Fun FREE things to do in Southern California

FREE! July 27 Dragon boat history stretches back more than 2,000 years. It’s said that villagers in China celebrated the fifth day of the Chinese calendar’s fifth lunar month by paddling canoe-like vessels carved with dragons—an important creature in Chinese mythology—in the hopes that they would be granted a good harvest. Today, Long Beach hosts one of the state’s largest dragon boat competitions. Dozens of teams compete, each with approximately 18 paddlers per boat, plus a drummer whose rhythmic pulse drives the rowers’ motions. Marine Stadium, Long Beach.

Old Spanish Days   FREE! July 31–August 4 To commemorate the reopening of the Lobero Theatre in August 1924, Santa Barbara locals invited the community to share in food, music, and dance. Called Old Spanish Days, the festivities celebrated the area’s Spanish, Mexican, and Native American heritage. The 5-day tradition, known by locals as “Fiesta,” continues 100 years later with performances by local flamenco and folklórico dancers and other live entertainment, a market, food vendors, and a rodeo. One of the largest equestrian parades in the U.S. takes place on Friday. Various locations downtown, Santa Barbara.

Henry IV   FREE! August 1 Shakespeare by the Sea, famous for offering free programming every summer throughout L.A. and Orange counties, closes its 26th season with Henry IV. Bring a picnic and a sweater and revel in the timeless art of live theater. Soka University’s Campus Green, Aliso Viejo.

Movie Nights at The Queen Mary   FREE! August 21 and September 18 When the RMS Queen Mary first set sail out of Southampton, England, in 1936, it boasted a movie theater equipped with sound. The luxury ship featured state-of-the-art amenities, and though it has appeared in many movies (The Aviator, Chaplin, The Poseidon Adventure), it hasn’t screened any in a long time. The Queen Mary’s inaugural summer film series closes with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Wonka. Filmgoers sit on the pierside lawn, where the ship’s iconic red-orange funnels serve as a backdrop. Free with reservation; parking, $10. The Queen Mary, Long Beach.

Leimert Park Jazz Festival   FREE! August 31 Starting as a neighborhood block party in 2015, this jazz festival helped cement Leimert Park as a cultural bastion of Black Los Angeles. Home to venues like The World Stage and The Barbara Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, Leimert Park has provided performance opportunities for local wunderkinds and touring legends alike. This free festival honors that cultural role with swinging sounds all day long. VIP tickets available. Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, Leimert Park.

Maritime Festival    FREE! September 13–15 This 40th annual festival boasts tall ships, cannon battles, a pirate and mermaid ball, reenactors, local vendors and food trucks, a beer garden, and even a pirate school. It’s all thanks to the nonprofit Ocean Institute, a conservation group and educational center in Dana Point Harbor. Many events are free; $80 for boarding the ships and sailing. Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point.

Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion   FREE! September 20–21 Ontario is the gateway to the final 50-mile stretch of historic Route 66, holding onto the last vestiges of the dusty road before the trail ends at the Santa Monica Pier and the ocean breeze kicks in. To celebrate the internationally recognized highway, live bands and other entertainment fill in the spaces not occupied by more than 1,000 classic cars. Euclid Avenue, Ontario.

Anaheim Craft & Vintage Fair   FREE! September 21 This small but mighty craft fair features the work of more than 30 local creators. Sellers also offer their vintage treasures, and guests can purchase Eastern European foods, baked goods, and homemade jam. Annunciation Byzantine Catholic Church, Anaheim.

Reyes Adobe Days   FREE! October 4–6 For nearly 175 years, the Reyes Adobe has stood as an emblem of the area’s Spanish influence. Nestled in a sprawling suburban neighborhood, the adobe has served as a museum for more than 40 years. This annual gathering promises a parade, a 40-mile bike race, and lots of live music. Throughout the celebration, museum tours ground the event in its long and fascinating history. Reyes Adobe Historical Site, Agoura Hills.

Coastal Quilters Harvest of Colors Quilt Show   FREE! October 5–6 There’s more than one way to make a quilt, and few folks know this better than members of the Coastal Quilters Guild of Santa Barbara & Goleta. This biannual event highlights the many styles, designs, and themes inherent in the textile artform and offers opportunities for admirers and amateur quilters to mingle. Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara.

“Louis Prima: Rediscovering a Musical Icon”   REE! Through October 13 Whether it was as one half of a Las Vegas performing duo with his wife, Keely Smith, or as King Louie in the 1967 film The Jungle Book, trumpeter, singer, bandleader, and voice actor Louis Prima always knew how to deliver the perfect punch line. The self-proclaimed “wild man” had numerous radio hits including “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “Jump, Jive an’ Wail.” This retrospective on Prima’s career emphasizes his New Orleans roots and features a collection of personal items and one-of-a-kind memorabilia. Italian American Museum, Los Angeles.

“Yves Saint Laurent: Line and Expression”   FREE! Through October 27 Twentieth-century French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent’s designs were immensely popular in Europe and the United States, and he was a fixture of social scenes in New York and Paris in the ’60s and ’70s. When Saint Laurent wasn’t appearing in nightlife columns, he was known to decamp to a villa in Marrakech, sketching his days away. This show explores those sketches and the flowing designs that resulted from his North African sojourns. Orange County Museum of Art, Costa Mesa.