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Photograph: Shutterstock
Photograph: Shutterstock

Things to do in Los Angeles on Sunday

End the weekend on a high note, whether on the beach or back at the brunch table, with the best things to do this Sunday

Michael Juliano
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Oh weekend, where have you gone? Before it’s time to head back to work, shake off those Sunday scaries with some relaxation on the beach or a picnic in a park… and maybe sneak in one more boozy brunch. Sundays in L.A. tend to be a little lighter on events than the rest of the weekend, but you’ll still often find some major events to attend before Monday rolls around. Regardless, make the most of your Sunday with these great things to do in L.A.

What to do in Los Angeles this Sunday

  • Shakespeare
  • Griffith Park
  • Recommended
Each summer, Bard fanatics watch their favorite works come to life at the historic Old Zoo in Griffith Park. For 16 years running, Independent Shakespeare Co. has put on a series of lively productions each week, inviting audiences to take a seat on the grass (bring a picnic blanket) and enjoy performances like this season’s headliner, Shakespeare political thriller Coriolanus, which will be followed by the self-explanatory The Comedy of Errors. With construction of a permanent stage still in process on the main lawn, this summer’s shows will again be held in the dell at the top of the Old Zoo—meaning available space is smaller, and although performances are still free, reservations are required.
  • Movies
  • Downtown
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended
The masters of alfresco rooftop movie viewing have returned for another season of screenings to LEVEL in Downtown L.A. Known for excellent film choices and a steady supply of snacks and booze, Rooftop Cinema Club is your snazzy, comfortable and less stressful alternative to other outdoor movie screenings. You don’t even need to bring your own camping chair—Rooftop Cinema Club provides you with your very own comfy lawn chair (with optional blankets for purchase to up the coziness). And instead of listening to the movie over loudspeakers, you’ll get a set of wireless headphones so you never have to miss a word. Find the full schedule on their site, or in our outdoor movie calendar.
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  • Things to do
  • Markets and fairs
  • Downtown Arts District
  • Recommended
Every Sunday, you can find dozens of food vendors at this market at ROW DTLA, a Brooklyn import that boasts a mix of much-loved pop-ups and future foodie stars. Thirteen new vendors are joining the lineup this year: Feast on burgers and orange chicken sandwiches from Terrible Burger, Viennese street food from Franzl’s Franks, Neapolitan-meets-Persian pies from Mamani Pizza, plant-based corn dogs from Stick Talk and more. Wash it all down at the family-friendly beer garden. You’ll also find shopping stalls selling everything from framed vintage ads to jewelry made locally with ethically sourced gemstones. Entry and the first two hours of parking are free.
  • Things to do
  • Concerts
  • Westside
Catch family-friendly performers during this annual summertime concert series in the Getty’s beautiful Central Garden, where kids can dance and sing along to the likes of Dan + Claudia Zanes with Tyree Austin (jazz and gospel), Flor Bromley (bilingual Latin music) and Elizabeth Mitchell (folk). Picnics and blankets are welcome—lawn chairs, glass and alcohol are not. All the concerts are free, and you won’t need a ticket, though you will need a timed museum reservation.
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  • Things to do
  • Markets and fairs
  • Costa Mesa
  • price 1 of 4
  • Recommended
Mix fried food, carnival attractions and the occasional rodeo or demolition derby, and you’ve got the OC Fair. What started as a quaint fair in 1889 has since grown into a monthlong fest in the middle of summer. It also boasts a lineup of alfresco live music that’s more impressive than most fairs’—this year you can catch Willie Nelson, Cypress Hill, Patti LaBelle, the Head and the Heart, Diana Ross, Alison Krauss, Steve Aoki, Boy George and even comedian Trevor Noah, among others. See the full lineup here. 
  • Things to do
  • Late openings
  • San Marino
  • price 1 of 4
  • Recommended
As sunset continues to stick toward the later end of the evening, the Huntington is taking advantage of the extra daylight during this coveted after-hours series. Formerly open just for members, Twilight Garden Strolls is now open to the public, too, and will extend the San Marino garden’s hours until 7:30 or 8pm on select evenings in the summer. The 1919 Cafe will be open until 7:30pm (hot food stations close at 7pm), so you can even have dinner on the patio. New this year are family-friendly drop-in workshops where you can make your own clay pendants (July 5, July 26 and Aug 16). And just a heads-up that you’ll need a timed ticket that’s separate from regular morning or afternoon admission.
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  • Art
  • Film and video
  • Miracle Mile
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended
Masterpiece isn't a word to be casually tossed around, but it’s hard not to ascribe it to musician turned artist Christian Marclay’s 24-hour video, in which thousands of short film clips are strung together to form a seamless, big-screen collage charting the passage of each minute of the day in real time. After 15 years away, The Clock is going back on display on the first floor of the BCAM building, and to bookend the exhibit, the museum is hosting two specially ticketed 24-hour screenings on July 25 and August 22 starting at 7pm (welcome news for L.A. night owls). Otherwise, the work will be on display during regular museum hours and is included with admission.
  • Music
  • Jazz
Jazz is taking over Los Angeles this August with a massive festival that will transform the entire city into its stage. The inaugural Los Angeles Jazz Festival kicks off August 8 with a free afternoon of jazz at Edward Vincent Jr. Park in Inglewood, then rolls through L.A. with free concerts in parks, free live jazz at Harold & Belle’s (Aug 20) and more. But the big finale arrives August 22 and 23 at Dockweiler Beach, where John Legend, Janelle Monáe, Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton, Raphael Saadiq, Charlie Wilson, Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Big Freedia and Original Koffee are among the weekend’s announced performers. Tickets for Jazz on the Beach start at just $54 for general admission. For a full rundown of the festival’s programming, check here.
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  • Things to do
  • Anaheim
  • price 3 of 4
Every two years, Disney adults come together at the Anaheim Convention Center to celebrate all things Disney and see what sort of magic the company has been working on. Show floor highlights include a peek inside the Disney Archives and the latest ride designs and inventions from Walt Disney Imagineering. If you can secure a seat, the weekend’s keynotes include the celebrity-filled Legends induction ceremony and a look at upcoming releases from Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and both animated and live action Disney movies, as well as the latest from the Disney theme parks. When is this year’s D23? You’ll find the show floor and most of the panels at D23 at the Anaheim Convention Center from August 14 to 16, 2026. The convention center hours are from 9am to 8pm each day. The three headlining panels will all take place at the Honda Center this year, including the film and TV-filled Disney Entertainment Showcase on August 14 at 7pm, the theme park-focused Disney Experiences Showcase on August 15 at 7pm and the Disney Legends Ceremony on August 16 at 1:30pm. Wait, what’s this about the Honda Center? That’s right, to accommodate more guests in the company’s ever-popular showcases, the three main events above were moved off-site to the Honda Center in 2024. And, you know, it was actually a pretty positive upgrade. Expo organizers told us last edition that each of these sought-after events now hold about 12,000 people, almost double what they had been able to when they were held at the...
  • Things to do
  • USC/Exposition Park
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended
Nature lovers, rejoice! The Natural History Museum is bringing back its annual Butterfly Pavilion, which will be open March 22 through August 23 and house up to 30 butterfly and moth species, as well as an assortment of California plants. The seasonal outdoor exhibit allows for adults and children alike to witness nature up close—we’re talking walking amid hundreds of butterflies and having them land on your arms or shoulders. You’ll need to purchase a $10 add-on ticket on top of your museum ticket in order to explore the pavilion for a half-hour.
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