August 2025 events calendar for Los Angeles

Shakespeare meets Max Martin in this teenage dream of a musical, which headlines the Ahmanson’s 2025/26 season.

Pack a picnic and roll out a blanket for this family-friendly screening series at the Huntington. The San Marino botanical garden will show a different movie on select Fridays, with hands-on activities and themed concessions for purchase at each (they just ask that you leave the booze at home).

You’ll find each screening on the lawn in front of the Library. The gates open about an hour before the movie and the rest of the grounds will be closed, so you’ll have to buy a regular ticket if you want to explore the gardens earlier in the day.

Don’t know your rescue pup’s birthday? Enter DOGust, the universal birthday for shelter dogs that’s celebrated on August 20. The Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is throwing a proper party for the occasion with dog-friendly activities, including a splash pad and photo ops. Vendors include, Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co., Kono’s Kitchen, Shop Sunny Tails, Little Ganshik and Wag City Clothing, plus pet portraits from Annie B. And just like a regular birthday party, gifts are appreciated—in this case for the pups in L.A.’s shelters that are waiting for their forever homes.

Well, well, well, what have we here? The Nightmare Before Christmas’s bug-stuffed sack is once again taking over the Halloween duties at Disneyland for Oogie Boogie Bash, an after-hours, specially ticketed seasonal event at Disney California Adventure Park. This five-hour party, held on select nights from late August through October, throws in a bunch of exclusive Halloween entertainment with the promise of considerably shorter wait times for select rides. You’ll find trick-or-treating trails, kid-friendly shows, the Headless Horseman-led Frightfully Fun Parade and the maze-like Villains Grove. The perks of the after-hours event aren’t just Halloween-y: You’ll be able to venture through and hop on rides in most areas of the park, including at Avengers Campus (the Guardians of the Galaxy ride that predates the land will flip to its Monsters After Dark edition). 

Film buffs, unite. This lesser-known cinephile festival is celebrating over five decades of showing classic film fare. Enjoy a five-day program of rare and unusual old silent films and shorts shown at the Writers Guild of America Theatre in Beverly Hills.

Cool off this Labor Day weekend at the Gelato Festival World Masters, which gathers 10 of the most talented gelato chefs from across the country to compete with custom flavors at Ovation Hollywood. Swing by from 10am to 7pm on August 30 and 31 to taste gelato made fresh on-site in the world’s largest mobile frozen dessert laboratory. Every ticket-holding guest gets the opportunity to participate in all festival programming, including tastings, gelato-making demos and games for the whole family—though you’ll have to pay extra to taste the competition flavors and vote for your favorite. The gelato artisan with the most votes wins a medal and continues the journey toward the industry’s ultimate stage, next year’s World Finals.

If you’ve ever found yourself shouting the right answers—er, questions—at the TV while Jeopardy! was on, you’ll find your people at this Alamo Drafthouse event. The popular game show heads from the TV screen to the theater screen for an interactive competition with prizes. Answer clues written by the Jeopardy! team themselves directly from your theater seat—make sure your phone or tablet is fully charged so you can buzz in.

Facebook Marketplace is popping up IRL, taking over the weekly Melrose Trading Post as the first stop of its cross-country #FacebookRoadTrip. Over the past few years, the social media site has surprisingly become a hub for home goods, hiding all sorts of treasures in its listings. But now the digital world is going delightfully analog, jumping off your screen so you can browse hidden gems and meet L.A. sellers in person. As always, admission to the Melrose market is $6, but once you’re inside, you can score free vintage pieces, styling sessions, portraits, treats from Sad Girl Creamery, and exclusive L.A. swag—plus complimentary coffee from Stereoscope down the street.

Support under-the-radar Black-owned restaurants with Black Restaurant Week’s return to Los Angeles. For 10 days straight, this celebration of African-American, African and Caribbean cuisines highlights participating restaurants across the city who’ll all be offering prix-fixe plate specials. Find the full list of participating L.A. spots here.

Stock up on farmers’ market goodies and local fashion while listening to live music during this showcase of Black businesses along Slauson Avenue, near Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen. The September 1 event caps off Prosperity Market’s annual Black Business Scavenger Hunt, a month-long opportunity (Aug 1–25) to win raffle prizes by shopping at more than 100 Black-owned businesses across L.A., including spots like Alta Adams and Octavia’s Bookshelf (raffle winners will be announced during the pop-up market).

Cielo Farms is a scenic, Tuscan-style estate with a wine bar where you can sip and watch the sun set in the Santa Monica Mountains. It hosts comedy nights once in a while, and now it’s branching out into live music with Cielo Sessions, boasting a curated lineup local bands alongside wine, food and golden-hour vineyard views. For the first installment, expect a DJ set by KCRW’s Wyldeflower followed by a performance by American Idol finalist Jen Hirsh’s Monogem. 

Just when you thought Shakespeare was sounding a little, well, dated, enter the Actors’ Gang. Each summer, the Culver City theater spins a different play from the Bard into a high-energy, family-friendly and free-to-attend production, often wrapped in an irreverent theme (think everything from Toy Story to Power Rangers). This time around, All’s Well That Ends Well gets an hour-long outer-space-meets-wild-west adaptation dubbed Roswell That Ends Well. You’ll find the play the first four weekends in August at Culver City’s Media Park.

Drive down the newly reopened PCH to the Malibu Pier and support the city’s small businesses as they rebuild and recover in the wake of the Palisades Fire. Every second Sunday this summer, the boardwalk will be filled with free live music (courtesy of Aviator Nation Dreamland), food and drink, plus pop-ups from local vendors. A portion of every purchase will support California State Parks. What better way to spend a summer Sunday?

Now one of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions, Barnsdall Park’s wine tastings regularly attract sell-out crowds. Perched atop Olive Hill on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House (which you can tour during the evening for an additional $36), the Barnsdall Friday fund raisers include fine selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine with a spectacular sunset and 360-degree views of the city. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just nosh on the variety of food trucks parked up there. Though there used to be lots of kids running around, the event lawn is now 21-and-up—perfect for a date night. Proceeds support the park’s art programs and historic renovations.

Nobody’s film credits can compare to John Williams: Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and literally a hundred others. David Newman conducts the L.A. Phil as they tackle some of the composer’s iconic film scores set to a selection of movie clips. Though Williams used to appear (and conduct) in person for this series each year, so far the nonagenarian has yet to be added to the lineup.

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 welcomes bikes, tricycles, skateboards, strollers and basically anything else without an engine to ride a rotating cast of car-free routes. This time around, the 6.75-mile route stretches from Culver City to Venice Beach. 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.

One of L.A.’s best free live-music offerings, Jazz at LACMA has featured legit legends over its three-decade run at the museum. Seating for the program is available in the museum’s plaza on a first-come, first-served basis, though you’re welcome to picnic on the grass, too (you won’t really be able to see the show, but you’ll still hear it). You’ll find the series on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light) throughout the summer.

One of the most talented improv performers, period, see Schwartz (perhaps best known as Parks and Rec’s Jean Ralphio and now as the voice of Sonic) and a surprise assembly of friends take to the stage.

Treat your ears to a vibrant concert on a spring or summer night this year by attending MUSE/IQUE’s annual program. This monthly series of performances, held at cultural venues across L.A., features a mix of performances inspired by music movements and public figures, including tributes to the Memphis sound, Etta James and more. The best way to attend is to become a MUSE/IQUE member; you could make a $75 donation to the performing arts nonprofit for a single event (with the exception of September’s free open house), but if you’re interested in more than just one, it’s cheaper per event to become a full-fledged member.

Spend an hour at the circus at Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s bustling big-top-inspired show. Over 100 handcrafted marionettes—including elephants and plenty of clowns—fill the Highland Park production, which actually predates both of the BBMT’s locations (late founder Bob Baker first staged the show as a department store window display in the ’40s).

Every other Friday night, the InterContinental outpost in Downtown L.A. hosts a poolside film screening. In addition to the screening, each $27 ticket includes pool access, a reserved chair and a $15 food and beverage credit.

A deliciously corny new show? We’re all ears. Broadway’s hilarious “farm to fable” musical looks at a rural enclave that seeks help from a city slicker. You can read more about its New York run in our four-star review, then catch it at the Pantages.

Stop by Culver City’s Platform Park on weekend evenings for some of L.A.’s only Cambodian barbecue, plus other rotating food pop-ups, along with a live DJ spinning tunes and drinks from Chinatown’s Melody Lounge. 

You know it’s summer in L.A. when the live outdoor music starts swelling all over the city, including at MacArthur Park’s Levitt Pavilion. The free Westlake concert series returns this summer with 10 Saturday shows. Expect a genre-spanning mix of local acts that range from cumbia to hip-hop to jazz fusion to punk. No RSVP is needed—just bring yourself, a lawn chair, a picnic, good company and open ears.

The self-described “little orchestra” from Portland, Oregon, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. The band will swing by the Greek Theatre for a cosmopolitan set that mixes classical, jazz and pop standards with Brazilian, Cuban and Parisian flair. Catch the group now before lead singer China Forbes—who can belt out songs in 30 different languages—takes a two-year sabbatical from touring.

Watch a movie inside Pasadena’s charming One Colorado shopping plaza during this free summer series. If you happened to have spent at least $50 per person cumulatively at the shopping center’s vendors earlier in the day, you’ll nab free VIP seating, which includes popcorn and a beverage, plus a free ticket to the IPIC.

Hilltop sunset views and rising bands combine to make this Getty tradition a worthy destination for Angelenos on both sides of the 405. This year’s final free Saturday-night show is headlined by Emile Mosseri (Aug 23). Tip: Avoid the traffic and the crowds and arrive early, preferably after 3pm when the parking price drops to $15 (though it’s actually free if you wait until the show starts, after 6pm). You’ll get to visit the exhibits, which stay open until 8pm on Saturdays, and beat the dinner rush.

Come out and play at the Forum as the pop-punk band from Garden Grove tours behind its 11th album, Supercharged. In fact, you’re in for a triple bill of nostalgia: The Offspring will be joined by special guests Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory.

Life imitates art, literally: Classic paintings, statues and murals take on a new dimension as real people dress and pose to re-create original masterpieces—a trick popularized by vaudeville artiste Lolita Perine at the first festival in 1932. A professional orchestra, a narrator, intricate sets and theatrical lighting help bring the works to life at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. This year’s theme, “Gold Coast: Treasures of California,” breathes life into the state’s history be re-creating both monuments and masterpieces from museums including the Getty, LACMA and Norton Simon Museum.

For dinner and a movie, all in one, just follow the food trucks. During the spring, summer and fall, Street Food Cinema throws together a series of outdoor parties that include screenings of some of our favorite movies, paired with an assortment of gourmet food trucks and even a live music performance from a cool local band. The screenings are held in venues across L.A. into October and alternate from week to week, so make sure to check the schedule. Some of the outdoor venues are dog-friendly, allowing you to bring your four-legged cinema lover along.

See more of this season’s outdoor movie screenings in L.A.

This epic (and free) outdoor concert series features live performances by artists from around the world at the totally overhauled California Plaza stage in DTLA, where the shallow water separating the stage from the audience has been replaced by a proper event lawn. Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix of bands, DJ sets and dance parties. Saturday nights through August 23, you’ll find free concerts (though you should RSVP ahead of time to reserve a spot). And on Friday nights, you’ll find a mix of poetry, film and classical music during Fridays in the Amphitheater. 

At the fine age of 65, “Weird Al” Yankovic proves he’s still the weirdest kid on the block—and he wears the crown proudly. Spitting comedic lyrics to the music industry’s biggest hits (think “Happy” by Pharrell Williams and “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons), this longhaired singer-songwriter knows how to dish out a parody. From tearing up the accordion to creating and singing laugh-out-loud lyrics, the man has talent—so much so that A-list celebs can’t help but give a standing ovation.

Listen to classical and jazz in a dome more than a mile above L.A. during this mountaintop concert series. The Mount Wilson Observatory is hosting monthly concerts this summer inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world for much of the first half of the 20th century.

Tickets cost $60 (that also includes access to the exhibit at the observatory) and it’s highly recommended that you buy them in advance since seating is limited. You’ll need to be able to climb 53 steps to reach the dome, and children under 12 aren’t permitted. 

Summer’s just heating up, but thanks to a returning summer event series it’s set to be scorching: Beginning May 29, Santa Monica mainstay the Bungalow will host its night market every Thursday just a block from the beach. Over the summer, expect food from the likes of Tacos 1986, House of Empanadas, Lei’d Cookies and All About the Cinnamon. As in previous years, families can enjoy a kids’ play area with complimentary face painting. The event will  will also feature a variety of brand activations, celebrity guest appearances, and DJ and musical performances with more info to be announced as the summer kicks off. The fun runs every Thursday night through Labor Day, from 5 to 11pm. 

On select Saturday afternoons in the summer, the historic Mount Wilson Observatory screens a decades-spanning lineup of sci-fi and astronomy-inspired shorts and feature-length films. Unlike the San Gabriel Mountains site’s concert series and stargazing sessions, Matinees on the Mountain won’t take place inside the dome of the 100-inch telescope. Instead, screenings will take place inside the 256-seat auditorium inside the astronomical museum, the same venue used for the site’s Talks & Telescopes lectures.

Take a seat under the arch at the former Hollywood & Highland for this free series of movie screenings, typically held on the last Friday of the month. Stop by the Ovation Hollywood booth for free popcorn and discounted treats from the TCL Chinese Theatre concessions stand.

Swing by Redondo Beach’s Fisherman’s Wharf on Thursday and Saturday evenings in the summer for a free series of concerts held on the west end of the pier. You can expect tribute shows on Thursdays (from the Eagles to Oasis cover bands) and local contemporary acts on Saturdays.

The Original Farmers Market is host to a plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor events, and its Thursday-night concerts during its Summer Music Series are some of its best. Take a load off near the end of the work week and stop by the Market Plaza from 7 to 9pm to hear a genre-spanning mix of live music. The series runs through August, but July is Altadena Musicians Month—nonprofit Altadena Musicians will be on hand collecting monetary and musical donations for artists impacted by the wildfires who’ve been separated from their instruments.

Explore the Autry into the evening at the Griffith Park museum’s Thursday-night series that spotlights the city’s emerging and established artists, musicians, poets and writers. Programming ranges from free salsa lessons to DJ sets to old-timey radio plays. The museum galleries stay open late, too, plus drinks and food trucks are also on offer.

For more than 50 years, this venue has drawn theatre aficionados to its storied, open-air stage for engaging productions in a magical setting. The 299-seat amphitheater in Topanga Canyon hosts audiences of all ages for plays from a wide range of genres, from Shakespearean classics to folk tales. This season, whose theme is “A Season of Resilience,” catch highlights such as William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as a Malibu-themed retelling of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull and Strife by Nobel Prize-winning writer and activist John Galsworthy.

Turn-of-the-millennium hip-hop hits Intuit Dome for the “Where the Party At” tour. Nelly leads a lineup that also includes Ja Rule, Eve, Chingy and Jermaine Dupri.

Want to peer through the eyepiece of Mt. Wilson’s historic telescopes? Your best and most economical bet just might be one of the Talks & Telescopes events. These monthly Saturday-night astronomy lectures are followed up with a few hours of stargazing on portable telescopes on the grounds as well as the 60 and 100-inch telescopes for only $50 (a fraction of the price of the observatory’s late-night stargazing sessions).

Feeling like you and your four-legged friend are attached at the hip? Spend even more quality time together during this dog-friendly series at Palos Verdes’ South Coast Botanic Garden. One Sunday a month (usually the last one of the month), you can roam the gardens’ 87 acres with your fur baby. Nearly all of the paths are open to pups, except for the rose garden and a couple of other small areas. You’ll find plenty of water stations set up across the grounds, as well as an optional obedience class for purchase. You—the human—will need a reservation, while your best friend—the pup—will need to remain on their leash at all times, including in the parking lot.

See a free salsa concert every second Friday of the summer—plus a rescheduled show on July 25—during this series at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. This year’s lineup includes Gabrielito y La Verdad, the Echo Park Project, Arsenio Rodriguez Project and Conjunto Oye!—all featuring Super DJ Robby. Each night kicks off with a free salsa dance class at 6pm, courtesy of Dancing 101 with Roberto. 

The late-night snacker’s greatest fantasy is just a car ride away. America’s first large-scale night market takes over Santa Anita Park’s Paddock Gardens during select summer weekends. Come hungry and caffeinated—this lively market, complete with over 250 Asian street food and booze peddlers, live music, artists, games and more, won’t put itself to bed until 11pm. (The event has also expanded its way to Orange County, including a discounted “Night Market Flight” edition, which serves only appetizer-sized items.)

Melrose Rooftop Theatre is on hiatus until the fall, but in the meantime the event deck on the E.P. & L.P. rooftop is hosting this open-air roller rink. The rooftop rink is a 21+ affair, serving up cocktails, appetizers and some of the best views in the city. Tickets are available in one-hour time slots and include skate rentals and a drink—a VIP option with a plate of nachos is also available, as is a pricier date night package, which comes with a three-course meal from E.P & L.P.

Culver City’s E Line–adjacent mixed-use development presents this free series of screenings, held on the lawn right next to the Metro stop. This summer’s slate revisits classic high school movies, including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Clueless, 10 Things I Hate About You and Mean Girls. Tickets are free and include complimentary popcorn and two hours of parking validation.

Since last fall, pop culture icon Cyndi Lauper has been traveling the world on her first major tour in a decade—but also one that’s being billed as a farewell. The ’80s songstress and Kinky Boots composer is sure to bring timeless hits like “Girl Just Want to Have Fun” and “Time After Time” to a pair of performances at the Hollywood Bowl—the final stop on the tour.

Nature lovers, rejoice! Spend a day at the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion, which will be open March 23 through August 24 and be home to up to 30 butterfly and moth species, as well as an assortment of California plants. The seasonal outdoor exhibit allows for adults and children alike to witness nature up close—we’re talking walking amid hundreds of butterflies and having them land on your arms or shoulders. Tip: The prime time for these unique butterfly flight experiences is typically between 10am and 11am each morning.

See over 50 garments from Diane von Furstenberg, best known for her iconic wrap dress, during this career-spanning exhibition at the Skirball. Alongside artwork and fabric swatches, the show will also focus on her philanthropic work as well as how her life was shaped as the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

This special exhibition at the Broad makes its way to Downtown L.A. from the 2024 Venice Biennale—and Angelenos should consider themselves lucky that such a remarkable display has set up stateside. Jeffrey Gibson became the first Indigenous artist to represent the United States with a solo exhibition at the Italian art event, and this adaptation of that show, “the space in which to place me,” assembles 30-plus pieces of geometrically-patterned paintings and glass bead–adorned sculptures into the first-floor galleries of the Broad.

Born in Colorado with tribal roots in the Southeast U.S., Gibson explores Indigenous identity as well as queer history by fusing pop music lyrics and foundational American documents into psychedelic statements on belonging, history and oppression; the Declaration of Independence’s “we hold these truths to be self-evident…” line—but not “all men are created equal”—is spelled out across brilliantly saturated beads that’ve been affixed to a literal punching bag. But this is ultimately a joyous show, an inclusive celebration of survival, resilience and empowerment that pays tribute to histories of resistance and looks optimistically forward.

Unlike the rest of the otherwise free museum, you’ll need to buy a $15 ticket to see Gibson’s exhibition. And while it’s absolutely worth the price, you can save by taking advantage of free admission on Thursday evenings after 5pm. Expect an accompanying slate of performances, talks and workshops, as well.

The Getty Villa reopens to the public five and a half months after its Palisades Fire closure with this international loan exhibition dedicated to the Greek Mycenaean civilization and the kingdom of Pylos, which Homer immortalized in the Iliad and Odyssey. It’s the first major museum show in North America devoted to the Late Bronze Age Mycenaeans. See treasures excavators unearthed from Messenia, the Palace of Nestor and burial sites including the tomb of the Griffin Warrior (1450 BCE)—think clay tablets, gold cups, ornate weapons and tiny signets and sealstones adorned with awe-inspiring amounts of detail. 

The Skirball’s latest pop culture exhibition takes a deep dive into the six-decade career of legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby. You might know him as the co-creator of Captain America, Black Panther, the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men and some of the Marvel universe’s most cosmic characters. But did you know he was also a first-generation Jewish American born to immigrant parents, World War II veteran and family man who split his time between New York and Los Angeles?

The exhibition only occupies a few small galleries, but it’s stuffed with information about Kirby’s life, as well as pristine prints of issues plus his original comic illustrations—many on view for the first time. It’s not just a Marvel showcase, either: You’ll find some of the work Kirby did for DC, plus personal collages, a drawing he gave to Paul and Linda McCartney, and a fantastic reproduction of a costume he designed for a UC Santa Cruz production of Julius Caesar.

Though not explicitly framed this way, the exhibition also presents a clear-as-day retort to any contemporary fans who decry comic book stories today as too “political”: Marvel has been political from the very start. Kirby’s cover for the first issue of Captain America features Cap punching Hitler—a full year before America would break its isolationist policies and enter WWII. The fifth issue follows Captain America in a battle against the German American Bund, a domestic Nazi organization that staged an infamous rally inside Madison Square Garden. And a concept design for Black Panther reminds visitors that the first Black superhero was born in the midst of the civil rights movement.

The Getty Center’s new featured exhibition explores the transformative role photography has played in the history of the LGBTQ+ community as a tool for exploring gender, sexuality and self-expression since the mid-1800s. See examples of the homosocial, homoerotic and homosexual imagery that helped shape the world’s awareness of queer life. During your visit, be sure to check out the accompanying exhibition “$3 Bill: Evidence of Queer Lives,” a look at the contributions of LGBTQ+ artists in the last century, in the museum’s Research Institute Galleries. 

The California Science Center is inviting kids to get in the game with a new 17,000-square-foot exhibition about the power of play and the human body in motion. Besides teaching about the science behind sports, it also offers interactive challenges and video coaching from a team of Los Angeles-based mentor athletes including dancer Debbie Allen, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, Olympic medalist softball player Rachel Garcia and more. For the first time ever, the center has commissioned public art—all by local artists—to complement the exhibition, including a Dodgers mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. The free exhibition kicks off May 15 and will remain at the Science Center at least through the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Right on the heels of the release of his new film, Mickey 17, director Bong Joon Ho steps into the spotlight at the Academy Museum’s latest “Director’s Spotlight” exhibition (past subjects have included Spike Lee and Agnès Varda). The first-ever museum show dedicated to the Oscar-winning South Korean filmmaker will trace Ho’s career, creative process and cinematic influences. See over 100 storyboards, research materials, posters, concept art, creature models, props and on-set photos from the director’s archive and personal collection. On opening day, March 23, catch screenings of Okja (2pm) and Parasite (7:30pm) in the David Geffen Theater—Ho himself will be there in person.

The Natural History Museum’s taxidermy dioramas turn a century old this year, and to celebrate the museum is reviving an entire hall of displays that’ve been dark for decades. Expect some fresh approaches to these assembled snapshots of the wilderness, including alebrijes made of recycled materials, a crystalline depiction of pollution and a tech-driven display of the L.A. River.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House—centerpiece of Barnsdall Art Park and Los Angeles’ only UNESCO World Heritage Site—just might be the most stunning backdrop for an art exhibition. And, in this case, the home is the subject itself, too. L.A.-based photographer Ireland captured the intricate details of the Hollyhock House in 21 photographs on display throughout the onetime residence.

On the 50th anniversary of the Norton Simon Museum, look back to when Simon took over management of the Pasadena Art Museum in 1975, then ahead to the museum’s exciting future at this retrospective exhibition. See rare photos from the museum’s archives, and learn about the history of its major acquisitions, exhibitions, building and gardens—which are currently undergoing a transformation.

Study the technical and cultural background of colorful clay vessels, textiles, bark-paper pages and sculptures in the Indigenous Americas—and how their significance has been downplayed among colonialist histories—during this LACMA exhibition.

Walk through a pavilion of fluttering tropical butterflies you can’t normally glimpse in Southern California, and peep a chamber with pupae and caterpillars at South Coast Botanic Garden’s seasonal exhibition. For an extra $6, you can pick up a flower vial filled with nectar to attract and feed the butterflies yourself. Carve out some time to explore the gardens afterward.

More than 50 works on display at the Autry showcase how indigenous artists have crafted visions of alternative futures in the face of enduring colonial trauma. The bottom-floor exhibition opens with a semicircle of high fashion, including remarkable crow attire from Cannupa Hanska Luger, which is paired with video footage from his accompanying performance piece. Star Wars plays a surprisingly large role in the vibrant show, including Andy Everson’s Northwest Coast-inspired take on stormtrooper helmets.

The exhibition spills into the upstairs galleries, too, with a surreal spacescape from Wendy Red Star and a multimedia installation from Virgil Ortiz, who’s reimagined the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 through a Dune-meets-MCU film-like lens. Also, make sure to check out the museum’s other PST ART show, which opened back in May and runs through January 5, 2025; “Out of Site: Survey Science and the Hidden West” tackles everything from mining surveys to nuclear blasts in its examination of documenting and surveilling Western U.S. landscapes.