31 Fun Things to do this Spring in L.A. (2018)

The first day of spring is here, and there’s no better time to start making plans in the city of angels! This season you’ll have the chance to visit a mermaid museum, put yourself in the shoes of a drug kingpin or a CIA recruit, sketch like Degas, watch classic films outdoors or in 1920s Hollywood movie palaces, or steer a swan boat. Also on the docket: Attend a food festival inside the Rose Bowl, see Flying Lotus at the Hollywood Bowl, or participate in a hyper-reality Star Wars experience.

Our list of some of the best spring events in Los Angeles will remind you of why this city is such a great place to live. Enjoy the season, and as always if you want to stay in the loop on all the best happenings around L.A., be sure to sign up for the We Like L.A. email newsletter.

1. Visit the Mermaid Museum – The interactive, Insta-worthy pop-up Mermaid Museum is coming to Hollywood from March 22-25 as part of a promotion of Freeform’s new series, Siren. -> More information

2. Suit Up for The VOID’s Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire – This hyper-reality experience combines virtual reality with physical environments to simulate a rebel mission to infiltrate a secret Imperial base. Now at the Glendale Galleria. -> More information

3. See What’s it Like to Work for a Drug Kingpin – Los Angeles’ newest escape room, Stash House, will allow you and your friends to get actively involved in a crime drama — with zero chance of going to prison. -> More information

4. Learn Degas’ Artistic Technique – During the Norton Simon Museum’s Night in Focus: Degas on March 24, view Taking Shape: Degas as Sculptor, sketch dancers in the style of Degas while surrounded by his work, and more.  -> More information

5. Drink a Bunch of Beer – During the 9th Annual LA Beer Fest on April 7, sip a variety of unlimited samples of 200 beers from 80 different breweries. -> More information

6. Savor Delectable Food While Helping to Fight Homelessness – At Masters of Taste, taking place on the field of the Rose Bowl on May 7, some of the city’s best restaurants, bars, wineries and more will offer up handcrafted cocktails, exquisite bites, decadent desserts, fine wines and more, with 100% of the proceeds helping the homeless. -> More information

7. Take to the Streets – The latest CicLAvia event, Heart of the Foothills, will close certain streets to traffic on April 22, allowing Angelenos to bike, walk, and explore the off-the-beaten-path streets of San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, and Claremont. -> More information

8. Spend Time with Grunions – Go to Cabrillo Beach to watch a grunion run, attend the Grunion Fish-tival, or go to a Meet the Grunions event on various dates during spring 2018. -> More information

9. Improve Your Health – Check out Clean Made L.A. on April 21-22 for a vast marketplace, numerous speakers, yoga, a meditation hut and much more to help you create a healthier lifestyle. -> More information

10. Celebrate Bach’s 333rd Birthday – Visit Union Station on March 24 for a ten-hour marathon celebrating the music of the German baroque master — and enjoy free Starbuck’s coffee if you arrive early enough. -> More information

11. Fill up on Pancakes, Booze, & Art – When the Los Angeles Pancakes & Booze Art Show returns on April 28, check out the work of over 150 artists, listen to music, dine at the pancake bar, and sip some hooch. -> More information

12. Check out Art in Grand Park – At the Our L.A. Voices Arts Festival in DTLA, enjoy dance, music, theater, and visual art during a free public event April 27-29. -> More information

13. Celebrate The Dude – Watch a The Big Lebowski screening at the Wiltern or attend a Lebowski-inspired Bowling Party in Fountain Valley during Lebowskifest on May 25-26. -> More information

14. Party Like It’s 1977 – At the new immersive theater show Safehouse ’77, taking place at a Los Feliz bungalow until April 1, attend a “party” that’s actually a CIA recruitment. -> More information

15. Watch a Movie From a Rooftop – Rooftop Cinema Club is back in April, with screenings of both recent releases (Get Out, The Shape of Water) and enduring classics (Casablanca, All About Eve) atop the Montalban in Hollywood or LEVEL in DTLA. -> More information

16. Listen to Stories From a Secret Society of Women – Every month on the night of the full moon, the Secret Society of the Sisterhood (whose members include Pamela Des Barres and Mara Wilson) comes to the Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery to share their most personal stories. -> More information 

17. Watch Classic Films at Hollywood Movie Palaces – The TCM Classic Film Festival returns to the Chinese Theater, the Egyptian Theater, the Cinerama Dome, and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel April 26-29 for four days of classic films, talks with the likes of Martin Scorcese and Mel Brooks, rare nitrate film screenings, and other events perfect for the classic film nerd. -> More information

18. See Neil Young, Jack White, Belle & Sebastian, Pretenders & More in Pasadena – Arroyo Seco Weekend returns to Pasadena June 23-24 for two days of live performances from some of the greatest bands of the past few decades. -> More information

19. Save the World (Virtually) – Visit Virtual Room in Hollywood for a group VR adventure in which you’ll go back in time to ensure a better future. -> More information

20. Ride a Swan in Echo Park – Savor the simple charm of steering a swan-shaped paddle boat around Echo Park Lake. -> More information

21. Enjoy the Return of Street Food Cinema – Listen to live music, dine from food trucks, and watch a movie screening outdoors when Street Food Cinema returns to parks all across the city. -> More information 

22. (Finally) Visit Candytopia – After a months-long delay, Candytopia finally brought its immersive, oh-so-sweet Insta-friendly experience to Santa Monica, where it will remain till July 4. -> More information

23. View Cherry Blossoms – Celebrate spring’s fragrant beauty during Los Angeles’ various cherry festivals. -> More information

24. Shop at an Immersive Pop-Up – Get stimulated during Na-Kel Smith’s multi-sensory adidas shopping experience in Downtown Los Angeles on March 24. -> More information 

25. Watch a Vintage Fashion Show as You Genteelly Sip Tea – Heritage Square Museum in Montecito Heights will host a Victorian tea and fashion show spotlighting 300 years of fashion history on April 14. -> More information

26. Decompress at a Sound Bath – Get bathed in healing sounds at Mystic Journey Crystals in Venice. -> More information

27. Purchase Limited-Edition Vinyl at Record Store Day – Buy limited-edition vinyl and more created especially for Record Store Day, an annual “holiday” for lovers of vinyl and indie record stores. -> More information

28. Visit a Shrine to Epic Fails – The Museum of Failure enjoyed a successful run in Downtown L.A. and has now made its way to Hollywood & Highland, where it will continue to celebrate such flops as Trump: The Game, Colgate brand lasagna, and Google Glass. -> More information

29. Step Back in Time to the Vaudeville Era – Watch a show featuring burlesque, snake charming, comedy, and aerial acrobatics, follow by a Speakeasy After Party, during The Return of Vaudeville at The Wiltern. -> More information

30. Stand up for Science – Support the environment, healthcare and scientific facts during The March for Science, returning to Downtown Los Angeles on April 14. -> More information

31. Listen to World Music at the Hollywood Bowl – KCRW is hosting six events making up the World Festival at the Hollywood Bowl this spring (and summer). The first event, on June 17, will feature Flying Lotus, Little Dragon, and another act to be announced. -> More information