News

50 amazing things happening in LA this August

Michael Juliano
Written by
Michael Juliano
Editor, Los Angeles & Western USA
FYF 2015, day 1
Photograph: Jakob N. LaymanFYF 2015, day 1
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THINGS TO DO

Aug 5
Brew at the Zoo; Los Angeles Zoo

Knock back some craft brews as monkeys and exotic birds screech in the background during this beer-centric party.

Aug 6
KCRW's 24-Hour Radio Race; Various locations

Write, record and edit a non-fiction radio story—all within 24 hours—during this global competition.

Aug 13, 14
Splash House; Palm Springs

Pamper yourself poolside at this hotel-hopping pool party and music fest in the desert.

Aug 14
CicLAvia: Wilshire Blvd; Various locations

Pedal your way from Downtown to Koreatown during the bike-friendly fest.

Aug 14
Avocado Festival; Angel City Brewery

Celebrate Southern California's green staple with avocado-flavored popsicles, beers and more.

Through Aug 14
OC Fair; OC Fair & Event Center

Mix fried food, carnival attractions and the occasional rodeo or demolition derby, and you've got the OC Fair.

Find more things to do in our August 2016 events calendar.

FOOD & DRINK

Aug 4
An Evening on the Beach; Jonathan Beach Club Santa Monica

Sample fantastic bites and sip on wine, all while strolling around barefoot during this beachside festival in support of St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.

Aug 6
Uncorked: Derby Days Summer Wine Fest; The Culver Studios

Don your best bow ties and biggest hats for this inaugural festival featuring more than 100 wines and champagnes to sample.

Aug 6
The Taste of San Pedro; Crafted at the Port of LA

Explore the culinary side of breezy San Pedro with a smorgasbord of tastings from local restaurants and bars alongside live music, fire dancers, street performers and more.

Aug 13
LA Craft Beer Crawl; Downtown LA

Drink your way through Downtown at the annual LA Craft Beer, where you’ll be able to enjoy more than 100 craft beers at seven participating bars and restaurants.

Aug 19-21
Long Beach BBQ Festival; Rainbow Lagoon Park

Stuff your face with BBQ at this Long Beach ‘cue fest, where ribs, pulled pork, brisket and all kinds of sauces are up for grabs.

Aug 20
Day-Lee Foods World Gyoza Eating Championship; JACCC

Test your love of dumplings at this epic showdown, where competitive eaters devour as many gyoza as possible in 10 minutes.

Aug 25-28
Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival; Various locations

Indulge in food from some of LA’s best chefs at this extravagant event, where grand tastings and the popular Night Market return for its sixth year.

Through Aug 26
Friday Night Wine Tastings; Barnsdall Art Park

Roll out a blanket and sip on pours of wine at this season finale of the Hollyhock House's front lawn benefit.

ARTS & CULTURE

Aug 1-Nov 27
Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters; LACMA

Explore 500 startling, horrifying and beautiful objects from the Pan's Labyrinth and Pacific Rim director's personal collection.

Through Aug 6
New Original Works Festival; REDCAT

See what’s cutting edge in the city’s vibrant performing arts scene at REDCAT’s yearly summer festival.

Through Aug 7
Figures of Action; iam8bit

Peruse artist Jason Brockert's painted depictions of people who totally deserve action figures, from Beyoncé to Mr. Rogers.

Aug 8-17
Moves After Dark; The Music Center

Watch four LA dance ensembles perform in and around the Music Center campus during this site-specific series.

Aug 13-21
Nisei Week Japanese Festival; JACCC

Celebrate Japanese culture with displays of martial arts, tea ceremonies, flower arranging and more.

Aug 23
Chris Thile; Largo

Spend an evening with the extravagantly talented alt-bluegrass mandolinist and singer.

Aug 30, 31
The Improvised Shakespeare Company; Largo

Watch Thomas Middleditch and the rest of the improv troupe take on Shakespearean tropes with faux British accents.

FILM

July 30-August 27
Float's Annual CineRamaDena; Float

Watch a classic movie inside the charmingly British Burlington Arcade during this summer screening series in Pasadena.

Aug 6
The Return of the Trilogy; The Theatre at Ace Hotel

Journey to a galaxy far, far away for back-to-back-to-back screenings of the original Star Wars trilogy.

Aug 11-20
Hollyshorts Film Festival; Chinese 6 Theatres

Partake in a week and a half of Q&As with filmmakers and screenings of short films from around the world.

Aug 12-14
Sundance NEXT Fest; The Theatre at Ace Hotel

See Sundance movie picks paired with live music and comedy, plus exclusive actor and director panels, at this mini, weekend-long film fest.

Aug 13
Slumber Party! Movies All Night; Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Catch cult classic teen favorites like Heathers, Edward Scissorhands and Cry Baby until the wee hour of 4am.

Ongoing
Rooftop Film Club; Ricardo Montalbán Theatre

Make the most of the outdoor movie season at this top-notch Hollywood rooftop series.

MUSIC

Aug 4, 8
Radiohead; Shrine Auditorium

See the ever-evolving alternative rock icons play two sold-out shows at the Shrine.

Aug 5-21
Adele; Staples Center

Say "hello (it's me)" to eight shows from the chart-topping English superstar.

Aug 6
Save the Smell Fest; Downtown LA

Support everyone's favorite all-ages, alcohol and drug-free music venue with sets from No Age, Audacity, White Fang, So Many Wizards and more.

Aug 7
Sufjan Stevens + Kurt Vile and the Violators + Ibeyi; Hollywood Bowl

Catch one of pop music's finest composers take his Space Age symphonies to the stage along with troubadour Kurt Vile and the rhythmic Ibeyi.

Aug 9, 10
Alabama Shakes; Greek Theatre

Settle in for an evening of the Alabama quartet's mix of timeless Southern soul and energetic rock.

Aug 10-13
Flume; Shrine Auditorium

Dance your way through four shows of hazy, surprisingly soulful remixes from the young Sydney beatsmith.

Aug 13
Pandora Summer Crush; LA Live

Channel your inner pre-teen at this free show featuring 5 Seconds of Summer, Fergie and Daya.

Aug 14-16
Echo Park Rising; Various locations

Celebrate the Eastside's music scene with three days of free shows all over Echo Park.

Aug 18, 19
Guns N' Roses; Dodger Stadium

See Axl, Slash and the gang squeal their way through a set of classic stadium-filling tunes.

Aug 25
Snoop Dogg + Wiz Khalifa; Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre

Expect plenty of hazy rhymes and clouds of smoke—that aren't derived from a fog machine—at this co-headlining show.

Aug 27, 28
FYF Fest; Exposition Park

Hear Kendrick Lamar, LCD Soundsystem, Grace Jones, Tame Impala and more as they headline the two-day indie fest.

Aug 27, 28
Ohana Festival; Doheny State Beach

Unwind on the beach as this inaugural music fest takes to the OC shore with sets from Eddie Vedder, Lana Del Rey, Elvis Costello, Band of Horses and more.

See more concerts in our August 2016 concert calendar.

THEATER

Through Aug 28
In & Of Itself; Geffen Playhouse

Plan to finally see this show before its final—for real this time—extension ends this month.

Through Aug 28
Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro; The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

See Hershey Felder take on this music extraordinaire in the last West Coast engagement of the show.

July 6-Aug 14
Grey Gardens—The Musical; Ahmanson Theatre

Learn about the rise and fall of two former socialites who become near recluses with this Tony Award-nominated show and cast.

June 30-Sep 4
Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park; Old Zoo

Take in Shakespeare’s comedy Richard III or The Tempest—they're running in repertoire—while enjoying the great outdoors.

Through Aug 20
Shakespeare by the Sea; Various locations

Enjoy one of the many free performances of Cymbeline or Othello, put on by Shakespeare by the Sea throughout summer.

Through Aug 7
Cabaret; Pantages

Revisit the infamous Kit Kat Klub as this classic musical spins its decadent and ominous tale of prewar Germany.

August 30-September 1
Shakespeare at the Bowl; Hollywood Bowl

Watch classic scenes from the Bard unfold as the LA Phil provides a backing score.

SHOPPING & STYLE

Aug 7
Kellee Creative Weaving Workshop; LA County Store

Learn to weave on a frame loom during this four-hour workshop—you’ll walk away with a completed weaving and a frame on which to continue.

Aug 19
Odd Nights at the Autry; Autry Museum of the American West

Head to the latest installment of this monthly market, nighttime dance party, happy hour and shopping extravaganza.

Aug 20
Aromatherapy Diffuser & Room Spray; The Line Hotel

Experiment with different scents, create your own fragrance and take home a bottle of homemade room spray.

Aug 20
Dreamers + Doers Market Place; Space 15 Twenty

Shop an incredible selection of vintage or work on a DIY craft at this afternoon shopping and mingling event.

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