May 2025 events calendar for Los Angeles

For the first time, REDCAT is transform its theater into a 70s-style disco as part of its festival “To the Fullest: The Music of Julius Eastman and Arthur Russell.” Dance along as Grammy-nominated orchestral collective Wild Up performs composer Russell’s titular minimalist disco masterwork—an open-form jam for ensemble, percussion, keyboards and voices—at a show meant to evoke a large-scale dance party in Downtown New York, where the work premiered in 1979.

Now under the stewardship of only one of its cofounders, Liz Fairbairn, the former Lucha VaVoom brings its unique mix of sexo y violencia to the Mayan with this exuberant spectacle. Fill up on tequila and tamales while you watch Aztec dancers and luchadores. This time around, it’s a Cinco de Mayo edition of masked Mexican wrestling, burlesque stripteasing, amazing aerialists, live music and comedic commentating.

One of L.A.’s best free live-music offerings, Jazz at LACMA has featured legit legends over its three-decade run at the museum. Seating for the program is available in the museum’s plaza on a first-come, first-served basis, though you’re welcome to picnic on the grass, too (you won’t really be able to see the show, but you’ll still hear it). You’ll find the series on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light) throughout the summer.

A favorite of in-the-know shoppers, MAUM Market champions AAPI artists, creatives and entrepreneurs, and the result is a mindfully curated shopping experience. Founded in 2022, MAUM regularly pops up both in New York and in L.A., at ROW DTLA. Find accessories, art, kids’ toys, beauty and wellness goodies, ceramics, clothing, jewelry and home wares at the family-friendly and pet-friendly pop-up.

Explore the history of early Los Angeles life with free admission to six museums in Northeast L.A. and Pasadena. The annual Museums of the Arroyo Day is the perfect opportunity to brush up on historical architecture—the Gamble House, Heritage Square and the Lummis Home—and relics from L.A.’s past—the L.A. Police Museum and Pasadena Museum of History and South Pasadena Historical Museum. In addition to free entry, you’ll find shuttle service between all six museums (though visiting three stops at most is recommended for the best experience). Some of the sites are bike- and A Line-friendly as well. 

Plenty of spots may get in on the Star Wars-inspired fun for May the 4th, but how many can boast an appearance from R2-D2? Head to the Academy Museum and you can pose with the fan-favorite Droid in the lobby (10:30am–noon, 2–4pm; included in admission, $25), take a  space-themed museum tour, listen to scientist talks and even learn the ways of the force. There are also three (separately ticketed) Star Wars screenings throughout the day: The Phantom Menace at 11am, The Empire Strikes Back at 3pm and The Rise of Skywalker at 7:30pm.

Scoring an invite to Hollywood’s iconic, members-only magician clubhouse isn’t too tricky, but it does require a bit of research or networking. So why not make that process a whole lot easier and see some stellar magic at the same time? The Academy of Magic Arts and the Magic Castle are hosting three live shows of illusions and sleight of hand tricks at Downtown L.A.’s United Theater on Broadway this May, and each ticket purchase includes an invite to the Hollywood club (though you’ll still have to pay the door and dinner fee for that future visit).

LA Opera is hosting a free early Cinco de Mayo celebration of Latino artistry and culture at the Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza. Immediately after the opera’s matinee performance of Ainadamar, all are welcome to enjoy musical performances by all-female mariachi ensembles Las Colibrí and Mariachi Divas, flamenca dancers Jessica Perez and Jasmine Elis San Nicholas, and LA Opera Connects’ Zarzuela Project. Meanwhile, local artisans—from booksellers to painters—will be selling goods at an outdoor mercado. For refreshments, tacos, buñuelos and signature cocktails will be on offer.

Wally Amos, founder of Famous Amos cookies—the vending-machine favorite of sweet tooths everywhere—was also famous for his block parties in the 1970s and ’80s. To honor him and celebrate 50 years of the brand, Famous Amos is throwing a free block party at 6800 Hollywood Blvd, outside El Capitan Theatre, with music, dancing, art and plenty of cookies. See artist OG Slick paint a mural live, listen to live music and DJ sets, watch break dancers and double-dutch jumpers do their thing, strap on some skates at a pop-up roller rink and walk through a showcase of lowriders while you nibble on cookies.

This annual film festival—now in its 41st year—simultaneously celebrates and launches the careers of Asian and Asian American filmmakers, showcasing both emerging and established voices. For this edition, you’ll find a mix of screenings and programs at venues in West Hollywood, Little Tokyo, and Monterey Park, including the Democracy Center at the Japanese American National Museum, Gardena Cinema, Landmark Theatres Sunset and the Directors Guild of America, where the fest will kick off with the world premiere of Surrender, starring Gilmore Girls’ Keiko Agena. In all, the lineup boasts 27 features and some 110 shorts. See the full schedule here. 

Like a Halloween version of its Yuletide Cinemaland series, Street Food Cinema will turn Heritage Square Museum into a spooky, cinematic playground—and yes, we’re well aware we’re months from Halloween still. But Boo-ze, Bites & Frights returns in May with this “Half-o-ween” celebration, which pairs screenings of The Craft and Final Destination with carnival games, home tours and a handful of bars.

The Music Center’s longstanding Very Special Arts Festival is expanding with this half-day fest at Jerry Moss Plaza, where art and science will unite with dozens of educational, hands-on activities. Open to Angelenos of all ages and abilities, the free, family-friendly event will offer dance performances, Taiko drumming lessons, art-making workshops with an educational angle and more. Afterward, you can head across the street to Gloria Molina Grand Park for more art, music, dance, food at the also-free Arts Fest by LAUSD (9am–4pm).

L.A. has changed immeasurably since 1921, when this event was first staged as an agricultural fair. However, the perennially popular event still has farm-friendly appeal (livestock beauty contests, local produce) alongside the more modern wine tastings, exhibitions, concerts (this year’s headliners include War, Shaggy and Cheap Trick), skating rink and carnival rides. This year’s theme, “Art Unleashed,” celebrates culinary arts, visual arts, performing arts and fine arts.

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Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult favorites to Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel. These outdoor screenings are an L.A. rite of passage, a quintessential summer experience and one of the best film venues in the city. Pack a picnic (yes, booze is allowed), pose in the photo booth and enjoy DJ sets, dance parties and all sorts of other magical mischief that’d otherwise be strictly forbidden behind the cemetery gates. The first screenings for 2025 have been announced; so far they include a trio of picks at Hollywood Forever: The Big Lebowski (May 24), Clueless (May 25) and Blue Velvet (May 31).

Universal Studios Hollywood’s new after-hours event brings together an unexpected mix of franchises for walk-throughs (Back to the Future, Dungeons & Dragons, Star Trek), character photo ops (One Piece, Wicked) and screenings (Jujutsu Kaisen). The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has a new castle projection show, “Hogwarts Always,” for the occasion, along with creature appearances. And Super Nintendo World sees the debut of meet-and-greets with Yoshi. The clear standout is the Back to the Future experience, an interactive recreation of Hill Valley in 1955 on the very same section of the backlot where the 1985 film was shot. (You’re welcome to come in costume, by the way, as long as you follow these guidelines.) 

If your parents took you to the circus as a kid, now it’s time to return the favor. Each Mother’s Day, Theatricum Botanicum’s “Momentum Place” crafts a fantastical world of aerial and circus performers, dancers and musicians in its rustic outdoor amphitheater. The event is staged specifically in honor of moms, and complements an optional pre-performance brunch.

The Venice Artwalk returns for its 46th year to benefit the Venice Family Clinic with an auction and a free opportunity to glimpse the Venice and wider L.A. art scene. From May 9 to 18, pop into 910 Abbot Kinney to see (and potentially bid on) pieces from Ed Ruscha, Larry Bell, Ed Moses, Sayre Gomez and more. This year, the event will also turn its attention to L.A.’s post-wildfire landscape, with sections dedicated to artists who lost their homes or studios in the Palisades and Eaton Fires, as well as a celebration of Altadena’s legacy of Black artists.

On select Saturday afternoons in the summer, the historic Mount Wilson Observatory screens a decades-spanning lineup of sci-fi and astronomy-inspired shorts and feature-length films. Unlike the San Gabriel Mountains site’s concert series and stargazing sessions, Matinees on the Mountain won’t take place inside the dome of the 100-inch telescope. Instead, screenings will take place inside the 256-seat auditorium inside the astronomical museum, the same venue used for the site’s Talks & Telescopes lectures.

This laid-back, Gen X-ish music fest will once again take over the Redondo Beach coastline for three days in May. Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, Alanis Moriessette, Train, Cake, Pretenders, O.A.R., Mt. Joy and Jackson Browne top this year’s lineup.

The first time you listened to “Ya Ya,” you just knew that Cowboy Carter was made for the stage, right? Well, Beyoncé will finally tour behind her country-influenced album, and the limited run of dates includes five nights in L.A. at SoFi Stadium.

The Skirball’s latest pop culture exhibition takes a deep dive into the six-decade career of legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby. You might know him as the co-creator of Captain America, Black Panther, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and some of the Marvel universe’s most cosmic characters. But did you know he was also a first-generation Jewish American born to immigrant parents, World War II veteran and family man who split his time between New York and Los Angeles? Learn about his life and see Kirby’s original comic illustrations, as well as other works—many on view for the first time.

Now in its sixth year, the largest and longest-running comedy festival in NYC dedicated to spotlighting AAPI talent is expanding to L.A. for the first time with this one-night-only event at Dynasty Typewriter. Two showtimes offer completely different lineups—Margaret Cho headlines the 7pm set—and for $55, you can buy a full-night pass to see all the comedians. Expect stand-up, sketch, musical comedy and more from the likes of Leslie Liao, Andrea Jin, Fumi Abe, Dylan Adler, Sam Oh and more. 

Sure, you could go to any mall and buy the latest fragrance from Chanel, but only at the Grove can you step inside of a space inspired by Chance Eau Splendide and pose for photos inside a larger-than-life bottle. Swing by from April 30 to May 18 to try different interpretations of the fragrance as well as related body care products (all available for purchase as well).

Matt Berninger’s hauntingly beautiful voice and lyrics are undoubtedly why the National has become one of today’s biggest rock acts. Now the lead singer brings his beautiful baritone to the Palace Theatre, touring behind his sophomore solo album, Get Sunk, out May 30.

Roam the stalls at this Memorial Day arts festival, sample the food and listen to the music—and then take a dip in the nearby Pacific. A few logistical changes for the last few fests have streamlined the layout: You’ll still find on-the-street stalls and sidewalk vendors along Hermosa and Pier Avenues, but there’s now live music at the beach (one of five stages throughout the fest), and there’s a proper carnival (with a wine garden) inland at Pier and Monterey Boulevard.

Take a jog along the beach while raising money for local schools during the inaugural Venice Beach Half Marathon and 5K. Along the scenic route starting at 2600 Ocean Park Drive, participants will run down Ocean Front Walk, Venice and Abbot Kinney Boulevards and past Muscle Beach, the Canals and the old Venice Jail House—plus multiple entertainment spots, including a Grease performance at Venice High School—before finishing under the iconic Venice sign. There’s also a 1-Mile Junior or Family Dash and a .25-mile “Grunion Run” for kids.

Listen to classical and jazz in a dome more than a mile above L.A. during this mountaintop concert series. The Mount Wilson Observatory is hosting monthly concerts this summer inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world for much of the first half of the 20th century. Tickets cost $60 (that also includes access to the exhibit at the observatory), and it’s highly recommended that you buy them in advance since seating is limited. You’ll need to be able to climb 53 steps to reach the dome, and children under 12 aren’t permitted. 

Need a little lunch break relaxation? Log off, grab a bite and head to Colburn School Plaza for one of these free concerts by the renowned school’s students, held Tuesdays at noon from April 15 to May 6. 

The aughts indie nostalgia shows no signs of stopping, so it’s no surprise that Just Like Heaven—a music fest that’s featured basically every beloved 2000s indie band—is coming back for its fifth edition. The fest will take over the golf course next to the Rose Bowl on May 18, 2025 with a lineup that’s largely pulled from your old iPod: Vampire Weekend, a reunited Rilo Kiley, Empire of the Sun, Bloc Party and TV on the Radio top the lineup, with additional sets from Slowdive, the Drums, Courtney Barnett, Panda Bear and more. Given the Pasadena setting, Goldenvoice is offering wildfire first responders two complimentary passes, while supplies last.

Sure, you’ve seen the archival television clips of the Beatles’ famous appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, but what about firsthand, long-lost photographs from that same time shot by one of the band members? This spring, Beverly Hills gallery Gagosian displays 36 recently rediscovered photographs of the Beatles, all captured by Paul McCartney. A mix of black-and-white and color prints, the McCartney photos were shot during peak of Beatlemania, from December 1963 to February 1964. Expect to see a mix of self-portraits of Paul and candid shots of John, George and Ringo—as well as hysterical fans waiting outside the windows of the band’s car.

The California Science Center is inviting kids to get in the game with a new 17,000-square-foot exhibition about the power of play and the human body in motion. Besides teaching about the science behind sports, it also offers interactive challenges and video coaching from a team of Los Angeles-based mentor athletes including dancer Debbie Allen, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, Olympic medalist softball player Rachel Garcia and more. For the first time ever, the center has commissioned public art—all by local artists—to complement the exhibition, including a Dodgers mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. The free exhibition kicks off May 15 and will remain at the Science Center at least through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tied to Earth Day, Friends of the L.A. River is pivoting its monthly cleanup into a bit of post-fire empowerment with this habitat resoration effort at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve. Volunteers will help remove invasive vegetation inside the San Fernando Valley park while learning about how they factor into flammability, as well as about the region’s watershed. Participation is free, but registration is required.

Moby’s quiet roles as an animal rights advocate, vegan and blogger belie his fervent musical output: over a dozen studio albums that’ve jumped from hardcore and dance to blues and glam rock. The DJ is playing during the L.A. debut of Cercle Odyssey, “the world’s first 360-degree nomad concert” that merges sound and visuals for an immersive concert experience. Moby’s two sets May 9 will be his only live shows this year.

This chill fest—quite literally compared to the scorching desert outings—brings a few dozen acts to San Luis Obispo. This year’s lineup includes Jungle, Wallows, Goth Babe, Odd Mob, Kream and Briston Maroney at Dairy Creek Golf Course.

Expect a world of glam electro-pop anthems and glittering costumes when the disco-inspired Australian duo Empire of the Sun comes to town. Catch them during Cercle Odyssey’s L.A. debut at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with a performance featuring a “visual narrative” from their creative team. South African brother duo Roi Turbo opens. 

Catch some comedy and learn at the same time at this educational and interactive game show hosted by creator Chris Duffy and produced by the National Academy of Sciences’ LabX. The set-up: A panel of comedians (Rob Haze and Joanna Hausmann) play games and quiz a scientific expert on their work. This month’s installment is uniquely L.A.—Dr. John McCormack of Occidental College’s Free-Flying Los Angeles Parrot Project will be sharing his knowledge on our noisy, flying neighbors. If you can’t make it to Dynasty Typewriter for the show, you can opt for a $7 livestream option.

Step right up to Level 8’s rooftop bar, Golden Hour. Known for its picturesque carousel bar, the poolside space already offers a whimsical night out for Angelenos, but on May 22, it’s transforming into a carnival-inspired playground for grown-ups. Expect all your county fair favorites (minus the rides)—funnel cake fries, churros, cotton candy, classic carnival games (Skee-Ball, anyone?) and prizes—set to music from the bar’s DJ. On the savory side, you can expect smashburger sliders, chicken satay and quesabirria spring rolls to pair with creative cocktails.

Form a gallery in the sky made entirely of kites during this community festival from L.A.-based arts and culture nonprofit Clockshop. Held in honor of the communities surrounding Los Angeles State Historic Park, this fifth-annual free fest features flying demonstrations, art workshops and musical performances.

Whether he’s playing White Stripes songs or ripping through the raucuous blues of his solo efforts, Jack White absolutely delivers in his live sets. After a run of small, announced-last-minute shows over the fall (including ones at the Lodge Room and Mayan), White returns to L.A. for his proper “No Name” tour, with two nights at the Hollywood Palladium.

For dinner and a movie, all in one, just follow the food trucks. During the spring, summer and fall, Street Food Cinema throws together a series of outdoor parties that include screenings of some of our favorite movies, paired with an assortment of gourmet food trucks and even a live music performance from a cool local band. The screenings are held in venues across L.A. and alternate from week to week, so make sure to check the schedule. Some of the outdoor venues are dog-friendly, allowing you to bring your four-legged cinema lover along.

Watch a slate of classics from the past couple of decades on one of the prettiest rooftops—now called 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.

The hour stands before another springtime, and the Renaissance Pleasure Faire is nigh. Good mistresses and masters, prepareth thy schedules and costumes for the return of the oldest Ren Faire in the country, a spectacle that cov’reth 20 Irwindale acres with Elizabethan libations and amusement: fully armored joust tournaments and tea parties with the queen along with beguiling stage acts, rides, games, delicious edibles and ales abound. The festivities will transpire each weekend at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area; procureth day or season passes in advance by visiting ye olde online box office. And no, we can’t stop talking like this.

Every spring and fall since 1973, artists have descended upon the Beverly Gardens Park to showcase their work to browsers and buyers at this festival (once called the Affaire in the Gardens). This year will feature 235 artists exhibiting paintings, sculptures, watercolors, photography and much more. Set on four blocks along the grassy Santa Monica Boulevard between Rodeo and Rexford Drives, the event will include something for everyone, with free kids’ activities, food trucks, and beer and wine gardens with live music.

Cake on the eyeliner, cry it off and then dance away the tears at the return of this 1980s-to-aughts goth, new wave and punk fest with New Order, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, the Go-Go’s, Devo, OMD, Death Cult, Garbage and more. The one-day-only event features dozens of alt obsessions on the golf course next to the Rose Bowl, where it once again returns this May.

The Broad’s upcoming special exhibition makes its way to Downtown L.A. from the 2024 Venice Biennale, where Jeffrey Gibson became the first Indigenous artist to represent the United States with a solo exhibition. Known for his signature use of geometric patterns, patterned text, vibrant color, glass beads and found objects, the Colorado-born artist explores his Indigenous identity and pays tribute to histories of resistance in thought-provoking and optimistic ways. The first-floor galleries will be transformed into a kaleidoscopic environment with 10 paintings, seven sculptures, eight flags, three murals and one video installation by Gibson. Expect an accompanying slate of performances, talks and workshops.

CicLAvia, but make it Glendale—that’s the basic premise of Let’s Go Glendale, the newest open-streets experience to hit L.A. On the last day of May, South Glendale Avenue from Chevy Chase to Lexington Drives will be transformed into a car-free space welcoming all to walk, roll, shop and stroll past local businesses and eateries. The free event, presented by Metro, will also feature a curated schedule of live music and activities. Dogs, as long as they’re on a leash, are welcome too.

The original masters of the viral music video are back on tour and taking over the Bellwether for two nights—their May 16 show sold out quickly, so they added a second on May 17. They’re promoting their first new album in over a decade, And the Adjacent Possible, but no matter how much time has passed, each new clip always blows our minds. TBD if the treadmills will make an appearance here, but either way expect a lively show from the playful power-pop quartet. 

It’s another year of major top-of-the-chart artists headlining Wango Tango, with Doja Cat, Gwen Stefani, Meghan Trainor, David Guetta, Katseye, NMIXX, xikers, Hearts2Hearts and A2O MAY. Essentially, your 405-gridlock moments blasting KIIS FM radio (likely singing solo karaoke) are kicking up a notch from stereo to the big stage—with Ryan Seacrest on hosting duty—at Huntington City Beach.

Swing by Echo Park’s analog video shop and microcinema WHAMMY! for this monthly pairing of natural wines with award-winning and cult short films. So maybe you’ll catch an animated short about Korean moms that’s paired with a Korean rice wine, a Slovenian selection presented with a pinot noir from the Central European nation, or even a local piece about that jet that dumped fuel over Southeast L.A. paired with an orange wine from L.A. that looks—but thankfully doesn’t taste—like jet fuel. Each edition of VinoVideo includes four pairings, and Q&As with both filmmakers and winemakers. Enter around the back of the Sunset Boulevard shop (where you’ll find an after-party, as well).

Make your way to the desert for the Joshua Tree Music Festival, a gathering of like-minded indie musicians who will be rocking out to a dance-world-electro-funk’n groove. The biannual festival is a four-day party with over 30 bands in a unique lineup of artists who aren’t necessarily household names. There’s free water to all patrons, minimal service charges on tickets and yoga classes aplenty.

Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings and Sierra Hull play this touring country fest, which stops in L.A. at the Hollywood Bowl.

Celebrate all things related to the red, heart-shaped fruit at this popular festival, now in its 39th year. The main attraction? Strawberry dishes that range from the expected (atop funnel cake, chocolate-dipped) to the surprising (ever had strawberry chimichangas or beer?). On top of over 50 food booths, find a $5 build-your-own strawberry shortcake tent, concerts, celebrity chef cooking demos, arts and crafts, contests, a festival midway with carnival rides, and the for-kids Strawberry Land. The event recently moved from Oxnard to the Ventura County Fairgrounds—it’s a bit of a trek, but the drive is worth it. Plus, all of the proceeds from nonprofit food booths go to benefit more than 20 Southland charities.

LA Pride may have moved out of West Hollywood, but that hasn’t stopped the city from holding its own colorful Pride celebration. While WeHo Pride technically runs from May 22 through June 30, the bulk of events will take place May 30 through June 1 in and around West Hollywood Park. There’s an all-weekend music fest dubbed OUTLOUD (more on that below), which coincides with the free WeHo Pride Street Fair along Santa Monica Boulevard on Saturday and Sunday (noon–8pm). In addition, you’ll find the Women’s Freedom Festival (noon–6pm) and Dyke March (6–6:30pm) on Saturday, May 31. Then, on Sunday, June 1, WeHo Pride will hold a parade that starts at Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights Boulevard at 12:30pm and heads west to San Vicente Boulevard.

This weekend-long concert will once again return to West Hollywood Park as part of WeHo Pride, with Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Kim Petras, Honey Dijon and Paris Hilton atop this year’s lineup. If the ticket prices have you down, don’t worry: Friday night’s programming is usually free with an RSVP.

What do you do when you “pop out” at the Forum with a show so widely-watched and well-received that it decisively ends hip-hop’s most memorable recent beef? Why you take a victory lap, of course. Compton’s own unparalleled lyricist Kendrick Lamar returns to town for these shows at SoFi Stadium, part of the “Grand National Tour” that he’ll share with R&B superstar SZA.

Want to peer through the eyepiece of Mt. Wilson’s historic telescopes? Your best and most economical bet just might be one of the Talks & Telescopes events. These monthly Saturday-night astronomy lectures are followed up with a few hours of stargazing on portable telescopes on the grounds as well as the 60 and 100-inch telescopes for only $50 (a fraction of the price of the observatory’s late-night stargazing sessions).

On the outskirts of town at the Motor Speedway, Electric Daisy Carnival is pure, condensed Vegas. There is a VIP Ferris wheel. Helicopters shuttle in high rollers. The 135,000-strong crowd is soaked in ecstasy and spray tan. Every millionaire DJ that plays the laser-riddled nightclubs on the Strip is here. EDC introduced EDM as a Day-Glo spectacle for the masses in America, and its lineups in recent years have certainly lived up to the hype (Tiësto, REZZ, Alison Wonderland, Kaskade and many more perform this year). Once you let the neon and bass wash over you, it is the time of your life.

Tucked away in picturesque Topanga Canyon, this Memorial Day weekend festival has become a favorite local tradition. Bohemian residents of all ages as well as curious onlookers converge to celebrate music, food, arts and Mother Earth. Some complain that the masses have commercialized this neighborhood event, but there are still enough true hippies, vegan food vendors and healing arts to make you feel like you’re at a West Coast offshoot of Woodstock. Let the kids enjoy games like three-legged races, water balloon basketball and tug-o-war while you dance to local bands—homegrown surf rockers the Allah-Las are headlining on Saturday. And don’t miss the DIY Memorial Day parade on Monday morning (8:30am), which this year will honor the firefighters who protect Topanga. Parking troubles are alleviated by a free shuttle along Topanga Canyon Boulevard. 

Staged along the convention center side of San Diego’s downtown waterfront, the appropriately named Wonderfront includes sets from Peggy Gou, Daniel Caesar, Anderson .Paak, Foster the People, Khruangbin, Jason Mraz, Gary Clark Jr. and more. You’ll find Wonderfront from May 16 to 18 at Embarcadero Marina Park North, Seaport Village and Ruocco Park.

The iconic Hollywood Roosevelt hotel is honoring the spirit of L.A. with poolside screenings of some favorite films featuring the city. Tickets are super reasonable ($12), and all proceeds from sales will go toward wildfire relief efforts, specifically Baby2Baby, which provides essential resources to families in need. And don’t worry if it’s a chilly night: Towels, blankets and heaters are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Find the series running every Thursday night through the end of June.

“Let’s hang out at the Pier” is something Santa Monica locals probably say next to never, but this monthly series is trying to change that. Every third Thursday from September to May, you’ll find everything from live music to storytelling to a classic car show on the Santa Monica Pier, all free to attend.

After years on the Central Coast, the annual event has more recently made a move significantly closer to L.A., at Bakersfield’s Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area. Sure, it’s still a bit of a trek, but where else can you find a sustainable, vegetarian festival dedicated to equal parts music, food, art, yoga and wellness? Expect to do some serious soul-searching during this five-day retreat, all while immersing yourself in everything from a speaker series to an old timey trading post. John Summit, Khruangbin, Jamie xx, Four Tet and Subtronics top the 2025 lineup.

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.

Everybody likes a good theme party, and this May, Main Street in Santa Monica is giving the people what they want. In an effort not only to entertain Westsiders but to support the area’s community programming, much of Main Street will transform into essentially an interactive Monopoly board game, allotting attendees “MAINopoly dollars” to be exchanged for food tastings across the street’s finest establishments. Trade a couple fake bucks for dishes from spots like Ashland Hill, Holey Grail Donuts, Jameson’s Pub, the Victorian and Sunny Blye, or add on a couple of drinks in the “Go to Jail” VIP lounge and beer garden. Dressing up is encouraged, so polish up that Monopology moncole.

If you loved Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (or even, gasp, Louisa May Alcott’s original), head to the Heritage Square Museum and step into the lives of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy in this immersive ballet—the spring installment of a seasonal trilogy developed by Emma Andres, the resident choreographer for Pasadena Civic Ballet. It’s a triumphant return for the ballet, after its props, merchandise, decorations and many costumes were destroyed by the recent Eaton Fire. Choose from five site-specific performances in the museum’s Victorian mansions over the course of the weekend. A goodie bag and complimentary spring beverages and desserts are included with admission.

The Office creator and former Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais heads to the Hollywood Bowl for a stand-up set that’s sure to make you squirm in your seat.

After a couple of years in New York, pan-Asian music and media collective 88rising’s music fest returns to the grounds outside the Rose Bowl. The 2025 edition’s headliners include G-Dragon, 2NE1, Dean, DPR IAN, Rich Brian, Porter Robinson and Higher Brothers.

Treat your ears to a vibrant concert on a spring or summer night this year by attending MUSE/IQUE’s annual program. This monthly series of performances, held at cultural venues across L.A., features a mix of performances inspired by music movements and public figures, including tributes to Ray Charles, immigrant film composers, the Memphis sound, Etta James and more. The best way to attend is to become a MUSE/IQUE member; you could make a $75 donation to the performing arts nonprofit for a single event (with the exception of September’s free open house), but if you’re interested in more than just one, it’s cheaper per event to become a full-fledged member.

The desert-spanning biennial is back, with premieres of site-specific works from about a dozen artists. For its fifth iteration, Desert X will once again stage outdoor installations across about 40 miles of the Coachella Valley through May 11—making it the perfect pit stop if you’re making your way out to Coachella in April. This year’s works explore Indigenous futurism, activism and technology’s role in society, among other themes. Don’t miss Agnes Denes’s monumental The Living Pyramid.

The Culver Hotel is embracing Culver City’s cinematic history with a new series of screenings celebrating the golden age of cinema. To mark the centennial of both MGM and the hotel, you can catch a classic MGM film at the Culver Theater, then head across the street for a themed gathering at the hotel’s Velvet Lounge, complete with cocktails and bites inspired by the evening’s featured presentation.

Nature lovers, rejoice! Spend a day at the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion, which will be open March 23 through August 24 and be home to up to 30 butterfly and moth species, as well as an assortment of California plants. The seasonal outdoor exhibit allows for adults and children alike to witness nature up close—we’re talking walking amid hundreds of butterflies and having them land on your arms or shoulders. Tip: The prime time for these unique butterfly flight experiences is typically between 10am and 11am each morning.

Perhaps the Los Angeles area’s most iconic flea market, this event around the exterior of the Rose Bowl is staggeringly colossal—but what else would you expect from a 90,000-seat stadium? The sheer size and scale of this flea market means that it encompasses multitudes: new and old, handcrafted and salvaged, the cheap and the costly. On the second Sunday of each month, an odd mix of vendors populates the loop around the stadium, but you may have more luck in the rows and rows of old furniture, albums and vintage clothes and accessories that fill the adjacent parking lot.

The Boy Who Lived lives on in a wizardly spectacle. 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.

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.

After popping up at D23 and Long Beach shopping center 2nd & PCH, themed mini-golf experience Pixar Putt has landed at its most logical home: the Pixar Place Hotel, close to California Adventure and its Pixar Pier. Putt your way through 18 themed holes and step into the stories of Pixar favorites including Toy Story, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Coco, A Bug’s Life, Wall-E and Inside Out. Opening weekend is sold out, but don’t worry: The course will remain open through June 1.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On the 50th anniversary of the Norton Simon Museum, look back to when Simon took over management of the Pasadena Art Museum in 1975, then ahead to the museum’s exciting future at this retrospective exhibition. See rare photos from the museum’s archives, and learn about the history of its major acquisitions, exhibitions, building and gardens—which are currently undergoing a transformation.

The Los Angeles–based conceptual artist and now-retired CalArts educator is back with his first L.A. solo exhibition since 2019, debuting new works from his Numbers and Trees series. The colorful and complex works combine Plexiglas, watercolors and his signature numeric grid systems to depict the baobab trees Gaines photographed on a recent trip to Tanzania. The show opens February 19 with a conversation between the artist and LACMA’s Naima J. Keith, followed by an opening reception (6–8pm). The event is free, but reservations are recommended.

Austrian-born Helmut Lang walked away from fashion 20 years ago to focus solely on art. Now, thanks to the MAK Center for Art and Architecture, his first solo institutional exhibition is opening in Los Angeles—in the historic Schindler House, no less. Curated by Desert X founding artistic director and Frieze Projects curator Neville Wakefield, the show consists of a series of fist-like freestanding sculptures made with found or discarded materials that “both imagine the future and materialize the past.”

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.