List: FREE Summer Date Ideas

I was putting together a list of FREE things to do this summer in Orange County and Los Angeles for myself since my future in-laws are coming to visit. I figured that I'd share this with y'all too! This list includes previous date ideas (numbered) plus some new ideas (un-numbered). I did throw in a few items that are $10 or less (AKA cheap). Click on each for more info.

Huntington Beach Pier
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

• 14. FREE Helium Balloon Rides - Thursdays - Sundays at Orange County Great Park.
• 50. Farmer's Market in Santa Monica - Every Sunday 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM.
• 80. Free at LACMA - Free live jazz concerts on Fridays and latin music on Saturdays.
• 91. LA Friday Night Skate - Every Friday night in Hollywood or Santa Monica and then lessons on the first Sunday of every month.
• 104. Shoot Arrows like Cupid - Free archerly lesson every Saturday morning in Pasadena.
• 122. Kayak though Naples Canals - Anytime for only $8 per person.
• 131. Saturday Nights at The Getty - Free outdoor concerts at the Getty Museum on Saturdays through August.
• 140. Last Friday on Main Street, Santa Monica - monthly.
• 146. First Fridays on Abbot Kinney - monthly.
• 179. Summer Live Music at Malibu Wines at Saturdays and Sundays 1-3 PM or Fridays and Saturdays 7-9 PM.
• 181. Greek Fests 2010 - Usually free and once per month at various locations through summer.
• 182. Cinespia Cemetery Screenings - Watch movies under the stars and picnic w/ BYOB & DJ on Saturdays only (not FREE, but only $10 pp).
• 183. Devil's Night Drive-In - Watch movies in a drive-in like good ol' times on Saturdays (not FREE, but only $10 pp).
• 191. Free Bands in the Sand - Free sunset concert at Newport Beach every Saturday through Summer.
• FREE Orange County Great Park Celebration, which includes an aerial show, laser light show, live music and more on Saturday, July 10th 3-9:30 PM). Make sure to combine it with the free helium balloon ride (see #14 above).
• FREE Shakespeare by the Sea outdoor play and picnic on weekends at various locations throughout the summer, dog-friendly too!
• FREE Summer Concert Series in Dana Point, Huntington Beach and throughout Orange County on Sundays and other days (via @JustSpottedOC).
• FREE Laguna Beach Festival of the Arts 7/5-8/31 (click HERE for more info).
• FREE OC Fair 7/16-8/15.
• FREE Movies in the Park at The Grove every Thursday through August.
• FREE Twilight Dance Series every Thursday through September at Santa Monica Pier.
• FREE Dance Downtown at the LA Music Center Plaza on various dates through September.
• FREE Grand Performances at the Cal Plaza every weekend through August.
• FREE Long Beach Sea Festival - Movies at the beach Tuesdays through Thursdays at various locations.
• FREE Jazz Concerts at Hollywood and Highland every Tuesday through summer with an optional $10 wine tasting with apps.
• FREE Pasadena Film Festival every weekend in July.
• FREE Summer and Music Events every weekend through August in Long Beach.
• FREE Concerts in the Park at Manhattan Beach Polliwog Park every Sunday through September, picnic & BYOB.
• FREE Outdoor Cinema Food Fest on almost every Saturday in July and August at Exposition Park plus a few special days at Grand Hope Park and La Cienega Park, showing FREE movies but no picnic required here because food trucks galore show up every time.

Since I am not posting regularly at the moment, this "master list" will be a living document to which I'll add. Feel free to kiss and tell me when you find something free and cheap to do too! Use the comment section below, or submit the Contact Me Form (see at the top menu bar of my blog), or send me a tweet @365CheapDates. Have fun whatever you do!

191. Free Bands in the Sand

FREE summer concerts are back in Newport Beach!
With the summer here, how do you decide which beach to hit? Well, the FREE concerts up and down the coast may sway you in one direction or another. Newport Dunes offer not only a wide range of water sport activities but also FREE musical entertainment. The Bands in the Sand Series run every Saturday between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend.

sailing
Originally uploaded by The FoxBox

The line up of bands includes 80's covers, California surfing and much more (click HERE for the weekly concert schedule). The live band plays 6-8 PM, which is just perfect timing right before sunset. Bring blanket or beach towels to claim a spot at least an hour in advance. Food and drink will be available for sale there but bring a picnic and make it romantic (and more affordable). Sunblock, sunglasses, hat are routine must-haves for outdoor activities. Admission is free but on-site parking is $10.

This Waterfront Resort and Marina does offer an Aquatic Park and other things to do, such as wind surfing, pedal boats and kayaking. The park's day pass is $25 pp, not cheap but it does look like fun. Personally, I am not sure if I'd really want to get in the water and then sit for 2 hours during an outdoor concert. Lastly, this is a great idea for a family-friendly date or a group date. Stay tuned for more free fun date ideas...

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Free + $10 Parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @NewportBeach

182. Cinespia Cemetery Screenings

Watching movies at the cemetery with wine & beer?!?!
I've watched movies in the park, but have yet to do it at a cemetery! Sounds creepy yet fun at the same time. The Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery has a whopping 4.5 stars rating by 200+ Yelpers. From what I gather, part of the appeal that sets it apart from a movie theatre is that you can bring a picnic and drinks (yes, alcohol IS permitted) PLUS a DJ spins records before and after the screening. The $10 cash donation (for grounds keeping) is comparable to the price of a theater ticket nowadays, however the whole experience pales in comparison. This is a great idea for a group date, maybe even for a first date.

Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya!
Originally uploaded by daft or dangerous

Cinespia Cemetery Screenings is on it's 10th season of summer series (May - October). Screenings are usually on Saturday nights with bonus nights on holiday weekends on occasion. Here's the schedule for the first month:

• 5/15 - The Wizard of Oz
• 5/22 - The Thing
• 5/29 - North by North
• 5/30 - Purple Rain
• Check the calendar for monthly updates.

The cemetery gates open at 7 PM, so come early to park (free street parking or $5 on the cemetery grounds, best before 6 PM I heard) and claim your spot on the grass (bring blankets, short lawn chairs and pillows). This is first come, first serve (AKA no advance reservations required or tickets available). Show time is not until 8:30 PM, so eat, drink & be merry while the sun sets and the DJ spins music. Afterward, let the traffic die down by hanging out with more tunes by the DJ. If the Hollywood Cemetery is too much of a trek, the OC Great Park in Irvine offers free movies in the park throughout the year, such as Cheap Date Idea #165.

UPDATE 05/26/10: The screening schedule for June is posted! Click HERE for the calendar updates. Enjoy watching a movie under the stars on cemetery grounds - spooky yet romantic, right?

Approximate cost of creative date idea = $10 pp + $5 Parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $25 Total.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @callmemochelle

181. Greek Fests 2010

Opa!! It's time to eat and dance with the Greeks!
The Greek Festivals are coming!! I love watching the live music, Greek dancing & lessons (see my picture below), arts & crafts and (the best part in my opinion) Greek food & desserts (baklava, yum!). In general, these events run all weekend, Friday to Sunday, starting at 5 PM on Fridays and noon on Saturdays and Sundays, while closing up at 10 or 11 PM every night. Click on the links below for details and directions about each one. Admission ranges from FREE to $5 while kids under 12 are free at most festivals. Parking is free at all these locations and some provide free shuttles too.

Greek Fest
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

Wow, there's practically one every month through summer. I've updated my Google Calendar, so click HERE if you would like to add these event(s) to yours too:

• May 21-23: OC Greek Fest in Anaheim, $3 at the door (or FREE with this coupon).
• June 25-27: Irvine Greek Fest, $3 except free on Saturday Noon-5 PM or print their Facebook coupon for free admission.
• July 9-11: South Bay Greek Festival in Redondo Beach, $2 but a coupon for free admission will be coming soon.
• Labor Day Weekend (to be confirmed): Long Beach Greek Fest, $3 but a coupon for free admission may be available later on the website.
• Sept 10-12: LA Greek Fest, $3 (day) or $5 (evening) but sometimes it's free on Fridays and watch out for a coupon in the future.
• For a complete list of Greek Festivals between LA and OC, check out GoLosAngeles.com.

I usually get a big group of friends to go (i.e. group date!) and have been to both the LA and South Bay Greek Fests. I may have to check out the others on the list now, but the SB one has been rated the highest on Yelp. According to the UrbanDictionary.com, opa is a word that Greek people use for no apparent reason at all and is used to describe a jubilant emotion of/during celebration. Opa, opa , opa!!!

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Free - $5 Admission + Food & Drink.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by my Greek Goddess, @CPAsally

180. Fiesta Hermosa 5/29-31

Arts & crafts, live music, beer garden by the beach.
Fiesta Hermosa is back again! Actually it happens twice per year on the weekends of Memorial Day and Labor Day. So mark your calendar for Sat 5/29 - Mon 5/31, 3 days of fun under the sun (10 AM - 6 PM). I usually go once or twice per year since this is in my old stomping ground, Hermosa Beach. The arts and crafts are always interesting to see. As for the food booths, the freshly roasted corn is my personal fave. If you have kids, the carnival rides (not free) look like fun too.

Fiesta Hermosa
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

In my opinion, the best part of the festival is the live music at the 2 stages: Main Stage at Pier Plaza & Strand (family-friendly) and Beer Garden Stage at 11th Street & Beach Drive (21+ up). Click HERE to see the full lineup. Some tables and seating are available, otherwise be prepared to mix and mingle through the crowds. A small open area is available for rocking out in front of the stage in the beer garden (good spot for people watching). Drink tickets are usually $5, good for either beer (5 microbrews on tap) or red and white wines. Admission is free to either stage, but the line at the beer garden can get a bit long at times either due to ID check or overcapacity. In that case, the line does move, so check out the rest of the festival and go back when the line dies down.

Admission to all of this is free, but the food and drink can add up. As usual by the beach, parking is limited here. Knowing that, the City of Hermosa Beach offers complimentary off-site parking AND shuttle buses between 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM. For the environmentally-friendly, FREE valet bike parking is being offered 10 AM - 6:30 PM at 11th Street and The Strand. Click HERE for directions and more festival info. If you miss it this time, Fiesta Hermosa will be back in September.

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Free Admission.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.

179. Summer Live Music at Malibu Wines

Wine + live music = romantic date idea, even a first date idea!
Starting Memorial Weekend, the Summer Live Music is back at the Malibu Wines tasting room! The winery, Malibu Family Wines provides live music for free starting May 28th until October 24th by night (Fri-Sat 7-9 PM) or day (Sat-Sun 1-3 PM). This is definitely something worth checking out at least once in the next 5 months, especially when the weather is perfect for an outdoorsy activity. The property is family-friendly during the day, so the kids and adults can enjoy the mid-day concerts (1-3 PM) on Saturdays and Sundays. After 6 PM, it's adults only for the evening concerts (7-9 PM) on Fridays and Saturdays.

Drink, drink and be merry!
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

My friend took us here last summer since it's her favorite spot and then we were pleasantly surprised (as you can tell by my photo here) by a live band coming onto stage. There is one requirement for admission: a purchase of at least one bottle of wine by each group. That is unless you catch the wine tastings before it ends at 6 PM, however sharing a bottle is more cost-effective. Invite your friends to share a bottle (or two or three) and make it a group date! Bottles range $14-27, so that could be as cheap as $3.50pp on a double date! As for parking, it's free along Mulholland Highway, but carpool and come early as these events get packed. Bring a picnic and a blanket, otherwise some food is available for purchase there and tables are reserved for minimum purchases.

While you're up in Malibu, make it a full day of fun by combining it with one of these other things to do:

• Cheap Date Idea #96: The Getty Villa offers free museum admission but reservations are required.
• Cheap Date Idea #38: Lake Shrine is a beautiful spot for a day date plus it's FREE.
• Cheap Date Idea #10: Point Dume State Beach is a nice beach with lots of activities, including rock climbing.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun!


Approximate cost of creative date idea = $14-27 per bottle.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by Miss W., @stephschneider & Derek @malibufmlywines

169. FREE Tuesday Night Cafe

Support your local artists in Downtown LA!
Yup, it's Tuesday again, which means Tuesday Night Project shares performing art again with the public, such as music, poetry, theatre, comedy improv, dance, karaoke and more. Tuesday Night Cafe (TNC) is a FREE event at 7:30 PM every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month between April and October. Of course, donations are always appreciated! This outdoor performance is usually held at the Aratani Courtyard in Little Tokyo, which is family-friendly and dog-friendly (that's a rare find!). For directions, tonight's line up and updates, click HERE.

IMG_4161
Originally uploaded by waxstyles

TNC has been teetering between #1 and #2 spot for Yelp LA Nightlife (click HERE to read Yelp reviews). Either way, this is something worth checking out. Street parking is free after 8 PM. The cheapest paid parking lot is at Joe's on 2nd St between Central and San Pedro. Come early to find parking and grab a seat. Otherwise, bringing your own chair and blanket would be a smart idea to stay comfortable for 2 hours outdoors. No drinks and food are served here, so feel free bring something or stop into Little Tokyo Cafe next door before the show.

If prefer to watch from the comfort of your own home or are out of town, watch the performances LIVE online (yes, streaming live at 7:30 PM PST). If you miss it or simply want to rewatch it, no worries! TNC is on YouTube too! As of this moment, there are at least 16 previous shows at your fingertips. Enjoy!

UPDATE 05/11/10: For ease of reference, the future show dates are: 5/18, 6/1, 6/15, 7/6, 7/20, 8/3, 8/17, 9/7, 9/21, 10/5 and 10/19. Mark your calendars!


UPDATE 05/17/10: Last minute change of venue due to chance of rain: Senor Fish at 7:15p at 422 E 1st St, Los Angeles.

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Free.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @tnproject

145. FREE Long Beach Harbor Cruise

Free harbor cruise = Classy day date idea!
Enjoy a free 90-minute cruise around Long Beach Harbor in May to September. Free online reservations may be made one month in advance starting on the first work day at 8 AM. For example, tickets for the May cruises will be available on April 1st. Even though I lived in LB, I've never heard about this until now. The Port of Long Beach offers these free harbor tours every year!

Long Beach
Originally uploaded by KM&G-Morris

Parking is conveniently located at Dock 9 at Shoreline Village in Downtown Long Beach. The first 2 hours of parking is validated for $1 with every additional 20 minutes at $2. When you get back to shore, hang out at the Shoreline Village for drinks and apps. Parker's Lighthouse restaurant has an awesome view, very romantic but it's not a cheap date. The Yard House is always a hot spot, especially for happy hour, but reservations are highly recommended.

For more fun on a boat, check out these other date ideas:

• A weekend getaway in San Diego (Cheap Date Idea #71)
• Whale watching in Dana Point (Cheap Date Idea #66)
• Sunday Champagne Brunch in Marina Del Rey (Cheap Date Idea #85).

UPDATE 04/01/10: Tickets for Saturday, May 1st, at 10 AM are already sold out, but you can sign up for stand by online. The capacity is 110-120 per boat. Tuesdays at 2 PM on 5/11 and 5/25 are open. The website says there is a limit of 6 tickets per tour, but only 5 tickets may be selected per reservation online (you can also call 562-590-4121). Click HERE to get your free tickets.

UPDATE 04/22/10: A new cruise date has been added to the schedule for Wednesday, May 19th. Click HERE to get your free tickets NOW.

UPDATE 04/27/10: Cruise tickets become available on the first work day of the month. For June, that will be Monday, May 3rd, at 8 AM sharp! Also, only one group reservation may be made by an individual each year, meaning you can only go once per year. That is unless, your date signs up for it next time and drags you!

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Free + $1 Parking.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $46 Total (when compared to other cruises).
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @EverythingLB

1. Go Chicken Dancing at Oktoberfest

Chicken Dancing at Oktoberfest
Originally uploaded by 365 Cheap Dates

The annual Oktoberfest at Old World Village in Huntington Beach is always a good time for friends and family, especially for dates! Where else can you go chicken dancing and get away with it?
Enjoy a beer and brat from Sept. 6th through Nov. 1st, on Wednesdays to Sundays.
Happy Hour is Wednesdays to Saturdays 3:00 - 6:30 PM.
Wednesdays and Thursdays are always free admission.
Sundays are free with the flyer (click here to print).
Fridays before 6 PM are free.
Otherwise, save $5 with the flyer before 7:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Parking is free and easy, especially across the street at the Bella Terra Mall off Beach Blvd.
Cheers!

UPDATE 10/22/10: Click HERE to print the 2010 coupon. Enjoy!

Approximate cost of creative date idea = Can be free! (or $20 on Sat) plus beer and brats.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $30.