Things to do in Los Angeles today

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.

The city of Santa Monica will become a playground for jazz during this inaugural music fest, which fulfills Grammy-winning bassist Stanley Clarke’s vision for a world-class jazz festival in Los Angeles and celebrates the centennials of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Route 66. Fellow Grammy winner Kamasi Washington tops the bill on a week of performances by both world-renowned and emerging talent at venues across the city. May 3’s Sunday on the Promenade concert is a free affair with eight acts, including Elijah Fox and Genevieve Artadi (1–7pm). On May 8 is a tribute to Coltrane at the BroadStage, headlined by Isaiah Collier. The fest culminates in “A Day at the Park” at Tongva Park on May 9—a full afternoon of performances, with Washington wrapping up the fest.

Calling all vintage lovers! Shop one-of-a-kind pieces from over 50 of the top local and national vintage retailers and private dealers at this pop-up market. A Current Affair is a major source for stylists, designers and anyone in search of everything from perfectly worn-in jeans to rare and collectible designer pieces. Shop an array of vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry dating all the way back to the Victorian era at the pop-up market’s West Hollywood Design District location.

The hour stands before another springtime, and the Renaissance Pleasure Faire is nigh. Good mistresses and masters, prepareth thy schedules and costumes for the return of the oldest Ren Faire in the country, a spectacle that cov’reth 20 Irwindale acres with Elizabethan libations and amusement: fully armored joust tournaments and tea parties with the queen along with beguiling stage acts, rides, games, delicious edibles and ales abound. The festivities will transpire each weekend at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area; procureth day or season passes in advance by visiting ye olde online box office. And no, we can’t stop talking like this. When is the Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire? The event takes place Saturdays and Sundays (10am–7pm) from April 4 to May 17, 2026, at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale. How much are tickets? Tickets cost $53 for adults, $48 for seniors (62+) and military with ID, $28 for kids ages 5 to 12 and are free for kids 4 and under. A season pass costs $275. Parking is $15, with a VIP option available for $30.

The multisensory nature of art is explored in this exhibition, which looks at the intertwined relationship between contemporary art and living materials. With its focus on artists’ relationships to the materials they use, “Several Eternities” highlights that commonality and aims to reframe the discussion around artists and race. Twenty-two artists from North, Central and South America have employed mediums like soil, stones, avocado, cacao, achiote, cochineal and clay in their works—the organic matter making it an ambitious exhibition to mount. From the moment you walk in, you can smell the soil, feel a vibrating wall and listen to the many “sonic interventions” throughout the show. The large-scale installations and sculptures—many rooted in Indigenous worldviews—steal the show. The experience ends with a welcome moment to pause: a meditative, black-walled room, with ocean sounds and sand covering the floor.

This can’t-miss festival for classic-film buffs showcases four days’ worth of beloved movies—from the iconic to forgotten gems—courtesy of Turner Classic Movies. This year’s “The World Comes to Hollywood”-themed lineup includes Modern Times, Gaslight, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Muppet Movie, Swingers and more. See these time-honored favorites on the big screen at a handful of Hollywood theaters—the TCL Chinese Theatre, Chinese 6 Theatres, El Capitan Theatre and Egyptian Theatre—the way they were meant to be seen. Check the fest’s website for a full lineup of screenings and special guest announcements. Note that standby tickets for individual screenings must be purchased on-site, after passholders are seated, and are cash-only.

Ponyo loves Sosuke! And we love this exhibition at the Academy Museum dedicated to the wholesome Hayao Miyazaki film. Studio Ghibli donated more than 100 objects to the Academy Collection, and you’ll find everything from an animation desk to colorful art boards to dozens of frame-by-frame pencil drawings of the scene when Sosuke first finds Ponyo. Though you may recognize a couple of items from the museum’s debut Hayao Miyazaki retrospective, the vast majority of Ponyo pieces are new—and some have never been displayed in North America before. It’s also a colorful and super kid-friendly exhibition; you can watch clips of the gorgeously hand-drawn movie, recreate the wave-running scene and even make your own stop-motion animation. You’ll find it on the museum’s second floor, inside the first few galleries of the “Stories of Cinema’ space.

This laid-back, Gen X-ish music fest will once again take over the Redondo Beach coastline for three days in May. Duran Duran, the Chainsmokers, the Offspring, Slightly Stoopid and James Taylor and His All-Star Band headline the 2026 edition, with additional sets from My Morning Jacket, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Grouplove, Peach Pit and more.

What if there was a scare-free version of Halloween Horror Nights for fraidy cats (like me)? That’s the quickest way I can sum up Universal Fan Fest Nights, an after-hours event at the L.A. theme park that debuted last spring and is returning this year. The open-till-1:30am, specially ticketed series runs on select nights from April 23 to May 16 and brings together an unexpected mix of franchises for walk-throughs (Harry Potter, Dungeons & Dragons, Scooby-Doo), live shows (One Piece, Sailor Moon) and lots of special menu items. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has a new immersive experience, “Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff,” for the occasion, where you’ll face an acromantula and pixies to save the majestic creature. And Super Nintendo World sees the return of meet-and-greets with multicolored Yoshis.  Elsewhere, the Dungeons & Dragons walk-through is back—featuring an excellent Xanathar puppet crafted by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. And though last year’s standout Back to the Future experience won’t be returning this time around, there are a couple of brand-new attractions in its place, including interactive whodunit “Scooby-Doo Meets the Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot,” which finds you solving clues on the backlot where the original monster movies were filmed. Afterward, fuel up with a sky-high club sandwich and Scooby Snacks.  Last year, food and photo op lines were a little all over the place. (You’re welcome to come in costume, by the...

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.