LA & OC Free Museum Days (2023 Calendar)
Here is a roundup of free museum days Los Angeles and Orange County families can enjoy this year, including picks with always-free admission!
We’re collecting free days for family-friendly museums and zoos around LA on our interactive map & calendar. More free days are added as we hear about them, so check back often for opportunities to enjoy free family fun.
Your reviews and likes help other parents discover something new! Chime in below to share your experience or let us know about other Los Angeles museum free days we should add to the list.
Armory Center For the Arts
Erynn said: Every day is a free day at Armory Center For the Arts. The Armory invites everyone who loves art to visit and learn with contemporary art exhibits, artist forums and screenings, plus performances from local talent. Exhibits often rotate but have included installations featuring inflatable lawn decorations, handmade ceramics, and more.
Pasadena, CAAlways free admission
Open Friday-Sunday
1 review
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
Erynn said: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes always offers free admission. This culturally-focused plaza showcases the evolution of Mexican and Mexican-American culture. It's also central to the local culture in LA and the surrounding areas, and interactive exhibits help kids to understand both their own culture and those of others.
Los Angeles, CAAlways free admission
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
1 review
Museum of Contemporary Art
Erynn said: The Museum of Contemporary Art always offers free admission. MOCA is an artist-founded museum dedicated to collecting and exhibiting contemporary art. Take a tour of the museum or just browse the galleries. Pick up a Family Guide with activities to keep you busy during your visit-prompts to look, discuss, sketch, write, and more!
Los Angeles, CAAlways free admission
Closed Mondays
1 review
California African American Museum
Erynn said: California African American Museum always offers free admission. CAAM’s permanent collection consists of over 5,000 objects ranging from the 1800s to the present. CAAM’s deepest holdings include art made or connected to African Americans in California and the western United States.
Los Angeles, CAAlways free admission
Closed Mondays
1 review
California Science Center
Erynn said: Admission to the permanent galleries at the California Science Center, including Space Shuttle Endeavour, is always free and do not require a reservation. Learn about air & space with a collection of real space crafts, ecosystems by exploring underwater tunnels, and transportation by racing your own solar powered toy cars. Timed tickets are required for the IMAX Theater.
Los Angeles, CAAlways free admission
1 review
Hammer Museum
Erynn said: The Hammer Museum always offers free admission. This museum champions the art and artists who challenge us to see the world in a new light, to experience the unexpected, to ignite our imaginations, and inspire change. They encourage families to download one of their family and teen guides ahead of your visit to enhance your understanding of their exhibitions.
Los Angeles, CAAlways free admission
Closed Mondays
1 review
Fowler Museum at UCLA
Erynn said: The Fowler Museum at UCLA always offers free admission. The Fowler explores global arts and cultures with an emphasis on Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Indigenous Americas—past and present.
Always free admission
Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
1 review
Getty Center
Erynn said: Admission to the Getty Center and the Getty Villa is always free for the whole family; just be sure to reserve a time for your visit. The tram ride, gardens and outdoor spaces, and art galleries are fun for families to enjoy together. For even more fun for the kiddos, pick up a set of art detective cards in the Museum Entrance Hall at the Getty Center, and be sure to check out the Family Forum at the Getty Villa.
Los Angeles, CAAlways free admission
Closed Mondays
1 review
Primary photo: Courtesy of Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County
Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.
