It’s finally here: Memorial Day, and the unofficial start of summer. Luckily we have a three-day weekend—and a practically perfect weather forecast—to kick off the season in style.
We’ve rounded up 15 summery ways to spend your days off that go beyond a basic beach trip. Read on for the best Memorial Day events in L.A.
1. Catch the first Cinespia screenings of the season
Sat, Sun
It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever Cemetery toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. First up on the film lineup this year is a Saturday screening of The Big Lebowski where the Dude will, indeed, abide. (Sunday’s screening of Clueless is already sold out.) Other series are showing flicks including La La Land, 9 to 5 and Top Gun: Maverick across the city this weekend—check our full outdoor movies calendar for more.
2. Sip pickle lemonade on a Ferris wheel
Sat–Mon
The L.A. County Fair is wrapping up its 2025 run in Pomona, but there’s still one more weekend to indulge in carnival rides and all the wild foodie fare you’d expect at a fair.
3. Shop and stroll at a South Bay street party
Sat–Mon
A long-standing Memorial Day weekend tradition, the free Fiesta Hermosa is back with an arts festival, shopping, a carnival, a wine garden and live music on the beach.
4. Dig the groovy vibes at Topanga Days
Sat–Mon
Bohemian, picturesque Topanga Canyon hosts its own country fair that feels like a West Coast offshoot of Woodstock. The Allah-Las and English Beat headline a weekend full of live music and games that culminates in a DIY Memorial Day parade on Monday morning.
5. See Compton’s hometown hero at SoFi Stadium
Sat
Catch Kendrick Lamar and R&B superstar SZA’s third and final night in Inglewood as part of the Grammy-winning rapper’s victory-lap “Grand National Tour,” and see the rapper perform Super Bowl scene stealer “Not Like Us” live.
6. Unleash your inner cowboy or cowgirl at a Wild West bash
Sat, Sun
Both rooftop bar Desert 5 Spot and shopping center Ovation Hollywood are throwing country-inspired celebrations this weekend, complete with live country tunes, line-dancing lessons and cocktails.
7. Visit a museum offering free admission to military
Sat–Mon
If you’re a veteran or active-duty member of the military, some of the city’s best museums are offering free admission Memorial Day weekend in gratitude for your service, including the Petersen Automotive Museum. Some institutions—like LACMA, the Museum of Latin American Art, Museum of Neon Art and Gamble House—are going a step further and offering active-duty military personnel and their families complimentary entry through Labor Day, thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts’ Blue Star Museums program. And active or retired military with ID can always get into the Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits & Museum for free.
8. Make a splash at the best public pools in L.A.
Sat–Mon
If you’re not blessed with a private pool, luckily L.A. is home to some actually-appealing public options. One of our favorites is at the Annenberg Community Beach House, a former old-Hollywood beachfront estate that’s been transformed into a public club. Its historic pool opens for recreational swimming from 10am to 6pm over Memorial Day weekend. After your dip, stick around for a game of ping-pong or beach volleyball.
9. Or party poolside at the hottest bars
Sat–Mon
Summer also means that bars that boast a pool are kicking off their pool parties, including a sexy gathering at Skybar in West Hollywood and a range of programming at Golden Hour downtown, where DJs will take the stage for Golden Daze every summer Saturday, starting this weekend.
10. Buy food with Monopoly money in Santa Monica
Sun
The beachside city’s punny MAINopoly event—which is celebrating its 10th anniversary—adds a fun board game spin to your typical tasting event. Sample offerings from 20 Main Street bars and eateries including Ashland Hill, Holey Grail Donuts, Jameson’s Pub and Triple Beam Pizza. There’s even a themed “Go to Jail” VIP Beer Garden.
11. Listen to live music on top of a mountain
Sun
Hear live jazz a mile above the city at the Mount Wilson Observatory—specifically inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope—when it resumes its monthly concert series this Sunday.
12. See boundary-pushing art for free in West Hollywood
Sat, Sun
The annual WeHo Pride Arts Festival spotlights the creativity of the LGBTQ+ community and fills the weekend before the WeHo Pride Parade with free arts programming, from comedy shows to dramatic readings to interactive workshops at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza.
13. Banish hunger with a burger
Memorial Day is synonymous with cookouts—in particular, burgers. If you don’t feel like messing with the grill yourself, any one of these 30 best burgers in the city should satisfy that craving, whether you prefer your patties thick and juicy or thin and smashed.
14. But leave room for ice cream
The weather isn’t too hot yet, but it’s never a bad time to cool off and indulge in the city’s best frozen treats, from artisanal scoops to soft-serve to shaved ice. One of our picks, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, just opened a new shop in Burbank that’s worth a visit (there are over 100 flavors, but you can’t go wrong with the refreshing mint Oreo).
15. Spend your Saturday doing good for the earth
Sat
Volunteer to help restore the native habitat in the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve—and fit in a little bird-watching—at Friends of the L.A. River’s rescheduled Earth Month Celebration.