September 2025 events calendar for Los Angeles

Don’t look back in anger—at least not today—because you missed out on their U.K. reunion gigs: Brit-pop legends Oasis are performing a select number of stateside shows, including at the Rose Bowl, with special guests Cage the Elephant opening.

Note: Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party has been postponed from the Fourth of July to later this summer (date TBA). 

If you’re on the hunt for a cheap, lively way to celebrate Uncle Sam, shake it over to Grand Park, and watch Downtown L.A. light up for free—though for the third year running around, the park has swapped out fireworks for more eco-friendly drones. Renamed from the Fourth of July Block Party, Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Summer Block Party will offer scrumptious food truck fare, a 75-foot-tall Ferris wheel and 90-foot super slide, plus two stages of live music—one with DJs programmed by KCRW Summer Nights, the other headlined by Grammy-nominated L.A. rapper D Smoke. The tunes begins while the sun is still high in the sky, so settle in for an all-day picnic—note that no booze is allowed, though—and relax. Best of all, the event is Metro-accessible via the Civic Center/Grand Park station (though $10 parking is also available at the Music Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall). Be sure to stay for the drone show—a flurry of some 800 illuminated drones above the Music Center—at 9pm.

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.

Bowling Green, Kentucky, natives Cage the Elephant first found fame (strangely enough) in England, as well as with their showing at SXSW in 2007 and their eponymous debut album released the following year. Their take on classic garage punk is a chaotic listen that draws on psychedelia, ’70s southern rock, glam and contemporary indie—just the thing for a rollicking live show—and they’re the rare band whose sound continues to deepen and develop with every new album. The night before they open for Oasis at Rose Bowl Stadium, Cage will be playing an intimate show at the El Rey Theatre. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 22, at 10am and are sure to sell out quickly.

Musical nonprofit Red Hot is teaming up with the Getty Center for a free celebration of trans artistry. On Saturday night, an ensemble of some of the music industry’s most imaginative trans and nonbinary artists will take over the museum campus, merging performance with video and art. Head to the Central Garden for sound installations before a two-hour concert in the main courtyard. Hosted by David Longstreth of the Dirty Projectors, the event will feature performers including Devendra Banhart, Teddy Geiger, Ahya Simone, Cole Pulice, Heart Shaped and more—all of which were featured on Red Hot’s landmark TRANSA concept album. Tickets are free; you’ll just need a timed reservation to enter the Getty.

We’re always happy to hear about a new food festival—especially one in Malibu, whose restaurant community has been hurting post-wildfires, and one that’s donating a portion of its proceeds to the local Boys & Girls Club. Co-founded by celebrity chef Marcel Vigneron and wife Lauren Rae Levy and hosted by Man v. Food’s Adam Richman, Malibu Food & Wine will take over the coastal city’s Saddlerock Ranch for two evenings and one afternoon of unlimited tastings, immersive dining and curated activations. The weekend boasts a starry culinary lineup of names from both Food Network and the local dining scene: Duff Goldman, Jet Tila, Joe Sasto, Roy Yamaguchi, Ricardo Zarate, Celestino Drago, Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, Bruce Kalman, Ben Ford, Brian Malarkey, Carlos Anthony and more. 

Step into Dogtown history as the energy drink takes over Venice Skate Park for three days of high-octane skateboarding ahead of the sport’s debut in the 2028 Olympics. Today’s top skateboarders will compete on rebuilt versions of legendary SoCal skate spots, studded with historically infamous obstacles (think a fire hydrant and double kink rail), before a champion is crowned. On Sunday, spectators can get in on the action during public skate sessions starting at 11am. The weekend’s events are free, and no tickets are required.

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.

Shakespeare meets Max Martin in this teenage dream of a musical, which headlines the Ahmanson’s 2025/26 season. Offering a new spin on Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers, the play gives doomed heroine Juliet a second chance at a happy ending—and a soundtrack of pop hits including “Since U Been Gone” and “Baby One More Time.”

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.

You’ve admired the view for years; maybe now it’s time to give something back to the iconic Santa Monica Pier. The nonprofit corporation who operates the attraction is hosting its first-ever benefit to raise funds for the free community programming offered year-round on the pier. Gather at the Merry-Go-Round Building (a National Historic Landmark) at golden hour for cocktails, appetizers, live music, a silent auction and some unbeatable views. Plus, 10% of ticket sales will be donated to Pali Strong Foundation, providing direct relief to those affected by the Palisades Fire.

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.

Don’t go in the water, but do go to the Academy Museum to see the largest exhibition ever dedicated to Steven Spielberg’s quintessential 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 hear behind-the-scenes stories and see some 200 original objects from the film across multiple galleries. You can even have your own Martin Brody dolly-zoom moment in front of re-created beach cabanas from the film and see the lens used to film the famous shot.

If your life is lacking spectacle, the playful, psychedelic band Flaming Lips’ live show—packed with gratuitous confetti and colorful costumes—should fill the void. Joining them on the double bill is Modest Mouse, featuring the delightfully unhinged vocal stylings of Isaac Brock. The band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its excellent album Good News for People Who Love Bad News.

Help foster a love of reading in your kids with this festival that promotes of literacy for little ones. The city’s largest free celebration of early childhood education, bilingualism and multiculturalism will take place for the third year running at West Hollywood Park, where you can find storytelling, live performances and interactive educational fun, as well as food trucks, face painting, slime courtesy of Sloomoo Institute and, to cap things off, a big foam party.

Complex-sponsored food/streetwear mash-up Family Style Fest is back for 2025. This year’s edition will bring together high-profile apparel brands like Uprisers, Staud and Kids of Immigrants alongside a handful of critically acclaimed L.A. restaurants, including Kato, Kuya Lord and Bistro Na’s. Out-of-towners include Curry Up (Tokyo), Michelin-starred Bell’s (Los Alamos), Bettina (Santa Barbara/Montecito) and the Wiener’s Circle (Chicago). Attendees will be able to sample from over 50 unique restaurants, including Amboy, Ototo and TikTok-famous concepts like Miya Miya Shawarma, Marathon Burger and Handles Coffee (formerly known as Camel Coffee). Since this is a streetwear festival, expect tons of merch. A $225 VIP ticket nets five meal tickets (albeit only from certain restaurants) plus access to a separate section with complimentary stations, a VIP-only open bar and a special merch pack. For tickets and the full lineup, visit the FSF website.

A favorite of in-the-know shoppers, MAUM Market champions AAPI artists, creatives and entrepreneurs, and the result is a mindfully curated shopping experience. Founded in 2022, MAUM regularly pops up both in New York and in L.A., at ROW DTLA. Find accessories, art, kids’ toys, beauty and wellness goodies, ceramics, clothing, jewelry, home wares and treats at the family-friendly and pet-friendly pop-up. While entry is usually $5, this time around it’s free.

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. 

Its past installments have found attendees stealthing their way through a Victorian home and embarking on a Blade Runner-esque bounty hunt. And now 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.

Hollywood director and action coordinator Jon Braver, who hatched Delusion in 2011, has again teamed up with the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride producers Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group for a “choose your path” staging in which your choices will impact the story progression. Braver also teases a “new creature you will never, ever forget” in this year’s experience.

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. There’s also a VIP tier for $40 more that lets you take a peek behind the scenes with a backstage tour and access a reserved lounge.

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.

It’s not quite the beachfront party of the erstwhile Twilight on the Pier, but Santa Monica’s Americana in the Park again sees the city teaming up with the much-loved local McCabe’s Guitar Shop and KCRW for a free concert series that explores the spectrum of Americana music, from traditional roots and blues to jazz and folk. This year, instead of a weekly series, there will be one mid-month extravaganza that celebrates the city of Santa Monica’s 150th anniversary. El Rayo X, Alice Howe & Freebo, the Gumbo Brothers and Babilonia featuring Celia Chavez will play the Sunday-afternoon concert at Gandara Park (right next to Bergamot Station and the E Line). You can bring a picnic, and local food trucks will also be on hand.

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. 

Just about every outdoor screening series has ’90s classics in their lineup. But you know what they don’t have? Dodger Stadium. Catch a screening of Hook from the outfield grass at Chavez Ravine; the film will be screened on the DodgerVision videoboards. Before the screening, expect photo ops, pressbox tours, speciality concessions and some pitching in the bullpens.

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). 

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.

Chicago, heroes of the ’70s, hits town: Expect plenty of key changes and golden oldies from its horn-heavy, soul pop-gone-soft rock back catalog, including “If You Leave Me Now” and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry.” Oh, and expect fireworks: They're headlining the Hollywood Bowl’s fireworks finale (though LA Phil–produced concerts will continue throughout the month). Five-time Grammy winner Christopher Cross will kick things off.

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.) 

Nope, you haven’t traveled back in time: Nick, Joe and Kevin are back for a massive, 20th-anniversary show at Dodger Stadium in September, where they’ll be joined by Marshmello and Boys Like Girls. The L.A. show is also one of 10 stops on the “Jonas20: Living the Dream” tour that will open with a “Jonascon”—a pre-show pop-up experience offering Jo Bros karaoke, art installations, trivia challenges and city-specific merch. 

There are a couple of presales taking place this week, but tickets officially go on sale Friday, March 28, at 10am.

Angelenos, let it all hang out. The World Naked Bike Ride hits L.A. each year with its bare-as-you-dare dress code to fight “indecent exposure to cars” and promote both a healthy planet and body acceptance. The 2025 ride will expose itself Saturday, September 13 (postponed from its original date in June; route details are still TBA).

See our photos of some previous World Naked Bike Ride events.

Once we’re past the dog days of summer, celebrate this dog day: a pup-friendly party and “yappy hour” at the Los Angeles Central Library’s Maguire Gardens with dog-friendly vendors selling everything from gourmet dog food to CBD pet products to handcrafted bandannas. You and your four-legged friend will also find pet portraits, treats, activities, community dog walks, photo ops and live music. Drinks from on-site Italian restaurant Settecento will be available for purchase, with a portion of sales benefiting the Vanderpump Dog Foundation.

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).

Get ready for a day of all things dinosaurs that’s been literally millions of years in the making. The Natural History Museum is throwing its 10th annual festival celebrating dinos, their prehistoric past and the science that brings their world back to life. Kids can meet world-renowned paleontologists, catch a glimpse of rare specimens from the museum’s collections, explore the museum’s famous Dinosaur Hall and take part in hands-on educational activities. 

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.

A veteran of Sheila E.’s backing band (which he joined as a teenager) and a part of beloved early-‘90s neosoul trio Tony! Toni! Toné!, Raphael Saadiq is practically R&B royalty. Over the past few decades, he’s become an in-demand producer, working with artists like Mary J. Blige and Miguel and helping to shape the musical direction of Solange’s breakout album, A Seat at the Table (plus he cowrote the standout “I Lied to You” from Ryan Coodler’s Sinners). Catch him this summer at the Ford.

Seven years after the death of singer Chester Bennington, locally-born, globally-beloved band Linkin Park is back with new music and a tour. Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix and Joe Hahn have returned alongside new covocalist Emily Armstrong (of Dead Sara) and drummer Colin Brittain. Catch them at Dodger Stadium in support of their new album, From Zero.

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.

Kaskade sends his beachfront festival back to SoCal with sets from Meduza, SKILAH, Sidepiece, Malaa, Anabel Englund, Walker & Royce and MPH at Huntington State Beach.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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?

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. 

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.

Cozy slice-of-life video game Stardew Valley lets players run a small-town farm, fend off a major corporation and figure out who they want to woo. It’s all the work of a single developer, by Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone, and that includes the music—which you can hear arranged for a 35-piece orchestra during this concert event at the Greek.

Lifelong Neil Young fans (are there really any other kind?) will not want to miss the rock star/environmentalist/best-selling author as he plays the Hollywood Bowl. His live performances have a legendary reputation, and hopefully there’ll be a good mix of the old classics, the newest efforts and Young’s signature high-quality sound, energy and gripping guitar solos.

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.

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.