THINGS TO DO
Apr 7
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opening; Universal Studios Hollywood
Get your first sip of sweet, sweet Butterbeer when this Harry Potter-themed land opens.
Apr 7
The Dog Cafe opening; The Dog Cafe
Sip tea while petting adoptable pups at the official opening of this Eastside cafe.
Apr 9
So Cal Corgi Beach Day; Huntington Beach
Hit the beach with fellow devoted dog owners at this adorable corgi meetup.
Apr 9, 10
Festival of Books; USC
Feed your bookworm tendencies with two days of lectures, signings and performances from the likes of Buzz Aldrin, Padma Lakshmi and Henry Winkler.
Apr 9-May 22
Renaissance Pleasure Faire; Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area
Prepareth thy schedules and costumes for the return of the oldest Ren Faire in the country.
Apr 15-17
Long Beach Grand Prix; Downtown Long Beach
Watch high-powered cars tear up the streets of Long Beach alongside live music and booze.
Apr 16
Obscura Day; Various locations
Embark on expeditions and back-room tours, from a Jeepney tour to an afternoon at the Valley Relics Museum.
Apr 16
Harry Potter Roller Skating Night; Moonlight Rollerway
Lace up your Muggle skates and roll around the not-Quidditch pitch at this annual meet-up.
Apr 16
Tough Mudder; Glen Helen Raceway
Trudge your way through muddy obstacle courses at this annual endurance event.
Apr 16, 23, 30
The Great Los Angeles River CleanUp; Various locations
Do your part in restoring the river with this coordinated cleanup effort across 15 different spots.
Apr 22
Earth Day LA; Grand Park
Celebrate Earth Day at Grand Park, the Music Center and DWP with green living demos and activities.
Apr 30-May 1
Dapper Day at Disneyland; Disneyland
Get out a bow tie and suspenders, and pull together a parasol and pearls for this old timey meet-up.
Find more things to do in our April 2016 events calendar.
FOOD & DRINK
Apr 3
Masters of Taste; Rose Bowl Stadium
Splurge on this inaugural luxury food fest featuring LA’s top chefs and restaurants, plus a seriously impressive selection of desserts, beer, wine and cocktails.
Apr 3
LA Cheese & Beer Hop; Various locations Downtown
Hop around Downtown LA with the folks behind LA Beer Hop, as you sample cheese curated by Vagabond Cheese Co. while exploring three different Downtown breweries.
Apr 5-6
Cento’s Oodles of Noodles pop-up at Simbal; Simbal
Get your fill of pasta when Cento Pasta Bar pops up at Simbal, offering a five-course meal featuring fan favorites plus new dishes and wine pairings.
Apr 9
LA Beer Fest; Los Angeles Center Studios
Hop around Downtown LA with the folks behind LA Beer Hop as you sample cheese curated by Vagabond Cheese Co. and explore three different breweries.
Apr 9-10
Artisanal LA; The Reef
Shop around for gourmet jams, handmade kitchenware, apparel and more at this food-focused craft fare featuring some of LA’s most talented artisans.
Apr 16
Farmer’s Market Cocktail Workshop; Location TBA
Play bartender for an afternoon at the Whaling Club’s workshop, where you’ll learn how to make three cocktails that draw inspiration from seasonal ingredients.
ARTS & CULTURE
Apr 1-3
Jashfest; Snapshot Studios
Head out to Palm Springs for this inaugural three-day comedy festival, with appearances from Sarah Silverman, Reggie Watts, Tim Heidecker & Eric Wareheim, Maria Bamford and more.
Through Apr 3
Oh, Hello; Ricardo Montalbán Theatre
See comedians John Mulaney and Nick Kroll perform in this two-man show as Upper West Side weirdos George St. Geegland and Gil Faizon.
Apr 5-Aug 28
In Focus: Electric!; Getty Center
Peruse a mix of historic images and recent photographs that express the allure and unease about life tethered to the grid.
Apr 7
Pop-Up Magazine; The Theatre at Ace Hotel
See a selection of writers, artists, photographers and filmmakers premiere new works at this live magazine experience.
Apr 10-Aug 28
Reigning Men: Fashion in Menswear, 1715–2015; LACMA
Discover how men have cinched and padded their bodies throughout the ages with this presentation of about 200 works of fashion.
Apr 11
Downtown LA, Re-envisioned + Revitalized; A+D Museum
Find out what Downtown's revitalization should focus on next at this multidisciplinary discussion panel.
Through Apr 24
Rain Room; LACMA
Step into the rain without ever getting wet before this blockbuster installation ends its run.
Apr 24-Sep 11
Agnes Martin; LACMA
Trace the development of this pioneering abstract artist's mesmerizing grids and striped canvases.
Apr 29
Bob's Burgers Live; The Wiltern
Join the cast and creator of the lauded animated show at this combination of stand-up, a Q&A and a table read.
Apr 30
Comedy Bang Bang; The Theatre at Ace Hotel
Catch a live performance of the TV show and podcast as Scott Aukerman welcomes Paul F. Tompkins and Lauren Lapkus.
FILM
Starting Apr 6
Rooftop Film Club; Ricardo Montalbán Theatre
Get an early start to the outdoor movie season at the return of the Hollywood rooftop series.
Through Apr 3
Wayne Federman International Film Festival; The Cinefamily
Watch comedians like Zach Galifianakis, Keegan-Michael Key and Patton Oswalt pick and introduce movies that have personally influenced them.
MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE
Apr 8
Ellie Goulding; Staples Center
See the pop star do her disco-meets-electronica thing during a night at the Staples Center.
Apr 9
Desert Generator; Pappy & Harriet's
Drive out to the desert for this throwback to the gasoline generator-fueled parties curated by Brant Bjork, co-founder of seminal stoner rock band Kyuss.
Apr 9
Third Eye Blind; The Wiltern
Relive your semi-charmed '90s days with a set from the angsty alt-rock band.
Apr 15-17, 22-24
Coachella; Empire Polo Club
Make a pilgrimage out to Indio to see the likes of LCD Soundystem, Guns 'n' Roses, Ice Cube and Calvin Harris.
Apr 16
Record Store Day; Various locations
Catch pop-up concerts around the city at this annual celebration of independent brick-and-mortar music shops.
Apr 21
Grimes; Shrine Auditorium
Drive out to the desert for this throwback to the gasoline genrator-fueled parties curated by Brant Bjork, co-founder of seminal stoner rock band Kyuss.
Apr 23
Broke LA Music & Arts Festival; Imperial Art Studios
Check out more than 50 emerging local acts at this annual budget-friendly fest, formerly Brokechella.
Apr 28
Iggy Pop + Joshua Homme; Greek Theatre
Usher in the start of outdoor concert season with this performance from the perennially shirtless rocker and the Queens of the Stone Age frontman.
Apr 29
Red Hot Benefit Comedy + Music Show; Shrine Auditorium
Catch a mix of music and comedy, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, DEVO and Jim Gaffigan, at this benefit show from the suspiciously similar-looking Will Ferrell and Chad Smith.
Apr 29-May 1
Stagecoach Festival; Empire Polo Club
Strap on your cowboy hat and make the pilgrimage to country music's biggest jamboree, with Eric Church, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan.
Find more shows in our April 2016 concert calendar.
THEATER
Apr 5-May 15
Stage Kiss; Geffen Playhouse
Fall in love with this play about long lost loves by Sarah Ruhl.
Through Apr 10
Casa Valentina; Pasadena Playhouse
Get ready to laugh, and maybe cry, while watching this tale about heterosexual men whose favorite pastime was dressing and acting as women.
Apr 13-17
Kinky Boots; Pantages Theatre
Slap on your favorite high heels and head to Harvey Fierstein’s fun show, with music by Cyndi Lauper.
Through Apr 17
Dreamgirls; La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Sing along to this popular production about an up-and-coming girl group dealing with fame and fortune.
Through Apr 17
The Revisionist; The Wallis
See Oscar-nominated Jesse Eisenberg in this drama about a writer who visits Poland while suffering from severe writer’s block.
SHOPPING & STYLE
Apr 1-2
Polly Wales sample sale; Park Central Building
Celebrate the opening of British jewelry designer Polly Wales’ new DTLA workshop with cocktails, snacks and up to 50 percent off certain sample styles.
Apr 2,3
A Current Affair; Cooper Design Space
Shop for vintage threads, couture gowns, designer shoes and retro jewels while sipping on cocktails from the open bar and grooving to beats by KCRW's Marion Hodges at this pop-up marketplace.
Apr 9
Eastside Handmade; Shopclass
Stock up on must-haves and support local artisans at this outdoor indie pop-up market in Highland Park.
Apr 15
Odd Nights at the Autry; Autry National Center
Head to the return of this monthly market, a nighttime dance party, happy hour and shopping extravaganza.
Apr 30
A Street Af(fair); West Hollywood Design District
Peruse this outdoor marketplace, reminiscent of classic European street fairs with vendors from the East and West sides offering locally made, design-minded wares, plus music, libations and food.