The sprawling Southern Californian city of Los Angeles plays host to a busy roster of festivals every year, including many taking place during summertime.
(Photo: Los Angeles Fleet Week)
With its long-standing reputation as the epicentre of the nation’s film and television industry, it’s little surprise that Los Angeles is well set up for putting on a show – evidenced by the city’s packed programme of annual festivals. If you’re visiting LA during summer and would like to attend one its action-packed fiestas, we’ve picked out 10 of the best annual festivals that take place in or around the city.
La Fleet Week
America’s Sea Services have played a crucial role in the nation’s history and LA Fleet Week is held to commemorate that contribution. The largest Memorial Day weekend event in Los Angeles, Fleet Week sees a whole host of maritime-themed events and activities take place throughout the city and its wider areas, with thousands of Navy sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and soldiers in attendance. Highlights include the chance to walk aboard real-life U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, as well as military displays, live music, cooking demos and plenty more.
Venues across LA / May each year
RuPaul’s DragCon
(Photo: DVSROSS via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
Billed as the world’s largest gathering of Drag Race queens and fans, the LA edition of this three-times-a-year festival (the others are held in London and New York City) celebrates the art of drag, queer culture and self-expression for all. During the event, past contestants from RuPaul’s Drag Race, an American reality competition TV series, and other well-known drag artists congregate at the Los Angeles Convention Center where they meet with fans, take pictures, sign autographs, sell drag-themed merchandise and sometimes perform or take part in discussion panels centred around topical subjects and themes.
Los Angeles Convention Center / July each year
Anime Expo
(Photo: Michael Ocampo via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
The eye-catching Japanese animation style known as Anime has become a global phenomenon – and Los Angeles’ contribution to its leading role in the cultural zeitgeist is the hugely popular Anime Expo. Said to be the largest celebration of Japanese pop culture anywhere in North America, the convention sees anime fans and industry figures from around the world descend on Downtown LA for a four-day event jam-packed with special guests, exclusive premieres, interactive events, and plenty more.
Los Angeles Convention Center / July each year
Hard Summer
A regular fixture on the California festival scene since its first edition back in 2007, Hard Summer is an acclaimed celebration of electronic music featuring a stellar line-up of performers each year. Notable names to have appeared at the two-day festival in recent years include Skrillex B2B Four Tet, The Weeknd, Virgil Abloh, Kaytranada, Megan Thee Stallion, Major Lazer and Disclosure. Performances take place across several stages at the Hollywood Bowl, one of the largest natural amphitheatres in the world, with some featuring the most in-demand house and techno names and others focussing on acts spanning multiple genres, as well as club-style DJ sets.
Hollywood Park, Inglewood / August each year
LA Pride
(Photo: LA Pride)
Pride festivals take place in cities across the world and Los Angeles’ version is as big and bold in colour and enthusiasm as the best of them. The focal point of the event is the parade which runs from Highland Boulevard to Hollywood Boulevard before attention turns to the raucous LA Pride Block Party just a few streets away. Here, revellers can enjoy pop-up bars and beer gardens, food trucks and live entertainment from drag queens to DJs long into the evening. For those keen to continue the festivities, there’s an after-hours party at Universal Studios Hollywood that stays open until 2am.
Hollywood, Los Angeles / June each year
Fool in Love
Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Kool & the Gang, Gladys Knight, the Isley Brothers and Charlie Wilson are just some of the legendary R&B and soul stars to make Fool in Love one of the most eagerly awaited music festivals of the summer in California. Held in Hollywood Park on the ground adjacent to the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, as well as the top-class music the festival offers VIP access to a premium lounge complete with complimentary curated bites, all-inclusive beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, a dedicated merchandise pop-up, and more.
Hollywood Park, Inglewood / August each year
FuelFest
Blending the enthusiast’s passion for the automotive world with live music, special guest appearances and curated art displays, FuelFest is a magnet for petrol heads who flock to Irwindale Speedway, located about 20 miles east of Downtown LA, from far and wide each year. The show features top modified, exotic, performance-built, and rare cars from all over the world, competition-style tandem runs, and exciting interactive exhibits and displays, all against a backdrop of music performances by legendary rapper XZIBIT on the festival stage.
Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale / June each year
KCON
(Photo: Madame Chill via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)
An epic celebration of Korean pop culture and music, KCON combines multiple stage performances with the chance for fans to meet and engage with their favourite artists – and with each other. Inspired by ‘hallyu’ a Korean word that refers to the international diffusion of South Korean culture since the 1990s following the end of military rule, the fun-packed three-day event features thought-provoking panels, workshops, signings and star-studded shows and concerts stacked with Korean celebs and superstars, as well as the industry’s hottest rookies talent spanning pop music, beauty, cuisine and more.
Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena / July each year
Dine LA Restaurant Week
The summer edition of the bi-annual Dine LA sees over 200 local eateries offering great value prix-fixe menus in an effort to showcase the city’s diverse and dynamic dining scene. Restaurants of all price levels and cuisines – ranging from bistros, sushi bars and neighbourhood spots to casual oceanfront patio diners and fine-dining establishments – participate in the two-week event, ensuring every budget and taste is catered for. As well as dine-in services, a number of restaurants also offer takeout throughout the event.
Venues across Los Angeles / July each year
Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival
An eclectic assortment of jazz acts descend on LA’s Hollywood Bowl each year for two spectacular days of music and fun. Running for over four decades, the festival has in recent years been co-curated by jazz titans Herbie Hancock and Kamasi Washington, frequent collaborators who performed their mellow harmonies and earthy grooves together at the Bowl in August 2017. Revellers can upgrade their tickets for access to the Jazz Village Experience, where there are special vendors, exhibitions and art/photography displays.
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles / June each year