Seasonal events in Los Angeles

In LA, New Year always kicks off with the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, which starts with the Rose Parade at 8 am sharp (so try not to get too sore a head the night before). Traveling five and a half miles down Colorado Boulevard, thousands come to see the beautiful floral-decorated floats, cheerful marching bands, and impressive equestrian units. Once the parade is over all thoughts turn to the Rose Bowl Game, a highly competitive American college football game between two teams from the Big Ten and Pac-12. N Tickets for both need to be booked in advance and will set you back around $100 for the parade and closer to $200 for the game.

While most of the awards ceremonies in LA are devoted to the art of film or television, the Grammys is all about celebrating the finest musical acts from around the world. Held at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown LA, this is one of the highlights of the music industry’s calendar, broadcast worldwide to millions of viewers. When the Grammys are on the city is packed with musical legends, and while members of the public can’t get tickets to the awards there are always plenty of cool music parties taking place across LA, as well as fun viewing events where you can soak up the lively atmosphere.

After the success of their world-renowned art fairs in London and New York, the team behind Frieze decided to bring their buzzy art festival to LA in 2019, further cementing the city’s status as a leading hub for contemporary art. Originally held at Paramount Picture Studios, where quirky installations were dotted around the NYC-inspired backlot, the fair is now held in a purpose-built space in the southeast corner of Santa Monica Airport. Frieze events draws everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Leonardo DiCaprio. You need to buy tickets in advance and early bird offers cost around $55, while full-price tickets are closer to $80.

First held in 1986, the LA Marathon is one of the world’s most popular running races and is completed by more than 25,000 participants each year, with people flocking from all over the world to take part. The current course starts at the Dodger Stadium in Elysian Park, in the east of the city, and ends on the Avenue of the Stars in Century City (though up until recently it finished in Santa Monica, leading to it being dubbed the ‘Stadium to Sea’ route). As well as having a great atmosphere and being a good way to get fit, the marathon route also takes runners through some of LA’s most iconic neighborhoods, including Echo Park, Silver Lake, the Sunset Strip, and Beverly Hills.

When you think of LA, you immediately think of the movie industry. And when you think of the movies, you immediately think of the Oscars. The annual Academy Awards are the biggest night on the industry’s calendar, where the world’s most famous film stars, directors, composers, and customers descend on Tinseltown en masse for a celebration of movie magic. While tickets to the ceremony aren’t available to the general public, it’s a great time to be in LA, as there’s a real buzz about the town in the run-up to the event. There are also plenty of fun viewing parties you can attend to soak up the city’s buzzy vibe.

LA is home to the largest Cinco de Mayo festival in the US, which is hardly surprising considering its proximity to the country and the large Mexican community that call LA home. Held throughout Downtown, it’s a vibrant celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, complete with technicolor costumes, folk dances, and mariachi music. It’s also a great place to come and feast on authentic Mexican food, from empanadas and enchiladas to tamales and burritos. The event is free to attend but it does get crowded, so get there early if you want to nab a prime spot.

Many Angelenos now mark the start of summer with the arrival of the LA County Fair, which takes place across three weeks in May (it used to be held in September, but due to the heat it was moved to a slightly cooler time of year). A Southern California tradition since it launched in 1922, thousands descend on the Pomona Fairplex just outside the city every year to enjoy the carnival rides, games, and attractions. They’re also drawn by the popular concert series, which always pulls in big-name acts – recent artists have included Blondie, Boyz II Men, and Fifth Harmony.

Los Angeles is home to one of the largest LGBT+ celebrations in the country, which take place across the first and second weekend of June in various parts of the city. The main events are in West Hollywood (WeHo is known as LA’s epicenter of LGBT+ culture) over the first weekend in June, with the Outloud music festival held at West Hollywood Park and the colorful Pride Parade rolling down Santa Monica Boulevard on the Sunday. The following weekend sees the arrival of LA Pride in the Park, the largest Pride music event in the country. Held at Los Angeles State Park on the edge of Chinatown, it’s headlined by superstar acts like Christina Aguilera and Mariah Carey. Tickets for Outloud and Pride in the Park can be purchased online for around $50 and $60 respectively, but be warned they sell out fast.

When it comes to celebrating Independence Day, there’s nowhere quite like the Hollywood Bowl. The iconic open-air venue always rings in the day in serious style, with a spectacular show that has become one of SoCal’s most beloved summer traditions. Headlined by legendary musical acts like The Beach Boys and Kool & The Gang, it’s a patriotic celebration of all things American, capped off by a dazzling firework display at the end. Tickets start at around $55 for seats right at the back and go up to around $220 for the front section.

Known for being the world’s largest Halloween street party, more than half a million people head to WeHo once the sun sets on October 31st for a mammoth celebration of all things spooky. A mile-long stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard is shut off and filled with revelers wearing inventive costumes – from ghoulish clowns and neon-clad zombies to spine-tingling skeletons, the more over-the-top the outfit is, the better. Along with the excellent people-watching, the free route also features a half-dozen stages of live music and entertainment. You don’t have to purchase tickets in advance but be warned the event does get busy, so if you’re not a fan of big crowds this may not be one for you.

Get into the festive spirit with this joyous parade, which takes place every year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Held on the world-famous Hollywood Boulevard and starting just outside the iconic Chinese Theatre, the Walk of Fame is turned into a winter wonderland (of sorts) for one night only. Filled with colorful festive floats and marching bands, it’s a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. Tickets need to be purchased online in advance and early bird tickets will set you back around $60, with that figure doubling for regular tickets.