Yes, my friends, it’s the merry merry month of May, my favorite time of year. So let’s put on your favorite shoes and get out and enjoy it. What? You don’t want to spend any money? Well, guess what? These things to do are all free!

Cinco de Mayo celebration: The Bowers Museum will host a festival outdoors with live music and dance performances, art projects, face painting and treats. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. 714-567-3600, bowers.org

Cinco de Mayo on the Queen Mary: The ship is offering free admission from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday. You must make a free reservation at queenmary.com/whatsondeck. The party is in the Observation Bar with live mariachi music, plus drinks and food for sale. Parking is a discounted $10; make sure to get your ticket validated at the bar. 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach.

Taiko drum performance: You can learn about Japanese taiko drumming under shady trees in front of the Van Nuys Branch Library main entrance, then try them yourself. Seating will be available. All ages. The program includes performances, the history and cultural significance of taiko drums, and the chance for audience members to try their hands at playing them. Noon Wednesday, 6250 Sylmar Ave., Van Nuys. 818-756-8453, lapl.org

Califorania Botanic Garden: You can visit the beautiful, 86-acre garden for free in honor of National Public Gardens Day. California Botanic Garden is the largest dedicated exclusively to the state’s native plants and works to conserve native and rare species. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. May 9, 1500 N. College Ave., Claremont. 909-625-8767; reserve free tickets at calbg.org.

South Coast Botanic Garden: The lovely garden spread over 87 acres has free admission on the third Tuesday of the month. Check out 2,500 plant species including roses and ferns, the Japanese garden and more. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. May 20, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Estates. 424-452-0920; make reservations at southcoastbotanicgarden.org.

“Paper Moon” at the library: Join other classic movie lovers at the Fountain Valley Library screening. This 1973 film by director Peter Bogdanovich stars real-life father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O’Neal, playing con artists in the Dust Bowl era. Tatum O’Neal became the youngest person to win an Oscar for her performance. A trivia contest follows. The movie is recommended for older teens and adults. 2-4 p.m. May 21, 17635 Los Alamos St., Fountain Valley. ocpl.libcal.com/event/14330263

Henna art: Learn about the significance of henna, and how to make henna paste and get your own Henna tattoos. 4 p.m. May 22, Encino-Tarzana Branch Library, 18231 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. 818-343-1983, lapl.org

Tango concert: Fabio Zini presents South American tango music and other Argentine rhythms on classical guitar. You can learn about the musical culture of Argentina. 2 p.m. May 24, Panorama City Library, 14345 Roscoe Blvd., Panorama City. 818-894-4071, lapl.org

Free admission to Queen Mary: The ship has some new features, including an archives museum, art gallery and more. To promote them, the ship is admitting visitors free May 27, hours to be announced. Parking is a discounted $10. 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. queenmary.com/whatsondeck

Amigos de Bolsa Chica Bird Walk: You can learn about a variety of birds from the Amigos experts. The Bolsa Chica Reserve provides feeding and nesting habitat for thousands of birds and is considered one of the prime birding sites in Southern California. Meet at 8:30 a.m. May 31 in the south parking lot at the reserve, on Pacific Coast Highway halfway between Warner Avenue and Seapoint Street, across from the entrance to Bolsa Chica State Beach. amigosdebolsachica.org/bolsa-chica

Violin and piano concert: Former Los Angeles Philharmonic violinist Paul Stein and pianist Margaret Chen will perform a program featuring Beethoven and Mozart. 1 p.m. May 31, Platt branch library, 23600 Victory Blvd., Woodland Hills. 818-340-9386, plattlibrary.org