Best of freebies for January - Pasadena Star-News

Best of freebies for January

The Riverside Lunar Festival, which marks the Lunar New Year, offers acrobats, dancers, music and more Jan. 25-26. Photo by Milka Soko

Kids can get a taste of agriculture and check out livestock at O.C. Fair and Event Center Discovery Days. Mindy Schauer — Staff Photographer

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It’s January and some of us have holiday bills coming due. But, not to worry, there are still fun things we can do this month for free. Here are some ideas for you.

Museum of Latin American Art: This museum has free admission Sundays and always has interesting exhibits. Free docent-led tours are offered at 2 p.m. Sundays. Free advance tickets are recommended and can be booked online. Parking is free. 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach. molaa.org/visit

The Autry Museum of the American West: The museum offers free admission 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but reservations are required by the night before. Parking is free, too. Learn about Native American and cowboy ways of life through historical artifacts such as stagecoaches, serapes, beaded clothing, firearms, photos and more. 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. theautry.org/free

Discovery Day at Centennial Farm: This 3-acre demonstration farm is open most days. On Discovery Days, including Jan. 10, volunteers are available for self-guided tours, and kids can plant radishes, learn about baby chicks, see an oxen demonstration and view livestock. Reservations are required for 10 or more people. Free parking. 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa ocfair.com/centennialfarm

Los Angeles County Museum of Art: The museum is free to all on the second Tuesday of the month, but also free for L.A. County residents every day after 3 p.m. The largest art museum complex on the West Coast has everything from David Hockney paintings to ancient artifacts to free arts workshops. (Note that part of the museum is under construction.) Paid parking. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles lacma.org/tickets

Third annual Lunar Festival, Rancho Cucamonga:. You can celebrate the Year of the Snake with taiko drummers, lion dancers, Shaolin kung fu, other cultural performances and street food like steamed buns and grilled squid. Attractions include a beer garden, carnival rides, artisan booths and a kids adventure zone. Admission and parking free. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 18, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan 19. Rancho Cucamonga Sports Center, 8303 Rochester Ave., Rancho Cucamonga. calfestival.com

Lunar New Year Festival, Monterey Park: Cultural events, live entertainment, lion and dragon dancers, K-pop, folk music, carnival rides, car show, food and more. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 19. On Garvey Avenue between Garfield and Alhambra avenues. montereypark.ca.gov/669/Lunar-New-Year-Festival\

Free national park admission for Martin Luther King Jr. Day: All U.S. national parks are free Jan. 20 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. A good time to save $50 on admission to your favorite park. If you’re heading out to somewhere popular, like Joshua Tree, I’d get there really early before it gets crowded. nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/mlk-day.htm

Tet Lunar New Year Festival, Santa Ana: The city’s second annual Tet fest will have lion and dragon dancers, inflatables for the kids and cultural performances. Free parking and admission. 1 to 6 p.m. Jan. 25, fireworks at 5:45 p.m. Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave. santa-ana.org/tet-lunar-new-year-festival/

13th annual Riverside Lunar Festival: It’s the Year of the Snake, and this cultural festival includes lion dancers, acrobats, musical entertainment from many Asian cultures with K-pop, folk songs and more for free. Also a car show, artisan market and carnival rides. On Mission Inn Avenue downtown between Lime and Orange streets. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Jan. 25, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Jan. 26. calfestival.com

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Do you live in L.A. County? If so, you get free admission from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Just go to the ticket booth and show your ID. K-12 teachers, military, EBT card holders and USC students and employees also get free admission any day. Pay to park. Exposition Park, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. nhm.org

La Brea Tar Pits and Museum: It’s always free to view the outdoor tar pits in Hancock Park where so many ice age animals became trapped and fossilized for our fascination. But if you live in Los Angeles County, you also get free admission to the museum from 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Go to the ticket booth and show your ID. There’s a paid parking lot that charges $18 (ouch). If you park on the street, read all the signage carefully. 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. tarpits.org