February 2025 events calendar for Los Angeles

The winter edition of Dine L.A. is back from January 24 to February 7, with hundreds of restaurants participating in the two-week blitz of bang-for-your-buck set menus. Scattered among the prix-fixe tradition’s dizzying full list of menus are some of L.A.’s best restaurants offering their signature fare at a more budget-friendly price point. Before you make a reservation, check out our list of the best lunch and dinner deals the event has to offer. In light of the recent fires, LA Tourism is donating $5 per reservation made to the American Red Cross, which will be matched by Banc of California.

Pasadena’s Pacific Asia Museum museum rings in the Lunar New Year with a free afternoon of pan-Asian activities. You’ll find traditional performances in the museum’s courtyard (think: lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, Korean classical music, opera and storytimes), plus art activities, food trucks and, most importantly, free admission to the galleries. Don’t miss PAM’s PST ART installation, Cai Guo-Qiang: A Material Odyssey. 

Dash around the northeast corner of Griffith Park during this pair of runs. The flat 5K makes a loop around the eastern half of the Wilson and Harding Golf Courses, while the half marathon mixes up its mostly flat route with a hilly midsection. Proceeds benefit the Los Angeles Parks Foundation.

Do we wish all of these amazingly-programmed wildfire charity concerts were arriving in L.A. under better circumstances? Absolutely. But it’s hard not to get genuinely excited about the lineup for G*VE A F*UCK LA, a benefit and auction that heads to the Hollywood Palladium on February 5. John C. Reilly hosts an evening that includes performances from Courtney Barnett, FINNEAS, St. Vincent, Paramore’s Hayley Williams, Jenny Lewis, Lucy Dacus, former Girls singer Christopher Owens, the Linda Lindas, Fred Armisen, Juliette Lewis, Kevin Morby, MUNA, Perfume Genius, Reggie Watts, Rostam & Sasami, Scout Willis, Symone and Phantom Planet. All proceeds benefit Altadena Girls, Friends in Deed, One Voice and the Pasadena Humane Society, and service fees will be waived for the Live Nation-produced event. 

The L.A. Zoo is bringing back its themed weekends, kicking things off this month with a Lunar New Year celebration—and what better way to welcome the Year of the Snake than by hanging out with real snakes? Take a self-guided tour through the animals of the Chinese zodiac, watch a Mangshan pit viper feeding and write down your hopes for the new year on the Wall of Well Wishes. You can also catch the Asian Arts Talents Foundation’s Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese dance performances, as well as calligraphy, lantern-making and paper-cutting demos. All weekend activities are included in the price of zoo admission.

Inspired by Taiwan’s world-famous Lantern Festival, San Gabriel’s Lunar New Year Festival is going all in on lanterns this year, bringing colorful displays to the streets of the city’s Mission District, thanks to the Taiwan Tourism Administration. The free weekend celebration will also offer festive, family-friendly activities, music and dance performances, street food vendors, artisanal craft booths and games. Kids can take home a free zodiac-animal-shaped lantern. 

What better place to celebrate the Lunar New Year than the Huntington Library’s beautiful Chinese Garden? Usher in the Year of the Snake with lion dancers, mask-changing performances, martial arts demonstrations, floral art and music, from Cambodian classical music to Chinese opera, during this two-day event. Look out for some sweet and savory treats just for the occasion (think sushi burritos and creamy shaved ice) from on-site food trucks. Advance ticket reservations are required.

Head to Benny Boy Brewing for a free Lunar New Year concert by multilingual singer and accordionist Jessica Fichot, who channels the swing era of Shanghai with her band. Expect to hear classic Chinese New Year songs, jazz songs sung in Mandarin and Mandopop. Pair pours from the Lincoln Heights brewery and cider house with food from Zef BBQ (1–8pm) and the Dumpling Dream (6–11pm). 

Shop from local, Black-owned businesses at this community-centered market from racial equity nonprofit the Fifteen Percent Pledge. Dozens of brands including Diotima, Brown Girl Jane, Christopher John Rogers, L'Enchanteur, Bernard James and many more will set up shop on the Paramount backlot alongside authors signing books and DJs spinning. Black-owned food trucks will also be on hand, serving up everything from cheesesteaks to shaved ice. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to businesses impacted by the recent wildfires.

Celebrate mankind’s most physical artform at Dance Camera West’s annual film festival, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The four-day event takes place at the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, where you’ll find a mix of shorts and feature-length picks that explore dance on screen. There’s also a special Saturday-evening presentation at the Philosophical Research Society (3910 Los Feliz Blvd) and a five-day Co-Creation Lab, a workshop for filmmakers and dancers. In light of the fires, all tickets this year, including festival passes, are pay-what-you-can. Check the website for the full event schedule.

Shop clothing, books, ceramics, fine art, zines, prints and more at this free market being held at popular street art show-turned-permanent gallery Beyond the Streets. Over 30 local creatives—including Alex Pardee, Blue Hill Studios, Born X Raised, John Doe Gallery, Juice Magazine, Kill Your Idols, Trust Records, Under The Radar Records and Big Bell Ceramics—will be on hand, selling unique and exclusive items. A portion of gift shop sales will support fire relief.

It’s famous for that spaghetti kiss—a legendary scene that Walt Disney almost cut out. But Lady and the Tramp has many other charming moments; the script evolved out of years of personal pet stories shared by the studio’s animal-loving writers and executives. It’s a true labor of love. See it at the El Capitan Theatre around Valentine’s Day, and if you opt for the Sweethearts Dinner and a Movie package ($70), you can dine at Miceli’s down the street before or after a 7pm screening and re-create that spaghetti kiss yourself.

J.K. Simmons plays a ferocious jazz teacher in this Miles Teller-starring masochistic music thriller. Catch a screening of Whiplash at the Saban Theatre with an 18-piece jazz band—rushing or dragging?—conducted by the film’s composer, Justin Hurwitz. You’ll have three chances to catch this 10th anniversary concert and screening—not quite my tempo—with one show on February 7 and a pair on February 8. Presumably no chairs will be thrown.

Whether you’ve gone in cold or the soundtrack has never left your Spotify rotation, you’ll likely find yourself crying with laughter through the first few songs of The Book of Mormon. Over a decade on, the story of a forced-together pair of Mormon missionaries in Africa—with music, lyrics and book by South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, as well as Robert Lopez (known then for Avenue Q, now for Frozen)—is just as catchy, witty and gleefully filthy as ever. (If you’ve never seen the musical before, however vulgar you think it is, it’s magnitudes more obscene, and all the better for it.) The touring production stops at the Long Beach Convention Center’s Terrace Theater for just two nights.

The Chinese Club of San Marino hosts its annual Lunar New Year Festival in idyllic Lacy Park, which will be filled with cultural performances and displays, games and food vendors serving up savory and sweet treats. The free community event aims to channel good fortune and unite people after the fires affected so many in the San Gabriel Valley. To that end, the fest will also have a dedicated donation booth to raise funds for fire relief. 

As love continues to pour in for the inimitable David Lynch (see the roses, cigarettes and personal messages at Burbank’s Bob’s Big Boy for further proof), some of the city’s movie theaters are paying tribute, filling their schedules with screenings of the director’s films this week. American Cinematheque is leading the way with Blue Velvet (January 28–30) and Wild at Heart (January 29, 31) at the Los Feliz 3 and Inland Empire at the Aero January 31. At the Egyptian Theatre, catch a matinee of Wild at Heart on Saturday, followed by Mulholland Drive and a double bill of Lynch’s short films and Eraserhead on Sunday. Vidiots is also showing Eraserhead on January 30, and on the same night, the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz is screening Twin Peaks: The Return, Episode 8, which blew fans’ collective minds when it first aired. And last but not least, those in the South Bay can catch a triple feature of Mulholland Drive, Lost Highway and Eraserhead at Gardena Cinema on Saturday—that’s seven straight hours of Lynch.

The Boy Who Lived lives on in a wizardly spectacle, finally making its L.A. debut at the Pantages. As though it had cast a Shrinking Charm on itself, the formerly two-part epic is now a single show, albeit a long one—and one that our New York critic awarded five stars.

Catch some comedy and learn at the same time at this educational and interactive game show hosted by creator Chris Duffy. The set-up: A panel of comedians (Karen Chee and Lisa Gilroy) play games and quiz a scientific expert (attraction and relationships expert Dr. Paul Eastwick) on their work. For this Valentine’s Day edition, the topic is the inner workings of romantic relationships and attachment. If you can’t make it to Dynasty Typewriter for the show, you can opt for a $7 livestream option.

The New York export lands in L.A. for its sixth art fair in February. After first debuting in the surreal setting of the Paramount backlot, the event has since settled on a site-specific tent in the southeast corner of Santa Monica Airport. Frieze’s massive tent is packed with impressive galleries—and its surrounding grounds with lounges and local-favorite food—but the price of admission will likely keep out most casual art fans. Thankfully, Frieze is about more than just the fair: Its arrival attracts major openings at free gallery shows all across the city in the days surrounding the event.

Westfield Topanga is welcoming the Year of the Snake in style. The Valley shopping center is decked out in festive decor, and will host a lion dance performance (beginning near food hall Topanga Social) and give out lucky red envelopes to guests this Saturday. Shops including Sandro, Maje and Lego will also be selling Lunar New Year-themed items.

Pop-punk heavyweights Blink-182 underwent an unlikely renaissance thanks to 2011 comeback album Neighborhoods—which would turn out to be the last release with its original trio for more than a decade. Cofrontman Tom DeLonge departed, and Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba brought a fresh perspective as his replacement. But in 2022—just as the nostalgia cycle brought aughts-era pop-punk back into popularity—DeLonge rejoined Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker for a world tour and a stop at Coachella. Now, the SoCal natives return again, this time for a wildfire relief show at the Hollywood Palladium, with support—fittingly—from Alkaline Trio. All ticket proceeds will be donated to the Pasadena Humane Society, California Fire Department, LAFD Foundation and ARC Firefighter Fund.

Some of L.A.’s best improvisers, podcasters and actors come together for this wildfire charity live read of the screenplay for 1979’s beloved The Muppet Movie. Participants include Paul F. Tompkins, Nina West, David Dastmalchian, Bobby Moynihan, Hal Lublin and Mark Gagliardi, among many others; Off Book, Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino’s hilarious improvised musical podcast, will handle the music. A portion of proceeds will go to GiveDirectly, which focuses on getting cash directly into the hands of disaster victims. Though in-person tickets are currently sold out, you can still support—and enjoy—the show via a paid livestream.

Dart down Santa Monica Boulevard in your undies to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation during this annual Valentine’s Day-themed “pantless party with a purpose.” Mom’s Bar in Sawtelle is the home base for the 15-minute fun run and pre- and post-dash dance party.

The Los Angeles Art Show is one of the longest-running venues for contemporary, modern, historic and traditional art in the country—there’s something for everyone here, from art history majors to avant-garde gallery owners. The show dedicates space to global galleries, a mix of modern and contemporary exhibits, historical works and more. The event will feature top galleries and programming, including lectures, tours, special exhibits and after-parties, and begins with a benefit opening-night premiere party.

Learn more about Asian culture as you celebrate Lunar New Year at dining and shopping destination Koreatown Plaza, where you can watch a Chinese lion dance, Korean drum performance and a multicultural fashion show—all for free. You can also shop from a variety of Asian American-owned small businesses and buy books at the Asian American Authors’ Corner. And don’t forget food: The first 500 people in attendance will receive $15 vouchers to use at the plaza’s food court, which counts Awoolim Kimbop, Gamja Bawi, Pao Jao, Tonkatsu House, Bosco Bakery and Cheesetella among its vendors.

Forget Dorothy and her ruby slippers—head to Oz for the story of Elphaba and Glinda. Follow the Wicked cast down a different yellow brick road for a beautiful tale of friendship, love and courage. The ever “Popular” show returns to the Pantages—just weeks after the feature film’s release—to expose the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. You don’t even have to paint your skin green, just belt out “Defying Gravity” and “Something Bad” to fit in here. Wicked and its “Wonderful” set will inevitably win over your heart, and change your perspective on Emerald City “For Good.”

One fateful afternoon in 1924, Lionel Sternberger contemplated the hamburger he was cooking up at Pasadena’s Rite Spot and thought it needed a little something extra. A simple slice of American cheese later and the cheeseburger was born, spawning hundreds of variations across the country and inspiring Pasadena to celebrate its prodigal son with a week dedicated to all things cheeseburger. Choose from a few dozen Pasadena restaurants to take advantage of burger deals and special creations and vote in the Cheeseburger Challenge. The annual week-long celebration only confirms what Sternberger knew all along: Everything tastes better with cheese.

L.A.’s finest folk and indie rock musicians unite for a wildfire relief show at the Glendale Presbyterian Church. Andrew Bird, Bright Eyes, Kelcey Ayer (Local Natives), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Madison Cunningham, David Longstreth (Dirty Projectors), Ty Segall, Kevin Morby, Delicate Steve, the Milk Carton Kids, Ethan Tasch, Molly Burch, Strawberry Guy, Uwade and Largo mainstays Watkins Family Hour top the lineup. Proceeds will go to Sweet Relief’s Musicians Fund, which benefits musicians affected by the Eaton Fire.

After shutting its doors for weeks due to the fires, the Skirball—which was in the evacuation zone for the Palisades Fire—is triumphantly reopening its doors with this free community day centered around gratitude, healing, learning and love for the natural world. Celebrate Tu B’Shevat, or Jewish New Year of the Trees, with artist-led talks, guided campus walks, panel discussions, art making, music and a TreePeople workshop where you can plant your own tree to take home. Admission to all exhibitions (except the separately ticket Noah’s Ark) is also free, so be sure to check out Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion while you’re there.

Santa Monica Place is welcoming the Year of the Snake with cherry blossom wishing trees, craft kits for kids and shopping deals for adults. Though the red and gold lanterns will stay up from January 28 to February 13, stop by on February 8 (2–5pm) for a free, family-friendly event—expect Chinese lion dance performances on the hour, dough and balloon artists, live music and more.

Watch a slate of classics from the past couple of decades on one of the prettiest rooftops—now called Anita’s Oasis—in Hollywood at this outdoor screenings series. All movies are piped in over sets of provided wireless headphones. Before showtime, make sure to hit up the bar or the on-site kitchen.

Welcome the Year of the Snake amid the lush greenery of South Coast Botanic Garden every weekend this February. Enjoy an afternoon of festive Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean traditions, with hands-on activities including kite-making and puppet-making or a Zodiac Stroll through the grounds. You’ll also find storytelling, a wishing tree, live music, a 360-degree photo booth and specialty food and cocktails (available for purchase). Admission is $15, but for $8 more, you can catch a performance by lion dancers, martial artists, drummers and folk dancers (Sat, Sun at 9:30am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm).

The historic theater is putting on eight distinct cultural events to mark the Lunar New Year during this multi-week festival. Highlights include a performance of Patsy, a play about the first Asian American congresswoman, on January 25; a screening of the first-known Chinese American film, The Curse of Quon Gwon, on January 31; a live lion dance performance by the East Wind Foundation and a dragon puppet-making workshop by Bob Baker Marionette Theater on February 1; and, that evening, a program of new classical works inspired by the moon called “Lunar Harmonies.” Plus, from February 14 through March 9, Master Class finds Tim Dang directing Terrence McNally’s Tony-winning play about opera icon Maria Callas. See the full lineup of events here.

What better spot to mark the Lunar New Year than “the happiest place on earth”? Disney California Adventure commemorates the Year of the Snake with a month of multicultural celebrations. Kids can look forward to photo ops and parade processions with Mulan, Mushu, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse, while adults will find a tasty reprieve with treats from China, Korea and Vietnam.

You’ll find festive lanterns and the bulk of the activity around Paradise Gardens Park, the Bay Area-esque boardwalk that runs past the Little Mermaid ride. It’s there that you’ll find a half-dozen food carts set up just for the occasion, with special menu items offered at even more preexisting restaurants.

If you opt for the Sip and Savor pass ($46), you’ll have six vouchers that are valid for a selection of options at all of the spots (though sometimes at a slightly smaller tasting size). It’s a fun option, but you won’t necessarily save money this way; the tasty BBQ pork bun with kimchi mayo and garlic chile crunch ($9) at Prosperity Bao & Buns just barely beats the $8 average to maximize the value of your selections, though the mandarin orange mousse cake ($6.75) at Lucky 8 Lantern falls under that. Regardless, when it comes to the festival carts, find the one with the shortest line and order all of your picks from there: You can pick among the entire menu of festival offerings at any marketplace stall and then just present your receipt to get your food at its respective location.

As for entertainment, look out for a handful of craft vendors along the way (and plenty of seasonal merch in the gift shop), as well as a wishing wall next to Goofy’s Sky School. If you’re sticking around into the evening, “Hurry Home – A Lunar New Year Celebration” precedes each World of Color show, while during the day Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession brings dancers, a colorful dragon puppet and a couple of costumed characters across the park. As the name implies, it’s a brief procession and not a full-blown parade—it runs four times daily and takes no more than five minutes to see, so maybe plan to see it in passing rather than staking out a spot on the sidewalk.

The former Lucha VaVoom has been essentially split into two, with this one helmed by longtime producer and burlesque and lucha scene mainstay Miss Rita. This edition serves as a “fire relief benefit extravaganza,” bringing burlesque, Mexican wrestling and a live band to Downtown’s Belasco Theater—all hosted by comedians Dana Gould and Jeff Davis. Roller skating dancers, puppeteers, aerialists and DJs will also be on hand, and upstairs an art auction will raise further funds for the night’s nonprofits: Grief & Hope, Best Friends Animal Society and the ARC Firefighter Fund.

Scope out dozens food and craft booths while dragon dances, kung fu demonstrations, live candy sculpting and other entertainment plays out across a street festival. For those new to celebrating the holiday, the fest’s “cultural passport” experience teaches you how different regions celebrate Lunar New Year. This annual event takes place just on Alhambra’s Main Street and celebrates the diversity of the San Gabriel Valley.

This adults-only, nudity-hunting scavenger hunt at the Getty (held the weekend of V-Day) is a comical two-hour quest that has guests searching for answers to riddle-like questions such as: “Who painted a gal who may soon suffer a heart attack?” Answer: Bouguereau. (Eros aims an arrow at a woman’s heart in Bouguereau’s A Young Girl Defending Herself Against Eros.) Whoever answers the most questions correctly will pick up a medal and some bragging rights. No previous art knowledge is required. Arrive 30 minutes early to allow time to park (not included in scavenger hunt cost) and ride the tram up to the Getty.

The storied Clifton’s Republic is the perfect place to evoke the romance of old Hollywood—since it witnessed it firsthand in the 1930s. The Downtown den’s Valentine’s Day soiree is billed as “a love letter for the City of Angels” and the people who built it—and will rebuild it. General admission gets you access to the woodsy Forest Glen and Monarch lands, where a KCRW DJ will be spinning. A Velvet Rope VIP ticket lets you visit tiki bar Pacific Seas and the Brookdale Ballroom, which will host live music. But the star of the show will be Shadowbox, Clifton’s never-before-open-to-the-public underground speakasy, which channels the classic cabaret of Weimar Berlin. You can preview the space on V-Day for $82. There are also a variety of pricier packages which get you a reserved table, plus dinner or champagne for two, if you want to splash out ($162–$429).

Both the Grove and the Americana at Brand observe Lunar New Year with the type of polished, curated displays that you’ve come to expect from the L.A. shopping meccas. Some stores and restaurants are offering special promotions and limited-time items for the holiday, and if you’re a Caruso Signature member, you can pick up a lucky red envelope and a collectible tote bag on Lunar New Year itself, January 29, and earn double “Caruso Coins” at select stores—including David Yurman and Gucci—through February 12. For some free fun, swing by the Americana on February 8 for a parade (1–4pm) featuring traditional lion and dragon dances, as well as performances by the Korean Dance Team.

Close out the Lunar New Year with this pan-Asian celebration of the flavors, sights and sounds of Asia. The expo, established more than four decades ago, will take over multiple stages and exhibition halls at Fairplex in Pomona. Hundreds of vendors, live entertainment and multiple food courts share the space with additional celebrations devoted to K-pop, anime and more.

After its fall debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of PST ART, artist Doug Aitken’s multimedia collab with the L.A. Phil and L.A. Master Chorale makes the jump to the Marciano Art Foundation. The free museum mounts the multi-channel video piece in its massive theater gallery, which you can see during routine opening hours (Tue–Sat 11am–6pm). But look out for separate reservations for weekly (typically on Saturdays) live performances organized by both musical ensembles.

For a more macabre way to celebrate this mushy holiday, the Queen Mary has you covered with a paranormal tour—a chilling VIP experience limited to only 20 guests. Officer Paul Jacek will lead you through the storied ocean liner’s most haunted locations, including restricted areas of the ship, where you’ll hear about ghostly encounters and unexplained phenomena. If you still have an appetite afterward, enjoy a prix-fixe dinner with your fellow ghost hunters. Looking for a more traditional celebration? Then check out “Love Is in the Air,” a four-course dinner with dancing, on February 14 ($265 per couple, tickets here).

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House—centerpiece of Barnsdall Art Park and Los Angeles’ only UNESCO World Heritage Site—just might be the most stunning backdrop for an art exhibition. And, in this case, the home is the subject itself, too. L.A.-based photographer Ireland captured the intricate details of the Hollyhock House in 21 photographs on display throughout the onetime residence.

The beloved puppet theater’s new show is actually a throwback to its beginnings. Something to Crow About was first created in 1959 for the Laguna Beach Festival of Art and gave Bob Baker Marionette Theater its signature style before the theater officially opened in 1963. The satirical show, which has been revitalized, uses farm animal characters to tell a story about Broadway. 

Sure, it may seem a little cheesy, but there’s no way booking a dinner cruise—on a yacht, with a coastline view—won’t win you points. Get dolled up and take to the water for a romantic meal and cocktails, then dance under the stars to tunes spun by a DJ. If you really want to impress—and have the funds—upgrading to the “Romance Package” will get you champagne with flutes, plus a half-dozen roses. You can set sail from either Marina del Rey (13757 Fiji Way) or Long Beach (Rainbow Harbor, Dock 6A). Daytime brunch cruises are also available.

This exhibition of 21 soundstage-sized installations has floated its way into L.A. Don’t expect mere bundles of birthday balloons: Instead, these pieces range from room-filling ball pits to reflective LED tunnels to giant grabbable bubbles, all inspired by air in some way. The “museum” part of the name might be a little bit of a stretch (though each photogenic piece is actually credited to a named artist), but the “Let’s Fly” edition of this touring show is a more fun experience than your run-of-the-mill made-for-Instagram attraction: Whether you’re bonking the bouncy “Ginjos,” pushing a charcoal-tipped sphere or getting swept up in a staticky whirlwind of balloons, there are some undeniably entertaining—and yes, very photogenic—hands-on scenes here.

From November 18 through mid-February next year, Koreatown’s Boba Bear is transforming into Arcane’s Last Drop Bar to promote the popular Netflix show’s second season. Inside the pop-up, guests will be transported straight into the heart of Zaun, where they can imbibe Arcane-inspired soju cocktails, plus a non-alcoholic option (“Shimmers”) served in a snazzy commemorative glowing glass tube. Expect plenty of games and photo ops in the space, which is decked out in the fictional city’s gritty, steampunk aesthetic, plus build-your-own cocktail classes and cosplay contests. Tickets start at $10 and are open to all ages, and each admission includes a beverage (except for Shimmers).

L.A.’s star-studded lecture series returns—both virtually and in person—with a lineup of writers, artists, performers, scientists and business leaders who will graciously blow your mind. For both online and IRL events, you’ll often have the option of purchasing a signed copy of the speaker’s book, as well.

Every Sunday, you can find dozens of food vendors at this market at ROW DTLA, a Brooklyn import that boasts a mix of much-loved pop-ups and future foodie stars. Over a dozen new vendors just joined the lineup: Feast on Afro-Caribbean cuisine from withBee, Lebanese street food from Teta, ice cream tacos from Sad Girl Creamery and more. Wash it all down at the family-friendly beer garden. You’ll also find shopping stalls selling everything from framed vintage ads to jewelry made locally with ethically sourced gemstones. Entry and the first two hours of parking are free.

Explore the Autry into the evening at the Griffith Park museum’s Thursday-night series that spotlights the city’s emerging and established artists, musicians, poets, writers. Programming ranges from a sound bath to alfresco music to a meet-and-greet with the world’s first Indigenous droid.

You can’t seem to get more a stone’s throw away from a huge festive light display in Los Angeles come holiday season. Well, except for this new entry to the scene, which is making its L.A. debut all the way at Raging Waters. If you feel like making the trek out to San Dimas, though, Luminosa looks like quite the impressive display, boasting over 1,000,000 LED lights and larger-than-life lanterns through miles of illuminated trails. Adding to the experience are acrobatic performers, artisan vendors, food trucks and even some stone-carving.

A collaboration with the Carnegie Observatories and the Griffith Observatory, this LACMA exhibition brings together a global collection of pieces, from the Stone Age to today, that reflect humans’ ever-evolving attempts to explain the origins of the universe. Alongside pieces of sacred artwork and architecture, you can expect some heady, scientifically-minded contemporary works. Island Universe by Josiah McElheny features five reflective, rod-encircled spheres; each individual sculpture is supposed to represent a different parallel universe, and each branching rod the passage of time.

Pasadena’s USC Pacific Asia Museum hosts this exhibition based on the Getty’s scientific research into Cai Guo-Qiang’s gunpowder art. The show fills up nearly the entire museum with a vast selection of the artist’s work alongside scientific imagery exploring the nature of gunpowder and Cai’s process in using it.

This first-floor exhibition at the Broad features hundreds of German artist Joseph Beuys’s “multiples,” editioned objects (with a focus here on environmentalism) that stretched the meaning of sculpture. But the most notable aspect of this show extends beyond the gallery walls: Inspired by Beuys’s 7000 Eichen (7000 Oaks), the concurrent Social Forest: Oaks of Tovaangar will plant 100 native trees (primarily coast live oaks) in Elysian Park and at Kuruvungna Village Springs.

See over 50 garments from Diane von Furstenberg, best known for her iconic wrap dress, during this career-spanning exhibition at the Skirball. Alongside artwork and fabric swatches, the show will also focus on her philanthropic work as well as how her life was shaped as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

The Natural History Museum’s taxidermy dioramas turn a century old this year, and to celebrate the museum is reviving an entire hall of displays that’ve been dark for decades. Expect some fresh approaches to these assembled snapshots of the wilderness, including alebrijes made of recycled materials, a crystalline depiction of pollution and a tech-driven display of the L.A. River.

Study the technical and cultural background of colorful clay vessels, textiles, bark-paper pages and sculptures in the Indigenous Americas—and how their significance has been downplayed among colonialist histories—during this LACMA exhibition.

It’s more than just the low clearance: This exhibition at the Petersen explores the custom paint, engraving, upholstery and, of course, the gravity-defying suspension of the lowrider scene. In addition to iconic cars, the exhibit spotlights influential artists in the Chicano lowrider art scene. Even if you have no interest in cars, this colorful showcase of 20-plus lowered cars and bikes is excellent: The candy-colored paint jobs are dazzling, and the craftsmanship of the customizations—many vehicles are on display with their engines and undercarriages visible—is remarkable. You’ll learn a little bit of history here, how the “low and slow” movement is rooted in the postwar Mexican American zoot suit counterculture, but largely this is an excuse to ogle some L.A. automotive icons.

A true multi-hyphenate, Carver was a painter in addition to a pioneering agricultural scientist. CAAM will display seldom seen paintings as well as his lab equipment alongside contemporary works that were inspired by his foundational work in modern conservation—ideas that started to spread with his “Jesup Wagon,” an early 1900s moveable school.

Gawk at a collection of mid-20th-century illuminated pieces from Andy Warhol, Dan Flavin, Allen Rupperberg and eight others when the Norton Simon mounts this display of electric art.