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15 Free Things to Do in October 2024 in Southern California – Daily News

15 Free Things to Do in October 2024 in Southern California – Daily News

Can you believe it’s October already? Exactly, Halloween and then the holidays are upon us. To help you save for Christmas gifts in the meantime, here are free things you can do this month.

The Queen Mary offers free entry to the ship for its Tuesday “Meet Me at the Mary” happy hours. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Queen Mary, Long Beach: Free entry to the ship for the “Meet Me at the Mary” happy hour on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Observation Bar (ages 21 and over). Live music and drink specials. Parking Fees: $10 reduced. Must be reserved online. October 1st, 8th, 15th. 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. queenmary.com

The Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles offers free admission on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m., but advance reservations are required. (Photo by Richard Vogel, The Associated Press)
The Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles offers free admission on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m., but advance reservations are required. (Photo by Richard Vogel, The Associated Press)

The Autry Museum of the American West, Los Angeles. The Autry is free every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., but reservations are required by the evening before. Parking is also free. Learn about the Native American and cowboy way of life through historical artifacts such as stagecoaches, serapes, beaded clothing, firearms, photographs and more. October 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th. 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. theautry.org/free

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in downtown Riverside offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month, as does the neighboring Riverside Art Museum. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture in downtown Riverside offers free admission on the first Thursday of every month, as does the neighboring Riverside Art Museum. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Museums in Riverside: Free admission to both the Riverside Art Museum (Julia Morgan Building) and the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture on the first Thursday of the month from 6 to 9 p.m. during the Riverside ArtsWalk, celebrating arts and culture in Riverside and the Inland Empire. Oct. 3, 3425 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. riversideartscouncil.com/artswalk-venues

The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena offers free First Fridays with free admission on the first Friday of each month (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena offers free First Fridays with free admission on the first Friday of each month (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena: If you have never been to this wonderful art museum, you should visit. Entry is free every month on the first Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There is a lot to see so I would get there early. It features the late billionaire Norton Simon’s vast collection, including masterpieces of painting and sculpture by artists such as Picasso, Renoir, Raphael, Van Gogh and others. Free parking. Oct. 4, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena nortonsimon.org

Entry to the Museum of Latin American Art is free every Sunday. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Entry to the Museum of Latin American Art is free every Sunday. (Photo by Brittany M. Solo, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach: This museum is free every Sunday and always has interesting exhibitions. Free docent-led tours are offered on Sundays at 2 p.m. Free advance tickets are recommended and can be booked online. Parking is free. October 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th. 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. molaa.org/visit

You can watch a recording of the celebrity dance competition series "Dancing with the stars" at Television City in Hollywood, provided you are at least 12 years old. (Eric McCandless/Disney via AP)
You can watch a taping of the celebrity dance competition series “Dancing with the Stars” at Television City in Hollywood if you are at least 12 years old. (Eric McCandless/Disney via AP)

“Dancing With the Stars,” Los Angeles: Watch a taping of “Dancing With the Stars” at Television City in Hollywood. The minimum age is 12 years. To get tickets, you must apply online in advance. Be warned: these tapings can take a long time. You can also find more taping options on the website. October 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th. 7800 Beverly Blvd. Hollywood. on-camera-audiences.com/shows/Dancing_with_the_Stars# 7800 Beverly Blvd., Hollywood.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is open to everyone on the second Tuesday of the month and is free to LA County residents every day after 3 p.m. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is open to everyone on the second Tuesday of the month and is free to LA County residents every day after 3 p.m. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is free to everyone on the second Tuesday of the month, but also to LA County residents every day after 3 p.m. The largest art museum complex on the West Coast. This collection includes everything from paintings by David Hockney to ancient artifacts to free art workshops. (Note that part of the museum is currently under construction.) Paid parking. Oct. 8 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles lacma.org/tickets

The free Fall-O-Ween Family Festival takes place on select evenings in October at Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
The free Fall-O-Ween Family Festival takes place on select evenings in October at Heritage Hill Historical Park in Lake Forest. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)

Halloween Event, Lake Forest: Heritage Hill Historical Park Fall-O-Ween Family Festival daily from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Decorated grounds, photo opportunities, straw maze, scavenger hunt. Costumes are welcome, as are pets on a short leash. Oct. 11, 12, 13, 18, 20 25151 Serrano Rd. Seewald. OCParks.com

Indonesian Film Festival, Los Angeles: Indonesian Film Festival at the Ray Stark Family Theater at USC. It’s the 10th anniversary of this free two-day festival. Check out the offers online and register here. 11th-12th Oct. 900 W. 34th St. LA la-iff.org

Paleontologist Lisa Babilonia introduces various dinosaur exhibits to media and other guests at Ralph Clark Park in Buena Park. (File photo by Joshua Sudock, Orange County Register/SCNG).///ADDITIONAL INFO: n.dinos.1010 - 10/9/12 - PHOTO BY JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER - Ralph Clark Park, one of the best-kept Secrets in Orange County, lies on a bed of 180-million-year-old dinosaur fossils. The opening ceremony will take place in the park on October 13th "Prehistoric OC" Festival aimed at teaching residents about the park's past through artifacts and fossils, as well as demonstrations of local Native American culture. The picture was taken on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, at Ralph Clark Park in Buena Park.
Prehistoric OC will return to Ralph B. Clark Regional Park in Buena Park on October 12th. (File photo by Joshua Sudock, Orange County Register/SCNG).

Dinosaur Event, Buena Park: Prehistoric OC Day at Clark Regional Park. Arts and crafts, live animal demonstrations, ancient artifacts, fossils and more. Learn more about paleontology and archeology. Oct. 12 8800 Rosecrans Ave. Buena Park.

Train rides entertain children and adults as Second Street transforms into a carnival of food, color and music during Artwalk Pomona. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Train rides entertain children and adults as Second Street transforms into a carnival of food, color and music during Artwalk Pomona. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Second Saturday ArtWalk, Pomona: Trick or Treat at the Second Saturday ArtWalk, Pomona Art Costume Contest. Music. Children’s zone. The monthly event at the Pomona Arts Colony draws crowds to the streets as art studios, galleries, shops and more stay open late. Oct. 12, 5 p.m. 119 W. 2nd St., Pomona. Downtownpomona.org/events

Grand Ave Arts: All Access, Los Angeles: Explore the arts and cultural venues along Grand Avenue from 1st to 5th Streets in Downtown LA and enjoy a day of free workshops, performances, tours and interactive events. Check out art, music, dance, literature and more. 11am-4pm, October 19th. LA Music Center, 135 N Grand Ave. Los Angeles. musiccenter.org

Monster Mash Bash at Citrus Plaza, Redlands: Family fun with trick-or-treating, costume contests, face painting, games, crafts and more. Please register online to ensure there are enough supplies. 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., October 19th. Citrus Plaza Shopping Center Food Court, 27320 W Lugonia Ave, Redlands Citrusplaza.com/events

Boo at the Bay, Newport Beach:Scary stories, scary crafts, science experiments, games. Costumes desired. Rain stops. Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Muth Interpretive Center at Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach ocparks.com/events

Forest Lawn Memorial Parks will host Day of the Dead celebrations on October 27 at Covina, Cypress and Glendale parks. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Forest Lawn Memorial Parks will host Day of the Dead celebrations on October 27 at Covina, Cypress and Glendale parks. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Day of the Dead: Forest Lawn Memorial Parks will host Day of the Dead commemorations on October 27 in Covina Hills, Cypress and Glendale (and November 2 in Cathedral City) with memorial altars, larger-than-life Catrina figures, artwork, folkloric dancing, mariachis, face painting , crafts and more. Oct. 27, 12-3 p.m., Forest Lawn-Covina Hills, 21300 Via Verde Drive, Covina; Forest Lawn-Cypress, 4471 Lincoln Ave., Cypress; Forest Lawn-Glendale, 1712 S Glendale Ave., Glendale. Nov. 2, 12-3 p.m., 69855 E. Ramon Road, Cathedral City. Forestlawn.com/events-all-events/