Three Free Things to Do in L.A. This Weekend, All on Metro

Jazz at LACMA, Thai Fest on the Santa Monica Pier and a free block party at Pomona North Station.

Three of the five events on Metro's weekend list cost nothing at the door. The list covers Friday through Sunday, September 18 to 20, and it's posted on The Source, the official blog of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The other two, a Dodgers series and an adults-only night at the Aquarium of the Pacific, send you elsewhere for a price.

Sunday's the one to plan around if you've got a kid. First pitch against the San Francisco Giants is 1:10 p.m., and Metro's post lists it as Kids Run the Bases Day. The Dodger Stadium Express runs from Union Station and the South Bay, so the car can stay home.

Friday, September 18

The 17 Big Band plays the Smidt Welcome Plaza at LACMA in Mid-Wilshire, part of the museum's jazz series. Music starts at 6 p.m. Take the D Line to Wilshire/Fairfax Station; the walk is short.

It's free and it's outdoors. That's the easy yes of the weekend.

Later that night, the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach runs its adults-only Night Dive, Oktoberfest edition, from 7:30 to 11 p.m. Metro's post lists West Coast Prost on the Blue Cavern stage, DJs through the galleries, and bites and drinks at Cafe Scuba. Ticket buyers are pointed to aquariumofpacific.org, and the A Line to Downtown Long Beach Station puts you within a walk.

Saturday, September 19

Rock the Rails II takes over the plaza at Pomona North Station, and it's free. Doors are 5 to 10 p.m. The party marks one year of the A Line extension to Pomona, and Metro's post lists 909 Open Market and It's Not a Phase, live bands, food vendors and family activities.

Saturday and Sunday

Thai Fest by the Beach runs both days on the Santa Monica Pier, free. Ride the E Line to Downtown Santa Monica Station and walk out to the pier. No start time is listed, so treat it as a midday-onward plan rather than a 9 a.m. one.

All Three Days: Dodgers vs. Giants

The Dodgers host the Giants at Dodger Stadium in Elysian Park, which Metro's post also calls Uniqlo Field. Same place either way:

• Friday, 7:15 p.m., with a drone show
• Saturday, 6:10 p.m., with La Gran Fiesta
• Sunday, 1:10 p.m., with the kids on the basepaths

Tickets are at mlb.com/dodgers. Boarding spots and schedules for the Dodger Stadium Express are posted at metro.net/riding/dodger-stadium.

The last free thing on the list, the Pomona block party, closes at 10 p.m. Saturday.