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Need a plan for this July? We’re here to help.
Coming this month in Los Angeles you’ll find KCRW Summer Nights in Chinatown, an Afro-Latino Culture Fest at LA Plaza, Sake in the Park at Grand Park, the Echo Park Lotus Festival, Sunset Concerts at the Skirball, Off the 405 at The Getty, the South Bay Greek Festival, Dance DTLA at the Music Center, and more.
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Things To Do in July
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
The Moth StorySLAM (July 1) -> The Moth returns to Los Globos for a night of open-mic, competitive storytelling—this time, centered around the theme “Dirt.” Think buried secrets, messy moments, scandalous gossip, or even literal treasure. Anyone can take the stage to share a five-minute true story, no notes allowed. Tickets are $17.50, and the show kicks off at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Shakespeare in the Park (select days from July 2 through July 27) – FA > The Independent Shakespeare Co. is once again bringing a summer of theater to Griffith Park. From July 2 to July 27, catch Wednesday-through-Sunday performances of Love’s Labour’s Lost at ISC’s familiar space near the Old Zoo. Shows start at 7 p.m. And no show on July 4! More info here.
July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at The Hollywood Bowl (July 2-4) -> Earth Wind & Fire headlines this year’s Hollywood Bowl celebration, which will once again be a three-day event featuring a concert followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the iconic shell. More info here.
Shakespeare By the Sea (June 13 through July 26) – FA > The 28th anniversary season of Shakespeare By the Sea continues in July with productions of Shakespeares As You Like It and Julius Caesar. All shows are free to attend, but donations are gladly accepted. This month performances extend beyond beach front properties to include Alta Dena, Beverly Hills to Encino. More info here.
Anime Expo (July 3-6) – M > Anime Expo’s four-day event returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center to start July, offering anime lovers meet-and-greets with anime creators, special panels, Q&A’s, workshops, interactive experiences and so much more. Four-day passes cost $197.65, you can also grab a single day ticket where prices start at $92. More info here.
Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Park (June 6 – 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.
Jazz at LACMA (every Friday in July) – 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.
Cinespia (July 4 & Saturdays in July) -> Cinespia’s July lineup of outdoor movie screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery includes a July 4th screening of Top Gun with fireworks, LaLaLand on July 5 also with fireworks, IT on July 12, Romy and Michelles High School Reunion on July 19 and The Adams Family on July 26. Tickets start at $29.99. Parking is extra! More info here.
4th of July Fireworks Show at the Torrance Civic Center (July 4) -> The City of Torrance will put on a fireworks show at the Torrance Civic Center with viewing locations at the West parking lot of the LA County Court House, and the L.A. Galaxy Sports Complex. You don’t have to buy a ticket, but attendance is limited and based on first-come, first-served. The pyrotechnics begin at 8:45 p.m. More info here.
4th of July Fireworks in Marina del Rey (July 4) – FA > Marina del Rey will offer a free 20-minute fireworks show along the coast with viewing spots at Burton Chace Park or Fisherman’s Village. Show begins at 9 p.m. and is free to attend. More info here.
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza (July 4) -> The Valley Cultural Foundation’s massive 4th of July event at Warner Ranch Park featuring a tribute to The Doors with a performance by Strange Days, plus a over dozen onsite food trucks and 20-minute fireworks display after sundown. The event listing mentions the park can accommodates up to 40,000 attendees, so expect a crowd! Free to attend. More info here.
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Santa Monica Fourth of July Parade (July 4) -> For the Independence Day early risers, head over to Main Street in Santa Monica for the annual Fourth of July Parade, which kicks off at 9:30 a.m. The route begins at Pico and Main Street, then heads south on Main before turning right onto Marine, ending at Barnard Way. Free to attend.
LACMA Latin Sounds (July 5, 19) – FA > LACMA is bringing a series of Saturday evening, outdoor concerts at Hancock Park (adjacent to the museum campus) with world-renowned artists performing everything from Indigenous music to sounds from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Peru, and Los Angeles. Free to attend. Runs 5 to 7 p.m. More info here.
Street Food Cinema (select dates through September 6) -> You know summer is getting close when Street Food Cinema gets back in the swing of things. The longtime outdoor movie series is back starting in May with a weekly schedule (every Saturday) that includes stops at The Autry and L.A. State Historic Park. Upcoming films include The Princess Bride on July 5, A Complete Unknown on July 12, The 30th Anniversary of Clueless on July 19 at La Cienega Park, and Toy Story on July 26. Advanced GA tickets start at $22. Doors open for most events at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
The Petersen Automotive Museum All-American Cruise-In (July 6) -> The Petersen Automotive Museum will host its annual All-American Cruise-In celebrating 60 years of the Shelby GT350 and the Cobra 427. Expect hundreds of cars and motorcycles on display. The day will also host a panel discussion with automotive legends and Pink’s Hot Dogs will be onsite serving hot dogs. This event is free to attend. More info here.
HULU Sunday Summer Movies (July 6, 13, 20, 27) -> 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.
Moonlight Movies on the Beach (July 8 & 22) – FA > Long Beach’s signature beachside summer cinema series is back for 2025, continuing with two screenings in July at Granada Beach. The lineup includes 10 Things I Hate About You (July 8), and Grease (July 22). 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.
SheLA Summer Theater Festival (July 8-14) -> The SheLA Summer Theater Festival comes to the Zephyr Theater July 8-14, showcasing new, original, creative works by gender-marginalized playwrights and composers in Los Angeles. Tickets start at $32 per performance. Get more info on the lineup here.
Summer of Salsa (July 11) – M FA > LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes’ Summer of Salsa returns this year offering monthly dance parties one Friday per month through September. Latin music ensemble Gabrielito y La Verdad this month, featuring Super DJ Robby and free salsa dance classes run from 6 to 7 p.m. by Dancing 101 with Roberto. Free to attend. More info here.
Bugs Bunny at the Symphony (July 11-12) -> Warner Bros. celebrates their rascally rabbit’s 85th anniversary with back-to-back nights of Looney Tunes entertainment at the Hollywood Bowl. For each evening, expect a dozen beloved animated shorts projected on the big screens while the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra plays the original scores live. More info here.
Frogtown First Fridays (July 11 ) – FA > Frogtown First Fridays (date moved due to holiday) is back with the theme “It’s Carnival Time”. 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.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA (July 11, 18 & 25) – M FA > Free evening dance parties return to The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza every Friday from June 21 through August 16. 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 2025 schedule features six events each themed for a different style of dance: Bollywood, Afrobeats, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton, and Disco. The event is always free to attend, and always all-ages. More info here.
Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival (July 12-13) -> Taking place at LA Live, the two-day Belly Laughs Comedy and Food Festival brings together 30+ top comedians—like Kumail Nanjiani, Bobby Lee, Joel Kim Booster, and Margaret Cho—alongside some of the best in Los Angeles’ Asian cuisine. Curated by MAMA’S NIGHTMARKET, the food lineup features heavy hitters like Yum Slut, Bobapop, and Holy Basil, plus live cooking demos throughout the weekend. Tickets start at $129. More info here.
KCRW Summer Nights (multiple dates) – M FA > KCRW’s signature summer dance party series continues in July with stops at Chinatown Central Plaza (July 12), Union Station (July 19), and Grand Performances (July 26). All events are free to attend! More info here.
Off the 405 (July 12 & 26) – FA > The Getty’s annual after-hours concerts series offers four dates for the summer of 2025, including a July 12 performance by Madi Diaz and Empress Of on July 26. 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.
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Grand Performances (every Friday starting July 12) – 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. July’s lineup includes the mesmerizing Saami Brothers Qawwal from Pakistan on July 12, and Bach Bebop on July 18, where Colburn School of Music musicians and KUSC host Suraj Partha illustrate the classical influences on early jazz pianists. Each show runs from 6 to 10 p.m., and admission is always free. More info here.
Echo Park Lotus Festival (July 12-13) – FA > The 44th annual Lotus Festival honors the people and culture of the Republic of South Korea for 2025 with live music, children’s activities, a lantern launch, dragon boat races, and more. Free to attend, but you want to participate in the lantern portion you can buy tickets starting at $33.85. More info here.
Movies Under the Stars (July 12 + 26) –FA > Old Pasadena shopping mall One Colorado is hosting Movies Under the Stars on select Saturdays for the months of June, July and August. The series continues with screening of Grease and Hairspray. Public seating is free and first-come, first-served. There is also a VIP option for $50. More info here.
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles Concerts (July 12, 19, 26) – FA > Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles routinely offers the most prolific annual free concert series in the city, all taking place at MacArthur Park. For July, you can catch evenings of world class performances by Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band & La Verdad, Medusa + Beat Junkie Institute of Sound and Tony y Sus Bayucos. More info here.
Sound Bath & Lunch at JACCC’s Japanese Garden (July 14) – M > The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo hosts a sound bath and lunch set in its tranquil Japanese garden, where lush greenery and a cascading waterfall create the perfect retreat. The experience begins with a 60-minute sound bath led by holistic practitioner Iris Esmerelda, designed to promote deep relaxation through healing vibrations. Afterward, guests can enjoy lunch in the garden with offerings like Tofu Katsu Sandos, Brown Butter Hojicha Cookies, and matcha drinks made with Uji tea leaves from Kyoto. Tickets are $35 per person. Food and beverages are available for purchase. More info here.
Bastille Day Celebration (July 15) -> Celebrate France’s national holiday under the stars as the Consulat Général de France in Los Angeles teams up with Grand Performances for a festive open-air concert downtown. Expect live French music, delicious French bites, and all the joie de vivre of Paris—without leaving LA. Free to attend. More info here.
Sunset Concerts at the Skirball (July 17, 24 & 30) – FA > The Skirball Cultural Center’s annual Sunset Concert series kicks off in July with a handful of concerts, offering after-hours performances by artists from around the world. July 17 welcomes Rodrigo Amarante with Helado Negro, then La Perla with Meridian Brothers to follow on July 24 and MULA with Frente Cumbiero on July 30. Free walk-up tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parking is available for $20. More info here.
Sunset Exhibitions at The Broad (July 17) – FA > Sunset Exhibitions at The Broad is series of dance, drum and singing demonstrations celebrating SoCal’s Indigenous and Native cultures. In July, the third and final installment of the series will featur Virginia Carmelo (Gabrielino/Tongva and Digueno/Kumey) who leads the singing group Toveema featuring Virginia, her daughters, and her granddaughters; retired superior court judge Deborah Sanchez (Chumash, O’odham, and Raramúri) leading The Chumash Dance Sisters; Mike Mirelez (Cahuilla) leading a 15-person ensemble of Cahuilla Bird singers and dancers; and Jessa Calderon (Chumash and Tongva) employing her hip hop emcee skills as a means of both entertainment and self-healing. The event is free to attend with advanced reservation. More info here.
South Bay Greek Festival (July 18-20) -> The South Bay Greek Festival is a three-day affair at St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Redondo Beach offering lots of Greek food (spanakopita, lamb chops, baklava), dancing, and fun. Entry fee is $5. More info here.
Sake in the Park (July 18) -> Sip, snack, and support a good cause at Sake in the Park, an all-inclusive summer food and drink festival at Grand Park benefiting the Little Tokyo Service Center a local nonprofit providing social services, affordable housing, and cultural preservation to the neighborhood. Your ticket grants unlimited access to 50+ premium Japanese sakes and shōchūs, plus bites from 30+ top L.A. restaurants spanning a mix of cuisines. Expect DJ sets, live performances, and a vibrant atmosphere under the city lights—all for a great mission. Tickets are $175 per person. More info here.
Pasadena Heritage Bridge Party (July 19) -> Dance, dine, and celebrate atop Pasadena’s historic Colorado Street Bridge during this once-a-year summer party. Enjoy live music across multiple stages, food and drink from local favorites, vintage car displays, and family-friendly activities—all set against a breathtaking cityscape. Tickets are $39.11, with proceeds supporting Pasadena Heritage’s mission to preserve the city’s architectural and cultural gems. More info here.
Afro-Latino Culture Fest at LA Plaza (July 19)- M FA > The third annual Afro-Latino Culture Fest at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes celebrates the rich tradition of Afro-Latino(a)(x) and Caribbean cultures with an array of food vendors, Caribbean inspired cocktails, a beer garden, special vendors, community resources, and kid-friendly activities. Starts at 1 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Glendale Chalk-A-Doodle Festival (July 19) – FA > The Glendale Chalk-A-Doodle Festival brings a day of fun-chalk murals, doodle-making station, live music, and community art to Glendale Marketplace. More info here.
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Concerts in the Dome (July 20) -> Mount Wilson Observatory continues its 2025 Concerts in the Dome series inside the legendary 100-inch telescope dome—renowned for its extraordinary acoustics. This month, they honor the anniversary of the first moon landing with a special program featuring Sarah Gillis, the engineer and astronaut who flew to space aboard the Dragon Spacecraft in September 2024. During her mission, she performed John Williams’ “Rey’s Theme” from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and with the composer’s blessing, she’ll perform a violin and piano version live at the observatory. Two concerts will take place at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., with a reception in between. Tickets are $60. More info here.
Vine & Dine: A Tomato-Centric Benefit Party (July 26) -> Savor the peak of tomato season at Vine & Dine, a festive benefit dinner and dance party capping off Food Access LA’s inaugural Tomatopalooza Festival. Held at the historic Garibaldina Society in Highland Park, the night centers on a tomato-forward buffet curated by Chef Amanda Lanza, featuring produce from local farmers like Roland Tamai, handmade pasta from Ferrazzani’s, and Bub and Grandma’s focaccia. Sip drinks from the Garibaldina’s classic bar and dance the night away to Manila Sound, a Filipino-American DJ collective spinning disco, funk, and Original Filipino Music. A raffle adds more excitement, with prizes including a Roman food tour with Sophie Minchilli and a cooking class at Sicily’s Anna Tasca Lanza school. Tickets start at $100 and support Food Access LA’s mission to bring healthy, affordable food to communities across Los Angeles. More info here.
The Frogtown Get Down (July 26) -> On the last Saturday of July, Frogtown Arts is hosting a special fundraiser dance party at Happier Camper, right on the LA River Path. Expect DJ-spun tunes, bites and flavors from local eateries, an art exhibit and sale, and a community auction. Tickets are $125, or 4 for $400. All proceeds support Illuminate the Night and Frogtown Arts’ free community programs. Runs 6 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Matinees on the Mountain (July 26) -> Ready for a movie day with a view? Mount Wilson Observatory continues its Matinees series this month with a of the 1997 film Contact 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.
Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival (July 26) – FA > The Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival returns to Marine Stadium Long Beach for the largest dragon boat competition in California. Guest can expect Chinese traditional art demonstrations, acrobats, dance, music and martial arts performances. Event runs 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
National Day of the Cowboy & Cowgirl at The Autry (July 26) -> For National Day of the Cowboy & Cowgirl the Autry is extending its museum hours until 7:30 p.m. and guests of all ages can enjoy trick ropers, cowboy poetry, live music, country line dancing lessons, film screenings, and docent-led tours all day. Tickets are $19, with free admission for kids. More info here.
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