July 2019 events calendar for Los Angeles
Plan your month with our July 2019 events calendar of the best activities, including free things to do, festivals and our favorite summer concerts
July kicks off the wild, infectious summertime spirit around L.A. and there’s no shortage of things to do. Take advantage of warm summer nights and catch an outdoor movie screening, escape the heat and head for the beach or take an imprompu weekend getaway. Follow our guide to some of the best events and festivals in L.A. this month—including 4th of July events and parades. And of course, make sure to catch one of L.A.’s excellent fireworks displays.
RECOMMENDED: Full events calendar for 2019
Chic featuring Nile Rodgers
We don’t think anybody predicted the remarkable resurgence of Nile Rodgers a few years back but, with new material and a collabo with the world’s hippest dance act under his belt, the funkmaster general is going from strength to strength. In 2019, he’ll top the Hollywood Bowl’s annual Fourth of July fireworks spectacular.
Hannah Gadsby
Hannah Gadsby isn’t done with stand-up after all. The comedian’s boundary-pushing solo show Nanette was an award-winning revelation, a deconstruction of her memories of growing up gay in Tasmania.
Paul McCartney
The Beatle will be 77 and howling through the hits, including some cuts from his latest, Egypt Station.
Lotus Festival
Celebrate the bloom of Echo Park Lake’s beloved floating flowers with the annual Lotus Festival. Expect plenty of food, music, dragon boat races and—fingers crossed—the lotus flower beds in full bloom. The historic event celebrates the contributions of Asian-Americans to L.A., and this year, the 39th, will honor the Thai community.
Mitski
Mitski has a talent for swift transformation. Her latest collection, Be the Cowboy, continues that hunger for growth, veering from her recent penchant for dreamily yearning indie rock in favor of a multi-faceted synth pop.
Hugh Jackman
The charismatic actor is taking his tome of tunes on the road. “Hugh Jackman: The Man. The Music. The Show.” will bring the musically-inclined actor to the Hollywood Bowl, where he’ll sing highlights from The Greatest Showman and Les Misérables, along with a selection of other Broadway and film songs—all accompanied by a live orchestra.
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Childhood friends Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero used to be in a thrash metal band before they moved to the seaside to hone their slinky take on flamenco. That heavy background shines through in their visceral live shows, full of frenzied fretwork.
Odesza
If you love electronic music, you might want to catch buzzy Odesza at Los Angeles State Historic Park to cap off their massive A Moment Apart tour.
Once Upon a Time in the LBC
The inaugural Once Upon a Time in the LBC draws heavily from the generations of talent that have emerged from Long Beach and Compton, including headliners Snoop Dogg, YG and the Game (who’ll be performing The Documentary).
Eat|See|Hear
Eat|See|Hear travels to different locales throughout the city each Saturday during the summer, showing cult flicks on an inflatable screen taller than your average Malibu mansion.
Eat|See|Hear
Eat|See|Hear travels to different locales throughout the city each Saturday during the summer, showing cult flicks on an inflatable screen taller than your average Malibu mansion. Bring your own bites or sample snacks from the impressive roster of resident food trucks and show up early for a set from local L.A. bands. Parking is free at most of the venues, and tickets for screenings at the Autry even include admission to the museum. What’s more? If you want to skip the crowds and stroll in casually during the opening credits, spring for an exclusive “Fashionably Late” pass, which guarantees you a reserved seat in front. All of the events dog-friendly, and a portion of ticket sales benefit Best Friends Animal Society.
Rose Bowl Flea Market
Perhaps the Los Angeles area’s most iconic flea market, this event around the exterior of the Rose Bowl is staggeringly colossal—but what else would you expect from a 90,000-seat stadium? The sheer size and scale of this flea market means that it encompasses multitudes: new and old, hand-crafted and salvaged, the cheap and the costly. On the second Sunday of each month, an odd mix of vendors populates the loop around the stadium: for every eye-catching artwork, there's a ratty $5 T-shirt, and for each elegant craft there's a competing "as seen on TV" demo. But you may have more luck in the rows and rows of old furniture, albums and vintage clothes and accessories that fill the adjacent parking lot. There are plenty of duds, to be sure, but come out early enough and you may go home with that perfect purchase. This destination flea market attracts bargain hunters, collectors, and antique aficionados from all over the county, so the organizers have instituted an extensive tiered entry/admission system, allowing professional and dedicated shoppers early access at a premium.
Friday Night Wine Tastings
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 $15), the Barnsdall Friday fundraisers 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.
Evening of Tiki at the Spare Room
The Spare Room's summer celebration of all things tiki drink is back in full force. Kicking off on Wednesday, May 22, beverage director Yael Vengroff will hop behind the bar with different guest bartenders one night every month, whipping up tiki-themed cocktail menus with a new drink list each time. At the kickoff, find Jason Asher and Mitchell Lyons of Phoenix's Undertow; on June 19, Ben Clemons and Puck of Nashville's Pearl Diver; on July 10, Will Elliott of Brooklyn's Maison Premiere; on August 14, Emily Mistell of Portland's Hey Love; and finally, closing out the series, on September 18, Travis Tober of Austin's Nickel City. And because it wouldn't be a full-on tiki party without all the trappings, expect tiki-leaning food items, DJ sets and more. The fun runs from 8pm to 2am each month, and there's no cover—save those dollars for an extra round of mai tais.
Artists & Fleas Venice
The newest flea market on the block, the Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire is bringing records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the neighborhood’s famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.
Final Fridays
Nosh on bites from a rotating lineup of food trucks during this monthly hangout just outside the Rose Bowl, complete with foot golf, outdoor games, moon bounces, photo ops and stadium tours. Even entry is through the northern end of Lot K, just southwest of the stadium.
KCRW Summer Nights
Everyone’s favorite NPR affiliate has a hand in over a half-dozen summer concert slates at locations like One Colorado, the Hammer Museum and KCRW’s new Santa Monica headquarters. But the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza have become a particular favorite. Familiar KCRW personalities like Garth Trinidad, Travis Holcombe, Anne Litt and Jason Bentley spin the tunes at these food truck-fueled block parties. Regardless of the location—including the oceanfront offshoot, Twilight on the Pier—you really can’t go wrong with any evening spent at Summer Nights.
Silver Lake Picture Show
What better way to liven up a Thursday night than to cruise over to Silver Lake’s new Sunset Triangle Plaza for some gratis entertainment? Every other week through September, grab a summer snack, retire your wallet for the night and relax in front of the big screen. The Silver Lake Picture Show features your ultimate favorites, but not before spotlighting a short from a local filmmaker. Bring the fan and your friends to this free sampling of Eastside talent and a classic flick—this one’s a no-brainer.
Farmers Market Friday Night Music
The Original Farmers Market is host to a plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor events, and its summer music series are some of its best. Take a load off at the end of the work week and stop by the West Patio from 7 to 9pm to hear live music during or after your shopping trip or dinner al fresco.
Dance Downtown
The Music Center offers a free, joyous mash-up of music and dancing all summer long, with different themes (90s, line dancing, cumbia, etc.) and free dance lessons plus live bands. Head to Grand Park and join in the fun—no dance experience required.
Hannah Gadsby
Hannah Gadsby isn’t done with stand-up after all. The comedian’s boundary-pushing solo show Nanette was an award-winning revelation, a deconstruction of her memories of growing up gay in Tasmania. Its complexity gripped Netflix viewers, as did its twist, of sorts, that Gadsby was quitting comedy. That’s seemingly not the case, though: Gadsby tweeted that she’s “working on a new little something something on stage,” and luckily for us, it’s going down here in L.A. See her work out material during a nearly two-week residency at Dynasty Typewriter. Who knows, you might end up getting a peek at the early stages of another lauded solo show.
Hot Tub with Kurt and Kristen
Kristen Schaal and Kurt Braunohler host their variety show, Hot Tub, every Monday night at the Virgil. Expect a fresh, oddball lineup each week of stand-up comics, sketch performances and new music.
How Did This Get Made?
A trio of funny friends—Paul Scheer, Jason Mantzoukas and June Diane Raphael—celebrate truly awful movies in their podcast How Did This Get Made? The crew and a few special guests goof off while dissecting some atrociously bad film along the lines of The Adventures of Pluto Nash. Occasionally the podcast takes to the road for a live show, which adds in some video clips and, sometimes, first hand accounts from actors involved in literally the worst movies ever.
Mitski
Mitski has a talent for swift transformation. Over the past several years, she’s rocketed from self-releasing her first two albums and playing DIY gigs to selling out major venues months in advance. Her latest collection, Be the Cowboy, continues that hunger for growth, veering from her recent penchant for dreamily yearning indie rock in favor of a multi-faceted synth pop.
Dogs! A Science Tail
We love their adorable faces, quirky behavior and unwavering loyalty. We bring them everywhere—particularly here in L.A. And they may very well make us better people. It’s no surprise then that dogs would get an entire exhibition dedicated to their canine skills and unique relationship with humans. “Dogs! A Science Tail” takes a colorful, hands-on approach to its subject and mainly targets kids. But dog lovers of all ages will delight in the displays at the California Science Center: You can squeeze between two pointed ears to listen to how dogs perceive the sounds of a street scene different than humans; you can put your face up against a dog-shaped viewfinder that simulates canine vision; and you can test your knowledge in a game of Jeopawdy! Kids will particularly love seeing how fast they are compared to dogs and sniffing scents that a dog might encounter—from coffee and bubblegum to, yes, poop and farts. The exhibition also includes a selection of dog-featuring works of art, mostly Norman Rockwell paintings and Charles Schulz Peanuts strips, on loan from the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Make sure to catch daily live demonstrations of dogs’ rescue, agility, sensory and service skills (i.e. a guide dog walking a sightless trainer through an obstacle course). You’ll find the demo area near the exhibition’s exit, just before the gift shop.
Robyn
The sassy, lightning-blonde-haired Swede performs cathartically upbeat dance tunes from Honey, her first full-length release in seven years.
Chic featuring Nile Rodgers
We don’t think anybody predicted the remarkable resurgence of Nile Rodgers a few years back but, with new material and a collabo with the world’s hippest dance act under his belt, the funkmaster general is going from strength to strength. In 2019, he’ll top the Hollywood Bowl’s annual Fourth of July fireworks spectacular.
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Childhood friends Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero used to be in a thrash metal band before they moved to the seaside to hone their slinky take on flamenco. That heavy background shines through in their visceral live shows, full of frenzied fretwork.
Hugh Jackman
The Greatest Showman—a flick we called “frustratingly slight”—has quickly and surprisingly become a sing-along screening staple. You can almost surely chalk up its cult-status–like adoption to one person: Hugh Jackman. It’s no surprise, then, that the charismatic actor is taking his tome of tunes on the road. “Hugh Jackman: The Man. The Music. The Show.” will bring the musically-inclined actor to the Hollywood Bowl, where he’ll sing highlights from The Greatest Showman and Les Misérables, along with a selection of other Broadway and film songs—all accompanied by a live orchestra. Fingers crossed for a Wolverine musival. Jackman will be at the Bowl on July 19 and 20, 2019 as part of his world tour. Tickets go on sale Monday, December 19 at 10am.
Once Upon a Time in the LBC
Once upon a time in a city so divine, dozens of West Coast hip-hop legends came together for a one-day fest at the Queen Mary. The inaugural Once Upon a Time in the LBC draws heavily from the generations of talent that have emerged from Long Beach and Compton, including headliners Snoop Dogg, YG and the Game (who’ll be performing The Documentary). The rest of the cross-country lineup includes DMX (performing It’s Dark & Hell is Hot), Bone Thugs N-Harmony, Warren G, Keith Sweat, Too Short, Blueface, Ginuwine and more. Tickets for the originally announced first night are sold out, but passes for the just-added second night are available on Friday, March 22 at 10am.
Artists & Fleas Venice
The newest flea market on the block, the Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire is bringing records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the neighborhood’s famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.
Final Fridays
Nosh on bites from a rotating lineup of food trucks during this monthly hangout just outside the Rose Bowl, complete with foot golf, outdoor games, moon bounces, photo ops and stadium tours. Even entry is through the northern end of Lot K, just southwest of the stadium.
KCRW Summer Nights
Everyone’s favorite NPR affiliate has a hand in over a half-dozen summer concert slates at locations like One Colorado, the Hammer Museum and KCRW’s new Santa Monica headquarters. But the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza have become a particular favorite. Familiar KCRW personalities like Garth Trinidad, Travis Holcombe, Anne Litt and Jason Bentley spin the tunes at these food truck-fueled block parties. Regardless of the location—including the oceanfront offshoot, Twilight on the Pier—you really can’t go wrong with any evening spent at Summer Nights.
Silver Lake Picture Show
What better way to liven up a Thursday night than to cruise over to Silver Lake’s new Sunset Triangle Plaza for some gratis entertainment? Every other week through September, grab a summer snack, retire your wallet for the night and relax in front of the big screen. The Silver Lake Picture Show features your ultimate favorites, but not before spotlighting a short from a local filmmaker. Bring the fan and your friends to this free sampling of Eastside talent and a classic flick—this one’s a no-brainer.
Farmers Market Friday Night Music
The Original Farmers Market is host to a plethora of fun, family-friendly outdoor events, and its summer music series are some of its best. Take a load off at the end of the work week and stop by the West Patio from 7 to 9pm to hear live music during or after your shopping trip or dinner al fresco.
Dance Downtown
The Music Center offers a free, joyous mash-up of music and dancing all summer long, with different themes (90s, line dancing, cumbia, etc.) and free dance lessons plus live bands. Head to Grand Park and join in the fun—no dance experience required.
Lotus Festival
Celebrate the bloom of Echo Park Lake’s beloved floating flowers with the annual Lotus Festival. Expect plenty of food, music, dragon boat races and—fingers crossed—the lotus flower beds in full bloom. The historic event celebrates the contributions of Asian-Americans to L.A., and this year, the 39th, will honor the Thai community.
Off the 405
Hilltop sunset views and rising bands combine to make this Getty tradition a worthy destination for Angelenos on both sides of the 405. Tip: Avoid the traffic and the crowds and arrive early. You’ll get to visit the exhibits, watch the sunset and snag a seat at the restaurant before the dinner rush.
Asssscat
Every Saturday and Sunday, the UCB franchise’s longest-running, most beloved showcase starts when a base cast of the theater’s current top-brass—including founding UCB members Matt Walsh, Matt Besser and Ian Roberts—takes the stage. Then they introduce the surprise celebrity alumnae and friends who will be joining them (think Horatio Sanz, Ben Schwartz, Adam Pally). And finally, another special guest takes the stage, a non-improviser (think Flea, Cat Power, Rebel Wilson, Lena Dunham) who opens the show with a personal story, that’s deftly mined for laughs by the players. But you have to go to find out who’s there—that’s part of the fun. Looking for a cheap night out? Sunday shows are free, but seating is first-come, first-served, so be sure to arrive early.
C.O.L.A.
The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery present this annual premiere of new works from a dozen handpicked local artists.
Eat|See|Hear
Eat|See|Hear travels to different locales throughout the city each Saturday during the summer, showing cult flicks on an inflatable screen taller than your average Malibu mansion. Bring your own bites or sample snacks from the impressive roster of resident food trucks and show up early for a set from local L.A. bands. Parking is free at most of the venues, and tickets for screenings at the Autry even include admission to the museum. What’s more? If you want to skip the crowds and stroll in casually during the opening credits, spring for an exclusive “Fashionably Late” pass, which guarantees you a reserved seat in front. All of the events dog-friendly, and a portion of ticket sales benefit Best Friends Animal Society.
Outdoor Movies at the Skirball
Take a seat in the Skirball Cultural Center’s courtyard for this series of outdoor screenings. The Sepulveda Pass museum is showing fashion-forward films in connection with its exhibitions about fashion designer Rudi Gernreich and phtoographer Kwame Brathwaite. This year’s slate includes Funny Face, Zoolander and The Devil Wears Prada.
Poolside Cinema at Mr. C Beverly Hills
Supplement your typical summer drink date with a little cinema at Mr. C Beverly Hills' poolside screening series. Grab a cocktail and settle in to enjoy a classic film, alongside alfresco eats, a special poolside menu and traditional movie snacks, like popcorn and candy. Films begin at sundown every Tuesday through Labor Day. This year's roster of crowd favorites includes A Star is Born (June 11), Bridesmaids (July 2) and Avengers: Infinity War (Aug 20), to name a few. You’ll need to book a dining reservation to secure a spot—and plan to possibly need an Uber home.