Happy Halloween everyone! We hope you're planning on doing something fun (and cheap) tonight. Maybe check out the West Hollywood Carnaval or Booo-tiful Downtown Burbank? October 31st can be a lot of fun, but we're actually more excited about November 1. There are some pretty cool month-long events that kick off tomorrow like NaNoWriMo and Movember.

It's 4th of July weekend 2011 and we can't wait for the fireworks! Yes, there are parades and pancake breakfasts to celebrate the red, white & blue this Independence Day, but who are we kidding? We are just waiting to see beautiful explosions light up the night. Grab a blanket and a friend, because we've got your rundown for fireworks across Los Angeles and SoCal at large. Most of these fireworks shows are free, and all the rest are really cheap at $5 and under, with that money generally going to charity. Happy Birthday, America!

Show us your…beads! In LA (and we don't mean Louisiana), there are lots of options for getting your gumbo, beignet, and celebration mask on. Slap on some feathers and head out to the fun all around town. As they say in New Orleans – Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler…Let the Good Times Roll!

Nothing says 4th of July like barbecues, parades, and, of course, fireworks! LA has a plethora of options and so many are free! Consider this your cheat sheet on where to celebrate your love for the red, white, and blue.

[Note: This is the 2010 list. See the list of cheap and free fireworks shows for 2011 here.]

Since the dawn of mankind, the befuddled people of the world commonly equate Cinco de Mayo with Mexico's Independence Day. Sorry, people of the world, Cinco de Mayo is virtually ignored in Mexico. Fortunately, around 50% of the Los Angeles population comes from Hispanic or Latino descent, which leads to a vibrant Latino culture and plenty of interested Americans. We take it upon our shoulders to ensure that poor Cinco de Mayo doesn't feel neglected. And boy do we step up to the plate...

The Year of the Tiger began on Sunday with the Chinese New Year. (Did you make it to the Tet Festival in Garden Grove over the weekend?) The lunar New Year is the biggest of the traditional Chinese holidays, lasting 15 days, culminating with the Lantern Festival, this year on March 6. Keeping with tradition, it's time to clean your house or apartment, get some new clothes, and make plans to hang out with the family. Get ready for good food and buy gifts for friends. If you're lucky, you may even get a red envelope with a bunch of cash to blow in the new year. LA's got a whole slew of festivities worth checking out. Here's a rundown.