Downtown

Halloween's Best Home Haunts, Haunted Houses, Yard Displays, Decorations, and Spooky Mazes in LA

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 10/11/2019 - 4:07pm

If you want to get your Halloween on without being scared by those haunting Halloween theme park prices, there are lots of free Halloween yard haunts across Los Angeles. Our house loves Halloween so much it's super scary. We reconnect with neighbors hanging ghosts in trees, weaving skeletons into the jasmine, and smearing cobwebs in the shrubbery. Our normally zen rock garden becomes a graveyard, with last year's Halloween costumes for inhabitants. And we feed our macabre creativity by avidly checking out other Halloween addicts' handiwork; we love ghost trains, festivals, pumpkin patches, and a good scream at the Queen Mary—but the real beauty of living in the film capital of the world is that private haunted houses frequently rival the spectacles at the big theme parks. For real. We've collected the scream of the crop below.

Ultimate Halloween Event List: 35+ Best Celebrations in LA for Free or Spooky Fun

Submitted by Roberta B on Tue, 10/08/2019 - 3:10pm

Why are most of the Halloween events below free? We spend on the Halloween costume (and a second one if we buy too early), and the pumpkin (and a second one if we buy too early), and the Halloween candy (and oh do we pay if we buy too early)—has anyone else reached their limit with spending money on this mother-of-all kids' holidays? We've sniffed out a whole bunch of free spooky fun, plus a few of the key Halloween activities that might be worth paying a little extra for. The following 35+ events are the Halloween parties not to miss—the scream of the crop!

Free Admission Days at 20+ Museums in Los Angeles and Orange County

Submitted by Audrey M on Fri, 10/04/2019 - 3:16pm

What's better than a day at a museum? A FREE day at a museum! If you have a large family, museum tickets can add up fast—which gets particularly frustrating if you then need to beat a hasty retreat to avoid a meltdown. SoCal has some great museums that have free general admission every day of the year, including The Getty, California Science Center, and The Broad. As for the rest of them (once kids are old enough to have to pay), many LA and OC museums have monthly or even weekly free days or evenings, and we have collected a list for easy reference. Go ahead, bring the extended family, meet friends, or check out a place you have never been before—all for just the price of parking or Metro tickets. And if there's a meltdown? At least it's free.

Things To Do in LA this Weekend: Boo at the Zoo, Children's Book Fest, Mark in the Park

Submitted by Toby B on Thu, 10/03/2019 - 1:01am

It's beginning to look a lot like pumpkins, everywhere I go. And so it begins! The Harvest. The Corn Mazes. The Patches. We are on a crazed, giddy run to the end of the month.

But don't get spooked! Yes, there are scary things afoot. Yes, you can choose the dark and shadowy path. But you can also choose to welcome the season with laughs (and science!). You can fear the night or you can get in on the fun. Halloween is what you make it, and LA makes it easy to choose family-friendly. Or not.

Public service announcement for purists who wait to celebrate Halloween until, well, Halloween: There's still lots to do! This weekend sees festivals Greek and Southeast Asian, Manhattan Beachian and Encinoish. You can buy a ticket to the 20s, catch a plane, train, or (very small) automobile. The streets of Los Angeles are open wide, and you can make your mark in Grand Park. So go out there and scare up some fun.

Keep reading for our favorite treats for this weekend, no trick!

Free in August: 28 Free Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles

Submitted by Brian Steele on Sat, 07/27/2019 - 1:00am

End of summer is a time when the pocket book starts feeling light, so it is also a time to feel thankful we have lots of free things to do in Los Angeles. Whether you want to hit the beach, dance the day away, or catch a show, there's nothing to stop you, short of heatstroke. So why not gather up the fam and squeeze those last drops out of your summer fun, because if you do what we tell you to, you won't need to spend a dime.

10 Best Hotel Pools in Los Angeles with Day Passes for Families

Submitted by Li Starr on Mon, 07/22/2019 - 1:59am

Hotel pools have a certain magic for kids; in fact, book a hotel without a pool at your peril. Whether you're vacationing in the City of Angels, or just looking for a staycation that puts your kids' swim lessons to good use (while waiters bring you delicious food and decadent adult beverages), there's always a good reason to take advantage of LA's bounty of hotel pools. Any of the hotels below is worth a weekend for the pool alone. Don't want to spend the night? These hotels are not only great spots to base a vacation or staycation—they all offer day passes for their pools, too. And while not all hotel pools are kid-friendly, this list of family favorites can turn any swim day into a family vacation, whether you're staying or day-playing.

Free in July: 30+ Free Things To Do with Kids in Los Angeles this Month

Submitted by Brian Steele on Sun, 06/30/2019 - 2:36pm

Summer break has a funny way of reminding you how many hours there really are in the day. Without school, kids can turn into restless little monsters, desperate for a little entertainment. If only you could keep the whole family busy for free! Well, it's actually not hard in Los Angeles, a city with a never ending supply of frugal fun. July isn't just for fireworks. We've got music! We've got movies! We've even got slime! Here is a healthy sample of the events happening this July that won’t cost you a thing.

12 Things Dads Actually Want To Do for Father's Day in LA

Submitted by Roberta B on Fri, 06/07/2019 - 4:07pm

There are lots of ways to celebrate Father's Day around LA, including special occasion meals among sharks, ex-presidents, and the night market masses. The trick is figuring out what the dad at your house really wants. If you want this Father's Day to revolve around something more exciting than a new tie, check out our dozen ideas for dad-friendly, kid-friendly activities that he won't see coming. We guarantee there are some ideas on our list you hadn't thought of.

Free in June: 27 Things To Do that Don't Cost a Thing

Submitted by Brian Steele on Tue, 05/28/2019 - 1:47am

For kids, nothing beats summer break. For us parents, of course, it can be a lot of pressure. How do you keep the calendar full without paying for camp every day? Start with our list of free stuff to do in June; there's a litany of fun ideas on a budget; from pirate festivals and surfing to kite festivals and fireworks, there's no excuse for June Gloom!

Free in May: 24 Things To Do that Don't Cost a Thing

Submitted by Brian Steele on Tue, 04/30/2019 - 12:10pm

Summer is just around the corner, and so are the camp fees, vacation expenses, and hefty ice cream budgets that come with it. So why not be responsible for once and make May your month to get frugal? Whether you’re looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo free of charge, or just check out a movie without breaking the bank, here are a few free things to do this month with the whole family.