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New month. New year. Lots to do.
This January 2024 in Los Angeles, you’ll find the Oshogatsu Festival in Little Tokyo, Corey Helford’s Art Collector Starter Kit group show, SoCal Slack Key Festival, Cooking at LACMA, the Asian America Expo, a Ben Franklin’s celebration at the International Printing Museum, Winter Sounds in WeHo, L.A. Intersections at The Broad, the 39th annual Kingdom Day Parade, and much more. We’ll help you plan it all out below.
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Things To Do This January in Los Angeles
The Rose Parade (January 1) -> The 135th Rose Parade returns to Pasadena for 2024 with its iconic assemblage of decorative displays, floral arrangements, eye-catching floats, marching bands and horse-drawn carriages, all traversing a 5 and a half mile route along (mostly) Colorado Blvd. More info here.
Floatfest: A Rose Parade Showcase (January 1-2) -> Following the 135th Rose Parade, visitors will have a chance to view the detail and design of float entrants up close at Floatfest, a ticketed ($20) showcase taking place at select times in the afternoon of both days. More info here.
First Wednesday Lecture at The AoP (January 3) -> Every first Wednesday evening of the month, the Aquarium of the Pacific hosts a guest lecture and cocktail reception at the Pacific Visions Theater. For January 3, join them for a special screening of National Parks Adventure, narrated by Robert Redford. Tickets are $5 in advance, or $10 the day of. More info here.
DTLA ArtNight (January 4) -> DTLA ArtNight runs every first Thursday of the month, activating 25+ galleries along Downtown’s Historic Core all free to attend. More info here.
Salinas de San Pedro Salt Marsh Open House (January 6) -> For one day only, head to Cabrillo Beach for a day exploring the wetlands. Managed and cared for by the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, this salt marsh hosts a diverse community of salt-tolerant plants, invertebrates, fish, and birds. Accompanied by CMA Educators and dedicated volunteers, you’ll have the opportunity to observe and explore the wonders of this unique habitat. This experience is free and welcomes participants of all ages. More info here.
Oshogatsu Festival in Little Tokyo (January 7) -> Celebrate the start of the new year with a Oshogatsu Festival in Little Tokyo, put together by the Japanese American National Museum. The family-friendly affair features traditional Japanese food, entertainment and special activities. The museum will also provide free admission all day. More info here.
Building Bridges: Religious Leadership During Times of Unrest (January 11) -> The Holocaust Museum LA and religious leaders unite in honor of MLK day. Representing diverse faiths, they’ll engage in a discussion on their pivotal role in supporting communities during tough times. The event is free to attend. More info here.
Dance The Line: Line Dancing Lessons at Trademark Brewing (January 12) -> Grab some friends and head to Long Beach’s Trademark Brewing for a line dancing lesson. No experience is needed an instructors will guide you through the steps. $10 cover. Runs 7-9 p.m. More info here.
ReStart YOU 2024 (January 13) -> Get a head start your 2024 fitness and wellness goals with free outdoor classes and experiences at Ivy Station. Activations include a yoga session with YogaSix, stretches from StretchLab and boxing with Mayweather Boxing + Fitness. All events free to attend, but certain experiences need an RSVP to reserve a spot. More info here.
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Asian American Expo (January 13-14) -> The Asian American Expo returns to the Fairplex in Pomona for the largest Lunar New Year extravaganza in America. Tickets cost $20 per day. More info here.
Westside Coalition’s MLK Events (January 13) -> The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Westside Coalition and the Santa Monica Symphony commemorates the legacy of Dr. King with a free afternoon concert performing symphonies from Coleridge-Taylor to Gershwin. The concert is free, but is ticketed, as space is limited. More info here.
Lift Every Voice The Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles Celebrates MLK (January 13) -> The Skirball welcomes the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (ICYOLA) to the stage for a moving performance in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The largest Black majority orchestra in the nation ICYOLA features over one hundred musicians and choir singers raising their instruments and voices in song to honor the memory of MLK’s and his commitment to civil rights for Black America. Free to attend. More info here.
Long Beach MLK Parade (January 13) -> The 36th Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade and Celebration will begin with 10 a.m. parade kickoff at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Anaheim Street. Then a celebration is slated to go from noon to 5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Park. There guests can catch performances, a health and wellness area, a youth area, food and merchandise vendors, and information booths. More info here.
Cooking with LACMA: Michael Twitty (January 13) -> LACMA welcomes writer and culinary historian Michael Twitty to Crafted Kitchen for an exploration of the intricate connections between spices, past, and present diasporic communities in Southern California and the broader United States. There will be a cooking demonstration and hands-on spice blend workshop. Tickets cost $40. More info here.
Canoga Park Block Party (January 13) -> The January edition of the Canoga Park Block Party features 50+ vendors, live entertainment, classic cars and a food truck festival. Free to attend.
Corey Helford Gallery’s 10th Annual Art Collector Starter Kit (January 13) -> Corey Helford Gallery is gearing up to launch its tenth annual Art Collector Starter Kit group show. The upcoming exhibition will showcase affordable 12” x 12” works from over 75 established and emerging artists worldwide. Running in the Main Gallery until February 17, ACSK X aims to provide newer collectors and budget-conscious enthusiasts an opportunity to acquire original pieces, aligning with the gallery’s mission of making art appreciation and collection accessible to a broader audience.
SoCal Slack Key Festival (January 14) -> The 17th annual Southern California Slack Key Festival takes fans on a Hawaiian musical journey showcasing slack key guitarists, hula dancers, a number of performers and an Island Marketplace. The concert takes place at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $25. More info here.
39th annual Kingdom Day Parade (January 15) -> The 39th annual Kingdom Day Parade returns to Leimert Park for one of the biggest Dr. Martin Luther King celebrations in the world. The 2024 theme is “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, Going To The Promised Land”. Free to attend. More info here.
Self-Help Graphics Wellness Wednesday (January 17) -> Self-Help Graphics Wellness Wednesday series pops up at Latinx Plants in Boyle Heights. Led by licensed therapist Nadia Paredes, the event begins with a body scan meditation to find artistic inspiration. Afterwards, attendees will participate in a watercolor exercise. Free to attend.
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Yoga Expo (January 19-20) -> The nation’s largest traveling yoga convention comes to the Pasadena Convention Center this January with a two-day event featuring classes, panel discussions and a yoga marketplace. A single all-day pass starts at $60 per person. More info here.
Mini Golf on Tap at Common Space Brewery (January 20) -> Mini Golf by F/C Golf Club stops by Common Space Brewery in Hawthorne for a round of mini golf on a specially designed course and of course some beer. Free to play, just sign up. More info here
Oddities & Curiosities Expo (January 20-21) -> This unique expo returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center with an extraordinary showcase of over 150 vendors and artists providing a unique shopping experience for enthusiasts of the strange, offering rare and unique items such as antiques and handcrafted oddities. Beyond shopping, the immersive expo includes tarot readings, sideshow performers, and concessions throughout the day. Tickets start at $10. More info here.
Drive-By Theatre Festival (January 20-22) -> To kickoff the 2024 season at Zombie Joe’s Underground, the indie North Hollywood theater hosts their 21st annual Drive-By Theatre Festival, a brand new, fast-paced collection of mini-plays all written, produced, and performed in two days (or less). Shows take place nightly at 8:30 during the three-day run. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 at the door. Get more info here.
Ben Franklin’s Birthday Celebration (January 20) -> The International Printing Museum in Carson celebrates Benjamin Franklin’s 318th birthday with a full day of activities that highlight Franklin’s life. Expect special tours of the museum, create your own colonial-era keepsake, including the Declaration of Independence. There will be a special performance of the “Inventive Ben Franklin” with a short Q&A session with both Dr. Franklin and children’s author Gretchen Woelfle, who has recently published How Benjamin Franklin became a Revolutionary in Seven Steps. Birthday cake and colonial punch will be served at 12:15 p.m. Admission cost $10. More info here.
Pasadena Cheeseburger Week (January 21-27) -> Did you know the cheeseburger was invented in Pasadena? Head to the city during Pasadena Cheeseburger Week where dozens of restaurants, lounges and casual spots will offer special burgers and deals to celebrate. More info here.
Auschwitz Survivors and Honey Cakes (January 21) -> Experience the taste of honey cakes from the survivor cookbook, “Honey Cakes and Latkes,” created from family recipes by Auschwitz survivor Michael Bornstein and his daughter Debbie Holinstat. The family duo will also be in conservation with Dr. Maria Zalewska (ABMF) and the program concludes with a book signing of “Honey Cakes and Latkes” and Michael Bornstein’s autobiography, “Survivors’ Club.” Free to attend the event takes place at Holocaust Museum LA presented in partnership with the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation in honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day. More info here.
Long Beach Black Restaurant Week (January 21-28) -> The third annual Long Beach Black Restaurant Week returns for eight days of celebrating African American, African and Caribbean cuisine. Explore Black owned businesses around the city through a number of special deals designed just for the event. More info here.
Dance Camera West Festival (January 25-28) -> Celebrate the art form of dance at this annual film festival at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre featuring a packed schedule of free and ticketed screenings and programs. More info here.
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L.A. Intersections at The Broad (January 27) -> Enjoy an after hours event at The Broad for L.A. Intersections a two-part festival celebrating diverse music and spoken word scenes in Los Angeles, featuring punk, ska, jazz, rap, noise, and Filipinx artists. Iconic performers from The Desolation Center, The World Stage, The Good Life Cafe, and punk clubs Cathay De Grande and Raji’s are also in the mix. The first L.A. Intersection takes place on January 27, 2024, from 8 – 11 p.m., and showcases Fishbone, Aceyalone + Myka 9, Carlos Niño & Friends, Pedestrian Deposit, with readings by Keith Morris and Mike Watt, a slideshow by Pleasant Gehman, and a vocal performance by Micaela Tobin. Tickets cost $30. More info here.
Lunar New Year Festival in Monterey Park (January 27-28) -> The city of Monterey Park welcomes the year of the dragon with a two day event featuring lion and dragon dancers (Saturday) as well as a street fair and various types of entertainment on both days. Free to attend. More info here.
Festival of Abilities (January 27-28) -> The Aquarium of the Pacific’s annual Festival of Abilities is a two-day celebration of the creative talents and abilities of people with disabilities. AoP will feature special programming which includes live performances and workshops by dancers, musicians, and artists who have learned adaptive skills to hone their craft. This festival will include sign language interpreters, and the Aquarium will have visitor guides in Braille and audio tours available for guests. All activities are included with general admission, cost $29.95 for kids 3-11 and $44.95 for adults. More info here.
Winter Sounds in WeHo (January 27) -> The City of West Hollywood kicks off their annual free indoor concert series inside City Council Chambers with three time GRAMMY® nominated jazz vocalist Sara Gazarek. The series will also run on February 10 and 24 with new performers. More info here.
Happy Birthday Marion! (January 28)-> The Santa Monica Conservancy celebrates the life of silent film actress and socialite Marion Davies with a free day of festivities on the Garden Terrace at the Annenberg Community Beach House. The event runs 1 to 3 p.m. Get more information and register to attend here.
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