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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

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Have an eclectic weekend: 5 free things to do in LA

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Scott Dudelson/ Courtesy Make Music Pasadena
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Mingle with civic coders, celebrate art history in Northeast L.A. or work on repairing your old stuff. This weekend offers a wealth of free activities and events. We offer five possibilities. Take a look, and let us know your weekend plans in comments below. 

1. Hack your heart out at L.A.-area events for the National Day of Civic Hacking

Meet with developers, community activists, entrepreneurs, data nerds and organizers of all sorts this weekend. Though hacking has received a bad rep from recent stories of digital trespass and cyber-fraud, the focus at these events will be to wrangle information and technology to improve the community and increase access to public information. Have an idea? L.A. has two planned events set for the weekend, including a block party in Leimert Park to raise awareness of the community's civic start-ups and a two-day-long hackathon in Boyle Heights.

When & When: Check the Hack Day listings!

Price: Free

2. Make music with the hipsters of Pasadena 

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Enjoy more than 150 free concerts around Pasadena, including performances from Yacht, Tanlines and Youngblood Hawke. 

When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Click here for the schedule.

Where: Stages located around Pasadena. Click here for a map. 

Price: Free, but suggested $5 donation. 

3. Explore northeast L.A. on Lummis Day 

Celebrate a rainbow of cultural traditions at the eighth-annual Lummis Day Festival this weekend. In addition to music, dance and poetry, attendees can visit the century-old Lummis Home influenced by mission architecture and the dwellings of the Pueblo Indians. 

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Here's a glimpse from last year's event:

When: Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for the schedule. 

Where: Lummis Home, 200 East Avenue 43 in Los Angeles; Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St. Take the Metro Gold Line to Heritage Square Station to access the free shuttle bus to all of the Lummis Day festivities. Click here for a map. 

Price: Free 

4. Walk through the set of "Lincoln" — literally 

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The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is teaming up with DreamWorks to bring the spirit of President Abraham Lincoln to life with its latest exhibit. In addition to artifacts such as Lincoln’s infamous stovepipe hat, a signed Emancipation Proclamation and "a bloodied pillow from the night he died," expect costumes and Oscar-winning sets from the "Lincoln" film. Creepy or cool? You be the judge this weekend. 

When: 3 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30

Where: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley, CA 93065

Price: Exhibit is free with admission to the museum.  

5. Reuse, reduce and recycle at the Repair Café 

It's the ultimate swap and repair fair this weekend in Pasadena. Do you have something that needs to be fixed? Or maybe you just want to get rid of some old clothes? Either way, head over to Repair Café Pasadena, where folks meet monthly to help each other spruce up anything from jewelry to knives. There will also be a seed and seedling swap and garden tour. 

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When: 10 a.m. 1 p.m. Saturday 

Where: Caltech's Throop Hall, 300 S Los Robles, Pasadena, CA 91125

Price: Free

Did we miss something? Share it on our Facebook page or let us know in comments. You can also loop us in on upcoming events here.

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