Things To Do

26 Really Cool Things to do This August in Los Angeles (2019)

August 2, 2019 by We Like L.A. Staff
Santa Monica Twilight Concert Series
Santa Monica Pier Twilight Concert Series from 2013. Credit: T. Tseng via flickr

Need stuff to do this month in Los Angeles? We looked ahead on our calendar to focus in on some of the best events happening in August around Los Angeles that you should probably have on your radar. After all, better to get your tickets now than wait till the last minute and find out your favorite event is sold out.

August 2019 event highlights include San Ferndando Valley Drive-In Movie Nights, Jackalope Summer Nights, the Museum of Weed, Midsummer Scream, LA Taco Fest, Twilight Concerts on the Pier, and MUCH more!

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Our complete rundown starts after the jump. Enjoy!


Keep in mind for some of the ticketing options provided we utilize affiliate links and receive a commission if you purchase through our links (affiliates noted in parenthesis), however we retain complete editorial control of our content.


1. San Fernando Valley Drive-In Movie Nights (August 1-10)

Enjoy a vintage-style summer evening at the drive-in during San Fernando Valley Summer Drive-In Movie Nights at the Lake Balboa Complex. Each evening will offer food trucks, an arcade, live music and more. Screenings include classics like Indiana Jones And The Raiders of The Lost ArkHarry Potter and the Scorer’s Stone and Jurassic Park. -> More information

2. Brew at the Zoo (August 2)

The L.A. Zoo hosts Brew at the Zoo this Friday with 40 breweries, food, live music, pop-up zoo talks and animal discovery stations in an evening party setting. -> More information

3. Jackalope Summer Nights in Pasadena (August 2-3)

Head over to Central Park in Old Pasadena for Jackalope Arts’ new night market, featuring food, drink, music, and over 200 artisan vendors. -> More information

4. Night Sky Festival Returns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills (August 3)

Celebrate Los Angeles’ unique celestial beauty when the National Park Service’s Night Sky Festival returns to Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills this Saturday. The free event will allow guests to observe the planets of our Milky Way Galaxy through telescopes, search for bats with a Ranger, enjoy dinner, and listen to a lecture by Dr. Longcore. This event is open to all ages.. -> More information

5. Museum of Weed (opens August 3)

This brand new, 30,000 square foot space of ‘higher learning’ features features interactive exhibits, Instagram-friendly art installations and a bevy of historical artifacts that tell of the story of marijuana, specifically focusing on the political and social turmoil surrounding its use. -> More information

6. Midsummer Scream (August 3-4)

Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention returns to Long Beach with over 350 vendors for all your horror needs plus panels and special presentations from Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights, Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor, Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre Group’s Urban Death plus numerous live entertainment experiences. -> More information

7. Angel City Brewery’s Avocado Festival (August 3-4)

Angel City Brewery presents their 7th Annual Avocado Fest August 3-4 celebrating four different kinds of avocado ale with avocado food, live music, and fun games. -> More information

8. LA Taco & Beer Festival (August 10)

LA Taco & Beer Festival returns on August 10 with unlimited tacos and craft beer from top restaurants around California and beyond. There will be live Lucha Libre wrestling every 30 minutes in addition to art, boutique vendors, games, food trucks, and DJ’s. -> More information

9. Los Angeles Tea Festival 2019 (August 10-11)

The Los Angeles Tea Festival brings together 45+ exhibitors, 20+ classes, and over 4,000 attendees to sip on quality tea and engage in in-depth discussions and presentations on teas from every region. Attendees will be able to try unique tea pairings and craft tea-infused cocktails and boba. -> More information

10. Beauty Con (August 10-11)

Beauty Con is a two-day beauty convention and featuring makeup tutorials,, fireside chats, tips on self-care, more than 150 top brands, 500 influencers and creators, plus plenty of Instagrammable photo opportunities. -> More information

11. Echo Park Rising 2019 (August 15-18)

Echo Park Rising celebrates the creativity, diversity, music and businesses of Echo Park with a four-day celebration featuring food, drink, and live music. -> More information

12. KCON LA 2018 in DTLA (August 15-18)

The world’s largest Korean culture convention stops in Los Angeles from August 15 to 18 (first year it’s been four days!) for a celebration of music, workshops, meet-and-greets, and more, plus two nights of concerts at Staples Center -> More information

13. Pod Save America Benefit (August 17)

Pod Save America, a podcast hosted by former Obama staffers Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor, and Dan Pfeiffer, is going on tour for a live conversation about politics, the press, and the challenges posed by the Trump presidency. The tour will feature guest co-host Jemele Hill and performances by Maggie Rogers, Amanda Seale, Best Coast & My Morning Jacket’s Jim James. -> More information

14. LA Taco Festival (August 17)

The LA Taco Festival aims to bring the city together to eat tacos and support a good cause – helping homeless youth succeed. Jovenes, a nonprofit working to help homeless youth ages 18 to 25, created the festival in 2009 as a way to bring people together, support youth, and enjoy tacos. Admission is free for all ages, with tacos available for purchase. -> More information

15. CicLAvia presents Meet the Hollywoods (August 18)

CicLAvia presents Meet the Hollywoods, an event where West Hollywood, Hollywood, and East Hollywood will be turned into a public recreational space for the day. Attendees can walk, bike, roll, or stroll though some of LA’s most iconic streets from the Hollywood Walk to Fame to West Hollywood’s rainbow crosswalk. -> More information

16. Los Angeles Food & Wine (August 22-25)

L.A. Food & Wine 2019 kicks off on Thursday, August 22 with a selection of special dinners at restaurants across the city. August 23-25 the focus shifts to the Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport for three days of themed-out events hosted by top chefs. -> More information

17. DTLA PROUD Festival (August 23-25)

DTLA PROUD Festival 2019 returns August 23 to 25 to celebrate the culture, history, and diversity of the LGBTQ+ community in Downtown Los Angeles and beyond. There will be a lineup of local stage talent, community booths, art installations, retail vendors, interactive exhibits, food trucks, a pop up water park, and more. -> More information

18. LATINAFest (August 25)

LATINAFest returns to La Plaza de Cultura y Artes to bring thousands of women together for a one-day event featuring 100 Latina entrepreneurial vendors, talk sessions and panels with thought leaders, a cocktail garden, workshops, and more. -> More information

19. Rum Tiki Social & Tiki Swapmeet (August 18)

Head down to Roxanne’s Cocktail Lounge in Long Beach for a Tiki Swapmeet and social featuring live tiki bands and DJs, games, and selected tiki vendors from across SoCal. -> More information

20. Twilight Concerts on the Pier (starting August 21)

Twilight Concerts return on August 21 for the start of six consecutive Wednesday of free music on the Santa Monica Pier. -> More information

21. Leimert Park Village Book Fair at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw (August 24)

The Leimert Park Village Book Fair comes to Baldwin Hills Crenshaw on August 24 for an all-day literary extravaganza. -> More information

22. Brick Fest Live: Lego Fan Experience in Pasadena (August 24-25)

Brick Fest Live, the #1 LEGO event in the U.S., returns to the Pasadena Convention Center for two days of insane builds, hands-on activities, and sets to buy. -> More information

23. L.A. County Fair (starts August 30)

The L.A. County Fair returns to Pomona for a enormous assortment of activities, musical performances, food and beverage offerings, and more. The fair runs through September 23. -> More information – Discount tickets

24. LA Times the Taste (August 30 – September 1)

The L.A. Times hosts its 10th Annual The Taste celebrating Southern California’s culinary scene. Curated by the Times’ Food Staff, there will be unlimited tastings from regional restaurants, wine, beer, and cocktails, plus access to cooking demonstrations. -> More information

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25. Pasadena Daydream Festival (August 31)

This August The Cure headlines and curates the Pasadena Daydream Festival, a summer headline event featuring their favorite artists such as Pixies, Deftones, Mogwai, and Throwing Muses. The festival takes place Saturday, August 31 from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Brookside at the Rose Bowl. -> More information

26. Made in LA Music & Arts Festival (August 31 to September 1)

Golden Road Brewing hosts its third Made in LA Music and Arts Festival on Labor Day Weekend to celebrate Los Angeles’ best art, music, food, and California-inspired beer. The block party takes place August 31 to September 1 and features live performances from Phantom Planet, Donavon Frankenreiter, Lematire, Pell, and Lauren Ruth Ward. -> More information


In addition to the list above, there are a number of free ongoing events series you might want to check out during August

For even more ideas, be sure to check our The Big Cheat Sheet of Free & Fun Things to do in L.A. for Summer 2019.


Be sure to check the We Like L.A. Events Calendar for updates on fun things happening around the city throughout August. You can also sign up for our daily/weekly newsletter if you want events sent straight to your inbox. 

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