Week · November 2–8

Things to do in Los Angeles this week: 12 plans, almost all free

By HolaSavings · Published November 1, 2026

Short answer: this week you do not have to wait for Friday to go out. Monday is the last day of Día de Muertos downtown, the museums' free weekday hours land midweek — the trick almost nobody uses — and the weekend splits between Boyle Heights, downtown and UCLA. That is 12 plans verified today, November 1; 10 charge no admission. One seasonal note: it now gets dark around 5, so afternoon plans are best enjoyed early.

Monday, November 2 — the last day of Día de Muertos

• Last day of the Grand Park altars (8 a.m.–9 p.m.) — the 17 community ofrendas of “The Power of One” are on view for the last time this Monday. Free, no ticket; ride the Metro B/D to Civic Center/Grand Park and walk among the marigolds and candles without the weekend crowds. 200 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Full guide: Día de Muertos at Grand Park 2026.
• Closing night at Olvera Street (10 a.m.–9 p.m.) — the final night of the city's most traditional Novenario: altars in the plaza, Teatro del Barrio's Danza de la Muerte at 6 p.m. and the Novenario procession at 7 p.m., with complimentary sweet bread at the Kiosko ceremony. Free. Grand Park in the morning and Olvera at dusk are a few blocks apart: a full Monday for zero dollars. 125 Paseo de la Plaza, Los Angeles.

Tuesday, November 3

• Sunset at Griffith Observatory (12–10 p.m.) — it is Election Day: vote first, then close the day watching the city light up. The building, exhibitions and public telescopes are free; you only pay for the planetarium ($12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $8 children ages 5–12, tickets sold only that day on site) and nearby parking. The DASH shuttle up from the Metro B Vermont/Sunset station skips both hassles. 2800 E. Observatory Rd., Los Angeles.

Wednesday, November 4

• Free dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum (L.A. County residents: free 3–5 p.m.) — if you live in Los Angeles County, weekday late-afternoon admission costs nothing: pick up your ticket at the door with an ID or a utility bill. Two hours is enough for the Dinosaur Hall and the Gem and Mineral Hall. Outside that window: $18 adults, $14 students and seniors, $7 children ages 3–12 (open 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.). One honest note: the museum is closed on Tuesday the 3rd (it closes the first Tuesday of every month), which is why this plan lands on Wednesday. 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles.

Thursday, November 5

• Skirball Cultural Center: free for everyone (12–5 p.m.) — every Thursday, general admission costs nothing, exhibitions included; Noah's Ark, the kids' favorite, needs its own timed ticket (also free on Thursdays, while spots last). Reserve online, because Thursdays fill up, and parking is free. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles.
• GLAFF opens, the Guadalajara Film Festival in Los Angeles (Thursday to Saturday) — the 16th edition opens Thursday with a gala at the United Theater on Broadway and Diego Luna's “Ashes”; it continues Friday and closes Saturday with “Mexicanamerican” in 35mm at the Linwood Dunn Theater, with screenings also at Vidiots and Alamo Drafthouse. It is the week's Spanish-language film plan: single tickets and passes at glaff.org.

Friday, November 6

• Norton Simon Museum, free (4–7 p.m.) — on the first Friday of every month the Pasadena museum waives admission in those hours: Van Gogh, Picasso and the sculpture garden without the usual $20. The museum is open 12–7 p.m.; visitors 18 and under and students with ID get in free any day. Arrive right at 4, because it fills. 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.
• Kidspace opens Winter Frolic (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) — the paid option for little kids, labeled as such: the children's museum by the Rose Bowl turns into a winter land and the activities are included with general admission ($17 per person; under 1 free). The no-ice sock skating rink is $6 extra. The season runs through January 10, so there is no rush: this Friday is for families who want to be first. 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena.

Saturday, November 7

• Self Help Graphics' 53rd Día de los Muertos Celebration (procession 2 p.m.; celebration 3–10 p.m.) — one of the country's oldest celebrations closes the season in Boyle Heights: the procession leaves Mariachi Plaza with Danza Azteca Chicomecoatl and the party continues outdoors on Anderson Street, with community altars, a Muertos market, live music and dance, face painting and food. Free for all ages; grab your free ticket on Eventbrite. Next to 1300 E. 1st St., Los Angeles.
• LA NDN Flea at The Broad (10 a.m.–5 p.m.) — the Indigenous makers' market, with The Chapter House, to get a head start on holiday shopping: handmade jewelry, art and clothing, a family weekend workshop inspired by Jeffrey Gibson and a free limited-run poster. General admission to the museum is always free: reserve a timed ticket and skip the line. It repeats Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 221 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles.

Sunday, November 8

• Exploring Your Universe at UCLA (12–5 p.m.) — the university's free science fair: 86 interactive booths to touch and ask about, 18 short talks for all ages, and a planetarium. Everything is free; the only rush is the 450 planetarium tickets, handed out the same day — arrive at 12 if your family wants in. Court of Sciences, 405 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles.
• Andell Family Sundays at LACMA (12:30–3:30 p.m.) — the Sunday family workshop takes inspiration from the “Home of the Future” exhibition: making art with guest artists, outdoors by the W.M. Keck Education Center. The workshop is free and you do not need a museum ticket to join. It chains with UCLA: LACMA at 12:30, then the science fair until 5. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best plan of the week? Saturday in Boyle Heights: the Self Help Graphics celebration is living tradition, and it is free. For curious kids, Sunday at UCLA is hard to beat.
• What needs a reservation? The Broad asks for a free timed ticket; the Skirball recommends reserving on Thursdays; Self Help Graphics hands out free tickets on Eventbrite; and GLAFF sells its tickets and passes at glaff.org. Everything else is just show up.
• What is the trick of the week? Weekday museums: Wednesday the Natural History Museum is free for county residents from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday the Skirball is free for everyone, and Friday the Norton Simon is free from 4 to 7 p.m. Three museums, zero dollars.
• Are 10 of the 12 really free? Yes. Only two plans cost money, and they are labeled: Kidspace ($17 general admission) and GLAFF (per-screening tickets). The Natural History Museum counts as free during its county-resident window; outside that window, admission applies.

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SOURCES CHECKED ON NOVEMBER 1, 2026grandparkla.org · olveraevents.com · griffithobservatory.org · nhm.org · skirball.org · glaff.org · nortonsimon.org · kidspacemuseum.org · selfhelpgraphics.com · thebroad.org · exploringyouruniverse.ucla.edu · lacma.org · discoverlosangeles.com