The best things to do in Los Angeles this week

Anonymous feminist art collective the Guerrilla Girls—whose members gained notoriety for donning gorilla masks and fighting the patriarchy—is coming up on its 40th anniversary, and the Getty Center is marking the occasion with a behind-the-scenes look at the group. See photography, protest art and the group’s famed posters—sporting statistics, bold visuals and satirical humor—that showcase the tactics the members used to demand recognition for women and artists of color. The Guerrilla Girls have even created a newly commissioned work for the exhibition. And you can add your own mark on the “graffitti wall” installation, giving visitors a creative outlet for their complaints about the world today. 

Accompanying programming throughout the run of the show will include a conversation between the Guerrilla Girls and author Roxane Gay, a feminist Valentine’s Day mail art workshop, cocktail receptions with the exhibition curators, tours and more.

Drift into the Convention Center for the 10-day L.A. Auto Show, featuring cars that would even make Bond drool. With world and North American debuts from a slate of manufacturers, rev up for the machines of the future. If you’re a car nerd, get behind the wheel to test drive one of the cherry rides (including an outdoor EV track); see custom, exotic and luxury vehicles in the Showcase Hall; tackle an obstacle course in a Ford Bronco or Jeep; and head underground for a cinematic experience at LumiVerse. Wish you had a pup to ride shotgun? You can even adopt a pet on-site.

Locally beloved open-streets event CicLAvia is taking a turn for the stranger this month, celebrating the fifth and final season of the Netflix hit Stranger Things. Four miles of Melrose, from Fairfax to Vermont Avenues, will be closed to cars and transformed into the show’s fictional setting of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s. Immersive photo ops, pedal-powered activations, live entertainment, merch and giveaways will further plunge you into the Upside Down before the season airs. You can even pick up a map and embark on your own quest along the way. (And it goes without saying that you should bike or take the Metro to your desired spot along the route.)

Did last year’s Coachella catapult Sabrina Carpenter into the spotlight? Or was the onetime Disney Channel personality already on the precipice of pop superstardom? Ponder that as you wait in the ticketing queue for the “Espresso” singer and now-Grammy winner’s six shows at the Crypto.com Arena, a reprise of last year’s “Short N’ Sweet Tour.” Ravyn Lenae and Amber Mark join as supporting acts.

L.A. doesn’t typically seem like much of a winter wonderland, until, that is, you create an ice skating rink right in the midst of Downtown skyscrapers. Come glide around and pretend there’s snow on the ground at Pershing Square’s outdoor holiday skating rink. Skate rentals are included in admission, though lockers and skating aids cost a few dollars extra.

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Commuting through Union Station around the holidays? Make sure to take a detour into the station’s newly restored South Patio for the train station’s 10th annual tree lighting on November 20, with a musical performance by the Beverly Belles. You can also enjoy caroling, snowfall and arts and crafts—with a side of milk and cookies. Little ones can pose for photos with Santa. The holiday décor will stay up through Christmas.

“Let’s hang out at the Pier” is something Santa Monica locals probably say next to never, but this monthly series is trying to change that. Every third Thursday from September to May, you’ll find everything from live music to storytelling to a classic car show on the Santa Monica Pier, all free to attend. November’s DJs & Winter Art Mart edition lets you get a head start on holiday shopping with handcrafted goods and gifts from local makers. There are also two “Books & Cookies” storytime sessions for kids and a Thanksgiving food drive, courtesy of Feed the Streets LA.

Not to be confused with Enchanted Forest of Light at Descanso Gardens, this newcomer to L.A.’s Christmas-lights scene is also located in the San Gabriel Valley—Santa Anita Park, to be precise—and claims to be the largest Christmas-lights maze in the world. In addition to its lit-up labyrinth with a 100-foot tree of lights as its centerpiece, the one-stop holiday extravaganza also boasts ice skating, an ice slide, a Ferris wheel, mini golf, a shopping village, visits with Santa and festive treats and drinks. 

Robert Therrien’s Under the Table has long been one of the most popular pieces in the Broad’s collection (you know the one—the giant table and chairs that you ask your friend to snap a photo of as you stand underneath). Well now the museum is hosting the largest-ever solo exhibition of the artist’s work, displaying more than 120 pieces, including many that have never been shown in museums before. Expect more huge housewares and striking works, plus some intimate drawings and surprises from the late L.A.-based artist. The specially ticketed show will fill the first-floor galleries through April 5, 2026.

We could spend hours wandering the Huntington’s gardens—and about just as long in its wonderful gift shop. Well, here’s an excuse to spend even more time there: this one-day-only artisan pop-up market, which brings more than three dozen art, home, jewelry, craft and fashion vendors to the Huntington Store, Rose Hills Garden Court, Rothenberg Patio and Haaga Hall. We recommend viennoiserie pastries from Salted Butter Company, old-Hollywood-inspired makeup from Bésame Cosmetics, eco-friendly stuffed toys from Dear Mello and jewelry adorned with hand-pressed wildflowers from Cast & Clover. Admission is free and doesn’t require a ticket for the gardens.

Like a holiday edition of Fiesta Hermosa, this fifth annual weekend-long event transforms the coastal city’s downtown into a winter wonderland with an open house for local businesses, an artisanal pop-up marketplace on Pier Plaza and a Ferris wheel with ocean views. Also on the schedule: a letters-to-Santa station, family-friendly music fest and a kids creation market on Saturday, as well as a storytime tent, photos with Santa, tree lighting ceremony and community concert on Sunday. 

The multicity Jackalope art fair is back in Old Pasadena this month, featuring over 200 local artisans selling their high-quality, handcrafted goods at Central Park. You’ll find everything from luxe candles and cactus-inspired lamps to plant-based skin care and homemade treats—all perfect for gifting—as well as family-friendly activities. And unlike some artisan markets, Jackalope offers free admission.

Shop local at this free, pet-friendly celebration of small businesses, held not in Venice but in downtown Mar Vista, along Venice Boulevard. The arts and music festival—which promises “retro ski lodge meets surfside holiday groove” vibes for the holidays—brings together over 300 local brands and artists three times a year, attracting thousands of shoppers. You’ll also find live music, DJ sets and food trucks on Venice between Centinela Avenue and Inglewood Boulevard. The winter edition is offering free fitness classes and photos with Santa. 

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. There’s one late-night event this month: Fall Music Nights with Dom Flemons on November 20.

Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the Great Los Angeles Walk debunks all of those cliches about nobody walking in L.A. Hundreds of walkers start the free urban hike on one side of the city and, about half a day later, end up at the other. You can hop on or off the walk whenever you’d like, and though no reservations are required, RSVPs are appreciated. This year marks the 20th anniversary edition of the walk, which will return to its very first route, along Wilshire Boulevard. Exact route details are TBA, so stay tuned.

Altadena shopping stretch Mariposa Junction is reopening right in time for the holiday season. After the devastating Eaton Fire, the community has been working to pick up the pieces, and five local businesses once again being open to the public is cause for celebration. Shop retro fashions and pieces full of local love for Altadena at Sidecca; prints at Ms. Dragon Print & Copy; art at McGinty’s Gallery; and stationery at Carciofi Design Paper Boutique & Studio. Local restaurant Betsy will also be open, and more local eateries will pop up with complimentary refreshments. Stop by and show your support—and get started on your Christmas shopping.

The returning WestEdge Design Fair presents some of the best modern furniture and home accessories direct to interior-design lovers. The three-day event will feature both established and up-and-coming premium home furnishings brands that will showcase their designs in lighting, kitchen, bath, outdoor furnishing and other home products. Shop the various designs and attend a series of special events, panels covering topics like creative burnout and rebuilding in the Palisades. On Thursday, an opening-night party will let guests sip on cocktails, nibble on hors d’oeuvres and bid on prizes while enjoying early access to the fair and supporting Habitat for Humanity’s ReBUILD L.A. Recovery Fund.

On November 22 and 23, the Los Angeles Ballet—which is celebrating its 20th anniversary—will take excerpts of its Nutcracker show to teatime at the Waldorf Astoria for its annual fundraiser (which means you’ll need to pay fundraiser prices to attend). The Beverly Hills hotel will host morning and afternoon sessions of high tea that include holiday crafts, dancing with Clara and her doll friends and new Nutcracker-themed photo ops. Meanwhile, grown-ups can get some shopping done at the on-site boutique and its luxury pop-ups. 

Riverside’s stunningly beautiful Mission Inn is bathed in over 10 million twinkly lights during the annual Festival of Lights, which has lit up the city for 33 years now. The free, six-week-long holiday tradition runs from late November to early January and typically features more than 400 festive, animated figures. Having been voted the “Best Public Lights Display” by USA Today, the festival attracts over 500,000 visitors each year. The spectacle will kick off with a Switch On Ceremony on November 22, followed by live music from Matt Mauser and the Tijuana Dogs, and there’ll be holiday-themed kiddie rides outside the hotel all season long.

Hatched in 1978 as the anti-Rose Parade, the Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade is an anything-goes celebration of the delightfully weird. The event earned the “Occasional” in its title because it has taken a few years off here and there—including this year, which the organizers decided to skip to conserve funds. But there’s still a Doo Dah–themed bash going down outside the Pasadena Dog Haus, where hopefuls from all walks of life can compete for the title of “Doo Dah Queen” after watching a cabaret performance by Doo Dah legends (11am–3pm). As ever, there’s an official after-party at the Old Towne Pub, with a lineup of live music (66 N Fair Oaks Dr, 3–7pm).

In a 2001 interview with Time Out New York, David Byrne said that his decision to break up the Talking Heads came out of a desire to “change creatively so I could keep people off balance.” In the ensuing decades, he’s remained true to his word, founding an eclectic record label, writing a book about his relationship to music and collaborating with musicians like Brian Eno and St. Vincent. After 2018’s American Utopia, his first solo record in more than a decade, a Broadway show and HBO special ensued. Now, the inimitable creative is touring behind Who Is the Sky?, his adventurous new album with New York–based Ghost Train Orchestra. Catch him one of two consecutive nights at the Dolby Theatre.

You’ll want to sleep with the lights on after seeing this terrifying theatrical take on the hit Parnormal Activity movie franchise at the Ahmanson Theatre. The R-rated play is making its world premiere, featuring a new story and illusions by the Tony-winning designer who dreamed up the impressive special effects in Harry Potter & the Cursed Child.

You probably know of Shepard Fairey through “Obey Giant” stickers and later his Obama “Hope” poster, but his body of work comprises so much more than that. A new exhibition at Beyond the Streets explores the artist’s relationship with printmaking, displaying more than 400 of his original screen prints—including some rare and historic editions and hybrid works that combine screen printing with stenciling—and offering a behind‑the‑scenes look at Fairey’s methods. The exhibition runs though January 11 and will kick off with an opening reception on Saturday, November 15, from 7 to 10pm.

The beloved Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s year-end production, formerly known as Holiday on Strings, has been reimagined as a holiday special complete with puppets in party clothes singing carols. Head to the troupe’s Highland Park location for the hour-long show, which follows host Demitrius Nova Twinklestar III on a tour of BBMT’s holiday traditions: You’ll see sledding slopes, caroling penguins, Santa’s workshop and more. For a sensory-friendly version, book tickets to the 4:30pm show on Saturday, December 20.

It’s always Christmas at this charmingly kitsch amusement park outside of Lake Arrowhead. But it’s extra Christmassy toward the end of the year at Santa’s Village—especially if you’re lucky enough to get some fresh mountain snowfall. Swing by from November 13 to January 4 for lighting displays, a train ride, a magical nighttime walk through the forest, seasonal snacks, breakfast with Santa and tea with Mrs. Claus (those require a separate ticket) and ice skating.

See what’s cutting-edge in the city’s vibrant performing arts scene at REDCAT’s 22nd annual festival, where it turns its theater into a creative artistic laboratory for Los Angeles artists à la its namesake institution, CalArts. Each of the three weekends boasts unique, daring and distinctive performances of new original works for the stage—from dance, theater and music to multimedia performance art. If you can’t make it to the fest in person, the performances will also be livestreamed.

Located just blocks from the ocean, Ice in downtown Santa Monica brings a bit of winter to the comfortable coastal city. The 8,000-square-foot outdoor rink runs daily from November to mid-January on the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue (less than a 10-minute walk from the E Line). Tickets for an hourlong slot ($24) include skate rentals, and you can book private parties and fire pits if you’re looking for something a bit more premium. Look out for cozy treats for sale, plus special events like classical Sunday afternoons and a sparkly shindig for Taylor Swift’s birthday (Dec 13).

Dealing with a difficult subject head-on, the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA’s new show, “Monuments”—co-presented by the museum and nonprofit the Brick (formerly LAXART)—juxtaposes both intact and vandalized Confederate monuments with contemporary artwork. The show looks at the recent wave of monument removals from a historic perspective and encourages discourse about challenging topics amid an ongoing national debate about the role of these statues and what they represent. Tickets for the special exhibition are $18, though if you book far enough ahead of time, you can take advantage of free admission on the first Friday of every month.

The Hammer Museum’s excellent, ongoing series of biennial exhibitions ups the ante with each edition of its spotlight on emerging and under-recognized L.A. artists. This October’s exhibition—the seventh such show—brings together works from 28 artists, spanning film, painting, theater, photography, sculpture and video, that engage with the city of Los Angeles. A 20-foot-high inflatable, Buggy Bear Crashes Made in L.A. by Alake Shilling, welcomes you to the museum on the corner of Wilshire and Glendon. 

L.A.’s star-studded lecture series returns—both virtually and in person—with a lineup of writers, artists, performers, scientists and business leaders who will graciously blow your mind. For both online and IRL events, you’ll often have the option of purchasing a signed copy of the speaker’s book, as well. October highlights include talks with Werner Herzog, Tim Curry, Judd Apatow and Marc Maron.

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.

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.) 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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.

Magicians are secretly thieves (again) in a threequel that’s as light as a conjuror’s fingers.