The 55 best things to do in L.A. this weekend (2024)

Hilltop sunset views and rising bands combine to make this Getty tradition a worthy destination for Angelenos on both sides of the 405. This year’s lineup of free Saturday night showscontinues withSlauson Malone 1. Tip: Avoid the traffic and the crowds and arrive early, preferably after 3pm when the parking price drops to $15 (though it’s $10 if you wait until the show starts). You’ll get to visit the exhibits, which stay open until 8pm on Saturdays, and beat the dinner rush.

The latest adventurousperformance from the Industry, this two-in-one show simultaneously stages a 17th-century opera and a 20th-century sci-fi story on a rotating stage. Director Yuval Sharon’s six-years-in-the-making production connects the stories ofClaudio Monteverdi’s 1643 Italian opera L’incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea) with a world premiere production of W.E.B. Du Bois’s 1924 sci-fi short storyThe Comet; both unfold at the same time on a turntable that’s been split into two.

Celebrate Black culture during this free Long Beach festival filled with family-friendly activities, local vendors, food and drink and music—including a set byAnderson .Paak under his DJ Pee .Wee moniker.

Well, we just found your taco heaven. L.A. Taco’s Taco Madness is happening, and some of L.A.’s best tacos will be in attendance: Villa’s Tacos, Ditroit and Macheen, just to name a few. You definitely don’t want to miss the official crowning of L.A.’s best taco master.Get ready to indulge in live art, DJ sets,beer, micheladas and tacos galore at this annual taco extravaganza.

Looking to spend a night at the theater? Tucked inside the hills of Coldwater Canyon Park, the rustic S. Mark Taper Foundation Amphitheatre hosts a series of diverse, open-air performances spanning music, movies and more. All under the umbrella of the “TreePeople Presents” series, the events all support TreePeople’s Coldwater Park. This summer’s slate includes alto saxophonist Nicole McCabe, singer-songwriterPearl Charles and jazz vocalistNiia, as well as a moonlight hike and a screening series.Bonus? Packed picnics are not only welcomed, but also encouraged.

Before the dog days of summer start to scorch the Southland, celebratethis dog day: a pup-friendly party at Pershing Square with dog-friendly vendors, treats and activities, plus free caricatures, photo ops and DJ sets. The event takes place on June 14 and 15,the latter of which also includes two community dog walk (10am, 1pm) and puppy yoga (10:30am–noon; $30).

Keen to see jazz greats past and present? Get ready for mellow harmonies and earthy grooves at the annualHollywood Bowl Jazz Festival this summer. The two-day concert includes performances from Jodeci, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper and more. Remember, it’s at the Hollywood Bowl, so why not share a bottle of wine with some friends and groove along with the jazz’s pride and glory?

Dodger blue joins the colors of the rainbow at the stadium’s annualPride Night. Expect queer-focused Dodgers gear, a celebrity opening pitch and, following the game against the Royals, fireworks. Cue the kiss cam.

The hushed, contemplative rock of Big Thief is led by the powerfully quiet Adrianne Lenker, who hits the road on a solo tour this spring and summer—including a pair of dates in DTLA.

Rodeo Drive fills with supercars and motorcycles, both new and old, during this Father’s Day tradition.

Listen to classicaland jazz in a domemore than a mile above L.A. during this mountaintop concert series. The Mount Wilson Observatory is hostingmonthly concerts this summer inside the dome ofits 100-inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world for much of the first half of the 20th century.

Kate Berlant, who grew up in Los Angeles, started doing stand-up at 17 at Archer School for Girls—or at least, she told one-liners while wearing a kimono and sitting in a wheelchair. She no longer brings props on stage, but her definition of comedy is still expansive. Berlant doesn’t tell jokes so much as she riffs on the metaphysical, turning a set into a strange stream of consciousness that leads nowhere, and is simultaneously disarming and satisfying.

Bergamot Station’s inclusive comedy club, the Crow, hosts this family-friendly Pride event filled with music, stand-up and storytelling. The programming on June 14 and 15 includes an evening of storytelling (Fri at 7, 9pm), stand-up (Sat at 8pm), a self-described “super silly” improv show (Sat at 2pm), a comedy show where babies are welcome (Sat at 5pm), a kids and teens stand-up showcase (Sat at 3:30pm) and live music and pours from LGBTQ+-owned breweries (Sat at 6pm). Make sure to head off-site, too,for face painting and a drag queen story hour on the Santa Monica Pier (Sat 10am–1pm).

Get a taste of 75 breweries offering twice as many pours during this boozy Long Beach fest. Tickets to the 21-plus Shoreline Park event include unlimitedsamples from the likes of Benny Boy, Common Space, Three Weavers, Boomtown,Crowns & Hops, Smog City and dozens more. You can purchase a bite from a handful of food trucks and listen to live music, and you’re welcome to bring along a blanket or chair. Tickets support the Los Angeles County Brewers Guild.

Quiet but prolific singer-songwriter M. Ward raised his profile as part ofShe & Him and Monsters of Folk. But Ward’s real strength has always been his solo records,naturally timeless collections of experimental folk songs that dip a toe into rose-colored pop and quaint nostalgia. Live, Ward’s voice retains that warm, rainy day quality while his lightning-fast fingerstyle guitar playing is made to fill theaters.

Who says no to free outdoor concerts? We don’t, and neither should you. This celebration of live music and art will hit Pan Pacific Park (not the La Brea Tar Pits this time around) on June 15.Listen to live music and browse creations made by local artists. In the mood for food and something to drink? Grab a bite at one of the many gourmet food trucks and enjoy a soda or some mocktails. The annualfest also offers attractions ranging from kids activities to live painting.

The producer, songwriter and composer has not only helped produce chart-smashing hits for Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and Halsey, but also produced his own mix of house-electronica where he merges everyday samples and recorded conversations.

Iconic movie posters are transformed into music during this two-part concert celebrating the work of artist Bob Peak. For the first half of the performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, theLos Angeles Film Orchestra will perform familiar scores from films that Peak created posters for, includingLeonard Bernstein’s West Side Story,John Williams’s Superman: The Movie,Jerry Goldsmith’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture andRichard Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries” from Apocalypse Now. For the second part, contemporary composerswho worked on films likeGet Out,Rocky andThe Matrix will premiere a new piece inspired specific artwork from Peak.

The L.A. Conservancy offers a delightful summer time machine in the form of classic films, screened inside Downtown’s grand old movie palaces throughout the month of June. This year’s lineupincludesBullittandGaslight at the Los Angeles Theatre on June 8, andFrom Russia with Love andMi Vida Loca at the Palace Theatre on June 15.

If you really want to immerse yourself in local and international theater, you can’t miss the Hollywood Fringe Festival in June.Since 2010, this series has specialized in shows from emerging writers and performers, and it now boasts hundreds of shows—most around $15 a ticket or less, and some for absolutely nothing. Expect one-person shows, new musicals, comedies and edgy dramas to descend on Hollywood once again from June 13 through 30.

No, notthat Q, thankfully: This West Hollywood convention celebrates LGBTQ+ comics with a free day of creator meet-and-greets, diversity-affirming comics and graphic novels, and plenty of cosplay opportunities.

Home studio Two Faced Ceramics is setting up poolside at DTLA’s Hotel Figueroa for this series of classes. Each $75 class includes all of the equipment and materials you need, plus mimosas and a hotel tote bag. The made-for-beginners classes cover a different theme each time, includinga beer stein, sun plate and berry bowl.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is holding two days of talks,workshops and a job fair at its annual Trans Prideevent.

Musical-theater auteur Michael R. Jackson turns himself inside out in this thrilling show. Check out our five-star review from its New York run.

Now one of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions, Barnsdall Park’s wine tastings are back after a five-year hiatus. Perched atop Olive Hill on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House (which you can tour during the evening for an additional $25), the Barnsdall Friday fund raisers include fine selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine with a spectacular sunset and 360-degree views of the city.

See a free salsa concert every second Friday of the summer during this series at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. This year’s lineup includes Rumbankete,Gabrielito y La Verdad, Son Mayor,Son Miron andClub Mambi—all featuring Super DJ Robby.

Watch a movie inside Pasadena’s charming One Colorado shopping plaza during this free summer series. If you happened to have spent at least $50 per personcumulatively at the shopping center’s vendors earlier in the day, you’ll nab free VIP seating, which includes popcorn, candy and a beverage, plus a free ticket to the IPIC.

See performances from the LA Opera, Long Beach Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Synchromy, Overtone Industries, Mission Operaand Beth Morrison Projects during this weeklong opera celebration across L.A.

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.

Nature lovers rejoice! Spend a day at the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion, which will openfrom March 17 throughAugust 25 withup to 30 butterfly and moth species and an assortment of California plants. The seasonal outdoor exhibit allows for adults and children alike to witness nature up close—we’re talking having bufferlies take flight and land on your arms or shoulders. Prime time for these unique butterfly flight experiences are between 10 and 11am each morning.

Walk through a pavilion of fluttering butterflies and peep a chamber with pupae and caterpillars at South Coast Botanic Garden’sseasonal exhibition.For an extra $6, you can pick up a flower vial or ring filled with nectar to attract and feed butterflies.

Melrose Rooftop Theatre is taking off until the fall, but in the meantime the event deck on theE.P. & L.P. rooftop is hosting this open-air roller rink. The rooftop rink is all-ages through 2pm, after that it switches to a 21+ affair. Tickets are available in one-hour time slots and include skate rentals and a churro—though that’ll all cost you a relatively steep $30 to $35.

It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult favorites to the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel.

The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for another season of screenings in Downtown L.A., with nearly-nightly showings this spring.

Take a seat atop Westfield Fashion Square’s parking garage for this afresco film series. Each Friday and Saturday in the summer, you can catch a different popcorn flick, includingTop Gun,La La Land,The Sandlot,Clueless and more.

Every Sunday during the summer at sunset, both hotel guests and vistors at the Fairmont Miramar can slip into something waterproof and enjoy a flick around the Santa Monica hotel’s luxurious pool. You’ll find a mix of nostalgic favorites and more recent releases on the Hulu-curated schedule. Eats and libations will be available for purchase from the FIG Restaurant menu, and though seating is free for hotel guests, visitors will have to secure a reservation; tickets total to about $60 with tax, tip and fees, but that includes a $45 food and drink credit plus complimentary popcorn.

Every Sunday you can find dozens of food vendors at this market at ROW DTLA, with a mix of much-loved pop-ups and future foodie stars. Look out for this year’s new vendors, includingBasket Taco Co, Battambong Barbecue and Taste of the Pacific.

Let the wild rumpus start at this celebration of beloved children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak. The Skirball Cultural Center will be displaying more than 150 sketches, storyboards and paintings from theWhere the Wild Things Are creator.

Best known for her rhinestone-studded paintings of Black women, collages of old Jet Magazine spreads and revisions of historic paintings, Thomas’s large-scale works (80 of them from the past two decades)are on display at theBroadin this transportive exhibition.

This major Ed Ruscha retrospective includes his meticulous photos of L.A. streets and a reconstruction of his Chocolate Room (which, yes, is a room made out sheets upon sheets of chocolate).

David Zwirner has onlyhad an L.A. gallery for about a year—plus a new flagship that opens with this show—but the gallerist’s history stretches back three decades elsewhere around the globe. To celebrate, you’ll find works by all of the gallery’s artists across its three L.A. buildings, includingNjideka Akunyili Crosby, Josef Alberts, Diane Arbus, Ruth Asawa, R. Crumb, Dan Flavin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Donald Judd, Toba Khedoori, Paul Klee, Barbara Kruger, Yayoi Kusama, Gerhard Richter, Richard Serra and more.

It’s more than just the low clearance: This exhibition at the Petersen explores the custom paint, engraving, upholstery and, of course, thegravity-defying suspension of the lowrider scene. In addition to iconic cars, the exhibit spotlights influentialartists inthe Chicano lowrider art scene.

See large ceramic and bronzesculptures atLACMAplus a few more sculptural pieces and collaborative video works atCAAMduring thiscrosstown exhibition of Black feminist artist Simone Leigh.

See how theHairspray andPink Flamingos writer and director’s delightfully filthy style has redefined the possibilities of independent cinema—as well as what exactly goes into making an indie movie—during this career-spanning exhibition at the Academy Museum.

Judy Baca’shalf-mile–long TheGreat Wall of Los Angeles, a collaborative mural painted in the ’70s along the Tujunga Wash, has received all sorts of museum love in the past few years. But LACMAhas a particularly unique show to boast about: The local Chicana muralist and SPARC artists will paint two new sections ofThe Great Wall during museum hours. The exhibit also debuts a new section of the wall, in honor of activists known as the Freedom Riders, dubbedGeneration on Fire.

See works from seven contemporary artists (Eliseo Art Silva, Allison Hueman, Anthony Francisco, Maryrose Cobarrubias Mendoza, Christine Morla, Maria Villote and Junn Roca) who address issues related to Filipino culture and the Filipino-American experience during this exhibition at the Forest Lawn Museum.

Hollywood’s Japan House has tapped artistSebastian Masuda to dive into the roots of all things cute and colorful with this exhibition on Japanese kawaii culture. The free show includes multiple pieces and installations from Masuda.

See 1930s-to-50s concept carsplus artworkfrom Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol and David Hockney at this Petersen exhibition.

The GRAMMY Museum celebrates hip-hop’s 50th anniversary with interactive DJing, rapping and sampling stations and instantly recognizable artifacts like LL Cool J’s red Kangol bucket hat and the Notorious B.I.G.’s red leather pea coat.

The life of Riley gets more complicated in this joyful and bold sequel.

Bad Boys, Bad Boys, whatcha gonna do? Much of the same actually.

No Andy Serkis, no problems for Wes Ball’s thoughtful ape adventure.

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt share a ton of goofy chemistry in this nitrous pull of an action-comedy.