You’ve already started planning for Thanksgiving and making holiday travel arrangements, but there are plenty of free things to do in November before it’s time to cut into the turkey. From a free film fest to a new Downtown museum fest, these are the best ways to make the most of your month without breaking into your wallet.
Nov 4
Self Help Graphics & Art Día de los Muertos Celebration; Self Help Graphics & Art
Celebrate the Day of the Dead at the four-decade-old Boyle Heights tradition.
Nov 4
Dopium Los Angeles; Mandarin Plaza
Swing by Chinatown’s Mandarin Plaza for a one-night-only assortment of sculptures, paintings, photographs and video and light projections.
Nov 4
Festival of Flight; Long Beach Airport
Get up close and personal with some aircraft at this annual LGB open house.
Nov 4
Grand Ave Arts: All Access; Grand Avenue
Celebrate 11 Bunker Hill institutions with free performances, exhibitions and tours at spots like the Broad, MOCA and the Music Center.
Nov 8
ICE at Santa Monica; Santa Monica
Bundle up and glide around an ice rink just blocks from the beach during the free grand opening.
Nov 9–16
AFI Fest; Hollywood
See future box office hits as well as niche, indie gems at the annual free film fest.
Nov 12
A California Christmas at the Grove; The Grove
Watch the holidays come to the Grove as L.A.’s shopping mall metropolis lights up its Christmas tree with a slew of special guests.
Nov 12, 18
War of the Worlds; Walt Disney Concert Hall
Watch the alien invasion radio play come to life through defunct WWII-era sirens in Downtown L.A.
Nov 14
UCLA Game Art Festival; Hammer Museum
Test out more than 40 games, from serious to silly, at this free innovative festival.
Nov 16
Holiday Ice Rink Pershing Square; Pershing Square
Skate around with the Downtown L.A. skyline as your backdrop at this seasonal ice rink’s free opening celebration.
Nov 18
The Great Los Angeles Walk; Various locations
Debunk all of those cliches about walking in L.A. during this 17-mile urban hike across the city.
Through Nov 19
Cartoon Network: 25 Years of Drawing on Creativity; Paley Center for Media
See how some of your favorite cartoons transitioned from a conceptual sketch to a fleshed out TV show.
Nov 26
Hollywood Christmas Parade; Hollywood
Watch floats and bands make their way through Hollywood during this 84-year-old tradition.
Ongoing
Free concerts; Various locations
Listen to some tunes without breaking the bank with free shows at the Echo, the Satellite, Grand Park and more.
Ongoing
Free museum days; Various locations
Make the most of free days at LACMA, the Natural History Museum and more, plus always-free museums like the Hammer, Getty and Broad.