Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).
This weekend, from Friday, June 1 to Sunday, June 3, features Grand Performances, Made in L.A., KCRW Summer Nights, Los Angeles Bread Festival, Taste of the Nation, Urban Air Market and MUCH more.
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Remember you can always go to our L.A. events calendar page to get an updated rundown of what’s happening around the city.
Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your week!
Keep in mind that while we retain complete editorial control of our content, for some of the ticketing options provided we utilize affiliate links and receive a commission if you purchase through our links.
Friday June 1st, 2018
1. For over 30 years, Grand Performances has offered a variety of performance events at California Plaza, for free. Their 2018 summer series kicks off on June 1, and continues through August 18. Higher! The Psychedelic Soul & Genius of Sly and the Family Stone will kick off the series. FREE
2. FIGat7th Downtown Festival is back for another festive summer filled with live performances by leading artists in a variety of genres. The series kicks off with a laid-back dance DJ set by Poolside. FREE
3. Barnsdall Fridays returns to Barnsdall Art Park for the tenth year in a row, with evening tastings of boutique wines and music from KCRW DJs perched atop a hill with incredible city views.
4. The 13th annual Lummis Day Festival celebrates Southwest Museum founder Charles Fletcher Lummis through multiple lively events in select locations in the Northeast Los Angeles area. This year the festival will run from June 1-3 with art, music, film, poetry programs scheduled. FREE
5. Virgil Village hosts its inaugural Virgil Village First Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. Guests can enjoy a variety of special offerings like complimentary wine tastings and bites from local restaurants and businesses such as Melody, Vinovore and more.
6. The Clare V. annual sample sale will take place in the Arts District in DTLA from June 1-3.
7. L.A.-based dance troupe BODYTRAFFIC comes home for a three-night performance at The Wallis starting May 31.
8. Star Wars combined with cabaret is what you’ll when The Empire Strips Back heads to The Theatre at Ace Hotel for a unique parody of the classic saga. Hailing from Australia, the show will feature classic characters, song and dance, troupe routines, comedy and, of course, a bit of striptease. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
9. Third annual Venice Pride kicks off this weekend with a Pride Flag raising and rainbow reveal. The weekend will include the Venice Pride Sign Lighting, a block party, drag brunch, concerts and more.
10. Rooftop Cinema Club returns to the rooftops of The Montalban in Hollywood and LEVEL in DTLA with multiple screenings this week that include Coming to America and The Greatest Showman.
11. Beyond the Streets is a fully immersive exhibition of street and graffiti art comprised of over 30 artist in a massive 40,000+ square feet exhibits. Artist are an eclectic mix of street and beyond including Retna, Shepard Fairey, Kenny Scharf Dennis Hopper and Jenny Holzer. Open Tuesday through Sunday this week. Open Tuesday through Sunday this week. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
12. Urban Death: Spring, a haunted theater attraction, is currently in session at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group in North Hollywood. Urban Death have terrorized audiences in L.A. for over a decade. Expect a completely new experience of inexplicable horrors and unfathomable monstrosities for this spring edition.
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13. The Griffith Observatory hosts a monthly forum where some of the most amazing phenomena in the known universe are explained and discussed. It’s called All Space Considered and it takes place on the first Friday of every month. FREE
14. First Fridays return to the Natural History Museum this Friday. The event will explore how L.A. came to be through lively discussions and tours from NHM’s history department. There will also be a rare display of the museums collection of classic cars and live musical performances by Tuxedo, Duckwrth and Madame Ghandi.
15. Since its the first Friday of the month check out all the cool events happening around town including block parties and art walks for First Fridays.
16. Jazz at LACMA welcomes The Nick Mancini Collective at the BP grand entrance at 6 p.m. FREE
17. Enjoy high tea as you watch Oscar Wilde’s comedy masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest unfold in the Madeline Garden in Pasadena. This immersive dining expereince includes a full traditional tea meal with your ticket. Happening Friday through Sunday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
18. Free admission at: Norton Simon Museum (5 to 8 p.m.), Pasadena Museum of California Art (noon to 5 p.m.) and Long Beach Museum of Art.
Saturday June 2nd, 2018
19. Celebrate the glories of Los Angeles art when Made in L.A. opens at the Hammer in Westwood. The opening night party will feature live music, photo opps, a bar and showcase of local artists including Christina Quarles, Eamon Ore-Giron, James Benning and many more. FREE
20. On Saturday KCRW kicks off the 9th season of Summer Nights, a free series of all-ages, outdoor shows featuring some of the best bands and KCRW DJs. The series opens off at One Colorado Old Pasadena with Pinky Pinky and KCRW DJ Dan Wilcox. FREE
21. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2018 with a screening of Tommy Boy at Centennial Square at Pasadena City Hall. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
22. The 13th Annual LAWineFest returns for two afternoons of unlimited tastings from various wineries, artisan brands and even breweries on both a local and national level. Hosted June 2 and 3 at The Row in Downtown L.A. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
23. The 3rd annual Venice Pride Sign Lighting & Block Party returns to Windward Avenue for an inclusive celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Legendary disco queen Thelma Houston will perform at 8 p.m. and the lighting ceremony will take place at 8:30 p.m. FREE
24. As part of KPCC Filmweek, the Theatre at Ace Hotel hosts a screening of the seminal film The Graduate followed by a conversation with KPCC’s Larry Mantle and special guests.
25. Best Croissant Los Angeles 2018 comes to Le Petit Paris in DTLA on June 2 for the ultimate competition among a group of the finest bakeries in the area to win the title of “Best Croissant in Los Angeles.”
26. Last Remaining Seats, the Los Angeles Conservancy’s annual event featuring classic film screenings in some of Los Angeles’ most beautiful vintage movie palaces kicks off with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) at State Theatre in Downtown L.A.
27. iHeartRadio’s KIIS FM Wango Tango music festival returns to L.A. with some of hottest music acts live on one stage. Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Meghan Trainor and the Backstreet Boys are just a few names performing. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
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28. PHAME Hair & Makeup Expo happening June 2-3 at Magic Box L.A. in Downtown Los Angeles will host popular influencers in the industry including Natalie Eva Marie, Vanessa Simmons, Angel Brinks and Lilly Ghalichi Mir.
29. Kick off summer at the L.A. Underground Barbecue Festival hosted at Los Angeles Ale Works in Hawthorne. The food festival will feature six of the best BBQ pop-ups in L.A. for one epic bbq showdown.
30. Cinespia is back for its 17th summer season, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for screenings of films modern, cult, and classic. This Saturday they’ll screen Spirited Away.
31. Outdoor theater Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum, located in Topanga Canyon summer 2018 season begins on June 2 with a performance of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
32. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of Space Jam at Park Center in Griffith Park and Spice World at Poinsettia Rec Park in West Hollywood. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
33. 4th Annual Los Angeles Bread Festival takes over Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles for two days (June 2-3) of SoCal’s thriving artisanal bread renaissance through tastings, a bread market place, butter-making workshop, demos and more.
34. The Original Farmers Market, Los Angeles will host the 24th Annual Gilmore Heritage Auto Show. This years theme is a Southern California classic, the Lowrider. 30 exquisite Lowriders will be on display throughout the market. FREE
35. One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival is a 40 day celebration through mostly free art events and exhibits between May 22 through June 30. This Saturday there will be a full day of screenings and panels around the theme of “I Remember.” FREE
Sunday June 3rd, 2018
36. Taste of the Nation returns to Culver City’s Media Park with unlimited tastings from local chefs, restaurants and mixologists. As always, proceeds will benefit No Kid Hungry, a campaign that fights to end childhood hunger within the United States.
37. Monrovia Music Fest returns to the Library Park Memorial Fountain in Old Town Monrovia on Sunday. This lively event will feature both up-and-coming and award-winning indie So Cal bands and artists from a diverse mix of genres and even musical whistling. FREE
38. South Robertson’s SORO Festival is a free Westside event offering lots of fun activities for kids and adults alike. Highlights include live music, hundreds of vendor booths featuring local businesses and community information, and special villages including a Beer and Wine Garden, gourmet food truck stop, a car show and more. FREE
39. Mount Wilson Observatory is offering a classical music concert within the dome of the 100-inch telescope above the observatory this Sunday.
40. Traveling marketplace Urban Air Market returns to Los Feliz Village on Sunday with more than 100 emerging designer pop-ups, live musical performances and support from neighborhood shops and restaurants. Free to attend.
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41. Le Salon de Musiques presents a stage free chamber musical experience with champagne and high tea to follow at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this Sunday. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
42. Shakespeare’s most magical play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream returns to the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon for 12 performances throughout the summer, from June 3-September 3.
43. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA) presents This Brush for Hire: Norm Laich and Many Other Artists, a survey of world-renowned works fabricated by Laich over the past three decades, with an emphasis on artists based in Los Angeles. FREE
44. E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood continues their stylish cinema series Melrose Rooftop Theatre with a screening of Thor Ragnarok.
45. On Sunday Angel City Brewery hostsa live taping of Go Fact Yourself, a game show podcast from where comedians get quizzed in topics they claim to be experts on. Special guests for this event include Laraine Newman and Tom Bergeron
46. Union Station welcomes THE FLOOR Improv Days, a free public event showcasing some of L.A.’s best musicians and dancers kicks off Sunday with The Red Line Horns. The event also features a percussion workshop and Afro-Cuban dance lessons. FREE
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