Various locations in L.A.

The term CicLAvia stems from a similar Spanish word for “bike way,” and in L.A. it’s become a shorthand for the temporary, festival-like closing of L.A.’s streets. The event (inspired by the first Ciclovías in Bogotá, Colombia) welcomes bikes, tricycles, skateboards, strollers and basically anything else without an engine to ride a rotating cast of car-free routes. You’ll inevitably always find a route each year around Downtown, but past events have taken it anywhere from the harbor to the San Gabriel Valley. Expect music, street performances and food trucks, as well as general whimsy and shenanigans along the way. Shop owners and restaurants along the CicLAvia route also tend to host specials. It goes without saying that you should bike or take the Metro to your desired spot along the route.

If you really want to immerse yourself in local theater, you can’t miss the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Since 2010, this fest has specialized in productions from emerging writers and performers, and it now boasts hundreds of different shows—most are around $15 a ticket or less, and some cost absolutely nothing. Expect one-person shows, new musicals, comedies and edgy dramas to descend on Hollywood once again from June 12 through 29. See the full list of shows here.

Santa Monica illuminates the Third Street Promenade with a canopy of rainbow lights as part of this citywide LGBTQ+ celebration. Look out for a party along the expanse of the Promenade on June 21 with music, games, drinks and giveaways (2–7pm). Nearby, you’ll find drag bingo at Main Street Beer Garden (3–6pm). Over at the Santa Monica Pier, the day begins with a family-friendly morning of drag storytelling and face painting presented by the Crow comedy club at 10am. And from 11am to 5pm, you can try practice your sporting skills with open-format beach volleyball, as well as mini kickball, dodgeball, soccer, football, tennis and cornhole tournaments. 

Shop local at this celebration of small businesses, held not in Venice but in downtown Mar Vista, along Venice Boulevard. The arts and music festival brings together over 300 local brands and artists three times a year, attracting some 100,000 shoppers. The summer edition will kick off with a free morning yoga class. You’ll also find live music, art installations and food trucks on Venice between Centinela Avenue and Inglewood Boulevard. The fest is free and pet-friendly. Meanwhile, a ticketed beer garden features an open bar, games, lounges and cabanas, and part of the proceeds go to nonprofit Nourish LA.

Walk, run, skate, bike and explore car-free stretches of South Pasadena, Alhambra and San Gabriel during the latest edition of this open streets event series (formerly known as 626 Golden Streets). The Metro-presented Active Streets clears cars off the road in different parts of the San Gabriel Valley for one day only. On Sunday, June 22, you’ll be able to set foot on five miles of streets sans cars, from Mission Street in South Pasadena, down Marengo Avenue and along Alhambra Road, Main Street and Las Tunas Drive toward Mission Drive in San Gabriel (hence the “Mission at Twilight” name of this particular event).

Whether your design sensibilities are professional or Pinterest-honed, celebrate L.A.’s outstanding aesthetic heritage at this annual design fest, which is dubbing itself “Design Futurism” this year and focusing on forward-thinking design. Artist studio tours, exhibitions, installations, panels and parties will be staged primarily around Long Beach, with the exception of concurrent Friday-night block parties at Row DTLA and the Helms Bakery District as well as LB. Head to the fest’s website for all of the details and the full schedule.  

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 Margaritaville and the Renaissance (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.