdom Day Parade returns to Leimert Park. Go Metro: Take the K Line to Leimert Park Station.
January 17: M Self-Help Graphics Wellness Wednesday series pops up at Latinx Plants in Boyle Heights. Go Metro: Take the E Line to Soto Station.
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