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Need August to-dos? We’ve got you covered.
This month in Los Angeles you’ll find FoLAR’s Third Annual River Fest , a Summer Concert at The Broad, the Leimert Park Jazz Festival, 2025 Natsumatsuri Family Festival, Echo Park Rising, the El Segundo Art Walk, Shakespeare in the Park in Griffith Park, 818 Day in the San Fernando Valley, and more.
Things To Do This August
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Grand Performances (Fridays and Saturdays through August 23) – M FA > Downtown’s iconic free concert series returns every Friday (and some Saturdays) through the summer, bringing live music and cultural storytelling to California Plaza. Highlights from the August lineup includes the She Speaks Poetry Series on August 1, and a screening of the timeless classic The Great Dictator followed by a thoughtful panel discussion on August 15. Each show runs from 6 to 10 p.m., and admission is always free. More info here.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA (August 1) – M FA > Free evening dance parties come to a close at The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza on Friday August 1 with a disco themed night. At Dance DTLA, instructors will be on hand to teach guests easy-to-follow steps, allowing everyone to get into the groove right from the jump. The event is always free to attend, and always all-ages. More info here.
Frogtown First Fridays (August 1) – FA > Frogtown First Fridays is back with the theme “Celebrate Music!”. Expect special activations at a host of participating venues adjacent to the L.A. River Path. Guests can see new art exhibits, enjoy free or low-cost art activities, giveaways, DJ’s and live music. Runs 5 to 10 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
KCON LA (August 1-3) – M > Explore all things Hallyu at the Los Angeles Convention Center as KCON LA returns for a three day festival where more than 100,000 fans are expected to attend. Expect a slew of live performances, brands, celebrity meet-and-greets, artist appearances, and more. Single day GA tickets start at $36.08 (including fees). More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights (multiple dates) – M FA TP > KCRW’s signature summer dance party series continues in August with stops at CAMM (August 1), Kidspace Museum (August 2), Wende Museum (August 8), Down Town Long Beach (August 16) and Chinatown (August 23). All events are free to attend! More info here.
Jazz at LACMA (every Friday in August) – FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s annual Friday Night Jazz series continues this July, offering free weekly concerts at Smidt Welcome Plaza. And remember that LACMA is free to visit for L.A. County Residents (with I.D.) on weekdays after 3 p.m. Music begins at 6 p.m. More info here.
Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Park (through September 26) – M > Friday night wine tasting events are back at the Barnsdall Art Park West Lawn. Now in its 16th season tickets cost $45 and get you a flight of wines curated by Silverlake Wine, plus access to a rotation of food trucks, all supported by tunes from local DJs and sweet sunset views of the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory. The series continues every Friday through September 26. All proceeds support programming within the Park. More than ever, this event will provide essential funding to help sustain Barnsdall Art Park amidst the City of Los Angeles’s newly proposed budget cuts, which put much of the site’s cultural programming at risk. More info here.
Cinespia (Saturdays in August and a bonus August 31 screening) -> Cinespia’s August lineup of outdoor movie screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery includes a Full Moon Slumber Party screening of The Lost Boys and A Werewolf in London, Zoolander and a rare Sunday screening of Silence of the Lambs. Tickets start at $29.99. Parking is extra! More info here.
Negritude Festival at LA Plaza (August 2) – M FA > Negritude Festival pops up at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes for a jam-packed afternoon of programming celebrating the Afro-diasporic culture and highligting queer and femme voices. Expect live performances, art & installations,a black-owned marketplace, community conversations and workshops, and food and drinks available for sale. It all runs from 2 to 8 p.m. and is free to attend. More info here.
Summer Night Market at Mandarin Plaza (August 2) – M FA > Steep LA is curating a Summer Night Market at Mandarin Plaza in Chinatown. Expect a specially curated tea cocktail menu, a selection of stylish local vendors to peruse, and a listening session co-hosted by Aura Studios. The market starts at 5 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
CatVideoFest 2024 (August 2-15) -> CatVideoFest brings cat videos to the big screen with a 73-minute romp filled with internet cat classics, animations, and music videos, all in the name of the cute AF kitty. This year’s fest takes place at the Vidiots location in Eagle Rock, and highlights a pair of local charitable orgs: Tail Town Cat Cafe and Kitten Rescue of Los Angeles. Tickets are $13 for adults. More info here.
LACMA Latin Sounds (August 2,9,16,23,30) – FA > LACMA Latin Sounds continues Saturday in August with evening, outdoor concerts at Hancock Park (adjacent to the museum campus). Performers include world-renowned artists offering everything from Indigenous music to sounds from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, and Los Angeles. Always free to attend. All concerts run from 5 to 7 p.m. More info here.
Street Food Cinema (Saturdays in August and through September 6) -> The longtime outdoor movie series continues with a weekly schedule (every Saturday) that includes stops at The Autry, LA Equestrian Center, The Bloc, Grand Hope Park and L.A. State Historic Park. Upcoming films include the 35th anniversary of Pretty Woman, The Sandlot and the 25th anniversary of 10 Things I Hate About You. Advanced GA tickets start at $22. Doors open for most events at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
CatCon (August 2-3) – M > Catch the latest in feline culture at this two-day expo in Pasadena featuring cat-centric merchandise, workshops, and performances. Individual day GA tickets start at $47.93 per person. Get more info here.
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts (August 2, 9, 16, 23, 30) – M FA > Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles routinely offers the most prolific annual free concert series in the city, all taking place at MacArthur Park. For August, you can catch evenings of world class performances by acts like retro cosmic groove bands Eddie Chacon + Thee Heart Tones and Hello Stranger and Latin electro-rock bands Kinky and Los Abandoned to name a few. All events start at 7 p.m. and are free to attend. More info here.
FoLAR’s Third Annual River Fest (August 3) – M FA > Friends of the LA River (FoLAR) invites the public to River Fest a free, all-ages event featuring live performances by local artists, a visual art gallery, a vendor marketplace, eco-friendly family activities, and food trucks. Ticket registration is required to enjoy all the complimentary festivities. More info here.
Concerts in the Dome (August 3, 17, 21) -> Mount Wilson Observatory continues its 2025 Concerts in the Dome series inside the legendary 100-inch telescope dome—renowned for its extraordinary acoustics. Two concerts will take place at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with a reception in between. Tickets are $60. More info here.
Angel City Brewery Avocado Fest (August 3) – M FA > Angel City Brewery is celebrating the release of two crowd-favorite seasonal brews – Avocado Ale and Guavocado Ale with a party featuring avocado-themed games, live music, food and vendors. More info here.
JazzPOP at The Hammer (August 7, 14, 21) -> On three Thursdays this August, The Hammer will host live jazz performances in the courtyard beginning at 8 p.m. The lineup features Nicole McCabe Quartet, Bobby Bradford’s Stealin’ Home: a tribute to Jackie Robinson, and Naomi Moon Siegel Quartet. All are free to attend. More info here.
Moonlight Movies on the Beach (August 5, 12) – FA > Long Beach’s signature beachside summer cinema series continues with two screenings in August at Granada Beach. Movies starts around sunset (8 to 8:30 p.m.). Free to attend, and parking is free after 6 p.m., though spots are limited. More info here.
City of San Gabriel 31st annual National Night Out (August 5) – FA > The 31st annual National Night Out turns the historic Mission District into a block party with live music, food and games all in an effort to promote public safety. More info here.
Shakespeare in the Park (August 6-31) – FA > The second half of the Independent Shakespeare Co.’s summer theater festival in Griffith Park kicks off on August 6, as the ISC brings performances of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Shows will run Wednesday to Saturday through August 31, all beginning at 7 p.m. Make sure to arrive early to grab a spot. Picnics encouraged. More info here.
Sunset Concerts at the Skirball (August 7) – FA > The Skirball Cultural Center’s annual Sunset Concert series of after-hours performances by artists from around the world comes to a close with Ghanaian born, LA-based artist, healer, and musician JOJO ABOT and funk group Say She She. Free walk-up tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is available for $20. More info here.
Sizzling Summer Nights at The Autry (August 7,14,21,28) -> Every Thursday in August, The Autry museum hosts some of L.A.’s best salsa and Latin fusion bands with free salsa lessons, access to the museum galleries and a separate children’s dance floor. Admission cost $22 per person. More info here.
Summer of Salsa (August 8) – M FA > LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Summer of Salsa offers monthly dance parties one Friday per month through September. Latin music ensemble Arsenio Rodriguez Project will take the stage this month, with Super DJ Robby spinning tunes in between. Free salsa dance classes run from 6 to 7 p.m. by Dancing 101 with Roberto. Free to attend. More info here.
Pee-wee’s Big Adventure Movie Night at Warner Bros. Studio Tour (August 9) -> Warners Bros is planning a big night to celebrate Pee Wee Herman that will a special-themed Studio Tour, a Pee-wee look-a-like meet-up, all followed by a screening of Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. Tickets are $89 per person. Get more details here.
Nisei Week Japanese Festival (August 9-17) –M > This August, Little Tokyo hosts a nine day celebration of Japanese and Japanese American heritage and traditions through a series of cultural exhibits and performances, a grand parade and a plaza festival. More info here.
HULU Sunday Summer Movies (August 9, 17, 24, 31) -> SLS Hotel and Hulu team up for Sunday Summer Movies, a chic rooftop cinema series on the hotel’s sixth-floor pool deck. Every Sunday at sunset, the LaDiDa deck transforms into an open-air theater screening fan-favorite rom-coms and cult classics, curated in partnership with Hulu. Tickets are $45 and include a food and drink credit to enjoy poolside cocktails and bites. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the movie starting promptly at 8 p.m. Reserve your spot in advance—limited tickets will be available at the door until 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Movies Under the Stars (August 9 & 23) –FA > Old Pasadena shopping mall One Colorado continues Movies Under the Stars screenings on select Saturdays for the month of August. The lineup features School of Rock on August 9 and COCO on August 23. Public seating is free and first-come, first-served. There is also a VIP option for $50. Screenings start at 8:30 p.m., but you’ll want to arrive early to grab a spot More info here.
Summer Concerts at The Broad (August 16) – FA > The Broad stays open late for a special evening of art and music set to the backdrop of Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me. Explore the exhibition after hours while live performances unfold across two stages spanning multiple levels of the museum. Artists are handpicked to reflect the energy and themes of Gibson’s work. Tickets are $25. More info here.
Echo Park Rising (August 16) – FA > The 2025 edition of Echo Park Rising returns on August 16 with live music and community activations at multiple venues on and adjacent to Sunset Blvd. Among the highlights, there will be a lineup of musicians performing at Semi Tropic from 6 p.m. to late night, plus over a dozen acts performing at The Echo & Echoplex including Tijuana Panthers, La Dona, and puppetry from the Bob Baker Marionettes. Free to attend! More info here.
2025 Natsumatsuri Family Festival at Japanese American National Museum (August 16) – M FA TP > The annual Natsumatsuri Family Festival brings a summer celebration featuring cultural performances, craft stations, and special activities tied to JANM’s new exhibition, Cruising J-Town. More info here.
Spinning Sunset: A Vinyl Wax Fair (August 16) – FA > Sunset Strip Business Improvement District is hosts Spinning Sunset: A Vinyl Wax Fair, which pays homage to the Strip’s iconic music legacy, venues, and voices with a one-day celebration featuring vinyl vendors, DJ sets, music memorabilia, drink specials, hotel packages, and local promos, including FREE ice cream from Dippin Dots. It’s all free to attend and check out. Runs 1 to 7 p.m. More info here.
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Sunday Sessions (August 17) – M FA > Grand Park’s second summer installment Sunday Sessions returns with an afternoon of Soul Source Los Angeles DJ sets along with plenty of space to dance, vibe, and picnic. Music starts at 3 p.m. Event runs till 8 p.m. Free to attend as always. More info here.More info here.
CicLAvia: Culver City Meets Venice (August 17) – M FA > After a July break, CicLAvia returns in August with a 6.75 mile course connecting Venice and Culver City. Expect multiple activity hubs along the way plus plenty of space to walk/run/bike/skate. Free to attend as always. Runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Good Neighbor Block Party (August 17) – M FA > Angel City Brewery hosts an evening block party to cap off summer with plenty of entertainment and brews on tap. Expect DJ sets, special vendors, tooth gems, art installations and more. The fun runs from 6 p.m. to midnight. 21+ only. More info here.
818 Day (August 18) -> The San Fernando Valley’s informal day of celebration (it’s in the area code, see?) comes to the Valley Relics Museum for 2025 with a slew of live performances, food trucks, special vendors, and an appearance by the SFV Roller Derby. Tickets are $10 Event runs 3 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Hammer Summer Concerts with Open Mike Eagle (August 19) – FA > The Hammer wraps up their trio of free summer concerts in the courtyard with a performances by Open Mike Eagle, Jordan Patterson and J.Rocc. Expect Enjoy happy hour drinks and bites, late gallery hours, art-making, and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and performances start at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Off the 405 (August 23) – FA > The Getty’s annual after-hours concerts series comes to a close with a performance from Emile Mosseri. You’ll need to pre-register for free to attend, and remember that parking is $10 after 6 p.m. on Saturdays. More info here.
El Segundo Art Walk (August 23) – FA > This indie, self-guided art event highlights the creative businesses throughout Downtown El Segundo while showcasing local artists. Expect food trucks, live music, and extended hours from the El Segundo Museum of Art. More info here.
Matinees on the Mountain (August 23) -> Ready for a movie day with a view? Mount Wilson Observatory continues its Matinees series this month with Envisioning the Skies: a Short History of Astronomical Films presented in a cozy 256-seat auditorium. Come early to explore the observatory, picnic on the grounds or grab lunch at the Cosmic Cafe before the show. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for kids 12 and under. More info here.
Marina Movie Nights (August 23, 30) – FA> The Department of Beaches and Harbors hosts Marina Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey on select Saturdays in August and September. The lineup includes catch Jumanji (August 23) The Little Rascals (August 30), The Neverending Story (September 6), Grease (September 13), Shrek (September 20 ), and Grown Ups (September 27). Free to attend, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure you bring a blanket for that coastal breeze!More info here.
6th Annual Leimert Park Jazz Festival (August 30) – FA M TP > The 2025 Leimert Park Jazz Festival is a full day of Jazz sets supported by a visual arts pavilion, pop-up boutiques, a kids zone, wine lounge, and a food court at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. General admission is a sliding scale from free to $5 and even a $125 VIP options that comes with a seat, food, beverages and more. More info here.
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