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7 almost-free ways to spend your weekend in SoCal
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California wildflowers
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Sathish J/flickr Creative Commons
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AMBOY, CA - FEBRUARY 29: Desert sunflowers begin the annual desert bloom at sunrise near Amboy Crater National Natural Landmark as a near-normal rain season follows a near-record dry season that lead to a wave of massive wildfires across southern California in 2007, on February 29, 2008 near Amboy, California. Weather experts are saying that it would take years of above-normal rainfall to refill the shrinking reservoirs of the West and to recover from a drought that has plagued western states since the end of the 1990s. Very few wildflowers were seen in California deserts in 2007. Amboy Crater is a symmetrically-shaped cinder cone near Mojave National Preserve in one of the youngest volcanic fields in the nation. The last eruption period occurred 500 years ago. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
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David McNew/Getty Images
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Courtesy of DeafTalent and ASL Comedy via Facebook
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File: A man poses with Irish beer during St Patrick's Day celebrations March 16, 2003 in London.
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Scott Barbour/Getty Images
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Courtesy of City of South Gate via Facebook
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If you don't plan on trekking 26 miles on foot, choose from sipping on green beer, getting personal with the city's wild side or digging into some pie.
FOODIE PICK
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ3kiTWg8n5/?taken-by=ilikepiebakeshop
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Claremont Pie Festival
PI Day might have passed us by, but you can still partake in some serious indulging. Whatever your pie preference — apple, chocolate, pecan or lemon meringue and more — you won't be disappointed. From a pie eating contest, to a pie baking contest and several stage demos, it'll be pretty easy to spiral into a sugar coma. Pace yourself and plan out your pie intake by checking out the jam-packed festival schedule.
WHEN: Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Various locations in Claremont Village | MAP
COST: Free
CULTURE VULTURE PICK
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Courtesy of DeafTalent and ASL Comedy via Facebook
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DeafTalent & ASL Comedy
If you're in need of a dose of laughter and human compassion, this one's for you. This comedy show is for everyone, but it will feature deaf performers who will perform standup, improv, character performances and more. Some non-deaf folks will also take the stage, with American Sign Language interpreters on hand for everyone to partake in the comedy.
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WHEN: Saturday, March 18, 7 p.m.
WHERE: UCB Sunset | MAP
COST: Tickets are $7 | Get tickets
TV JUNKIE PICK
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRqwLRFB9p6/?taken-by=paleycenter
PaleyFest L.A.
Here's your chance to get up close with the creators and stars of your favorite shows and not feel the need to hide your suppressed excitement. The 34th annual festival will kick off at the Dolby Theatre for a "The Walking Dead" screening and panel. The star-studded roster includes the cast and crew of other hit shows, including "This Is Us," "Bob's Burgers," "The Flash" and more to please a wide variety of tastes.
WHEN: Friday, March 17 through March 26
WHERE: The Dolby Theatre, Hollywood | MAP
COST: Tickets and passes vary | Buy tickets
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FAMILY PICK
https://twitter.com/NHMLA/status/841822558550818816
L.A. Nature Fest
Where you'd normally see larger-than-life, ancient fossils of extinct species, you'll get a chance to get up close and personal with living, breathing creatures. Meet an opossum, rattlesnake or take a leisurely stroll with Tank, the giant tortoise. Even though we live in a bustling city, there's plenty of nature around.
WHEN: Saturday, Sunday, March 18-19, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
WHERE: Natural History Museum, Exposition Park | MAP
COST: Included with museum admission | Get tickets
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FLORAL PICK
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Courtesy of City of South Gate via Facebook
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52nd Azalea Festival and Carnival
When spring rolls around, blooming flowers of any kind always seem to prompt some sort of festival and azaleas are no exception. Carnival rides, music and art will engulf the park for a warm weekend night out.
WHEN: Thursday, March 16 - Sunday, March 19
WHERE: South Gate Park | MAP
COST: Free
OUTDOOR PICK
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRi27AUBbts/?taken-by=lamarathon
Los Angeles Marathon
Once again, the Los Angeles Marathon is in town, so break out those running shoes (unless you've already been training for months). The 26-mile trek will span over several neighborhoods, giving you the chance to actually take in the scenery instead of being consumed by road rage. Over 40 Snapchat geo-filters will be available along the route for your social media documenting needs. Registration is pretty steep ($225) the day of, but worth it to see that finish line.
WHEN: Sunday, March 19
WHERE: All across L.A., starts at Dodger Stadium | Course map
COST: Online registration is closed, $225 the day of
SEASONAL PICK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbqntrl4rG4&feature=youtu.be
St. Patrick's Day Celebration
The season of green beer is here, so rumage through your closet for any article of green clothing and start the weekend with a bang. Munch on traditional Irish food while bagpipes play in the background and don't be shy to let your luck shine.
WHEN: Friday, March 17, all day
WHERE: The Original Farmers Market | MAP
COST: Free
How are you spending your weekend? Let us know on Twitter @lizmoonyoz and @LeoHasACat.
Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated how many PaleyFest events there have been. KPCC regrets the error.
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