As summer heats up in Los Angeles, there’s no shortage of exciting, free events to immerse yourself in.
From electrifying concerts and vibrant dance parties to lively community festivals and enchanting movie screenings, the next six weeks promise a plethora of activities that cater to all tastes.
This comprehensive cheatsheet offers a diverse selection of free events, specifically chosen to be easily accessible via Metro.
Bid farewell to traffic congestion and intrusive parking fees, and get ready to enjoy the essence of L.A. summer!
**Concerts & Dance Parties**
Kicking off the highlights, the Latin Sounds at LACMA series on July 5 features Conjunto Oye! performing at Hancock Park.
To get there, simply take Line 20/720 along Wilshire Blvd.
Next, on July 11, the Summer of Salsa at LA Plaza showcases Gabrielito y La Verdad, along with Super DJ Robby.
Metro riders can access this event by taking the A or B Lines to Union Station.
For salsa fans, The Music Center’s Dance DTLA will have an evening dedicated to the genre on the same day, with a Metro stop at Grand Park / Civic Center station via the B Line or the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
Additionally, July 12 brings an exciting lineup: Grand Performances presents Mystical Melodies with the Saami Brothers Qawwal, easily reachable via the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
At the same time, Linden Hall will enjoy Latin Sounds from Silvia Nicolatto at LACMA, with access via Line 20/720.
Music lovers won’t want to miss KCRW Summer Nights, which hits Chinatown on July 12 (accessible via the A Line), and Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles’s performance featuring Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band with La Verdad (B Line to Westlake / MacArthur Park station).
Continuing on July 12, The Getty presents its Off the 405 series featuring Madi Diaz.
Traveling there requires taking Line 761 to Sepulveda / Getty Ctr.
Moving into the following week, the Sunset Concerts at the Skirball feature Rodrigo Amarante / Helado Negro on July 17 (Lines 761/233), and Summer Concerts at The Hammer presents Dummy with Maral and DJs Peaking Lights that same day (Line 20/720 or Line 233/602/761 for transportation).
Another Dance DTLA event on July 18 introduces an evening dedicated to Cumbia, followed by performances by Grand Performances featuring Prelude: Bach Bebop with Suraj Partha and Berimbau: Sounds of Resilience on July 19 (both reachable via the A or E Lines).
KCRW Summer Nights returns to Union Station on the same date, while Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles invites audiences to enjoy Medusa + Beat Junkie Institute of Sound with No Easy Props & Zócalo, accessible via the B Line.
The Latin Sounds series welcomes Sangre Nueva to LACMA on July 19 (Line 20/720), and Sunday Sessions returns to Grand Park on July 20 with an afternoon of DJ-spun house tunes, accessible via the B Line to Grand Park / Civic Center station.
As July wraps up, the July 24 Sunset Concerts at the Skirball bring La Perla / Meridian Brothers, with Metro access provided via Lines 761/233.
On July 25, another Dance DTLA evening will highlight Cumbia, and Summer of Salsa showcases The Echo Park Project featuring Super DJ Robby (both events reachable by the B or A/B Lines).
Latin Sounds features Vox Bohemia at LACMA on July 26 (Line 20/720), just as The Getty celebrates its Off the 405 series with Empress Of.
Enjoy Baby Rose and Angélica Garcia as Grand Performances partners with KCRW Summer Nights on the same day, both accessible via the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
For Levitt Pavilion attendees, Tony Y Sus Bayuncos with Grupo Bamba is set to perform as well.
August is no less exciting with another Sunset Concert event on the 31st featuring MULA / Frente Cumbiero via Lines 761/233, plus Summer Concerts at The Hammer with Very Be Careful also on the 31st with added entertainment from Healing Gems and DJ Eléanora (access via Line 20/720 or Line 233/602/761).
On August 1, Dance DTLA presents its Reggaeton theme night, and KCRW Summer Nights travels to the California African American Museum (E Line to Expo Park / USC station).
Latin Sounds features Chino Espinosa y Los Dueños del Son at Hancock Park on August 2 (Line 20/720), alongside Grand Performances showcasing Adrian Quesada’s Boleros Psicodélicos (A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill).
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles hosts Thee Heart Tones + Hello Stranger featuring Eddie Chacon & Society of Shadows on the same evening, with a Metro stop at the B Line to Westlake / MacArthur Park station.
On August 7, Sunset Concerts return with JOJO ABOT / Say She She, accessible via Lines 761/233.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA showcases a Disco evening on August 8, easily reachable via the B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station or the A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
August 8 marks another Summer of Salsa event at LA Plaza, featuring The Echo Park Project with Super DJ Robby (A, B, or D Lines to Union Station).
Film lovers can catch another Grand Performances event with Prelude: Cinema Classical on the same day, alongside various Latin Sounds series on August 9 featuring Jose Rizo’s Picoso at Hancock Park (Line 20/720).
Grand Performances also welcomes Latin Goes Ska featuring Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra, with Metro access via A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station.
On August 16, Latin Sounds at LACMA presents Jose Rizo’s Picoso yet again, while KCRW Summer Nights moves to Downtown Long Beach (Metro A Line).
Levitt Pavilion will be home to La Resistencia with Lxs Cochinxs & Evoekore Media the same evening, and the day closes with the 25th Anniversary celebration for DEEP in conjunction with Grand Performances (A or E Lines).
Finally, as a perfect end to the week, August 17 offers Sunday Sessions in Grand Park with afternoon DJ-spun music (B or D Lines to Grand Park / Civic Center station).
**Festivals and Community Celebrations**
In addition to the musical events, L.A. is packed with festivals and community celebrations.
On July 10, Angel City Brewery hosts the Summer of Scream, featuring a horror vendor marketplace, trivia, and a screening of the original Scream.
To revel in this eerie experience, Metro riders can take the A or E Line to Little Tokyo Station.
July 12-13 marks the 44th annual Echo Park Lotus Festival, celebrating Korean culture and accessible via Line 92 to Glendale / Santa Ynez.
On July 15, attend the Bastille Day Celebration at the Consulate General of France in DTLA hosted by Grand Performances (A or E Lines).
On July 19, the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica hosts ¡Viva La Cultura! celebrating Latine arts and culture (using Line 4 to Santa Monica / Lincoln).
That same day, the Afro-Latino Culture Fest returns to LA Plaza, and the Glendale Chalk-A-Doodle Festival brings live chalk murals and music to Glendale Marketplace.
Catching a ride on Lines 92/217 to Brand at Harvard will bring you to the latter.
Mark your calendar for July 27, when Plant Chica hosts Afro Mujeres Fest 2025 for International Afro Women Day LA (using the K Line to Leimert Park station).
On August 2, Benny Boy Brewing presents their inaugural Watermelon Fest featuring games and live country music (Lines 251 or 76 to Main / Daily).
August 10 brings the Nisei Week Japanese Festival Grand Parade in Little Tokyo (Line A or E to Little Tokyo Station).
The following days, August 16-17, present the Nisei Week Plaza Festival at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (A or E Line).
Lastly, at the heart of action, CicLAvia returns on August 17 for a 6.75-mile course connecting Venice and Culver City (E Line to Culver City Station).
**Movie Screenings**
Film enthusiasts can enjoy several movie screenings throughout July and early August.
Cinema Under the Stars screens The LEGO Movie on July 12 at Broxton Plaza in Westwood Village (accessible via Line 2, 6, 602, or 761 to Westwood / Weyburn).
Movies Under the Stars in Old Pasadena will showcase Grease on the same evening, reachable via the A Line to Memorial Park station.
In a special twist, on July 18, The Hammer will present a double-feature of Razing Liberty Square and Moonlight, followed by a Q&A session (Line 20/720 to Wilshire/Glendon or Lines 233/602/761 to Westwood/Lindown).
Burbank’s Movies in the Park screening Encanto on July 19 can be reached via Line 155 to Alameda & Bob Hope.
July 25 offers two screenings: Ivy Station movie night with Clueless (E Line to Culver City Station) and Footloose at Ovation Hollywood (B Line to Hollywood / Highland station).
Another chance to catch a flick arises with Movies Under the Stars in Old Pasadena screening Hairspray on July 26 (A Line to Memorial Park).
As summer draws to a close, enjoy A Minecraft Movie during Cinema Under the Stars on August 9 at Broxton Plaza (Line 2, 6, 602, or 761 to Westwood / Weyburn) alongside School of Rock in Old Pasadena (A Line to Memorial Park).
Finally, on August 15, Grand Performances will deliver a screening of The Great Dictator (A or E Lines to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill station).
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Enjoy a summer filled with music, culture, and fun in Los Angeles!
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