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See the floats at the iconic Rose Parade. Photo by Prayitno Photography, via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
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12/29/23 - By Kylie Williams

Free things to do in Los Angeles will provide a nice break to your wallet after the spending spree that occurred in December. There are plenty of fabulous free Los Angeles activities in January. From story times to Lunar New Year celebrations to the Oshogatsu Family Festival, January's best events are 100% FREE. So, give your credit cards a rest while everyone enjoys these free activities in Los Angeles with kids. 

For more free things to do in Los Angeles with kids, visit these always-free, kid-friendly LA museums, discover free museum days for kids in Los Angeles, and browse our Guide to Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids. Free events are continually added to our Los Angeles event calendar, too. 

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Celebrate Lunar New Year in Rancho Cucamonga. Photo by Mooz Photo, courtesy of the Festival.
Celebrate Lunar New Year in Rancho Cucamonga. Photo by Mooz Photo, courtesy of the Festival.

Free Activities To Do with Kids in Los Angeles in January

2024 Rose Parade

Pasadena - FREE
Monday, January 1, 2024
The 135th Tournament of Roses Parade blooms again, marching down Colorado Boulevard. This year's theme is  “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language.” The Grand Marshall is multi-award-winning performer Audra McDonald. READ MORE

Burbank Rose Parade Float Viewing

Burbank - FREE
Wednesday - Sunday, January 3 - 7, 2024
Anyone who'd like one last peek at Burbank's entry in this year's Rose Parade can catch the community float in its final public viewing across from the Burbank Central Library, at the corner of Glen Oaks and Olive. The float is on display from January 3, 2023 through January 7, 2023, 24 hours a day.  READ MORE

Life-Sized Candyland

Burbank - FREE
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Walk through a life-sized Candyland game while collecting candy along the way! After you journey to the candy castle, play some (normal sized) board games with friends and family.  READ MORE

Los Tres Reyes Magos / The Three Kings

DTLA - FREE
Saturday, January 6, 2024
A traditional procession and historical reenactment celebrates the Christian holiday of Epiphany, commemorating the three kings or wise men who arrived at the nativity with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the baby Jesus.  READ MORE

Las Posadas Celebration 2024

Norwalk - FREE
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Norwalk holds a traditional cultural celebration, featuring a candlelit procession at the City Hall lawn. This festive event features caroling of holiday songs, food trucks, cultural activities for children, and special performances by mariachis, ballet Folklorico, and Aztec dancers.    READ MORE

Children's Fun Day

Lincoln Heights - FREE
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Make a New Year's craft, enjoy a complimentary snack, and play board games and puzzles at this free family event at the Lincoln Heights Library.  READ MORE

Japanese Storytime

DTLA - FREE
Saturday, January 6 & 20, 2024
Listen to exciting stories and sing a few songs at this lively storytime at the Little Tokyo Branch Library. The fun takes place at 11am on the first and third Saturdays of each month.  READ MORE

2024 Oshogatsu Family Festival

Little Tokyo - FREE
Sunday, January 7, 2024
This year's Oshogatsu Family Festival is going to be "fire"! (See what I did there?)  The Japanese American National Museum welcomes the Year of the Dragon with cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages.  READ MORE

D. Yoder Family Sundays

San Clemente - FREE
Sunday, January 7, 2024
D. Yoder Family Sundays are held on the first Sunday of each month, offering activities and a thematically based program. Admission to the casa is free on these special Sundays.  To kick off 2024, Casa Romantica's first family sunday is a "Storybook Sunday" including a children's book reading in the Beehive, a craft to create a storybook, and a movie screening in the Art Gallery.  In February, the casa celebrates Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon, with a martial arts demonstration, a performances by lions dancers, and envelopes with fortunes (and prizes).  READ MORE

International Festival of Chocolate

Santa Ana - FREE
Sunday, January 7, 2024
The Bowers Museum's latest free festival celebrates chocolate. Sweet! READ MORE

Tidepool Walks

San Pedro - FREE
Sundays, January 7 & 14 & Saturdays, January 20, & 27, 2024
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educators conduct tours of the Point Fermin tide pools. Venture out on a naturalist-led ramble on the rocks to see animals in their natural habitat. READ MORE

Public Run Day Southern California Live Steamers

Torrance - FREE
Sunday, January 7 & Saturday, January 20, 2024
The Southern California Live Steamers offer free rides on their miniature railroad in Wilson Park. READ MORE

Dumpling Folding Workshop

Highland Park - FREE
Monday, January 8, 2024
Families are invited to learn the art of dumpling folding at this free workshop. This Lunar New Year celebration event is hosted by Chef Janine Liu of Woon Kitchen. She teaches participants how to fold dumplings three ways and gives a brief history of Chinese cuisine. After honing your skills, participants take some vegetable dumplings home to enjoy.  READ MORE

Musical Story Time by Books and Cookies

Culver City - FREE
Tuesdays, January 9 - 30, 2024
Books and Cookies visits Ivy Station for free Musical Story Time and Kids Crafts on the lawn. The fun includes reading stories, singing, dancing, jamming with musical instruments, playing with the parachute, and getting crafty.  READ MORE

Preschool Dance Party at the Library - Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills - FREE
Friday, January 12, 2024
Wiggle and giggle with friends at this hoppin' dance party at the Beverly Hills Public Library. Make sure to bring your dancing shoes for a moving and grooving good time.  READ MORE

Santa Monica Symphony: Annual Martin Luther King Day Concert

Santa Monica - FREE
Saturday, January 13, 2024
The Santa Monica Symphony's Annual Martin Luther King Day Concert is free; pre-registration is strongly recommended for concerts as seating is first come, first serve. The annual concert commemorates the legacy of Dr. King  READ MORE

Kingdom Day Parade

Exposition Park - FREE
Monday, January 15, 2024
The Kingdom Day Parade, one of the nation's largest events celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., is back. This year's theme is "Can't Stop, Won't Stop, Going to the Promised Land." READ MORE

Free Entrance Days in the National Parks

Multiple Locations - FREE
Monday, January 15, 2024
On select days throughout the year, all national parks are open to the public with no admission fee. READ MORE

Free Day at the Arboretum

Arcadia - FREE
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Free Day at the Arboretum has become so popular that tickets must now be booked in advance.  READ MORE

Rancho Cucamonga Lunar Festival

Rancho Cucamonga - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, January 20 & 21, 2024
It's the Year of the Dragon, and this massive celebration at the RC Sports Center honors this holiday with lanterns, lion dances, and other cultural entertainment. from Chinese dance to K-Pop, to Japanese Taiko, traditional Asian performers will take the stage while guests enjoy Asian cuisine and activities.  READ MORE

Lunar New Year Storytime and Craft

Chatsworth - FREE
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Celebrate Lunar New Year with a craft, storytime, songs, and tons of fun! 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, so this event will be a roaring good time.  READ MORE

Monterey Park Lunar New Year Festival

Monterey Park - FREE
Saturday & Sunday, January 27 & 28, 2024
Monterey Park's Lunar New Year Festival takes place in the downtown business district, featuring 5 blocks of booths, rides, and entertainment and drawing tens of thousands of visitors. The 2024 Festival celebrates Year of the Dragon. READ MORE

A Chance to Dance by the Los Angeles Ballet Company

Exposition Park - FREE
Sunday, January 28, 2024
One Sunday each month during Los Angeles Ballet's season, LAB dancers offer free ballet classes and more. The day's classes are usually centered around a theme. After several years of virtual events, the Los Angeles Ballet is offering their dance courses in person. Some classes are specifically geared towards children, like Children's Creative Movement, so make sure to check the schedule to find specific times. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Lincoln Heights Branch Library
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Southern California Live Steamers Station
National Parks - Multiple Locations
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden