September 2025 events calendar for Los Angeles

Now one of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions, Barnsdall Park’s wine tastings regularly attract sell-out crowds, and for the first time this year, they’re stretching into September. Perched atop Olive Hill on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House (which you can tour during the evening for an additional $37), the Barnsdall Friday fundraisers include fine selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine—paired this month with live performances curated by the Department of Cultural Affairs—along with a spectacular sunset and 360-degree views of the city. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just choose from 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.

The reopened Getty Villa is back with a new season of its Outdoor Classical Theater series, which brings a dramatic work to life each year in the museum’s outdoor, ancient-Greece-style amphitheatre. This time around, the play is a musical mashup of Sophocles’s incestuous tragedy and the songs of Elvis Presley performed by the L.A.-based Troubadour Theater Company, known for its innovative adaptations of classics. Enjoy the ocean breeze while you dine on concessions like Memphis-style baby back ribs or an “Elvis” peanut butter, banana and Nutella sandwich before the show.

See the marionette theater’s family-friendly take on Halloween during the two-month return of its Hallowe’en Spooktacular—a refurbished production of its long-running “boo-sical revue” where you can see over 100 silly and spooky puppets take the stage. New this year is a Día de los Muertos sequence that pays tribute to the holiday, as well as a sneak peek of BBMT’s upcoming Choo Choo Revue—its first new show in 40 years. Once October arrives, each show will include a costume parade, so dressing up is encouraged.

In addition to its robust theater lineup, Topanga Canyon’s Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum is also hosting an alfresco salon series each Thursday in October. The lineup of music and performances includes a spotlight on composers and performers who lost their homes in this year’s wildfires (Sept 11), a musical love letter to Broadway composer Kurt Weill (Sept 18) and a cabaret tribute to Joni Mitchell (Sept 25). 

The Culver Hotel is embracing Culver City’s cinematic history with a new series of screenings celebrating the golden age of cinema. To mark the centennial of both MGM and the hotel, you can catch a classic MGM film at the Culver Theater, then head across the street for a themed gathering at the hotel’s Velvet Lounge, complete with cocktails and bites inspired by the evening’s featured presentation. For the final summer screening, catch The Wizard of Oz—a fitting finale, given the hotel and city’s history with the 1939 classic. It’ll coincide with Downtown Culver City’s Taste of Screenland: Culver Classics block party on the same evening, showcasing the city’s starring role in Hollywood history and featuring photo ops, film history factoids and complimentary themed cocktail tastings (the Culver Hotel will be mixing up its Ruby Red Slipper drink).

The La La Land concert of our dreams? A re-creation of the “Another Day of Sun” opener on the 105 and 110 connector. But we’ll take “City of Stars” with the DTLA skyline as a backdrop as a close second. Composer Justin Hurwitz himself will conduct his Oscar-winning score backed by a 53-piece orchestra and jazz ensemble on two nights at L.A. State Historic Park this September. The screening-slash-concert, which premiered at the Hollywood Bowl back in 2017, has now become a returning tradition, thanks to Street Food Cinema. And good news: Time Out readers can get 15% off GA tickets with the promo code TIMEOUT15.

Far from those kid-friendly rides through a pumpkin patch, this hayride unleashes all sorts of demons and bogeys on Griffith Park. This haunted Griffith Park hayride once again returns to the mid-’80s fictitious town of Midnight Falls. And this year the Mistress of the Dark herself, Elvira, is taking up residence.  The Griffith Park tradition, which has been running for 17 years now, centers on a relatively lengthy hayride. The premise: A witch has summoned creatures that’ve hidden themselves among Halloween decorations in the town’s foothills. This year’s event promises new Elvira–themed takes on the Scary-Go-Round and Trick or Treat attraction, as well as a cozy lounge where apple cider and doughnuts provide a respite from the scares.

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).

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Los Angeles is behind this trio of doggie- and beer-centric Oktoberfest events (though two are in September) at local breweries. First up is a daytime affair at Common Space Brewing in Hawthorne, which will mark the occasion with dog-friendly vendors, pet caricatures, a weiner dog race at 2pm (entry fee proceeds will benefit spcaLA) and, for humans, a stein-making pottery class at 4pm. Later on, dog-friendly Los Angeles Ale Works in Culver City will host its own version with adoptable pups (Sept 26), followed by a similar event at the Ale Works outpost in Hawthorne (Oct 17).  

Don’t go in the water, but do go to the Academy Museum to see the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Steven Spielberg’s original summer blockbuster, Jaws—which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The museum was already home to the last surviving model shark from filming, but now you can go behind the scenes and see some 200 original objects from the film across multiple galleries. Some highlights: a re-creation of the Orca fishing boat, the dorsal fin used both in Jaws and its sequels, costumes worn by the central trio and a room full of vintage film posters and merch promoting the film. There are interactive elements, too: You can have your own Chief Brody dolly-zoom moment (and see the lens used to film the famous shot), play the iconic John Williams two-note score and control a replica of the mechanical shark.

Discover the next big thing at this biannual art fair, which is a more accessible than most (meaning you can find original art for under $500). For the September installment, the Other Art Fair is promising “something different” designed for “experience-seekers” at the Barker Hangar, along with works by over 150 up-and-coming and independent artists. The more “bizarre, unexpected” sibling of L.A. art shows places an emphasis on experiencing art, offering immersive installations, performances and DJs. 

Even after attending a preview, I’m not quite sure how to describe The Cortège, a new experimental theater production from outside-the-box Oakland creative Jeff Hull. (Hull’s 2008 immersive alternate-reality game the Jejune Institute served as the inspiration for the Jason Segel–created TV show Dispatches From Elsewhere.) This latest outing, held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank, is a mix of live music, choreography, larger-than-life costumes, large-scale puppetry, a silent disco, a score by artists including TOKiMONSTA, robot dogs and a simultaneous drone show. The abstract, 99% wordless experience is billed as “a festive funeral for our times,” and a nearly two-hour performance filled with striking visuals culminates in a wake of sorts with cups of tea inside an ambient tent. Before the show, food—veggie bowls, gyros, hummus, pita chips and baklava—and drinks are available for purchase.

This celebrated immersive horror theater event is returning for spooky season at a new location: a century-old Historic-Cultural Monument in DTLA. Delusion, an interactive seasonal event that combines elements of immersive theater with a more story-based approach to a walk-through haunted house, will take over the Variety Arts Theater from September 18 through Halloween till November 9. This year’s theme, “Harrowing of Hell,” puts you in the role of a supernatural cult member who must pass a Dante’s Inferno–inspired set of challenges. Tickets don’t come cheap (they start at $113), but for true Halloween devotees, it might be worth it: Delusion regularly ranks among the best haunted houses in the city. 

The iconic Hollywood Roosevelt hotel is hosting some poolside screenings this sumer. Tickets are super reasonable ($12). And don’t worry if it’s a chilly night: Towels, blankets and heaters are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Find the series running every Thursday night.

The 17th annual Hola México Film Festival returns to L.A. with 20 films originating from our neighbors to the south, highlighting the achievements of Mexicans and Latino filmmakers. The fest kicks off with a red-carpet screening of Autos, Mota y Rocanrol at the Montalbán Theater, but you’ll find most movies screened at Regal Cinemas LA Live, as well as theaters in Pico Rivera and Norwalk. LA Plaza de Cultura Y Artes hosts the closing-night film and concert.

Ready or not, spooky season is upon us. The clearest sign? Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights fills the theme park with haunted houses starting September 4. Among the highlights: Fallout, which promises to be a blast. Wander through the post-apocalyptic Wasteland—complete with Scavengers, Raiders, the Ghoul and RAD Roaches the size of dogs—inspired by the video game franchise and Prime Video TV show. You’ll also find a maze celebrating 45 years of Friday the 13th’s iconic villain, Jason Voorhees, in “Jason Universe,” which will re-create the summer camp, cabin and forest as the hockey-mask-wearing killer goes on a vengeance tour. And a Five Nights at Freddy’s maze will bring the creepy animatronic characters to life. Over on the studio tour—ahem, Terror Tram—you can expect to encounter a host of Blumhouse villains, including M3GAN. 

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 second installment, expect an acoustic set by Harrison Kipner followed by a performance by Erika Orbison (daughter-in-law of Roy). 

Japan House Los Angeles is bringing an exhibition of shokuhin sampuru—hyper-realistic food replicas that have crossed over from marketing tool to art form (think Is It Cake? but cultural)—to Los Angeles for the first time. See mouthwatering faux food representing each of Japan’s 47 prefectures, from coffee house parfaits to izakaya skewers, as well as Chinese and Western cuisine, and try your own hand at food presentation by filling a bentō box yourself.

Jackalope Arts and Pasadena’s Playhouse Village are teaming up to bring back the City of Roses’ art walk, which features over 180 hand-selected artisans. Shoppers can browse fine art, photography, fashion and jewelry design, paper goods and home decor along Green Street from Los Robles and El Molino, then refuel with food from local vendors. Adding to the fun, you’ll also find live music, face-painting and slime-making for kids, and tarot readings for the grown-ups.

Buck around on a mechanical bull, go for a ride on the Ferris wheel, watch trick ropers and so much more during this annual open house at the Autry Museum of the American West. Expect music, carnival games, food trucks, museum tours, plein air painting, a horse-grooming workshop, a car show and a marketplace at the event. This year’s block party honors the first responders who came to the city’s rescue during the wildfires.

Eddie Vedder’s Ohana Festival once again lands at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point—and the Pearl Jam frontman leads a lineup that also includes Kings of Leon, Hozier, Leon Bridges, Green Day, Cage the Elephant and many more. This year’s edition runs from September 26 to 28. The fest’s name comes from the Hawaiian concept of family, and as such the beachfront festival will give back to its own community by donating a portion of proceeds to the San Onofre Parks Foundation and the Doheny State Beach Foundation, among others.

Hollywood hotel rooftop bar Desert 5 Spot flips into a poolside cinema on Thursday nights this summer, with cocktails, popcorn and concessions available; Santa Monica hotel the Eden hosts a similar courtyard setup on Wednesdays.

The only thing better than a haunted attraction is a haunted attraction on a giant boat—which has its own haunted history. You’ll find all the usual horrors here—think fog, mazes and countless monsters. What sets Dark Harbor apart is its use of its surroundings; the dark, cramped confines of the Queen Mary are already pretty spooky even without monsters—just be prepared to climb a lot of skinny staircases. The event’s 2025 “Summoned by the Seas” iteration dives further into the ocean liner’s lore with new and reimagined mazes set in the ship’s swimming pool, kitchen and staterooms. When you tire of the terror, take a spin on the carnival rides, sip spirits at secret speakeasies or catch spooky live entertainment.

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.

Face your fears and head to the Natural History Museum’s Spider Pavilion, where you can observe several hundred orbweaver spiders in a living exhibit just outside of the museum. Scared the spiders might be hard to spot in the wild? Fret not. In previous iterations, we’ve spotted ones about the size of an adult’s palm. Gulp. (But don’t worry: The scariest ones are in enclosed habitats.) 

Spend a late night at the Broad during the return of its after-hours programming series, which finds musicians performing both inside the museum and on the outdoor plaza on select summer Saturdays. This year’s lineup of contemporary Native music—think hip-hop, experimental, powwow, indie, electronic and soul—is curated to complement the museum’s excellent Jeffrey Gibson exhibition, which you can view along with the entire Broad collection. On September 20, M’lynn, Joe Rainey and deesco take the stage.

Encounter free-roaming monsters and 10 terrifying mazes—think: a zoo with animal-human hybrids, a convalescent home with “spider-possessed residents” and a greatest-hits parade of past Knotts monsters—as well as a “boo-fet” dinner and all sorts of other haunted houses and attractions at the OC theme park for 26 nights during Halloween season.

Think men could do a bit of a better job listening when it comes to dating? This Bachelorette-style game show runs with that conceit as its one rule: The four men competing for a date can’t speak. Instead, they’ll nod and doodle while host Allison Goldberg searches their phones and dials their moms. You can usually find Love Isn’t Blind staged monthly (and you can even apply to participate in it).

Watch the nuns-and-Nazis musical and yodel along to the subtitles at the Hollywood Bowl’s sing-along celebration of the Julie Andrews classic. Lederhosen and wimples are optional, but they will get you in the mood for the Technicolor film, as will the choral warm-up before the screening.

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.

Environmental nonprofit TreePeople—tucked away in Coldwater Canyon Park—hosts these monthly Friday-night hikes, which kick off with live music through a partnership with outdoor arts series Living Earth. Afterward, hit the trails for a stroll in the moonlight. If you’re a hiking novice, don’t worry: Hikers of all ages and abilities are welcome.

The Who—that is, Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, plus some other musicians and two very prominent ghosts—come back to town this September. See them at the Hollywood Bowl for what might be your last chance to hear “Baba O'Riley” or “My Generation” live—the tour is being billed as their North American farewell tour.

After making a surprise Hollywood Bowl performance with Cyndi Lauper over Labor Day weekend, John Legend is back at the Bowl for a show of his own at the end of September. The R&B crooner, pianist and EGOT winner is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut album, Get Lifted, which earned him his first three Grammys.

Intimate performances have a tendency to get lost in the open air, but Big Thief’s locked-in rhythm section and the powerfully quiet vocals of Adrianne Lenker—a songwriter in the vein of Joni Mitchell or Leonard Cohen—will keep you from focusing more on your picnic spread during this show at the Hollywood Bowl. Chicago rapper and poet Noname opens the night.

Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel’s slick, spacey compositions are best appreciated with a pair of headphones (or during an… intimate evening), but that shouldn’t stop you from watching the French duo set the mood at the Hollywood Bowl. The pair prolongs its 25th anniversary celebration of its stellar debut, Moon Safari, by playing it in full.

So far these dates at the Hollywood Bowl are the only double bill for LCD Soundsystem and Pulp, but even if they weren’t, we’d still consider this a must see. Catch James Murphy’s dance-punk outfit and Jarvis Cocker’s iconic, moody Britpop band on September 25 and 26 at the Bowl.

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. 

Walk across the grounds of the scenic King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas as the Santa Monica Mountains hideaway is illuminated with thousands of hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns. (Fun fact: Calabasas has a pumpkin-filled history—it’s actually named after the Spanish word for the gourd: “calabaza”.) Night of the Jack returns with an on-foot, mile-long trail this year, plus live pumpkin-carving, food trucks and a “Spookeasy,” too. 

For 2025, the family-friendly Night of the Jack promises its biggest season yet, with new themed environments and multisensory experiences that make use of projection mapping. 

Timed tickets are required each night. As is the case with all similar experiences, they’re not cheap and fluctuate ($29–$63) depending on the day of the week and time of night. Expect to spend an hour to an hour and a half there, though that could double on weekends (and closer to Halloween) when the entry crowds and food truck lines tick up.

Groundbreaking L.A. art-pop outsiders Ron and Russell Mael steam back into town as Sparks. The brothers, who originally hail from Pacific Palisades, recently released their 26th studio album, Mad! Turn up at the Greek Theatre for oddball pop that’s as intelligent as it is absurd.

Slow down and soak in the magic of the woods during these guided, moonlit forest walks at the Arboretum, inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku, which is said to boost immune strength, reduce stress and improve cognitive function. Each meditative walk starts just before sunset and wraps up underneath the full moon with herbal tea.

Cure a case of the Mondays with a restorative sound bath at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center’s private Garden of the Clear Stream, an urban oasis in Little Tokyo. At the start of every week in April, you can bring a mat and enjoy an hour of healing sounds and reflection amid the garden’s lush flora and cascading waterfall. Afterward, stick around to purchase lunch and a matcha and enjoy them in the garden.

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.

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 month.

Trent Reznor is back with an electronic juggernaut that still continues to push the boundaries of rock music. Expect his beautiful melodies teeming with industrial grit to get—and stay—under your skin.

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.

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.

From the same folks behind the nightmarish Creep, JFI Productions’ The Willows is an immersive play in which you are a dinner guest of a very strange family and must determine—via party games and subterfuge—what really happened to a recently deceased relative.

The beloved Bob Baker Marionette Theater is staging free, family-friendly performances at Barnsdall Art Park outside the Hollyhock House. Spread out a blanket and enjoy a 30-minute puppet show, followed by free art activities for all.

Watch a slate of classics from the past couple of decades on one of the prettiest rooftops—now called Oasis—in Hollywood at this outdoor screenings series. All movies are piped in over sets of provided wireless headphones. Before showtime, make sure to hit up the bar or the on-site kitchen.

You can catch the “Beautiful Things” singer at the Crypto.com Arena for an evening that’s almost guaranteed to have at least one backflip.

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 Ray Charles, immigrant film composers, 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.

Get ready for Oasis’s Rose Bowl shows by revisiting the Gallagher brothers’ early days of fame, captured through the lens of music photographer Kevin Cummins. Musichead Gallery on Sunset will have the portraits on display through October 28.

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.

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 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 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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, with surreal spacescapes from Wendy Red Star, pop culture commentaries by Andy Everson and a site-specific space odyssey created by Virgil Ortiz.

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.