Pasadena’s underrated collection of museums and performance spaces open up their doors for free at this biannual arts and culture open house. Take advantage of the free shuttle buses or hoof it between local institutions such as the Gamble House, Art Center, Norton Simon Museum and more, many of which will be offering special programming and performances. And, of course, no arts fest would be complete without food trucks, which often include pop-ups from local bricks-and-mortar.
March feels like a breath of fresh air. The days are getting longer, cozy rainy days are interspersed with the start of spring, and the weekends are full of free festivals—celebrating everything from kites to whales to cherry blossoms. Whether you want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day or cheer on the runners in the L.A. Marathon, there are lots of free ways to spend your time this month. And museums and March go hand in hand: While many of L.A.’s top museums are always free, during the annual Museums Free-for-All, beloved institutions all over the region that usually charge admission throw open their doors for free entry, while the biannual ArtNight Pasadena shines a light on the City of Roses as a cultural destination.