Annual Calendar Of Events
Greater Los Angeles Events
January
Japanese New Year
Little Tokyo
(213) 626-3067
Los Tres Reyes,
El Pueblo Historical Monument (Olvera St.) Epiphany procession
Kingdom Day Parade and Festival
Leimert Park,
Martin Luther King Day;
(323) 299-1234
Los Angeles International Fine Art Photography Expo
The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
A five-day exhibition by more than 80 premier galleries under one roof. Santa Monica; The approximately 70 exhibitors bring work from most major American and European art centers. In addition to the gallery booths, there are lectures by photographers, photo editors, and photo collectors. (323) 937-4659
LA Fine Art Exhibition and Sale
The Los Angeles Art Show is an annual exhibition and sale of fine art hosted by the Fine Art Dealers Association (FADA). The international event takes place Thursday through Sunday the last weekend in January. (310) 822- 9145
February
Chinese New Year
San Gabriel and Alhambra
Chinese New Year formally commences at the beginning of Spring. Hence, it is known as the Spring Festival. It is a time to cast away the bad blood of the previous year and wish for good fortune in the coming year. Unlike the western calendar, the Chinese have their own lunar calendar which revolves around the moon. (626) 284-1234
Lantern Festival
Chinese American Museum
(213) 485-8567
African Heritage Festival
Aquarium of the Pacific
(562)590-3100
Join the Aquarium of the Pacific as it hosts its annual African Heritage Festival, celebrating the richness and diversity of African and African American cultures. The weekend will feature live entertainment, arts and crafts, ethnic food, and more.
The Amgen Tour of California
California's Version of the Tour de France is an international long-distance bicycling stage race modeled after the Tour de France. The first annual race was held in 2006. Teams of professional cyclists start in San Francisco, making their way to Southern California in seven stages over eight days. (213)742.7187
Docuday
Day-long screening of Oscar nominated documentary films.(213)534.3600
Writers Guild AwardsCeremony
(323) 951-4000
Academy Awards Ceremony
Kodak Theatre in Hollywood;
(310) 247-3000
March
LA Marathon
Once a year you can experience the 26.2 mile Marathon past some of LA's most famous landmarks. (310)444-5544
Women's Music, Arts, Dance, & Word Festival
St. Patrick's Day Parade and Celebration
Celebrate Irish with a fabulous parade. Music, food, and more.
(Olvera Street) not far from Union Station.
Persian New Year- 1st day of Spring and 13 days later
Celebrate Norooz (Persian New Year) party for start of the Persian year with over 600 people, DJ and food.
Blessing of the Animals at
El Pueblo State Historic Site (Olvera St.) Saturday before Easter
(213)485-9769
April
Carnaval Primavera
This four block Mardi Gras festival in Huntington Park every year.
323-585-1155
Easter Sunrise Service at the Hollywood Bowl
Non-denominational Easter service with multi-denominational clergy and a 240 voice choir.
The Hollywood Bowl (323) 463-7111
Haute Dog Easter Parade
500 pooches in bunny ears and bonnets will parade along the sidewalks of Belmont Shore in Long Beach on Easter Sunday.
The Great Easter Egg Hunt at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Activities for children of all ages include nature crafts, eco games, and photo opportunities. LA County Arboretum (626) 821-5897
The Santa Anita Derby
Santa Anita Park
American Grade 1 thoroughbredhorse race for three-year-olds run each April. (626) 574-RACE
Long Beach Grand Prix
America's premiere street racing event will spotlight a dynamic new attraction for 2008 - Green Power Prix-View 888-82-SPEED
Topanga Earth Day
The festival is a celebration of the Earth and sustainability with arts, music, culture, education, environment, healers, organic food, crafts, nutrition, agriculture, eco development & housing, dancers & performers
May
Fiesta Broadway
LA's biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration, Downtown LA on Broadway from 1st to Olympic,
Mark your calendars. (310) 914-0015
Israeli Festival
The Israeli Festival commemorating Israel's 60th Independence day will be celebrated in 2008. Woodley Park. (818) 757-0123
Santa Monica Festival
The Santa Monica Festival is a celebration with a purpose. Clover Park, Santa Monica
(310) 458-8350
Carnevale
Venice Beach
No matter what your musical or artistic taste, Carnevale! has something for everyone.
UCLA American Indian Pow Wow, 2 day gathering of Native American dancers and drummers (310) 206-7513
NoHo Theatre & Arts Festival
Come see the best performances and art of Hollywood's trendy NOHO. North Hollywood, (310) 537-4240
Topanga Banjo Fiddle Contest and Arts Festival,
The Paramount Ranch in Agoura hosts a festival of live Bluegrass music and country dancing, during the third week of May. (818) 382-4819
Long Beach Pride Celebration,
The Pride Celebration is the 3rd largest in the nation, and attracts over 75,000 participants over the two-day celebration. More than 200 marching groups and floats comprise the parade entries since 1995, representing various religious, human service, governmental and social organizations (562) 987-9191
June
The Los Feliz Village Street Fair
Great Food, Petting Zoo, Wine and Beer Garden. East side of Hollywood. (323) 913-0369
Dia de San Juan Festival
A celebration of Puerto Rican culture at the Queen Mary Events Park in Long Beach; 1st Sunday (714) 522-5890
Playboy Jazz Festival
The Playboy Jazz Festival has become internationally acclaimed, emerging as the West Coast's premier jazz event. Hollywood Bowl.
Summer Solstice Folk Music, Dance and Storytelling Festival
Since 1981 the California Traditional Music Society has hosted an annual folk music festival celebrating music, dance and storytelling scheduled on or near the Summer Solstice; Woodland Hills (818) 817-7756
Chinese Food Festival
Chinatown, (213) 680-0243
Gay Pride
Erotica LA
300 boutiques will offer the latest in sexy lingerie, love toys and bondage paraphernalia. Erotic fashion shows and dance performances will take the stage. (818) 718.5788
Juneteenth Celebration,
Martin Luther King Jr. Park, Long Beach, (562) 570-8528
Mariachi USA Festival
Hollywood Bowl, 1-800-MARIACHI
Concours D'Elegance on Rodeo
Vintage car show on a carpeted Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, Father's Day. (310) 858-6100.
July
4th of July AmericaFest at the Rose Bowl
The largest fireworks display in Southern California (626) 577-3100
Palisades Americanism Parade
Old fashioned Independence Day Parade followed by entertainment and a fireworks display. Sunset Blvd.
Mr. & Mrs. Muscle Beach, Venice Beach
Show off your muscle at a body building pageant on the beach. (310) 399-2775
July 4th Festival on Pine Avenue in Long Beach
Downtown festival with a view of the fireworks over the Queen Mary. (562) 435-7707
Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival
Hollywood (Egyptian Theatre)
L.A.'s premier venue for the presentation of Latino filmmaking. More than 60 features, shorts and documentaries will be presented from the U.S., Latin America and Spain. (323) 469-1074
Central Avenue Jazz Festival
The festival features LA's finest jazz and blues in tribute to "the Avenue," as Central Avenue was known during its renaissance years from the 1920s through the 1950s. The event also features ethnic cuisine, arts and crafts, and educational booths. (213) 485-2437
August
Watts Summer Festival
Los Angeles
First held in 1966, this is the oldest African-American cultural festival in California. Arts, concerts, film, sports and children's villages, carnival, and parade. Information: (323) 789-7304
Nisei Week Japanese Festival
L.A.'s oldest ethnic festival celebrates traditional and contemporary Japanese American cultural heritage. Folk dancing, bands, exhibits, carnivals, art exhibits and parades. Little Tokyo (213) 687-7193
Tofu Festival
Come try tofu in all of its different variations in this little festival in Little Tokyo. (213) 473-3030
Long Beach Jazz Festival
Against the backdrop of the Queen Mary and Long Beach Marina, this event features great jazz and food. (562) 424-0013
Beverly Hills Music Festival,
The Festival is delighted to return year after year with eight summer evening concerts. Featuring both emerging talent and world-renowned musicians performing a wide range of music at the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Churchin Beverly Hills. (310)779.7622
Los Angeles African Marketplace and Cultural Faire
This event celebrates the African Diaspora with a Village Gourd Festival, Brazilian Trade and Music Festival, the Celebrity Village Games, a soccer tournament, an African Business Expo, entertainment, and arts and crafts. (323) 734-1164
Sunset Junction Street Faire
The biggerst celebration of Diversity with Three on-going stages, games & Rides, arts and Food on Sunset Blvd; 323-661-7771
Ifa Festival
The Festival Celebrates the West African deity of wisdom, knowledge and understanding, also known as Santeria, Lukumi, Candomble and Voudoun. San Bernardino (909) 836-8246
September
Feast of San Gennaro Italian Festival, Los Angeles
African Marketplace and Cultural Faire
Come celebrate Africa! Exposition Park; (323) 734-1164
L.A. Greek Festival
Come celebrate the best of Greek culture, music and food at St. Sophia's; (323) 737-2424
Abbot Kinney Festival
Music, arts and crafts festival on Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice
Mexican Independence Celebration
El Pueblo Historic Monument (Olvera St.) (213)485-9769
Brazilian Street Carnival
Brazilian bands, one Rio-Style parade, one Bahian-Style parade, food booths, cultural booths. Long Beach, (562) 438-3669
Annual Erotic Art Weekend
Over 75 Artists from Around the World: Life Drawing and Photography all afternoon; A Symposium on erotic art both days. (213) 250-1685
Los Angeles Korean Festival
Come see a festival in which the whole community gets involved. The Festival offers over 200 promotional booths, cultural food, and performances. Seoul International Park, L.A.; (213)487-9696
Feast of San Gennaro
West coast festival celebrating the venerable patron saint of Naples has plenty of Italian music, food and culture.
Orange International Street Fair
A tradition since 1910, the event is a celebration of the diversity that has made Orange the community it is today. This annual event draws more than 400,000 visitors per year. (714) 532-6260
Los Angeles Sister City Festival
Page Museum Gardens celebrating LA's 21 Sister Cities; (323) 656-6083
October
Encino Folk Music Festival
A Free Folk & Bluegrass Music Festival; Encino, (818) 817-7756
LA/Valley Pride Festival
Join us on the backlot of CBS Studio Center in Studio City for this year's Los Angeles / Valley Pride GLBT Awareness Festival, where the entertainment venues and festival exhibitors are situated in between the backlot sound stages and outdoor sets. (818) 508-0472
Taste of Encino;
Variety of ethnic and American food; California Traditional Music Society - four stages of music, rock climbing, and so much more. (818)879-4711
Oktoberfest
The Largest and Oldest Oktoberfest in Southern California. Alpine Village in Torrance
(310)327-4843
Grand Avenue Festival
Museums, entertainment and street festival; Downtown LA; (213)624-2146
TarFest
"Excavating Future Culture on the Miracle Mile." Film, theatre, visual and performing arts festival on Museum Row (323)634-4919
Queen Mary Shipwrecked
The Queen Mary Shipwrecked Halloween Terror Fest (562)435-3511
Festival de la Gente Dia de Los Muertos,
Day of the Dead street festival on the 6th Street Bridge; (323)226-1646,
Dia de Los Muertos en Hollywood
Celebrating our 107th year anniversary as Los Angeles's oldest memorial park, Hollywood Forever welcomes the City of Angels and beyond to commemorate our 7 th annual "Dia de Los Muertos." (323)447-0999
West Hollywood Halloween Carnival;
West Hollywood is known for its Halloween night street carnival for adults only, but there are plenty of children's events as well. Call for Details 323-848-6400.
November
Downtown on Ice
Southern California's largest outdoor skating rink appears annually right in the middle of Downtown LA at Pershing Square; 1-888-LA PARKS (527-2757)
Dia de los Muertos at Self Help Graphics
Traditional Day of the Dead procession. 3802 Cesar E. Chavez Avenue & Gage. (323) 881-6444
Intertribal Marketplace
Autry National Center; (323)667-2000
Los Angeles International Tamale Festival
Over 100 tamale vendors, three-day extravaganza Family entertainment, a petting zoo and carnival. (626) 347-1660
Doo Dah Parade
This is a Doo Dah-style parody of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Old Town at Raymond Avenue and Holly Street. (626) 440-7379; 626-440-7379
Reindeer Romp
Thanksgiving through New Year's Day at the LA Zoo; (323)644-4200
DWP Festival of Lights
This magnificent display of lights along a one-mile segment of Crystal Springs Drive has become a holiday tradition that attracts more than half million visitors each year. Griffith Park; 1- 888-LA PARKS (527-2757)
December
Disneyland Christmas Fantasy
Every year the Disneyland Resort becomes a Christmas fantasyland as the holiday decorations adorn the parks. The parades, shows, fireworks, children's activities and even some of the rides take on a Christmas theme.
DWP Festival of Lights
This magnificent display of lights along a one-mile segment of Crystal Springs Drive has become a holiday tradition that attracts more than half million visitors each year. Griffith Park; 1- 888-LA PARKS (527-2757)
Downtown on Ice
Southern California's largest outdoor skating rink appears annually right in the middle of Downtown LA at Pershing Square; 1-888-LA PARKS (527-2757)
Festival Navideno de la Calle Ocho
Held on 8th Street at Normandie Avenue, more than 50,000 Latinos and other celebrants gather at this free festival. (323) 962-4735
Hanukkah Family Festival
Skirball Cultural Center; (310) 440-4500
Las Posadas
This nine night presentation of the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem is portrayed with singing, entertainment, a candlelight procession on Olvera Street and a children's pi? breaking each evening. El Pueblo Historic Site (213) 485-9769
L.A. County Holiday Celebration,
A Free Six Hour Concert on Christmas Eve
The 47th annual Los Angeles County Holiday Celebration is an admission-free, six-hour seasonal music and dance show (213) 972-3099