The 75 best things to do in L.A. this summer

It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening draws hordes of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult-favorite films to the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel. It’s an L.A. rite of passage, a quintessential summer experience and one of the best film venues in the city.

See more of L.A.’s outdoor movie screenings.

This gorgeous outdoor amphitheatre has been hosting concerts since the LA Philharmonic first played here in 1922. It boasts a stellar summer lineup (from Hugh Jackman to Air to Jesus Christ Superstar starring Cynthia Erivo) and a pretty generous BYOB policy that lets you bring wine and beer to nearly every performance. If you’re a first-timer, make sure to see our full primer to picnicking at the Bowl.

Roam the stalls at this arts festival, sample the fine foods and listen to the music—and then take a dip in the nearby Pacific. Over Memorial Day weekend, you’ll find on-the-street stalls and sidewalk vendors along Hermosa and Pier Avenues, with live music on the beach and a proper carnival and wine garden inland at Pier and Monterey Boulevard.

One of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions, Barnsdall Art Park’s wine tastings set up on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House, with selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just nosh on the variety of food-truck offerings over the spectacular sunset views. You can tour the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed landmark during the evening for an additional $35. It’s a great way to support Barnsdall Art Park programming, which just recently narrowly escaped the threat of city budget cuts.

Once again, L.A.’s big Pride celebration has splintered into two similar events this June. The familiar L.A. Pride has left behind West Hollywood for Hollywood, where the LGBTQ+ event first began in the 1970s. Meanwhile, WeHo will still be staging its own inclusive festival, WeHo Pride, the week before, with an accompanying music festival, OUTLOUD. Confused? Don’t worry, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about L.A. Pride, WeHo Pride and each event’s Pride Parade.

In 1974, oil magnate J. Paul Getty opened a museum of his holdings in a faux villa in a Pacific Palisades canyon. Eventually the decorative arts and paintings were moved to the Getty Center, and the villa converted into a museum for Getty’s collection of Mediterranean antiquities. After the Palisades Fire this January, the Getty Villa temporarily closed its doors, but it’s finally reopening on June 27 (it’s free, but advance reservations are required). Even if you’re not interested in the art, the palatial courtyards and manicured gardens are worth the visit.

Endless summers in Los Angeles mean nonstop cravings for the best ice cream and soft-serve in the city. When temperatures climb, treat yourself to the city’s tastiest frozen treats—whether in a cone or a cup, spread inside a doughnut, scooped into a coconut or squeezed between two cookies.

Everyone’s favorite NPR member station has a hand in a slew of summer concert slates at public plazas and beloved museums. Familiar KCRW DJs and local buzz bands will be providing free, open-air tunes on select nights from June through September at local venues including Union Station, CAAM, Descanso Gardens, Bowers Museum, Wende Museum, the Autry and—our favorite—the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza.

What is it that they say about smog? Oh yeah, beautiful sunsets. Make L.A.’s haze work for you at these cocktail bars and beachside spots, where the views rightfully rival the booze. From Downtown L.A.’s tower-topping bars to Malibu’s seaside cabanas, we’ve picked out the best bars in L.A. with a view.

As sunset creeps later and later into the evening, the Huntington is taking advantage of the extra daylight with a coveted after-hours series. Formerly open just to members, Twilight Garden Strolls is now open to the public, too, and will extend the San Marino garden’s hours until 8pm on select evenings in the summer. Just a heads-up that you’ll need a timed ticket that’s separate from regular morning or afternoon admission.

This epic (and free) outdoor concert series features live performances by artists from around the world at the totally overhauled California Plaza stage in DTLA; what was once a pool of shallow water separating the stage from the audience has more recently been replaced by a proper event lawn. Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix of bands, DJ sets and dance parties. And on Friday nights, you’ll find a mix of poetry, film and classical music.

With its Downtown-skyline backdrop, lotus flower blooms and spraying fountains, this onetime drinking-water reservoir is now the perfect recreational destination. Today, you can walk the track around the lake or pedal your way through it in a swan boat—set sail in the evening for an illuminated, extra-romantic twist.

Known for excellent film choices and a steady supply of snacks and booze, Rooftop Cinema Club was the first series to hit town with a tough-to-beat alfresco setup: You’ll watch from comfy chairs with the audio piped in over wireless headphones, though you can still keep up with some quieter sets of speakers as you hit up the concession stand. It screens an impressive mix of new releases, recent classics and even TV marathons.

Gas prices have really put a damper on some of our favorite day trip destinations these past couple of years. So how can you still satisfy your wanderlust without succumbing to the prices at the pump? (Aside from road-tripping in an EV?) Try these nearby destinations that are reachable by boat, Metro or Amtrak—all within three hours or less for a trip starting at Union Station.

A little bit coastal and a whole lot of a party, Christopher Tompkins’s popular Smorgasburg stall (and now Grand Central Market stand) also has a permanent home tucked into a Malibu strip mall, where a pair of tented decks in the parking lot look out over the coastal hillside. It’s the perfect setting to grab a beer or some natural wine and our favorite lobster rolls in town (available warm and buttered or East Coast–style, chilled and in a thin sheen of mayo).

Small, beautiful and dominated by rocky outcrops, El Matador is easily the most picturesque piece of coastline in the county. Wear shoes and don’t bring too much gear; the western Malibu beach is only accessible via a steep gravelly path from a paid parking lot (unless you score a free pass with your library card). There are no lifeguards or other facilities, but it’s the perfect spot to spread your towel in the cupped hands of the rocks—just watch out for high tide when sand comes at a premium. Arriving early or staying late should reward you with a memorable dawn or sunset.

No we’re not talking about the experimental genre, free jazz: Jazz at LACMA is a free seasonal series that’s featured legit legends over its three-decade run at the museum. The beloved program is back again for the season on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light). Get there early for a seat, or pack a picnic and sit in the grass (where you can still hear the music, even if you can’t see it). 

The allure of the canyons is inescapable once your car climbs their well-worn roads. The era of folk and free love trickled out of the mainstream but never left the canyons. Magic is still hidden around every bend in these mountains, and it’s yours to discover. So, fill up your gas tank and head for the hills.

The L.A. Conservancy offers a delightful summer time machine in the form of landmark films screened inside Downtown’s grand old movie palaces throughout the month of June. This year’s lineup includes The Freshman and Roman Holiday at the Orpheum on June 7, a Hitchcock Double Feature of The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes at the United Theater on Broadway June 14, and High Noon and Carmen Jones at the Million Dollar Theatre on June 21.

Looking for a hike that’ll wash away those beads of sweat midway through it? Try a waterfall hike. Even though some of them are down to a trickle in the middle of the summer, it’ll still be enough to help you cool down along the way. Wondering where to start? Try our favorite waterfall hikes—while Eaton Canyon and Escondido Falls are still out of commission due to the wildfires, Sturtevant Falls and Solstice Canyon are once again open to hikers. 

Looking for lit? If you’re book shopping in Los Angeles, look no further. We’ve found the best shops and independent retailers offering art books, travel guides, political tomes and children’s tales. Check out these top booksellers—including a new Valley location of the Last Bookstore—for the best bargains, out-of-print titles, author readings and community events.

Take a walk along the palm- and eucalyptus-lined bluffs, and it becomes obvious why tourists flock to Santa Monica. With the beach on one side and mountains on another, it’s the essence of that postcard picture of Southern California’s coastline. You’ll find more than just a beach town, though; there are plenty of things to do in Santa Monica without setting foot on the Pier or Third Street Promenade, from fresh dinners prepared straight from the farmers’ market to bars with a view.

Speaking of, one of our favorite places in Santa Monica started as an opulent beachfront estate built by William Randolph Hearst for Hollywood star Marion Davies in the 1920s and is now a modern, community beach club open to the public, thanks to Wallis Annenberg of the Annenberg Foundation. The five-acre beach house accommodates a main house with a rec room plus all sorts of courts, fields and rentals. But the main attraction is that gorgeous pool, which opens on Memorial Day weekend, runs daily from mid-June through Labor Day, and then stays open on weekends through September.

For more than 50 years, the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in idyllic Topanga Canyon has drawn theatre aficionados to its storied, open-air stage for engaging productions in a magical setting. This season’s lineup (June 7–Sept 15) includes William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Meanwhile, the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival celebrates 15 years of free performances above the Old Zoo, and the also-free (but somewhat misnomered) Shakespeare by the Sea tours its productions from the South Bay and Long Beach to Downtown and even Encino.

Every Sunday you can find dozens of food vendors at this market at ROW DTLA, with a mix of much-loved pop-ups and future foodie stars. Look out for this year’s new vendors, including Afro-Caribbean cuisine from withBee, Lebanese street food from Teta and ice cream tacos from Sad Girl Creamery—as well as the sweets-focused Ice Cream Alley, which usually starts in July and runs throughout the summer.

Everyone needs to escape the city sometimes—even this one—and there’s no better place for hiking, camping and exploring than Southern California. We’re surrounded by miles of beachy coastline and forested mountains—maybe save the desert for another season. Pack your bag, grab a map and take your pick of these rustic weekend getaways.

Nature lovers, rejoice! Spend a day at the NHM’s Butterfly Pavilion with about 30 butterfly and moth species and an assortment of California plants. The seasonal outdoor exhibit allows for adults and children alike to witness nature up close—we’re talking seeing hundreds of bufferflies take flight and some even landing on your arms or shoulders.

Perched over the Pacific in San Pedro sits one of the most idyllic spots in all of L.A.: the Korean Bell of Friendship. The mighty metallic bell’s rusty green finish complements the ornately painted hipped roof—its paint job has seen better days, but that doesn’t detract from the beauty of the 1976 goodwill gift from South Korea. The exposed, grassy bluff is an ideal spot to fly a kite or just lounge in the grass of Angels Gate Park.

Manhattan Beach boasts two miles of sparkly coastline, almost all of it stacked with dreamy hillside homes. Most of the activity is centered around the walkable waterfront slope of Manhattan Beach Boulevard, with additional shops and an increasingly essential dining scene trailing along Manhattan Avenue as well. Head down to the beach for countless volleyball nets, the Manhattan Beach Pier and the Strand, the bike and walking path that traces the shoreline.

Can’t make it to the beach? Roll out a blanket instead at one L.A.’s beautiful parks. Whether you’re an art aficionado or a devoted dog owner, there’s a slice of nature that fits your lifestyle. So take a stroll through our favorite (and free) parks in Los Angeles.

The late-night snacker’s greatest fantasy is just a car ride away. America’s first large-scale night market takes over Santa Anita Park’s Paddock Gardens during select summer weekends. Come hungry and caffeinated—this lively market, complete with over 250 Asian street food and booze peddlers, live music, artists, games and more, won’t put itself to bed until 11pm. 

The original Muscle Beach (located on Ocean Front Walk, off Appian Way between Pacific Terrace and Arcadia Terrace) has plenty of regulars, gawking tourists and a healthy crowd of amateurs. On weekends, you’ll see some amazing beach gymnasts, and the vibe is friendly—be courteous and don’t hog the ropes, and they’ll offer tips or share handfuls of chalk (you can also usually find chalk left in the sand near the rope swings).

Whether you’re at the Greek or the Bowl or in a field for a music fest, there’s nothing quite like the vibes of a summer concert. We’ve broken down the biggest and best summer concerts in L.A. with a month-by-month calendar, as well as some ongoing free series like Off the 405 at the Getty Center and 10 shows at Levitt Pavilion in MacArthur Park.

Can’t quite jet out to the Riviera? Consider the two-hour drive up the coast the next best thing. Regardless of whether you’re a beach person, you’ll never be at a loss for what to do in Santa Barbara thanks to some lush landmarks, a thriving culinary scene and a walkable urban wine trail.

Silver Lake’s Reservoir has two dog parks (one big, one small), a basketball court, playground and field for the kiddies and a 2.2-mile trail around its entirety. It’s also home to the Meadow, a soft, grassy knoll overlooking the water where visitors can lounge, play a game of Frisbee or bocce, and picnic. You can’t go wrong picking up a spread of gourmet goodies from nearby Botanica Restaurant & Market.

Sure, L.A. may not be brimming with that Oktoberfest spirit, but you will find a few choice beer gardens about town. We’re not only focusing on German-style taprooms in the list at the link below—yes, we’ve included some of our favorite Bavarian-inspired beer bars, but also some spots that simply have patios too pretty to pass up.

Leo Carrillo offers the best of both worlds—a well-equipped stretch of sand with seclusion and scenic beauty. Stretching 1.5 miles across the north tip of Malibu, the beach calls to nature lovers with tide pools on the rock-dotted coastline and a nearby trail. And don’t forget Fido: This is one of the rare beaches where (leashed) dogs are allowed to roam north/west of the lifeguard tower.

Rosie’s Dog Beach, a four-acre waterfront spot, is the only legal off-leash dog beach in L.A. County. The park is named after the area’s late local canine celebrity, Rosie the English bulldog. You can easily spot the dog-friendly area by the colorful “Dogs at Play” silhouette—so you’ll want to stay between Granada Avenue and Roycroft Avenue between 6am and 8pm daily.

Now that the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association handles the lineup at the Ford, it feels like a continuation of the schedule at its Cahuenga Pass neighbor, the Hollywood Bowl—in the best way possible. This season, which runs from mid-July through Halloween, includes sets from L.A. rap group the Pharcyde, Juanita & Juan joined by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Andy Grammer, Béla Fleck and the Flecktones and comedy troupe The Improvised Shakespeare Company, as well as three Studio Ghibli film screenings.

Who needs a gym membership when you have hidden staircases, running loops and public equipment by the beach? Case in point: The nearly 200 steps at the twin Santa Monica stairs are a mecca for hard bodies and weekend fitness warriors who also jump rope, stretch, jog and power through pull-ups, push-ups and sit-ups in between climbing.

Rooftops aren’t just for bars anymore: Unlike their booze-focused counterparts, these mostly open-air rooftop eateries offer gorgeous views and excellent (rather than merely passable) food. More than a handful are in the skyscrapers of Downtown, but you’ll find spots all over the city in our full list.

The open-streets tradition welcomes bikes, tricycles, skateboards, strollers and basically anything else without an engine to ride a rotating cast of car-free routes. This summer’s events include: Historic South Central meets Watts (June 22) and Culver City meets Venice (Aug 17), plus CicLAmini, a shorter one-to-two–mile pedestrian-focused event in San Pedro (Sept 14). Meanwhile, Active Streets (June 22) brings a similar concept to the San Gabriel Valley, as well as the inaugural Let’s Go Glendale (May 31).

Downing a Dodger Dog in Chavez Ravine just screams summer to us. But as much as we love Dodger Stadium, watching the game there is only half of the experience: If you’re looking for somewhere to host a celebratory meal—or drown your sorrows—after a Dodgers game, you’ll find the surrounding areas of Echo Park teeming with dive bars and taco trucks.

Just about every outdoor screening series has The Sandlot in their lineup. But you know what they don’t have? Dodger Stadium. Catch a screening of the ’90s baseball classic from the outfield grass at Chavez Ravine; the film will be screened on the DodgerVision videoboards. Before the screening, expect photo ops, pressbox tours, specialty concessions and some pitching in the bullpens.

Island vibes and stiff drinks are just a boat ride away. Accessible via the Catalina Express—with ferry launches in Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point—Catalina Island sports two landings: Two Harbors beckons overnight backpackers, while the walkable main port Avalon is suitable for a single-day visit. Chill out along the coast at the Descanso Beach Club, or channel your adventurous side with a zip line tour.

Listen to classical and jazz in a dome more than a mile above L.A. during this mountaintop concert series. Once again, the Mount Wilson Observatory is hosting monthly jazz and classical summer concerts inside the dome of its 100-inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest telescope in the world for much of the first half of the 20th century. The observatory also hosts its Talks & Telescopes lecture series, which allows you to stargaze through its telescopes, and—new this year—Matinees on the Mountain, sci-fi and astronomy-inspired film screenings inside the auditorium.

Tucked between the grimy Venice Boardwalk and the posh Abbot Kinney, the Venice Canals offer a completely different side of the famed beachfront neighborhood. Take a stroll through these three canal-lined blocks—hence the name, Venice—and you’ll discover an idyllic scene: arching pedestrian bridges, charming beach houses, bunches of ducklings and the occasional paddleboarding bulldog. You can even bring your own non-motorized vessel to tour the neighborhood at water level (enter via the launch ramp at Venice Boulevard).

When you’re craving wines by the flights but a boozy weekend getaway among the vines just isn’t in the cards (or you just can’t go back to Malibu Wines again this month), worry not. L.A.’s wine shops are the next best thing. Just like visiting a winery, you’ll pay a fee to sip through a flight of wines based on a theme—maybe all reds or whites, or all New World Zinfandels—and walk away with discounted bottles.

Whether a day trip or a Metro ride away, music fests around L.A. are back in full swing. So lace up a comfortable pair of shoes and dive into the pit, because we’re tracking SoCal’s biggest upcoming fests below, from single-day affairs to camping excursions.

Consistently good seafood (think fresh lobster, shrimp tacos and New England clam chowder)—not to mention an unbeatable waterfront location—makes this iconic Malibu lunch and dinner spot, which first opened in 1956, a popular choice for families, beach bums and regular old fried-food lovers.

Whether you intend to or not, you’re going to see some fireworks on the Fourth of July—or at the very least hear them, thanks to Angelenos’ summer-long affair with very-much-illegal amateur pyro. Even beyond the Fourth, you can still catch some pro-level fireworks on the regular at Disneyland, on Friday nights after home games at Dodger Stadium, during select shows at the Hollywood Bowl or, very likely, some smaller stuff nightly in your neighborhood.

Malibu Seafood has been offering up super-fresh seafood and sunny views of the Pacific since 1972—and the line probably hasn’t let up once during that span. The wait’s worth it, though, for some of the freshest fish around. What it lacks in Neptune’s Net’s biker ’tude, it makes up for with those perfect, salt-tinged fish sticks and thick-cut steak fries.

Thanks to our weather, L.A. is blessed with outdoor movie screenings year-round, but on days when temps reach triple digits, hanging outside isn’t always the most appealing option. That’s when movie theaters, and their AC, shine. When you’re looking for the best possible place to plant yourself for two-plus hours of cinematic bliss (or just the latest popcorn blockbuster), there are a few spots that rise above the rest. Three of our cinemas—the TCL Chinese Theatre, New Beverly Cinema and Egyptian Theatre—have even been deemed some of the most beautiful movie theaters in the world.

You know what keeps us from going to the beach more often? Beach traffic. But if you’re on a bike, coordinating a day by the water is that much easier—in fact, we’d say the same for nearly every major recreational area in L.A. That’s why we think this list of our favorite bike trails is even more useful amid summer crowds.

The Pacific Ocean is just too cold, even in the summer. If you’re looking for something a bit warmer, a bounty of healing hot springs exists just beyond the city limits. In addition to the better-known concentration of hot spring resorts in the Palm Springs area, there’s a smattering of hidden oases waiting to be explored—clothing optional.

This is the road of classic lookout/makeout points, Hollywood chase scenes and scenic splendor. Roll the windows down and avoid cross-town traffic with a drive along the entirety of the scenic highway—and make sure to stop at these half-dozen or so overlooks—all in less than an hour.

Explore the many free attractions in L.A.—from museums to iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, we’ve listed the best places to visit on a budget. Whether you’re looking to get outdoors, spot celebs or explore a new neighborhood, read on for must-see L.A. attractions that won’t cost you a thing. Plus, check out our guide of the best free events happening each month.

Among the National Park System’s 52-million-plus acres of land, we’re lucky enough to have 14 destinations within driving distance of L.A. (which we’re defining here as within eight hours or less). Some are perfect for a day trip, other are best fit for an entire weekend—either way, you should try to visit all of these spots at least once.

The Music Center offers a free, joyous mash-up of music and dancing all summer long, with different themes (salsa, Bollywood, cumbia and disco among them) and free dance lessons, plus live DJ sets. Head to the Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza and join in the fun—no dance experience required.

It’s been a century since Don the Beachcomber first opened in Hollywood, but tiki culture still looms large in the psyche of Southern Californians. To guide you in your next island-inspired night out, we’ve rounded up L.A. County’s outstanding old-timers, plus the new-school tiki bars worth putting on your radar. No matter which place you pick, these places serve killer cocktails, from classics like the mai tai and the zombie to newer creations made with lighter spirits and even a few nonalcoholic alternatives. 

Want to cool off during the summer? Go to the beach. Not near the water? Try a public swimming pool. But what if you want to get wet and have an offroad adventure at the same time? That’s where swimming holes come in. Part day trip, part wilderness trek, these mountainous oases offer a cool dip in a scenic locale, oftentimes at the end of a waterfall hike. If you’re not afraid of a bit of walking and fecal bacteria—we’re only half-joking—then reward yourself with a dip in one of these swimming holes near L.A.

L.A.’s perpetually pleasant weather (occasional triple-digit summer days aside) means never-ending opportunities for outdoor dining. But sometimes a patio just can’t beat a bunch of friends digging into some cheese on a blanket. For those occasions, we’ve picked out 20 of our favorite picnic spots.

Need to bring some snacks along? Here’s where to stock up on picnic food.

Maybe you live right by the water and this seems like an obvious one. But for those of us inland, sometimes it’s easy to forget that we’re just a freeway-jammed drive or, in the case of Santa Monica, Metro ride away from the beach. No matter your starting location, landing on which beach is another challenge entirely, so we’ve singled out 11 of our favorites below.

Sometimes you just want to tune everything out and scream your head off on a roller coaster—even if it means putting up with the notoriously packed summertime crowds at the handful of theme parks near L.A. Will Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood be packed? You bet (especially with Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebrations going on). But with a little bit of patience (or the extra cash for front-of-line passes), will you still have a blast? Absolutely.

One of our favorite things about L.A. is that you can leave its urban sprawl at a moment’s notice and suddenly find yourself surrounded by nature just a few miles outside of town. Whether you’re interested in a whole weekend getaway (hello, Vegas or Big Sur) or need a nearby day trip to get some fresh air (maybe Joshua Tree?), this list linked below has a destination for every kind of traveler.

Celebrate the (potential though likely just ceremonial) bloom of Echo Park Lake’s beloved floating flowers with the annual Lotus Festival. The historic fest celebrates the contributions of Asian Americans to L.A., and this year, the 44th, will honor the Korean community. Expect plenty of food, music, dance, carnival rides, dragon boat races and—if we’re lucky—the lotus flower beds in full bloom. Lantern launches will take place during the concurrent Lights of Dreams Festival (Sat, Sun 1:30–9pm), and this year marks the first Lotus 5K Run/Walk (Sun 8am). 

Mix fried food, carnival attractions and the occasional rodeo or demolition derby, and you’ve got the OC Fair. What started as a quaint fair in 1889 has since grown into a nearly monthlong fest that actually boasts a pretty impressive live-music lineup.

This delightful tribute to the horticultural magic of Southern California includes more than 600 varieties of camellia and some five acres of roses. There are also lilac, orchid, fern and California native plant areas, as well as a teahouse donated by the Japanese American community. And during the Summer Music & Dance Series (June 12, July 10, Aug 14), you can enjoy global music and dance on the main lawn.

Seasonal fave Street Food Cinema has made its way back to its old park-hopping format. SFC screenings show crowd pleasers and recent releases paired with an assortment of food trucks and even a live performance from a cool local band or DJ. Look for it at a bunch of parks across the city, including L.A. State Historic Park and the Autry Museum (some of which are dog-friendly).

The World Naked Bike Ride hits L.A. each year with its bare-as-you-dare dress code to fight “indecent exposure to cars” and promote both a healthy planet and body acceptance. The 2025 ride will expose itself Saturday, June 28. So far, WNBR hasn’t announced route details, but more info will be announced in the weeks leading up to the event.

Say goodbye to dusty thoroughfares and violent porta-potties: Splash House takes the music festival concept off of sweltering desert land and places it poolside. Movers and shakers at this multi-location getdown are shuttled between the Saguaro, the Margaritaville and the Renaissance (with after-hours programming at the Palm Springs Air Museum) to lap up big-name dance acts and DJ sets.

Grab your Dr. Jekyll potions, your wooden stakes and practice your best slasher-film screams because one of the country’s biggest horror conventions is back. Fans of the macabre will descend on the Long Beach Convention Center to see some of the biggest names in the genre lead panels, sign autographs and pose for pictures—all in between shopping for scary goods from some 300 vendors.

Life imitates art, literally: Classic paintings, statues and murals take on a new dimension as real people dress and pose to recreate original masterpieces—a trick popularized by vaudeville artiste Lolita Perine at the first festival in 1932. Yes, the Arrested Development joke is actually a real thing, but there’s an undeniable charm to this Laguna Beach tradition that makes it worth checking out at least once, and this year’s California-themed showcase is a good excuse to make the drive to the OC.

There are drive-worthy eats in every direction from Los Angeles, but some of the best lie within three hours north of the city, and to get there you’ll need to travel up some of the most beautiful coastline in the world. (Tough life, right?) We’ve strung together a perfect foodie itinerary between here and Los Alamos that you’ll find at the link below.

Eddie Vedder’s end-of-summer Ohana Festival once again lands at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, and the Pearl Jam lead singer headlines night one. This year’s edition from September 26 to 28 also includes Kings of Leon, Green Day, Cage the Elephant, Hozier, Leon Bridges and more.