This Sunday and Monday, January 15 – 16, 2012, celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday with free birthday cake and more at the California African American Museum (CAAM) in Los Angeles.
Located in Exposition Park, museum admission is always free but during this 2-day celebration there are extra fun and family-friendly free workshops, film screenings and birthday cake!
The free fun begins at 1PM Sunday Jan. 15 (museum opens at 11AM) with a Target Sunday sponsored progam. View screenings of MLK’s famous speeches and watch diverse performances on the main stage. Meet Chandra Wilson and Jeffrey Anderson Gunter of the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, listen to the inNate Praise Choir, and watch the moves of the Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy.
Kids and adults can participate in several free workshops focused on the museum’s African American historical and cultural exhibits, thanks to the Target Sunday sponsorship.
On Monday, Jan. 16, the official national holiday honoring Dr. King, join CAAM at the annual Kingdom Day Parade, kicking off at 9AM in Leimert Park. Afterwards, head to the museum of a free slice of birthday cake while they last, courtesy of the Nooks and Grannies bakery. Free program activities include a screening of the documentary, King: Man of Peace in a Time of War and storytelling in the Gallery.
The only hitch to the free is that museum parking at 39th & Figueroa costs $10. So carpool, or try to nab metered street parking or take the bus.
*Disclosure: No compensation was received in exchange for this post. The post may contain affiliate links.
Cryptik & Chor Boogie Street Art
Rock the arts in 2012 with the FREE Los Angeles Arts District Winterfest in Downtown L.A. Jan. 5 to Jan. 8. This 2nd annual free four-day celebration of the arts features free large scale street art, nightly play readings from Padua Playwrights and live music all in Lot 613 in the 52-block Downtown Arts District.
View an exhibition of new paintings by artist Richard Kessler; an interactive video installation by Michael French; and collaborative large-scale works by street artists Cryptik, Chor Boogie, Vyal, Slick, and Defer 5PM to midnight Thursday to Saturday and 4 to 11:30PM Sunday. Watch Paul Mackley’s critically acclaimed
performance of Wallace Shawn’s award-winning “The Fever” and listen to live music by Tawny Ellis, Eddie Reed Swing Quartet, Brad Culver and Andrew Gilbert of Poor Dog Group, The Wulf, and composer Drew Lesso. For details about the nightly line-up of live performance, see the Arts District Website.
You won’t go hungry or thirsty with L.A.’s gourmet food trucks on site and a no-host bar. Parking available on surrounding streets and nearby parking lots.
Joy to the free!
*Disclosure: No compensation was received in exchange for this post.
The Los Angeles Kings are heating up the ice, so why not take advantage of this hot deal for a couple of free tickets to see the L.A. Kings play at Staples Center? Even if you’re not a hockey fan — gasp! — it’s still a great way to do something fun for free in downtown L.A.!
So what’s the catch? You just have to submit an online quote for car or homeowner’s insurance to Mercury Insurance. Enter the promo code: KINGS. In return for the free quote, they’ll send you a voucher for two tickets to the 2011/2012 season. That’s it!
If you do decide to go with Mercury for your insurance, you’ll get an extra freebie! A brand new Kings jersey for free!
Let’s Go Kings!
*Disclosure: No compensation was received in exchange for this post.
Who wouldn’t want to get free tickets to see movies at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live? Well here’s you chance to win two tickets every week for year! Just fill out the form and you’re entered. Contest ends Saturday, Dec. 31.
Looking for a sweet Regal Cinemas deal now? Click HERE to get a coupon for $2 popcorn, $2 soda valid through Sunday, Jan. 1.
Joy to the free!
*Disclosure: No compensation was received in exchange for this post.
We're doomed to love this!
I simply LOVE the daily, nationally syndicated La Cucaracha comic strip that runs in the Los Angeles Times. So when I saw the cover of the new 2012 Doomsday Cartoon Calendar created by La Cucaracha’s artist, Lalo Alacaraz, I knew we had to do a Free Fun L.A. giveaway! We had a contest for the 2011 calendar last year, and it was a hit with La Cucaracha and Free Fun L.A. fans.
If you don’t win, or if you’re looking for a unique holiday gift, consider buying a copy of this cool cartoon calendar. The cover alone is worth the price. It’s only $20 — a frugal deal for great art by a local artist.
How do you enter for a chance to win a free Lalo Alcaraz Doomsday Cartoon Calendar? Just answer this question: Who is your favorite La Cucaracha character?
Where do you answer? You will earn an entry for each of these:
1. Tweet us at @FreeFunLA with “I want to win the 2012 Lalo Alcaraz Doomsday Cartoon Calendar from @FreeFunLA. #lalo” Be sure to include the hashtag #lalo. You must follow @FreeFunLA to win. You may tweet once a day.
2. Post the answer here on our blog.
3. Post on our Facebook fan page. Be sure to “Like” Free Fun L.A. for a chance to win!
Contest ends at Noon PT Wednesday Dec. 14.
Winner chosen from all the entries using random.org.
Winner: Email us asap so Lalo can autograph and add anything else you’d like to say on the calendar. We’ll need your address so Lalo can mail it to you and we can mail you a copy of the hip pocket travel guide, Free Fun L.A., too!
*Disclosure: No compensation was received in exchange for this post or for the giveaway prize.
LEGO stores latest free mini-build workshop is tonight! Kids ages 6 to 14 can build a fun and free nutcracker LEGO model today, Dec. 6. The only catch is you have to have to go to a LEGO store to do it. Workshop starts at 5pm.
Every first Tuesday in the U.S., LEGO stores offer a free special model workshop with a mini-kit often tied into a holiday. Kids get to build and take the LEGOs home, for free. Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. Unfortunately, the kits are not available for sale, so kids must be present to participate.
You can also pick up a Free LEGO monthly calendar in the store. See an example HERE. Each calendar comes with fun ideas, a list of the store’s events and coupons! Want to see what’s in the calendar before you go? You can download a copy for free from each LEGO store’s site.
Only in Malibu can you have a free Winter Wonderland by the beach! With reindeer included! The Malibu Country Mart is creating a merry and magical experience for the Christmas season for the next three Saturdays, including a visit with Santa’s reindeer on Saturday, Dec. 17 and its all for free!
Every Saturday is a new holiday happening. Check out the free fun schedule below:
Saturday, December 3
’Tis the Season! Come to the Cookie Decorating Party: 1 – 4PM
Tree Lighting Ceremony: 5PM
Saturday, December 10
Photos with Santa: Noon – 3PM
Strolling Carolers: 1 – 3PM
Stocking and Dreidel Decorating Party: 1 – 3PM
Saturday, December 17
Photos with Santa: Noon – 3PM
Strolling Carolers: 1 – 3PM
Santa’s Reindeer: Noon – 4PM
*No compensation was received in exchange for this post.
Snoopy Loves Free!
Kids will love seeing Snoopy on ice Tuesday, Nov. 29 and parents will love that the mini sneak preview at L.A.’s Downtown on Ice in Pershing Square is Free!
Snoopy and other cast members of Knott’s “Merry” Farm’s ice skating spectacular “It’s Christmas, Snoopy!” perform at 4PM. The holiday show is free to all thanks to a community outreach program in partnership with the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks and Knott’s Berry Farm theme park.
Immediately following the performance, families can meet and greet with Snoopy and friends, so be sure to bring a camera!
Consider extending the fun with a frugal family skate around the rink. Downtown on Ice is LA’s largest outdoor holiday skating rink with the smallest admission price: just $6 to skate and $2 for skate rental. It’s open every day, including holidays, through Jan. 16. Check the Web site for more information about skate session times, free concerts and celebrations.
Board the Grey Ghost for a Free Santa Sighting!
Celebrate the Queen Mary’s 18th annual Christmas tree-lighting party for free Wednesday, Dec. 7, from 5:30 to 8:30PM.
Yes, you heard right. Board the luxury liner for free for family-friendly holiday merry making! Snack on complimentary refreshments while enjoying the Christmas spirit of roaming Victorian carolers. Preview the ship’s new holiday light display and additional merriment provided by choirs and choruses.
To participate in this free Christmas celebration, you must reserve complimentary tickets in advance at www.queenmarytreelighting.com. Early bird admission begins at 4PM.
Start gathering on the ship’s Sundeck a6 6PM. Santa will be there to turn on the Christmas tree lights at 7:15 p.m. with help from Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell and Long Beach Fire Chief Alan Patalano. In honor of Pear Harbor, the event will also pay tribute to local military, fire and police heroes.
Bring a camera to snap a sweet pic of your child’s visit with Santa Claus following the last musical performance. All attendees are encouraged to drop off one unwrapped children’s gift to support Toys for Tots, Sparks of Love and the Long Beach Toy Patrol (toy donations are requested, not mandatory).
And did we mention that parking is free!? (with validation).
Gypsy Rose, c. 1970 Collection of Jesse Valadez Jr. Image courtesy of Estevan Oriol
Hola! MOLAA, the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, is free admission on Sunday, Nov. 20 for all guests!
MOLAA is free admission the third Sunday of every month, thanks to Target. The museum is open 11AM to 5PM on Sunday, with extra free family-friendly hands-on art activities. Plenty of time to see the new exhibit, MEX/LA: “Mexican” Modernism(s) in Los Angeles, 1930- 1985. The customized 1964 Chevy Impala, Gypsy Rose, shown above, is a prime example of the art you’ll see.
From 1 – 4PM families can create hidden message poems based on the work of Chaz Bojorquez. Celebrate Poetas Latinoamericanas with a presentation of Latin American women poets by MOLAA Docents, also from 1 – 4PM.
Be sure to set aside time at 2PM for free docent tours of Mex/LA.
Joy to the free!
*No compensation was received in exchange for this post.
