If your budget took a hit from splurging on New Year’s Eve parties, you’ll be happy to hear there are plenty of free things to do in January. From a cultural festival across historic Downtown theaters to a day of free admission to L.A.’s best museums, these are the best ways to make the most of your month without breaking into your wallet.
Jan 1
Polar Bear Plunge; Various locations
Dive into 2018 with a plunge into the not-so-icy waters of the Pacific during this New Year’s Day tradition, with meet-ups at Cabrillo Beach and Hansen Dam, among others.
Jan 1
Rose Parade; Pasadena
Stake out a spot on the sidewalk for the 129th edition of the sun-kissed, flower-filled parade.
Jan 6
Second City Hollywood’s Open House; The Second City
Tickle your funny bone with a day full of free improv workshops, shows, food and prizes.
Jan 20–Apr 8
“Welcome to the Dollhouse”; MOCA Pacific Design Center
Peruse different approaches to the concept of domesticity with works of sculpture, photography, painting, video and drawing from the 1960s to the present drawn from MOCA’s collection.
Jan 28
Museums Free-For-All; Various locations
Check off a few items on your cultural to-do list as nearly 40 SoCal museums open their doors for free.
Jan 28
Night on Broadway; Downtown
Celebrate Downtown’s renaissance with a cultural festival spanning six historic theaters and movie palaces.
Jan 28–Apr 8
“Skip Arnold: Truffle Hunt”; ICA LA
This performance-inspired exhibition collects the ephemera from a journey to Italy via Switzerland in search of truffles.
Jan 28–May 6
“Stories of Almost Everyone”; Hammer Museum
Through the work of 30 artists, this very meta exhibition examines the relationship between a piece of art’s inherent narrative and the meaning suggested by its display within an institution.
Ongoing
Free concerts; Various locations
Listen to some tunes without breaking the bank with free shows at the Echo, the Satellite 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.