Various locations in L.A.

This AAPI Heritage Month, celebrate the history and culture of Filipinos in L.A. at the third edition of Baryo HiFi, a free open-air street festival and artisan marketplace held on Beverly Boulevard, between Union Avenue and the Historic Filipinotown arch—the first event of its kind in L.A. You can expect Filipino food, plus a lineup of Filipino DJs, dancers and other live performers. Baryo HiFi will also feature a karaoke competition, dubbed “The Boice.” And check out the curated selection of Filipino American pop-up shops selling candles, plants, apparel, food, sauces and more.

Everybody likes a good theme party, and this Memorial Day weekend, Main Street in Santa Monica is giving the people what they want. In an effort not only to entertain Westsiders but to support the area’s community programming, much of Main Street will transform into essentially an interactive Monopoly board game, allotting attendees “MAINopoly dollars” to be exchanged for food tastings from some of the finest establishments on and around the street. Trade a few fake bucks for dishes from spots like Ashland Hill, Triple Beam Pizza, Michael’s Santa Monica, Jameson’s Pub, HomeState and Junior Cookies. Be sure to grab drinks from the “Go to Jail” Beer Garden—for the first time this year, you can sip while you stroll from stop to stop. Dressing up is encouraged, so polish up that Monopoly monocle.

Downtown Burbank shuts down its main thoroughfare to car traffic for this biannual arts festival, curated by indie artisan marketplace Jackalope. Over 170 local hand-selected artisans will fill San Fernando Boulevard from Magnolia Boulevard to Angeleno Avenue. Shop art and photography, one-of-a-kind glass goods and ceramics, original fashion and jewelry, paper items, home decor, tasty treats and more. You’ll also find live music and activities for kids—including free workshops where they can make friendship bracelets and flower picture frames. And unlike some artisan markets, Jackalope offers free admission.

Explore the history of early Los Angeles life with free admission to five museums in Northeast L.A. and Pasadena. The annual Museums of the Arroyo Day is the perfect opportunity to brush up on historical architecture—the Gamble House, Heritage Square and the Lummis Home—and relics from L.A.’s past—the L.A. Police Museum and Pasadena Museum of History. Note that there’s no shuttle service this year as there has been previously. But if you don’t want to drive, some of the sites are bike- and A Line-friendly. 

Say goodbye to dusty thoroughfares and violent porta-potties: Splash House takes the music festival concept off of sweltering desert land and places it poolside. Movers and shakers at this multi-location getdown are shuttled between the Saguaro, the Renaissance and the Hilton Palm Springs (with after-hours programming at the Palm Springs Air Museum) to lap up big-name dance acts and DJ sets. With the added comforts of air-conditioned rooms and critically acclaimed restaurant fare just steps away from the party scenes, the experience will make you question whether to bother with more punishing locales come next year’s festival season.

Get ready: In 2028, Los Angeles will host the Summer Olympic Games. After initially vying for a bid in 2024, L.A. was awarded the ’28 Games back in 2017.