Going to see a Shakespeare play in the park has become a beloved summer Southern California tradition. So get out that picnic blanket and low-back beach chair, and prepare to head out for a bit of the Bard. For free. And here\u2019s where you can do it in 2026.<\/p>\n
Shakespeare by the Sea<\/a><\/p>\n This company founded in 1998 typically stages two plays each summer, but budget cuts this year required them to pare it down to one. So the company picked \u201cMacbeth,\u201d which certainly has every element required for drama. \u201cOut, damned spot! Out, I say!\u201d All shows start at 7 p.m. Admission and parking are free, but you can help support the company by buying a \u201cBard\u2019s Bites\u201d<\/a> meal at some locations, which includes reserved seating, or giving a donation. Learn more: shakespearebythesea.org<\/a><\/p>\n June 26-27 \u2014 Long Beach: Recreation Park Bandshell on two nights. Location: 701-939 Federation Drive. Bench seating. (Bard\u2019s Bites available) Independent Shakespeare Company at Griffith Park<\/a><\/p>\n This year\u2019s season runs June 24-Sept. 6, with shows starting at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays (except July 4) at the Dell at the top of the Old Zoo in Griffith Park. Give yourself time to park and walk up. Front seating is for blankets only; low back chairs allowed farther back. All seating is first come, first served but organizers ask you to sign up in advance so they know how many people want to come (not mandatory). On rare occasions, the area might be full. There\u2019s a preshow if you come early. This is theater in the round. If you want to splurge, $60 will buy you an elevated, reserved chair. No dogs, alcohol or smoking are permitted. No food or drink will be for sale. indieshakes.org\/free-shakespeare-2026<\/a><\/p>\n June 24-July 26: \u201cCoriolanus\u201d (no performance July 4) Dana Point Shakespeare Festival in the Park <\/a><\/p>\n July 10-11: The Bard returns to beautiful Sea Terrace Park this year for two nights, with \u201cThe Comedy of Errors\u201d performed from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and 5-9:30 p.m. Saturday. Bring a blanket or low-back chair. The event is free and all ages. Donations are appreciated. On Saturday only, enjoy live music, food trucks, an artisan village, beer and wine for purchase. The show starts at 8 p.m. You can support co-sponsor Jack\u2019s Restaurant by ordering a picnic dinner to go from at 24462 Del Prado. Call 949-489-1903 or visit jacksdp.com<\/a>. Setup at the park allowed starting at 2 p.m. Location: Sea Terrace Park, 33418 Pacific Coast Hwy #100, Dana Point. Reserve your spot here (or just show up): eventbrite.com\/e\/dana-point-shakespeare-festival-presents-the-comedy-of-errors-registration-1982608443224<\/a><\/p>\n Loyola Marymount University\u2019s Shakespeare on the Bluff<\/a><\/p>\n These student performances are free and open to everyone outdoors on the LMU Drollinger Family Stage. Shows typically last 90-100 minutes. Bring a blanket, low chairs and a picnic. Parking is free after 8 p.m. and on weekends at Drollinger Parking Plaza (Lot L) on LMU\u2019s campus. Before 8 p.m. weekdays, pay for your parking via the kiosks. Additional information and campus maps at lmu.edu\/shakespeare<\/a>. 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles.<\/p>\n Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival<\/a><\/p>\n New Swan Shakespeare Festival at UC Irvine<\/a><\/p>\n July 7-Aug. 30: While not free, the\u00a0New Swan Shakespeare Festival at UC Irvine<\/a> will stage \u201cRomeo & Juliet\u201d and \u201cThe Merry Wives of Windsor Cove\u201d (a musical adaptation set in a 1950s SoCal surf town) in a miniature Elizabethan space, with professionals and students participating. Tickets cost $28-$115. newswanshakespeare.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Going to see a Shakespeare play in the park has become a beloved summer Southern California tradition. So…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":365897,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[2029,7,9,8,12,12740,1884,2462,131,17306,47,137,20741,611,1727,4065,1977,29378,17822,86142,7611,5760,1439,29597,200,11663,1058,420],"class_list":["post-365896","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-california","tag-beverly-hills","tag-california","tag-california-headlines","tag-california-news","tag-dana-point","tag-free-and-cheap","tag-hermosa-beach","tag-irvine","tag-long-beach","tag-los-alamitos","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-county","tag-manhattan-beach","tag-orange-county","tag-outdoors","tag-palos-verdes-peninsula","tag-pasadena","tag-rancho-palos-verdes","tag-redondo-beach","tag-rossmoor","tag-san-fernando-valley","tag-san-gabriel-valley","tag-san-pedro","tag-seal-beach","tag-south-bay","tag-south-pasadena","tag-theater","tag-things-to-do"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365896","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=365896"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/365896\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/365897"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=365896"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=365896"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=365896"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nJuly 2 \u2014 Rossmoor: At Rush Park, 3021 Blume Drive.
\nJuly 3 \u2014 Encino: Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd.
\nJuly 8-9 \u2014 Hermosa Beach: Valley Park, 2521 Valley Drive. Grassy hillside with ocean breezes.
\nJuly 10-11 \u2014 San Pedro: Point Fermin Park. Historic bandshell. 807 Paseo Del Mar. Ocean views. It can get chilly. (Bard\u2019s Bites available)
\nJuly 12 \u2014 Rancho Palos Verdes: Hesse Park,\u00a0 29301 Hawthorne Blvd. Rancho Palos Verdes.
\nJuly 16-17 \u2014 Manhattan Beach: Polliwog Park at the Lakeview amphitheatre. 1601 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
\nJuly 18-19 \u2014 South Pasadena: Garfield Park, 1000 Park Ave.
\nJuly 22 \u2014 Beverly Hills: Roxbury Park, 471 S. Roxbury Drive.
\nJuly 23 \u2014 Aliso Viejo: Soka University campus green, 1 University Drive.
\nJuly 24 \u2014 Redondo Beach: Veterans Park (note: park is oceanfront by the pier and can get chilly;arrive early to find parking), 309 Esplanade. (Bard\u2019s Bites available)
\nJuly 25 \u2014 Redondo Beach: Dominguez Park, 200 Flagler Lane. (Bard\u2019s Bites available)<\/p>\n
\nAug. 5-Sept. 6: \u201cThe Comedy of Errors\u201d<\/p>\n