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Free in November: Veterans Day Parades, Fireworks, and More Free Things To Do in Los Angeles With Kids

Learn the history of Bob Baker's marionettes at this free exhibit at Forest Lawn. Photo courtesy of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Learn the history of Bob Baker's marionettes at this free exhibit at Forest Lawn. Photo courtesy of the Bob Baker Marionette Theater
11/4/22 - By Brian Steele

The pumpkins are slowly rolling away from the patch, only to be replaced with Christmas trees. It's the most wonderful time of the year, but it can easily become the most expensive time of the year, too. Due to that shocking Thanksgiving turkey price tag (thanks, inflation), that upcoming black Friday haul, and the new hoodies the kids need for this chilly-for-LA weather, it may not be the month to splurge on extravagant outings. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to make sweet family memories in November without swiping the credit card. This month has so much in store with Dia de los Muertos festivals, Veterans Day parades, and plenty of holiday tree lighting ceremonies—like this Christmas tree lighting in Beverly Hills that has Santa, songs, and fireworks—to kick off the holiday festivities.

Plus, we are always adding free events to our Los Angeles event calendar as they pop up, and we keep all our roundups of free outings for families in our Guide to Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids.

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Chalk + Dia de los Muertos = one artsy and fun afternoon! Photo courtesy of the Canoga Park Dia de los Muertos Festival
Chalk + Dia de los Muertos = one artsy and fun afternoon! Photo courtesy of the Canoga Park Dia de los Muertos Festival

Free Dia de los Muertos Events in Los Angeles

Dia de los Muertos Chalk Festival & Artists Craft Fair

Rancho Palos Verdes - Saturday, November 5, 2022
The sidewalk is turned into works of art honoring the dead at this community Dia de los Muertos festival. In addition to chalk art, highlights include crafts for kids, food booths, vendors, live cultural performances, and community altars. READ MORE

Dia de los Muertos Celebration in Long Beach

Long Beach - Saturday, November 5, 2022
Long Beach City hosts a free day of family fun in celebration of Dia de los Muertos. The festival features world-class music, colorful attire, arts and crafts, dance, and food. Keep an eye out for the annual parade, as well.  READ MORE

Canoga Park Dia de los Muertos Festival

Canoga Park - Sunday, November 6, 2022
Canoga Park's annual Día de los Muertos Festival fills Sherman Way between Canoga and Topanga Avenues with all manner of Day of the Dead entertainment. Booths line the street; highlights include traditional holiday altars and food from around the world. READ MORE
Head up the coast to the lovely Ventura Botanical Gardens for a beautiful fall walk. Photo courtesy of the Ventura Botanical Gardens
Head up the coast to the lovely Ventura Botanical Gardens for a beautiful fall walk. Photo courtesy of the Ventura Botanical Gardens

Fun Free Events in Los Angeles in November

Exhibit: Bob Baker Marionette Theater: 60 Years of Joy & Wonder

Glendale - Open through March 19, 2023
Forest Lawn Museum's newest exhibit celebrates a legendary LA institution. “Bob Baker Marionette Theater: 60 Years of Joy & Wonder”  features hand-crafted marionettes, original concept art, an animatronic band, and more.  READ MORE

PCH Movies and Moonlight

Long Beach - Friday, November 4 & 11, 2022
2nd & PCH's outdoor movie screenings return with free screenings for the community.  Films are shown along Seaport Way and begin just after sunset. December's film is Polar Express. READ MORE

Ventura County Farm Day

Various Locations in Ventura County - Saturday, November 5, 2022
Ventura County Farm Day aims to help kids see the connection between the food on their plates and the agricultural industry. More than 15 Ventura County farms participate in Farm Day, opening their gates to enable the public to learn about agriculture firsthand. READ MORE

Exploring Your Universe 2023

Westwood - Sunday, November 6, 2022
Exploring Your Universe returns to the UCLA campus, taking over the science section with hands-on demonstrations and experiments, talks, a planetarium show, and access to rare fossils.  READ MORE

Creativity in the Courtyard

Westwood - Sunday, November 6, 2022
Creativity in the Courtyard is a series of art-making events inspired by the Fowler Museum's exhibitions. March's event is inspired by the Shinto holiday Girl’s Day (Hinamatsuri). Families with young daughters honor this event, translated as “doll festival,” by displaying special dolls (hina-ningyo).  Fowler visitors are invited to the museum courtyard to create their own dolls (hina-ningyo) READ MORE

A Chance to Dance by the Los Angeles Ballet Company

Exposition Park - Sunday, November 6, 2022
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

Waterwise Community Festival

Claremont - Sunday, November 13, 2022
Admission to California Botanic Garden is free for the Waterwise Community Festival.  Guests can enjoy a day at the Garden while learning about California native plants, waterwise landscaping, and how each of us can contribute to watershed health while helping our region build for a sustainable future. READ MORE

Free Day at the Arboretum

Arcadia - Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Free Day at the Arboretum has become so popular that tickets must now be booked in advance.  READ MORE

Ventura Botanical Gardens Free on Thanksgiving

Ventura - Thursday, November 24, 2022
Free admission to Ventura Botanical Gardens on Thanksgiving Day? That's something to be thankful for! Exploring these 100+ acres of gorgeous views and pretty blooms makes for something new and interesting to do while working up an appetite for dessert. READ MORE

We Heart Eagle Rock Shop Small Weekend

Eagle Rock - Saturday, November 26, 2022
The small businesses of Eagle Rock host pre-holiday shopping fun at the 13th annual event. Each shop is hosting its own promotions. READ MORE
Veteran's Day photo by Jon Endow, courtesy of the California American Legion
Veteran's Day photo by Jon Endow, courtesy of the California American Legion

Free Veterans Day Weekend Events in Los Angeles

San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade

San Fernando - Friday, November 11, 2022
The 20th Annual San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade honors servicemen and women past and present in all branches of the military. Approximately 2000 Veterans from the WWII era, the Korean War era, the Vietnam War era, the Desert Storm era and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom are participating. Veterans and only veterans ride in this parade. READ MORE

La Habra Veterans Day Celebration

La Habra - Friday, November 11, 2022
Celebrate Veterans Day with free family festivities at the La Habra Community Center. READ MORE

Veterans Day at the Reagan Library

Simi Valley - Friday, November 11, 2022
To honor the men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library hosts its annual Veterans Day Event. The day’s activities include live musical entertainment, a civil war encampment, a military vehicle display, and a program honoring all branches of our military.  READ MORE

Veterans Day Ceremony in Burbank

Burbank - Friday, November 11, 2022
Veterans are honored with song, word, remembrance, and celebration at Burbank's annual observance at McCambridge Park.  The event features a Condor Squadron flyover. READ MORE

Veterans Day on the Battleship USS IOWA

San Pedro - Friday, November 11, 2022
Celebrate Veteran's Day with the Peer Access Network aboard the USS IOWA. There is a ceremony on the fantail to start the morning, followed by a concert by Rock for Vets.  READ MORE

City of Long Beach Veterans Day Celebration

Long Beach - Saturday, November 12, 2022
The City of Long Beach honors US military service members with a celebration for the whole family at Houghton Park.This year’s ceremony features a welcome ceremony with local elected officials and community leaders, a veterans recognition ceremony and a veterans and community resources fair.  READ MORE
It's an LA tradition to kick off the holidays in November! Photo courtesy of the Hollywood Christmas Parade
It's an LA tradition to kick off the holidays in November! Photo courtesy of the Hollywood Christmas Parade

Christmas Tree Lightings and Other Free Holiday Events

Citadel Holiday Tree Lighting

East LA - Saturday, November 12, 2022
The Citadel's 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting is set for November 11.More than 18,000 multicolored lights light up California’s tallest fresh-cut Christmas tree, a majestic 115-foot white fir from Mt. Shasta. The annual event includes a free holiday concert that begins at 5pm.Performers include ; Nayah Damesen (Monster High 2), FUTUREPOP, and Orange County School of the Arts Montage. American Idol's JRAND serves as host.  READ MORE

Manhattan Beach Annual Holiday Fireworks Festival

Manhattan Beach - Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Manhattan Beach's annual fireworks extravaganza returns in 2023! Activities throughout the day include the SKECHERS Snow Park,  Santa Claus, live musical performances, and of course, fireworks! READ MORE

Rodeo Drive Holiday Lighting Celebration & Fireworks

Beverly Hills - Thursday, November 17, 2022
A spectacular shimmering glow of lights brightens up Rodeo Drive during the annual Beverly Hills Holiday Lighting Ceremony.  ​The evening includes live entertainment, festive decor, and the arrival of Santa Claus.. The evening ends with fireworks over Rodeo Drive. READ MORE

Holiday in the Park Celebration

Burbank - Friday, November 18, 2022
Burbank gets the Christmas season started with an evening of in-store events, street caroling, gifts, prizes, and more.  READ MORE

Light Up Main Street

Newhall - Saturday, November 19, 2022
Old Town Newhall is transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland as Main Street is filled with thousands of twinkling lights. Guests can shop, dine, and stroll, taking in the giant Christmas tree with over 3000 ornaments, a ribbon arch and light tunnels, and a 6-foot tall selfie frame. READ MORE

Annual Lighting of the Bay

Newport Beach - November 25, 2022 - January 3, 2023
The 33rd Annual Lighting of the Bay kicks off the holiday season at Newport Dunes,  illuminating the bay each evening at dusk with more than 50 electric Christmas trees and holiday decorations. Opening night festivities include holiday crafts, festive food and concessions, photos with Santa, and a holiday movie on the beach. Santa takes center stage at dusk as he flips the magic switch to illuminate the bay with more than fifty floating holiday decorations and Christmas trees.  Opening Night is also the launch of the new Fire & Ice Festival. READ MORE

Mission Inn Festival of Lights

Riverside - November 25, 2022 - January 6, 2023
What could be worth the trip to Riverside? How about one of the nation's largest holiday light collections! READ MORE

Winter Village Festival

Sierra Madre - Saturday, November 26, 2022
Sierra Madre sweetens Small Business Saturday with the Winter Village Festival. The event promises snow, music, shopping, and Santa Claus and his elves!   READ MORE

Hollywood Christmas Parade

Hollywood - Sunday, November 27, 2022
When  it comes to parades, New York may own Thanksgiving, but no one beats Hollywood for Christmas. The slightly kitschy, but very lovable Hollywood Christmas Parade airs across the country throughout December, but the live event takes place on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Deane Dana Friendship Park and Nature Center
Multiple Locations throughout Ventura County
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Colorado Blvd between Eagle Rock Blvd and Townsend
Old Town Newhall Library
Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort
Downtown Sierra Madre