One of the most popular annual events is making its grand return in 2024, but this time, you’ll need to wait just a tad longer than usual for the excitement to unfold.
SoCal Museums’ annual free admission extravaganza has typically been a winter affair, usually happening towards the end of January or early February. However, this year, the big day is slated for Saturday, March 23, at the start of Spring.
What remains the same? An incredible lineup of over thirty participating museums, with more than two dozen scattered across the Greater Los Angeles area. You’ll find a mix of venues that offer year-round free admission (think The Getty, The Getty Villa, The Broad, etc.) and others that typically charge entry fees (such as LACMA, The Autry, Skirball Cultural Center, etc.).
While the free tickets are good for regular admission, keep in mind that they don’t cover special exhibitions, and parking fees are still in play.
Our advice? Expect crowds aplenty, so it’s wise to book early and focus on a specific geographic area where museums are clustered. This approach can save you both on parking costs and transportation headaches.
For instance, you might venture over to Wilshire Blvd along Museum Row, where you can easily stroll between LACMA, La Brea Tar Pits Museum, and the Academy Museum. Another good choice is to stick to DTLA, where you can hop on the Metro to bounce between The GRAMMY Museum, The Broad, and the Japanese American National Museum.
The choice is yours because there is plenty to choose from!
Here is a full list of museums participating in the March 23 Free for All.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
American Museum of Ceramic Art
Autry Museum of the American West
Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College
Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum
Catalina Museum for Art & History
Columbia Memorial Space Center
Frederick R. Weisman of Art, Pepperdine University
Institute of Contemporary Art, LA
The International Printing Museum
Japanese American National Museum
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)