Los Angeles' Festivals: 9 Must-Do Jubilees
Los Angeles Celebrations You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
Los Angeles is home to some of the most extravagant festivals in the United States. Foodies can experience the city’s varied food and drinks, with an opportunity to try unique American and global flavors. Spending New Year’s Day at a parade of floral floats is also an unmissable occasion.
There’s a slew of other Los Angeles celebrations you won’t find anywhere else, answering to a wide range of interests. There are festivals that host some of the hottest hip-hop as well as new literature, while several week-long celebrations showcase the multicultural nature of the City of Angels. Check these out to help you plan your next LA visit.
1. Moonlight Forest
A lantern art festival offering an enchanted evening stroll
Good for: Couples, Families, Photo
The Moonlight Forest welcomes you on a walking tour of an imaginative, thrilling light show in Los Angeles. For part of the year, the Los Angeles County Arboretum is bedecked with lanterns of all kinds, including ones made by artisans from China, in the shapes of animals, flowers, and dragons.
This colorful trail takes about 90 minutes to explore and will thrill visitors of all ages with interactive displays and illuminated exhibits. The tunnels of lights are enough to make the Moonlight Forest a truly photo-worthy destination. This event is also fantastic for date nights, whether it’s your 1st or 100th.
Location: 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007, United States
Open: November–January: Daily from 5.30 pm to 10 pm
Phone: +1 626-821-3222
Moonlight Forest
2. Tournament of Roses Parade
A celebration worthy of New Year’s Day
Good for: Budget, Families, Photo
The Tournament of Roses Parade started in 1890, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more cheerful tradition featuring floral floats. The wonderful California weather was partly why this parade was founded, allowing visitors to comfortably ring in the new year in a T-shirt.
The joy of the marching bands and dancers is contagious, and artists pour their heart and soul into their extravagant floats, all of which are decorated solely with natural materials like flowers. The results are always breathtaking, not to mention sweet-smelling.
Location: Orange Grove Blvd & W Green St, Pasadena, CA 91105, United States
Open: January 1 from 8 am to 10 am
Tournament of Roses Parade
3. Fiesta Broadway Cinco de Mayo Festival
One of the city’s most colorful events
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
Fiesta Broadway is a celebration of Latin American culture with a large number of performances and locally-made food. Bring the whole family, as there are rides and games with plenty of prizes. Alcohol is prohibited at this Cinco de Mayo festival, making this a fantastic opportunity to bond with friends and family in a wholesome environment.
Music can be heard all over the place, whether it’s a mariachi band or the hottest up-and-coming Mexican artists. Get ready to see how long you can dance. If you do get hungry, food trucks line the street selling tacos and burritos brimming with slow-simmered meat, guacamole, and spicy chilies.
Location: Broadway & W 1st St Downtown, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
Open: The last Sunday in April from 11 am to 6 pm
Fiesta Broadway Cinco de Mayo Festival
4. Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival
Fine dining in the City of Angels
Good for: Couples, Food, Luxury
At the Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival your palate gets as much stimulation as your eyes and ears. You’ll rethink your idea of food after just a few hours here. The diverse and adventurous dishes are ever-changing but include succulent lamb ribs, plump glazed donuts, vegan sushi, and so much more. And of course, everything comes with the perfect wine pairing.
Some of the venues get decorated with a red carpet during Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival, so dress up if you want the fancy eats. You’ll also enjoy music from top acts while you sample the delicacies. The event’s date and location both change each year, so be sure to check online before you visit.
Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival
5. Nisei Week
Celebrate Japanese American culture in Little Tokyo
Good for: Families, Food, Photo
Taking place each year in August, Nisei Week is when Little Tokyo goes all out with its unique tastes, sounds, and colors. While the main event is a parade with a slew of cultural floats to view, Nisei Week now spans much more than just a week.
You can visit 3 main locations for a variety of food stalls, performances, and crafts booths. Witness the Nikkei Games and watch the crowning at the Queen and Court pageant. Check out other events such as fashion shows, arts fairs, and automobile shows as well. With so much to do and see, Nisei Week maintains its place as one of the best annual celebrations in Los Angeles.
Location: Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
Nisei Week
6. LA Korean Festival
Enough K-pop to take on Coachella
Good for: Food, Nightlife, Photo, Shoppers
The LA Korean Festival is one of the hottest parties you can attend in Los Angeles. You should know upfront that you’ll be hearing a ton of K-pop, and it will energize the crowds to create a buzzing atmosphere. But, pop music certainly isn’t all the festival has to offer.
Browse exhibits dedicated to Korean American history and get ready for eye-opening performances, colorful parades, and incredible food like packed kimbap rolls and traditional noodles heaped with spicy kimchi. Bring enough money for shopping, especially if you’re a fashionista. After the sun sets you can party all night to EDM DJs and K-pop heartthrobs. Be sure to check online in advance, as festival dates change each year.
Location: Seoul International Park, 3250 San Marino St, Los Angeles, CA 90006, United States
Open: September–October
Phone: +1 213-487-9696
LA Korean Festival
7. LA Times Festival of Books
Where the written word comes to life
Good for: Budget, Couples, Shoppers
The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is the perfect snapshot of American cultural history as it is being created today. This festival proves that literature is still a robust art, capable of transmitting personal experiences like no other. You can attend panels with contemporary authors or listen to talks about social media’s relationship with artistic expression.
Don’t miss the poetry readings by well-known poets. If you’ve been itching for a new book to read, attending the Festival of Books is the best way to come across your next read, or even your next genre. Be sure to check ahead for this year’s time and location.
LA Times Festival of Books
8. Muertos Artwalk
Artists display their latest works for the Day of the Dead
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
Muertos Artwalk is the best way to celebrate the Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. People walk around Olvera Street in colorful costumes, and music and art are everywhere, with dozens of artists brought in to showcase their work.
You can sample free treats, participate in a costume contest, or watch a theatrical performance. Art is exhibited in the form of paintings, collages, jewelry, you name it. Welcome the fall by immersing yourself in this popular Mexican holiday, and lend a thought to those who are no longer with us. Also note that the event’s exact date changes from year to year.
Location: Olvera Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
Muertos Artwalk
9. Adult Swim Festival
Among the best-curated music and comedy festivals
Good for: Couples, Nightlife
The Adult Swim Festival is a comedy and music festival organized by the late-night block of television on Cartoon Network. Catch live panels for The Eric Andre Show, Rick and Morty, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, among other cutting-edge comedy acts.
The music on offer here is as good as it gets. Past performers include Run the Jewels, Zola Jesus, Kamasi Washington, Tierra Whack, and Thundercat. It’s a wonder people pay a pretty penny for festivals like Coachella when this exists. Regular venues include ROW DTLA on 777 S Alameda St.
Location: ROW DTLA, 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021, USA
Open: October/November
Adult Swim Festival
10. Disney Festival of Holidays
A multicultural extravaganza for all families
Good for: Families, Food, Shoppers
The Disney Festival of Holidays is probably the only way you could ever make Disneyland more magical. Celebrating a wide variety of different cultural events throughout the winter, this months-long festival features parades, live music, and joyful performances. Events take place every December through January, though exact dates vary each year.
Meet your favorite Disney characters in all sorts of traditional dress, browse the Festival Foods Marketplace for a diverse array of holiday snacks and meals, and shop for unique Disney collectible merchandise and crafts featuring different holiday themes. It’s the perfect place to pick up some gifts for the kids. Make sure you hit both Disney parks for the full holiday experience.
Location: Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
Phone: +1 714-781-4636
Disney Festival of Holidays
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