The 66 best things to do in L.A. this week (2024)

Shop local at this celebration of Mar Vista businesses, which brings together over 100 vendors typically once a season. Hatched by the Gym Venice and Shop Morpheus, you’ll find artisans, food and DJs on Venice Boulevard between Centinela Avenue and Grand View Boulevard.

Get out from behind your screen and into the world of printed lit atL.A. Zine Fest.The all-day event showcasesnearly 200 exhibitors of zines and small press publications from across the country, bringing together the best of SoCal nerds for the exchange of art, ideas and more. Don’t miss the fest’s freereadings and workshops.

See murals and installations sprout up across Long Beach during this city-wide art festival.The event coincides with thereturn of Art Renzei, a multimedia art showcase along the coast.

Unleash your creative side at the Norton Simon Museum’sannual Garden Party onJune 22 in celebration of the summer season. The jazz-infused early evening soiree will take place at the museum’s Monet-inspired Sculpture Garden, where guests can sketch al fresco or create floral arrangements. Best of all, the event is free with museum admission.

Pedal along five car-free miles of Western Avenue as CicLAvia brings its latest open streets event to South L.A. on June 23.

Between “Moon River” and the instantly recognizable themes fromThe Pink Panther andPeter Gunn, you’ve surely heard at least a handful of Henry Mancini’s memorable songs. To mark 100 years since the late composer’s birth, the Hollywood Bowl has assembled a star-studded mix of performers, includingMichael Bublé, Dave Koz andCynthia Erivo (and the season-opening fireworks show deserves a mention here, too).

Santa Monica illuminates the Third Street Promenade with a canopy of rainbows lights as part of this citywide LGBTQ+ celebration. Look out for a party along the expanse of the Third Street Promenade on June 22 (noon–8pm) as well as an afternoon of music at Santa Monica Place (noon–6pm).

Swing by gallery shows, open studios, parties and pop-up shops during this multi-neighborhood design series. The inaugural L.A. Design Weekend will hold events in a different cluster of areas each day: Friday will bring group shows to DTLA and the Arts District, Saturday sees open studios in Northeast L.A. and an afternoon party in Frogtown, while Sunday will stage installations and workshops in Echo Park, Silver Lake, Los Feliz and Atwater Village. Most events are free, though some workshops and lunches have fees to cover the cost of materials.

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.

House music hits the Queen Mary waterfront during this two-day fest.This year’sevent, whichfeatures two main stages as well as another side one, includes the likes ofKaskade, MKback-to-back with Green Velvet, Cloonee, Mau P, and Nicole Moudaberback-to-back with Paco Osuna.

Move through a suite of sci-fi installations that depict a world overcome by rising seas and unchecked capitalism in this exhibition from Josh Kline. The MOCA Grand Avenue show includes a mix of sculpture, photography, moving images and ephemeral materials.

Slow down and soak in the magic of the woods during this guided, moonlit forest walk at the Arboretum, inspired by the Japanese practice ofshinrin yoku. Each meditative guided walk starts just before sunset and wraps up underneath the full moon with some herbal tea.

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.

This winning new musical is a surprisingly clever stage update of the ’90s Robin Williams hit. Read our four-star review of its London run.

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.

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.

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.