Free or Cheap Things to do in Pasadena area Summer 2025

So this is mostly just a list for me to keep organized but I thought I would share it in case someone else is interested in these kind of things. 

Free

-Free Movies movies under the stars. 

-Music at noon concerts

-Norton Simon first Friday free 4pm-7pm

-LACMA free second Tuesday of each month and weekdays after 3pm for La county residents w/id. 

-Natural History Museum free after 3 for La residents w/id m-f

-La Brea tar pits free after 3pm for La residents w/id m-f

-Pacific Asia museum second Sunday of each month free

-Arboretum free third Tuesday of the month but you need to get reservation tickets

-The Huntington Gardens  Free Admission 1st Thursday of the month. Must reserve tickets in advance on the last   Thursday of every month starting at 9am until sold out, for admission the following week. Limit 5 ticket per household

-La county parks after darks Saturday concerts (check their Instagram for details)

-The T-mobile app has one free slurpee every month during the summer

Cheap

Regal Summer Movie Express  1$+

Haunted Central Park in Pasadena, CA

     I recently explored Central Park in Pasadena, CA, which is rumored to be haunted. I have heard stories as far back as 30 years ago describing how the swings have been seen moving on their own, and the place definitely has a creepy, spooky vibe, especially at night. My visit this day was a bit challenging, mainly because I decided to go early in the morning. The park was loud with the sounds of cars, sirens, and people, making it hard to focus on the supposed supernatural atmosphere. Despite the noise, I got to try out most of my new ghost-hunting equipment, which was a definite plus.

     I arrived around 9AM and was eager to see what I could find. The first thing I tried was my EMF detector, but unfortunately, I got no readings at all. I then moved on to EVP recording, hoping to catch some mysterious voices. However, with all the background noise, it was impossible to make out anything useful. I also took photos and videos, but none of them showed any signs of paranormal activity.

     The most interesting part of the experience came when I used a word bank. It turned out to be the most entertaining method and probably the only way I was going to get any interaction, given the circumstances. I used both GhostTube and GhostTube VOX. When I asked if anyone wanted to make contact, the response I got on GhostTube was, “Not in the least,” which felt a bit final. I guess they meant it. When I switched over to VOX, I heard some name-calling, but that was all I could make out.

     I’m still not sure if the park is haunted. Based on my experience, I think there might be something going on, but if there are ghosts there, they don’t seem very friendly. It feels like they just want to be left alone.

*AI assisted content