July 2024 events calendar for Los Angeles

Everyone’s favorite NPR member station has a hand in a slew of summer concert slates at public plazas and beloved museums, and this summer’s schedule is particularly packed. Familiar KCRW DJs and local buzz bands will be providing free, open-air tunes on select nights from June through September at Union Station, CAAM, Descanso Gardens, Bowers Museum, Century Park, the Autry, KCRW’s Santa Monica headquarters and—our favorite—the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza.

Do you hear the theater kids sing? Singing the songs of Boublil and Schönberg? Expect thousands of theater fans to pack the Hollywood Bowl for this all-star tribute to the duo of lyricist Alain Boublil and composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, who were responsible for the musicals Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre, The Pirate Queen and La Révolution Française.

We thought this year’s Hollywood Bowl lineup was already kenough, but here’s one more addition that has us dreaming in pink: Barbie will screen at the Bowl this summer with a live orchestra performing the score. On July 27, conductor Macy Schmidt will lead the Barbie Land Sinfonietta, an all-women, majority women-of-color orchestra, in a performance that accompanies a showing of the Greta Gerwig film.

It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult favorites to the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel. The series typically releases its slate one month at a time, with summertime screenings at the cemetery and a few off-site ones on either end of the season.

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 $25), 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.

Hilltop sunset views and rising bands combine to make this Getty tradition a worthy destination for Angelenos on both sides of the 405. July’s lineup includes a set by Helado Negro (July 20). Tip: Avoid the traffic and the crowds and arrive early, preferably after 3pm when the parking price drops to $15 (though it’s $10 if you wait until the show starts). You’ll get to visit the exhibits, which stay open until 8pm on Saturdays, and beat the dinner rush.

Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Brittney Spencer play this touring country fest, which stops in L.A. at the Hollywood Bowl.

As sunset creeps later and later into the evening, the Huntington is taking advantage of the extra daylight with this coveted after-hours series. Formerly open just for members, Twilight Garden Strolls is now open to the public, too, and will extend the San Marino garden’s hours until 8pm on select evenings in the summer. Just a heads up that you’ll need a timed ticket that’s separate from regular morning or afternoon admission.

A superb new production of a Stephen Sondheim classic (we gave its New York run five stars), Company follows bachelorette Bobbie and her conflicted feelings about commitment on the occasion of her 35th birthday.

Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. Independent Shakespeare Co. puts on a series of lively productions each week, inviting audiences to take a seat on the grass (read: bring a picnic blanket) and enjoy performances like this season’s headliner: As You Like It. With construction resuming on the main lawn, this summer’s show will move back to the dell at the top of the Old Zoo—meaning available space is smaller and reservations are required.