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You think we’re going to let this humidity stop us from enjoying the finals days of summer? Fat chance.
This August in Los Angeles you’ll find a re-opening celebration at CAAM, the Natsumatsuri Family Festival, the GRLSWIRL SurfSkate Fest, the LA Art Book Fair, CicLAvia connecting Hollywood to Koreatown, the Leimert Park Jazz Festival, the El Segundo Art Walk, CatCon, Head in the Clouds Festival, and more! Now let’s see if we can’t find you something to do….
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Things To Do in August
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
City of San Gabriel 29th annual National Night Out (August 1) – FA > The 29th annual National Night Out turns the historic Mission District into a block party with live music, food and games all in an effort to promote public safety. More info here.
First Wednesday Lecture at The AoP (August 2) -> Every first Wednesday evening of the month, the Aquarium of the Pacific hosts an evening guest lecture and cocktail reception at the Pacific Visions Theater. For August 2, Tim Bridwell, member and former president of Friends of the Elephant Seal, will present a history and life cycle of elephant seals. Admission is $5 advance online and $10 the day of the event at the door. More info here.
Shakespeare By the Sea (August 2-5) -> Shakespeare By the Sea – FA > The 26th anniversary season of Shakespeare By the Sea wraps up in August after a summer of free performances at outdoor venues through Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Concluding the series, you can catch Hamlet at Don Knabe Community Regional Park on August 2, Twelfth Night at Soka University on August 3, and closing performances at Point Fermin Park on August 4 (Twelfth Night) and August 5 (Hamlet). All shows are free to attend, but donations are gladly accepted. More info here.
Summer Night Cinema (August 2, 8, 15) – FA > Summer Night Cinema at The Hammer celebrates 50 years of Hip Hop with multiple screenings in August: On August 2 catch Bastards of the Party, a 2005 documentary about the roots of L.A. gangsta rap; The series continues with Black Sugar, an ode to old-school hip hop and Black love on August 8; then on August 15, a night dedicated to Missy Elliot’s most iconic videos and a screening of Ava DuVernay’s 2010 documentary My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop. All events feature gallery access, plus drinks and bar bites for purchase. Free to attend. More info here.
2001: A Space Odyssey at the Hollywood Bowl (August 3) -> Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey gets the the full Hollywood Bowl treatment with the score played live-to-screen by the LA Phil, conducted by Caleb Young. Tickets still available as low as $10. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Sunset Series at South Coast Botanic Gardens (August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31) -> This August, The South Coast Botanic Garden welcomes guests to their weekly after-hours series every Thursday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Programming for each event includes multiple music sessions, yard games, food concessions, kid-friendly activities, and cocktails for the 21+ crowd. GA tickets start at $18 per person. Children 2 and under are free. More info here.
Sizzling Summer Nights at The Autry (August 3, 10, 17, 24, 31) -> Every Thursday in August, The Autry museum hosts some of L.A.’s best salsa and Latin fusion bands with free salsa lessons, access to the museum galleries and a separate children’s dance floor. Admission cost $20 per person. More info here.
Sunset Concerts at Skirball (August 3, 10, 17) – FA > The annual free music series at Skirball Cultural Center returns for three days this month, including performances by Ethiopian fusion artist with AvevA (August 3), Gambian multi-instrumentalist Sona Jobarteh (August 10), indie artist Ian Sweet (August 17) and Brooklyn Afrobeat ensemble Antibalas on August 24. Admission is free, but remember parking runs $15-$20 depending on if you purchase in advance. More info here.
JazzPOP at The Hammer (August 3, 10, 17) – FA > A lineup of notables from the West Coast jazz scene are headed to The Hammer courtyard for three concerts this August as part of the museum’s JazzPOP series, beginning with a performance by Hafez Modirzadeh Quartet on August 3. Free to attend. All shows starts at 8 p.m. More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights at CAAM (August 4) – FA TP > KCRW Summer Nights will double as the re-opening celebration for the California African American Museum, and the debut of their latest exhibitions, which include A Movement in Every Direction: Legacies of the Great Migration. Expect DJ’s, access to the gallery, plus food and drinks for purchase and plenty of dancing. More info here.
Summer Nights at the Tar Pits (August 4) – FA TP > The La Brea Tar Pits host a free summer celebration offering a range of cultural activities and activations. Guests of Summer Night at the Tar Pits will find free museum access from 5 to 8 p.m., a DJ Stage with tunes from Beat Junkie Institute of Sound and Ladies of Sound, pop-up presentations from museum educators, a special discussion on Ice Age saber-toothed cats, food trucks, beer and cocktails for purchase, and more. Free with RSVP. More info here.
Movies On The Roof (August 4, 5, 11, 12, 19) -> My Valley Pass and Westfield Fashion Square have teamed up to produce a new rooftop movie series that features cozy bean bag seating, sweet views, and a lineup of new and classic films. Movies On The Roof runs every Friday and Saturday through the end of August, and tickets are $5, with 100% of the proceeds to benefit Hope Of The Valley. Get more info on the lineup here.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA (August 4, 11, 18 ) – M FA > Free evening dance parties continue at The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza every Friday throughout the summer. Dance instructors will be on hand to teach guests easy-to-follow steps, allowing everyone to get into the groove right from the jump. Closing out the series for August are evenings of Afro-Cuban Rumba, Disco and Bollywood. More info here.
Unique LA Market (August 5-6) -> Unique LA the curated shopping experience highlights one-of-a-kind gifts from modern, independent designers, artists, and emerging brands. Aside from shopping your ticket also includes complimentary beverages, craft projects, and other activations. Tickets start at $15. More info here.
7th annual Boleros de Noche (August 5) -> Ánimo Production presents the 7th annual Boleros de Noche concert at The Ford featuring Grammy award winning artist Martha Gonzalez with Puerto Rico’s Rico Trio Remembranza. More info here.
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Cinespia Presents at Hollywood Forever (August 5, 12, 19, 26) -> Classic film screenings are back at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery every Saturday in August, beginning with a showing of The Neverending Story followed by Pretty Woman, Kill Bill 1+2 and Poltergeist. Seating is lawn style and tickets run $45 a piece for GA (and yes, parking is extra). Get more info here.
Glendale Arts Summer Soiree (August 5) – FA > Glendale Arts is celebrating a new home and its 15th anniversary with a summer soiree. Open to the public, guests will get a first look at the gallery and enjoy complimentary drinks, bites, and entertainment. The event is technically free to attend, but a $15 donation is suggested. More info here.
NoHo Summer Nights (August 5, 12, 19) – M FA > NoHo Summer Nights brings film screenings and/or live performances to North Hollywood Recreation Center every Saturday through September 2. Free to attend, and no RSVP required. More info here.
Grand Performances ( August 5, 12, 19, 25, 26) – M FA > Grand Performances continues their 2023 concert schedule with an Art Laboe Tribute (presented by dublab) on August 5, then pops up on select select Fridays and Saturdays through Aug. 26. Free to attend. More info here.
Cinemalesque (August 5) -> The non-profit organization Immersive Art Collective (IAC) will host
“Cinemalesque,” an interactive burlesque show “Horror Hellions,” centered around popular horror film characters reinterpreted in a playful and seductive way. The show takes place at Count’s Den in Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets start at $20. More info here.
GRLSWIRL SurfSkate Fest (August 5) -> Skate collective GRLSWIRL brings back their SurfSkate Festival to Venice Beach on the first Saturday in August. The event includes a surf paddle out and SurfSkate style competition with judges and prizes, alongside live music, documentary screenings, food, drinks and a ’70s-themed dance party under the Venice sign. Tickets cost $35. More info here.
DiverCity Multicultural Concert Series (August 5, 6) – M FA > The DiverCity Multicultural Concert Series at Pershing Square presents Reggaetonlandia on August 5 and a Boogie Nights Festival featuring The Sugar Hill Gang, Mary Jane Girls, Rose Royce, and One Way on August 6. Free to attend. No RSVP necessary. More info here.
MDR Summer Concert Series (August 5, 10, 19) – FA > Marina del Rey host free concerts at Burton Chace Park on three dates this month, including Y La Bamba ( August 5), Jazz Antingua (August 10) and Gregory Porter (August 19). All events begin at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Head in the Clouds Festival (August 5-6) -> 88rising’s annual two-day festival comes to Brookside Park in Pasadena with a massive lineup of artists across the Asian diaspora. Two-day GA tix are going for $269 per person and does not include parking. Get more info here.
CatCon (August 5-6) – M > Catch the latest in feline culture at this two-day expo in Pasadena featuring cat-centric merchandise, workshops, and performances. Individual day GA tickets start at $40 per person. Get more info here.
August Movie Matinees at Ace Hotel DTLA ( August 6, 13, 20, 27) -> Ace Hotel DTLA will host 80’s movie matinees all month long in their restored 1920s movie theatre. Taking place on Sunday afternoons at 2 p.m. ticket holders are invited to have brunch at LOAM before the show where they’ll receive 20% off the bill along with themed cocktails and specials for the movie by showing their movie ticket. The restaurant will send guests off with free popcorn for the show. The screenings cost $25 per adult and $15 per child. More info here.
Long Beach Pride (August 5-6) -> The 40th annual Long Beach Beach offers multiple stages of music alongside cultural activations, with the diverse lineup of performers spanning the genres of pop, rock, hip-hop, country, jazz, and Tejano. It all takes place over two days at Marina Green Park. Single day admission starts at $40. More info here.
Angel City Brewery Avocado Fest (August 6) – M FA TP > Angel City Brewery is celebrating the release of two crowd-favorite seasonal brews – Avocado Ale and Guavocado Ale with a party featuring avocado themed games, live music, tours, food and vendors. More info here.
TASTE OF ECUADOR Food Festival (August 6) -> Spend a day immersed in all things Ecuadorian at TASTE OF ECUADOR Food Festival at Placita Olvera. Free to attend, the festival features authentic cuisine, live music and performances, a street parade, carnival games and more. More info here.
Concerts in the Park (August 6, 13, 20, 27) -> Manhattan Beach’s Polliwog Park Amphitheater hosts Concerts in the Park with a performance by Psychedelic Summer (August 6), The Tom Nolan Band (August 13), The Kings of 88 (August 20) and My Generation (August 27).
Movie Night at Angel City Brewery (August 7, 14, 21, 28) -> Every Monday Angel City Brewery hosts a free movie night. Kicking off the month-long series is Bad Boys on August 7. More info here.
Silent Book Club of Death (August 9) – M FA TP > This monthly meet-up celebrates a year of existential group reading at Lawless Brewing on August 9. Expect a 30-minute mix and mingle, followed by quiet reading of a death-themed book (your choice), and capped by a post-read chat/discussion. Bring your own book or grab one they have on hand. The group will also have a special raffle to celebrate the one-year milestone. Free to attend. More info here.
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Shakespeare in The Park (through September 3) – FA TP > The second half of ISC’s Shakespeare in The Park season returns with a staging of A Midsummer Nights Dream in Griffith Park beginning August 9, and then running every Wednesday to Sunday through September 3. Registration to attend (free!) is not required, but highly encouraged. More info here.
LA Art Book Fair (August 10-13) -> Connect with artists’ book publishers and browse new works at this four-day fair coming to the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA over the second weekend of August. Expect conversations, workshops, performances, and other artist-led programs, including an opening night performance by Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra & Friends. Opening night tickets are $25, Friday and Saturday are $5 admission, and Sunday is free. More info here.
Imprinting in Time: Chinese Printmaking at the Beginning of a New Era (August 11) – M > USC Pacific Asia Museum’s latest exhibit Imprinting in Time: Chinese Printmaking at the Beginning of a New Era, is on view from August 11 through November 12, 2023. The exhibition surveys printmaking by Chinese artists from the 1980s to the present organized into three sections: the Modern Woodcut Movement, the Post Mao Era, and Crisis and Hope Since the 1990s. More info here.
Summer of Salsa (August 11) – M FA >LA Plaza’s summer concert series continues with Son Mirón Orchestra, a group made up of musicians from all over Latin America. Expect traditional romantic and modern salsa music to dance the night away to. Free admission. More info here.
Levitt Pavilion Concerts (August 11-13, 18-20) – M FA > Free concerts at Levitt Pavilion in McArthur Park continue Fridays to Sundays through the end of the month. No reservations required. Get more info the lineups here.
Natsumatsuri Family Festival at Japanese American National Museum (August 12) – M FA > The free annual summer celebration features performances by TAIKOPROJECT and Yu-ki Project, craft stations, interactive story time and games. More info here.
Nisei Week Japanese Festival (August 12-20) – M FA > This August, Little Tokyo hosts a week-long celebration of Japanese and Japanese American heritage and traditions through a series of cultural exhibits and performances, a grand parade and a plaza festival. More info here.
Burbank Comedy Festival (August 12-19) -> The Burbank Comedy Festival taking place across different venues will host a variety of performers from around the globe for nonstop funny business. More info and full schedule here.
KCRW Summer Nights at KCRW HQ (August 12, 19) – M FA > On back-to-back Saturdays, KCRW Summer Nights come to the station’s headquarters in Santa Monica for parties in the courtyard featuring live performances, DJ sets, food trucks, and drinks for purchase. Free to attend. More info here.
Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome (August 13) -> Mount Wilson Observatory continues its 2023 season of classical concerts hosted inside the historic 100-inch telescope dome, where the acoustics are said to be some of the finest in the world. This month the program features the Zelter String Quartet. There will be two performances, one at 3 p.m. and the other at 5 p.m. Tickets are $55. More info here.
Odd Nights at The Autry (August 18) -> Odd Nights at the Autry return every third Friday of the month now through September. Expect an indie bazaar populated by funky vendors, food trucks, and live music. Runs 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $5 and parking is free. More info here.
Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks (August 18-19) -> The Hollywood Bowl’s annual fireworks extravaganza returns, with conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leading the LA Phil in selections from Swan Lake to Romeo and Juliet, concluding with a spectacular finale featuring Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Tickets start as low as $22. More info here.
Live at The Music Center (August 19) – M FA TP > Grammy-winners Eliades Ochoa and La Marisoul headline Live at The Music Center, an annual free outdoor public concert on Jerry Moss Plaza at The Music Center. Free. All-ages. No RSVP required. More info here.
CicLAvia – Koreatown meets Hollywood (August 20) – M FA TP > CicLAvia—Koreatown meets Hollywood opens up a five-mile, car-free course connecting K-Town and Hollywood, inviting attendees to walk, skate, bike, play, and explore the area. More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights at LA Plaza (August 20) – M FA > KCRW Summer Nights at LA Plaza includes sets from Jungle Fire and KCRW DJ José Galvan, food, beer garden, silk-screen printing, vendors and after-hours museum access of LA Plaza’s new exhibition 18th & Grand: The Olympic Auditorium.
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Brew at the Zoo (August 25) -> Evening programming is back at the L.A. Zoo on August 25 with Brew at the Zoo. Expect 40+ breweries plus animal keeper talks, live music, and bites for purchase. Standard admission starts at $75. More info here.
Leimert Park Jazz Festival (August 26) – M FA TP > Catch over 8 hours of Jazz sets plus a kids zone, wine lounge, and food court on August 26 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Admission is free, but you have to register. More info here.
End of Summer Bash (August 26) – M FA > On the last Saturday of August, One Colorado in Old Pasadena marks the end of summer with a special afternoon event featuring carnival games, a photo booth, live music, and a beer garden. More info here.
Off The 405 at The Getty (August 26) – FA TP > Live outdoor music is back at The Getty this summer with the Off the 405 concert series. In August, catch a performance by British poet and saxophonist Alabaster DePlume. Free to attend with reservation. More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights in Chinatown (August 26) – M FA TP > For the second time this summer, KCRW activates Chinatown with an evening of DJ sets, dancing, food trucks, and local merchants who will be staying open for the event. Runs 8 p.m. to midnight. Free to attend. More info here.
El Segundo Art Walk (August 26) – FA > This indie, self-guided art event highlights the creative businesses throughout Downtown El Segundo while showcasing local artists. Expect food trucks, live music, and extended hours from the El Segundo Museum of Art. More info here.
Evening of Jazz at Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden (August 27) -> Pasadena’s Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden hosts a special concert featuring jazz musician Bennie Maupin (and friends), backdropped by the Garden’s stunning teahouse. Tickets are $30. Get more info here.
Silents Under The Stars ( August 27) – FA > Santa Monica Mountains Fund’s Silents Under The Stars series screens THE EAGLE (1926) at King Gillette Ranch, with musical accompaniment provided by Michael Mortilla. Walking tours of the ranch start at 6:30 p.m., film screens at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend with RSVP. More info here.
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