The 53 best things to do in L.A. this week (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 shows continues with Helado Negro (July 20). 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.

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Celebrate gender swapping culture and couture at this colossal convention from drag juggernaut RuPaul. Meet queens, pop culture personalities andpreviousRuPaul’s Drag Race contestants—plus an appearance by RuPaul.

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Relive songs and clips from ’80s and ’90s Disney movies, performed by guest singers and backed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, during this summertime show.Films include The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Hocus Pocus, Newsies, A Goofy Movie and more.

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Mix fried food, carnival attractions and the occasional rodeo or demolition derby, and you’ve got the OC Fair. What started as a quaint fair in 1889 has since grown into a nearly monthlong fest.

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Spend a late night at the Broad during the return of its after-hours programming series, which finds musicians collaborating in the museum’s outdoor plaza as well as in the entry. Tickets for each event includeaccess to the excellent Mickalene Thomas exhibition. This year’s lineup includes the likes ofMoodymann,Mark de Clive-Lowe,Flo Milli and more.

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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.

Born in Alabama where he was raised listening to the Grand Ole Opry, Jason Isbell came to prominence as a member of country rock act the Drive-By Truckers. Since leaving the group, Isbell has become a prolific Americana troubadour, writing songs that reckon with his Southern heritage and his struggles with addiction. He shares the billexuberantly joyouselectro-pop outfitSylvan Esso, the unlikely duo of singer Amelia Meath (formerly of a cappella folk trio Mountain Man) and producer Nick Sanborn.

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Whether you’re a footy fan or just hooked onWelcome to Wrexham, the documentary series aboutRyan Reynolds’s and Rob McElhenney’s purchase of a Welsh soccer team, you’ll want to head to UCLA’s Drake Stadium for a pair of matches featuring the club’s women’s team. CatchWrexham AFC Women on July 19 against SoCal FC, and again on July 21 versus Tigres Femenil Under-19s.

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Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. Independent Shakespeare Co. puts on a series of lively productions each week, inviting audiences to take a seat on the grass (read: bring a picnic blanket) and enjoy performances like this season’s headliner:As You Like It.With construction resuming on the main lawn, this summer’s show will move back to the dell at the top of the Old Zoo—meaning available space is smaller and reservations are required.

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Everyone’s favorite NPR member station has a hand in aslew of summer concert slates atpublic plazas and beloved museums, and this summer’s schedule is particularly packed. Familiar KCRW DJs and local buzz bands will be providing free, open-air tunes on select nights through September at Union Station,CAAM,Descanso Gardens, Bowers Museum, Century Park, the AutryandKCRW’s Santa Monica headquarters.

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Life imitates art, literally: Classic paintings, statues and murals take on a new dimension as real people dress and pose to recreate original masterpieces—a trick popularized by vaudeville artiste Lolita Perine at the first festival in 1932. A professional orchestra, a narrator, intricate sets and theatrical lighting help bring the works to life at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. This year’s theme, “À La Mode: The Art of Fashion”revisits grand looks through the years.

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Expand your mind on breezy summer nights by listening to the words of the Bard for free. The program, founded in 1998, will put on two plays—Cardenioand Henry IV—with the help of talented local actors. “By the Sea” is a bit misleading; though some of the locations are ocean adjacent, and largely in the South Bay and Long Beach, the troupe takes the plays on tour all across Los Angeles, performing for audiences fromPasadenato Beverly Hills while promoting literacy.

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.

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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. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just nosh on the variety of food trucks parked up there.

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This epic (and free) outdoor concert seriesfeatures live performances by artists from around the world at thetotally overhauledCalifornia Plazastage in DTLA, where the shallow water separating the stage from the audience has been replaced by a proper event lawn.Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix ofbands, DJ sets and dance parties.

The Original Farmers Market is host to a plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor events, and its summer music series are some of its best. Take a load offnear the end of the work week and stop by the West Patioon Thursday nights from6:30 to 8:30pm to heara genre-spanning mix of live music.

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Summer’s just heating up, but thanks to areturning summer event series it’s set to be scorching: Santa Monica mainstay the Bungalow will host itsnight market every Thursdayjust a block from the beach. Over the summer, expect food from the likes of Tacos 1986, the Boiling Crab and the Lonely Oyster, plus celebrity guests.

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)starting in April.

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.

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