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Free in August: Movies, Concerts, Festivals, and More Free Things To Do in Los Angeles with Kids

Fiesta La Ballona closes out August with one of our favorite festivals. Photo courtesy of the festival
Fiesta La Ballona closes out August with one of our favorite festivals. Photo courtesy of the festival
8/1/22 - By Kylie Williams

Celebrate the dog days of summer with this giant list of free things to do in Los Angeles with kids this August!

I've been spending too much money lately on back-to-school supplies and Halloween decorations. (Too early, you say? I think not!) If you, like me, are feeling a bit of financial pressure this month, this list is for you. Here are events that let you end the summer with a bang without spending a buck. Whether you want to enjoy a little Shakespeare, dance the night away, or chill out to some live jazz, there's nothing to stop you—short of heatstroke. We've also got free festivals for surfers, Japanese culture enthusiasts, and kids that just love a good carnival ride. 

So gather up the fam and squeeze those last drops out of your summer fun. Keep in mind that 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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Free Things To Do in Los Angeles this August

Annenberg Community Beach House Sunset Picnic

Monday, August 1, 2022
Santa Monica
The Annenberg Community Beach House welcomes guests to picnic as the sun goes down. READ MORE

National Night Out Events

Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Various locations throughout LA and OC
All over LA, LAPD branches host National Night Out on the first Tuesday of August. Events vary, but all encourage kids to develop a familiarity and comfortability with law enforcement officers. Many of these celebrations include bounce houses, games, opportunities to get up close and personal with emergency response vehicles, and free food. And of course, law enforcement officers will be present to talk with community members. READ MORE

Back to School Free K- 12 Haircuts

Saturday, August 6, 2022
Los Angeles
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw partners with Hair Architects to provide free haircuts* for K - 12th grade students in the community with a valid school ID. READ MORE

Back to School Celebration (Thousand Oaks)

Saturday, August 13, 2022
Thousand Oaks
Calabasas Mommy and the Conejo Family Events Community hosts a family-friendly event at The Lakes at Thousand Oaks, celebrating all things back-to-school. Guests can enjoy a festive fair featuring crafts, giveaways, KidFIT fitness demos, and more.    READ MORE

Odd Nights at the Autry

Friday, August 19, 2022
Griffith Park
Odd Nights at the Autry is a free monthly outdoor event on the Autry grounds. Families can bring blankets and folding chairs and kick back to enjoy an evening picnic with live music on the huge lawn. READ MORE

Summertime Explorers

Wednesdays in August
Long Beach
Young explorers can venture to 2nd & PCH for free summertime crafts and fun. Weekly activities include themed educational and interactive entertainment, photo ops, complimentary face painting and balloon artist, and crafts. READ MORE

Night Market at the Bungalow

Thursdays through August 25, 2022
Santa Monica
The Night Market at The Bungalow is a new weekly summer event series every Thursday. The fun includes lots & lots of food trucks, music by Jeremy Sole, cocktails, a kid's area by Tiny Tots Mobile Play, and more! READ MORE

The Music Center's Dance DTLA

Fridays through September 2, 2022
DTLA
The Music Center's Dance DTLA returns this summer celebrating its 20 years of dancing under the stars. The free Friday programs include free beginner dance lessons by LA's top dance instructors followed by an open dance floor, with live DJ sets, food and drinks, and more. Each Friday night party finishes with a surprise dance genre lesson - a finale “extrava-dance-za”! READ MORE

Chinatown Summer Nights

Saturdays through August 20, 2022
Chinatown
Part food event, part summer party, Chinatown Summer Nights presents an exciting hot spot for Angelenos this summer. READ MORE

As Boo Like It

Saturdays & Sundays in August
Culver City
The long-awaited return of kid-friendly Shakespeare in Culver City? As Boo Like It! The Actors Gang is at it again, this year putting a spin on Shakespeare's As You Like It that is simply monstrous! READ MORE

Getty Garden Concerts for Kids

Saturdays & Sundays in August through August 21, 2022
Los Angeles
The Getty Center's Garden Concerts for Kids returns this August with three weekends of shows. The free outdoor music series for kids and their families features some of the best children's musical artists from across the nation. Kids have a blast rolling in the grass and running through the garden, as well as dancing and singing along with the music. READ MORE
Free movies under the stars... Photo courtesy of Santa Ana Movies in the Park via Facebook
Free movies under the stars... Photo courtesy of Santa Ana Movies in the Park via Facebook

Free Outdoor Movies in Los Angeles in August

Moonlight Movies on the Beach - LBCC

Thursday, August 4, 2022
Long Beach
Moonlight Movies are going to college: Long Beach City College. The two LBCC dates this year are held at the LAC Campus. Food trucks offer meals and popcorn for purchase; movie-goers may also bring their own food. Parking is free, but limited. READ MORE

Sierra Madre Family Movie Fridays

Friday, August 5, 2022
Sierra Madre
On select Fridays, families can watch movies on the grass at the Bandshell in Memorial Park. Picnic meals are welcome. Free popcorn provided. Moviegoers should bring seating and blankets to enjoy recent hits such as Disney's Little Mermaid, Barbie, and Kung Fu Panda 4.  Movies begin at dusk. READ MORE

Family Movies Under the Stars (Buena Park)

Friday, August 12, 2022
Buena Park
Families can gather in Buena Park's Boisseranc Park for free movies under the stars. READ MORE

Simi Valley Movies in the Park

Friday, August 12, 2022
Simi Valley
Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District  shows films under the stars in two locations this summer: the opening night at Oak Canyon Community Park and the remaining two evenings at Rancho Madera Community Park. The movies are paired with themed pre-show activities. READ MORE

Yorba Linda Movies in the Park

Saturday, August 20, 2022
Yorba Linda
Yorba Linda hosts free monthly movies in the park shown on a giant inflatable screen. The screenings begin at dusk at either Eastside Community Park or Hurless Barton Park. READ MORE

Torrance Movies in the Park 2024

Saturday, August 27, 2022
Torrance
Movies begin at dusk (around 8pm) for these free movie screenings at parks in Torrance. Bring warm clothes, lawn chairs, and picnics.  READ MORE

Santa Ana Movies in the Park 2024

Wednesdays in August
Santa Ana
Free popcorn and a movie, what more can you ask? The 2024 Santa Ana Movies in the Park series takes place on Fridays at various city parks throughout Santa Ana. Extra fun includes inflatables and themed activities.  READ MORE

PCH Movies and Moonlight - Summer Series

Fridays, August 5 - 19, 2022
Long Beach
2ND & PCH returns with its free outdoor summer movie series.  Films are shown along Seaport Way and begin just after sunset.  A special reptile show accompanies August's screening of Jumanji. READ MORE

Moonlight Movies on the Beach - Granada Beach

Saturdays in August
Granada Beach
Families are invited to enjoy free movies under the stars at Granada Beach, with titles ranging from Kung Fu Panda 4 to Mamma Mia. Dinner, snacks, and popcorn are available for purchase; movie-goers may also bring their own food. Parking is free, but limited.. READ MORE

Warner Center's Movies on the Green

Saturdays in August
Woodland Hills
Dive in!  Warner Center's last movie of the summer is Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. Films are presented on a 30-foot theatrical screen with digital projection, surround sound, and high-resolution digital picture.  Other selections this year include Wish, Elemental, and Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom READ MORE
The International Surf Festival brings young surfers to the sea. Photo courtesy of the festival
The International Surf Festival brings young surfers to the sea. Photo courtesy of the festival

August's Best Free Festivals in Los Angeles

International Surf Festival

Wednesday - Sunday, August 3 - 7, 2022
Various beach locations near Torrance
Hang ten in Manhattan Beach this weekend for the International Surf Festival. The three signature events for the festival are the Judge Taplin Lifeguard Medley Relay, the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim, and the Charlie Saikley Six-Man Volleyball Tournament.  Other events include a surfing contest, a body surfing contest (great for kids), a beach run, paddleboard races, a dory race, and other youth events. READ MORE

2024 Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival

Macbeth runs August 6 - September 24, 2022
Griffith Park
All the world's a stage, including Griffith Park. Free Shakespeare returns to Griffith Park for a full summer of theater under the stars. This year the festival puts on one show: As You Like It.   READ MORE

Natsumatsuri Family Festival 2024

Saturday, August 13, 2022
Los Angeles
The Japanese American National Museum's annual summer celebration features a fun day of performances, crafts, and activities. Highlights include summer themed crafts and origami, interactive storytimes, souvenir photos, and a scavenger hunt through the museum. READ MORE

Nisei Week Japanese Festival

August 13 - 20, 2022
Little Tokyo
Learn about the rich cultural heritage of Japan during Nisei Week in Little Tokyo. Nisei Week is one of the longest-running ethnic festivals in the United States. Guests can try Japanese cuisine, watch the gyoza eating contest, marvel at the vehicles in the car show, wave at the floats during the Grand Parade, and enjoy a Taiko drumming performance.  READ MORE

Getty 25 Community Art Festivals

Saturdays & Sundays, August 13 -28, 2022
Crenshaw and Watts
In honor of the Getty Center's 25th anniversary, Getty partners with organizations across LA for free weekend festivals. Each event features hands-on art workshops, live music and performances, an immersive digital experience of Getty collections, prizes and giveaways, photo booths, and food for purchase. READ MORE

Fiesta La Ballona

Friday - Sunday, August 26 - 28, 2022
Culver City (admission is free, ride tickets are $1)
Culver City's premier community event, Fiesta La Ballona, treats families to outdoor concerts, carnival rides (wristbands available for purchase), a petting zoo, K-9 demonstrations, and pony rides all weekend long. Other highlights include a pancake breakfast and a magic show.  READ MORE

Leimert Park Jazz Festival

Saturday, August 27, 2022
Baldwin Hills
Feel the jazz vibes all day long at the Leimert Park Jazz Festival. This free event features local jazz musicians taking the stage to groove all day. In addition to the music, the festival features a visual arts pavilion, a food truck zone, a wine and beer lounge, a community resource zone, and a kids zone. READ MORE

Redondo Beach Summer Music Festival 2024

Thursdays & Saturdays in August
Redondo Beach
The free concerts on Redondo Beach Pier come with an added bonus: the chance to see the sun set over the ocean. Thursday night concerts feature tribute bands. READ MORE

Free Outdoor Summer Concerts in Los Angeles in August

Norwalk Summer Concerts on the Lawn

Wednesdays, August 3 - 17, 2022
Norwalk
Norwalk's Summer Concert Series offers live, outdoor music and games on the Civic Center Lawn.  Guests should bring blankets & chairs, and pack a picnic to enjoy. READ MORE

City of Glendale Free Summer Concerts in Verdugo Park

Wednesdays August 3 & 10, 2022
Glendale
Glendale hosts free summer concerts in the north end of Verdugo Park on Wednesdays​ this summer. READ MORE

Concerts on Cañon

Thursdays through August 25, 2022
Beverly Hills
The City of Beverly Hills presents live music under the stars in Beverly Cañon Gardens, adjacent to the Montage Hotel. The season kicks off with Pride Night, featuring artists from Music Forward Foundation's LGBTQ+ Emerging Artists Award program: Yancyabril & Childress. READ MORE

OC Parks 2024 Summer Concert Series

Thursdays in August
Various Parks in Orange County
OC Parks hosts free weekly concerts at rotating locations this summer. Concert-goers should bring blankets and beach chairs. Picnics are welcome; food trucks on-site, with a beer and wine garden available to those 21 and over.  READ MORE

South El Monte Summer Concerts

Thursdays, August 11 & 25, 2022
South El Monte
It's more than just a concert! Families can make a night of it at South El Monte's Summer Night Market series.  The evenings include local vendors, a kids corner, a beer garden, and yes, a free, live concert. READ MORE

2024 Summer Sounds Free Concert Series

Sundays, August 7 & 21, 2022
West Hollywood
West Hollywood's free summer concert series opens with an early evening featuring Blanco y Negro, Andre Cruz and Chris Lujan, DJ Monalisa.  All concerts are held at Plummer Park this year. Picnics, blankets, and low chairs recommended. Seating is not provided. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The Bungalow Santa Monica
Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center
Various Parks, including Hurless Barton Park
Various Parks, including Wilson Park
Various Parks in Santa Ana, including Adams Park
Various Beach locations
Griffith Park - site of the Old Zoo
Multiple Locations throughout LA
Various OC Parks, such as Craig Park