The Best of LA in 2024: Festivals
Celebrate LA's diverse communities at festivals taking place across the city all year long.
For more of the Best of LA in 2024, check out our Ultimate Guide.
OSHOGATSU FAMILY FESTIVAL - LITTLE TOKYO (JAN. 7)
Hosted by the Japanese American National Museum, the annual Oshogatsu Family Festival welcomes the Year of the Dragon with cultural performances, crafts, and activities for families and kids of all ages. Highlights include a traditional mochitsuki (Japanese rice pounding ritual) performance by Kodama Taiko; candy sculpture demos by "Shan the Candyman"; interactive storytimes and a scavenger hunt. Free admission, RSVP at the JANM website.
LUNAR NEW YEAR - CHINATOWN (FEBRUARY)
Historic Chinatown ignites the Year of the Dragon with the Midnight Temple Ceremony at Thien Hau Temple - visitors make offerings and burn incense for good fortune; traditional lion dancers perform; and firecrackers will scare away evil spirits for an auspicious start to the new year. The Lunar New Year festivities will culminate with the 125th Annual Golden Dragon Parade and festival on February 17, with more than 100,000 spectators lining the route to watch floats, marching bands, entertainers, local business leaders and cultural groups. The Golden Dragon Parade is the oldest celebration of its kind in the U.S.
TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL (APRIL 18-21)
Held over four days in the heart of Hollywood, the TCM Classic Film Festival welcomes movie lovers from around the world to gather and watch classic movies as they were meant to be experienced: on the big screen, in historic venues, with the people who made them.
FESTIVAL OF BOOKS - USC (APRIL 20-21)
Since 1996, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books has gathered writers, poets, artists, filmmakers, musicians and emerging storytellers. Taking place at USC, the festival is the largest event of its kind in the country.
NETFLIX IS A JOKE (MAY 2-12, 2024)
The biggest comedy festival in North America, Netflix Is a Joke Fest will feature the best comedians and artists in the world performing 300+ live stand-up shows, special events, table reads, sketches and more. The 11-day festival will take over renowned venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre, Dolby Theatre, Kia Forum, the Palladium, Orpheum Theatre and the Wiltern; as well as historic comedy venues, including the Hollywood Improv, Largo, Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store.
LA FLEET WEEK - LA WATERFRONT (MAY 22-27)
LA Fleet Week® is an annual celebration of our nation’s Sea Services, held on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles over Memorial Day Weekend. Public events include: active duty ship tours; military displays and equipment demos; aircraft flyovers, live entertainment and the ever-popular Galley Wars, a cook-off competition between Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Army teams.
ANIME EXPO (JULY 4-7)
The largest anime convention in North America, the Anime Expo (AX) is held annually over July 4th Weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Downtown LA. Each year, the four-day AX welcomes more than 100,000 fans to celebrate Japanese pop culture and experience the Masquerade, Anime Music Video Contest, concerts, and the epic Fashion Show. There's also late-night programming such as dance, video screenings, tabletop and electronic gaming, and open-mic karaoke.
RUPAUL'S DRAGCON - LACC (JULY 19-20)
RuPaul's DragCon is back, back, back again at the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 19-20! Don't miss out on the most iconic weekend ever with all of your favorite Drag Race queens, incredible shopping vendors, show-stopping performances and surprises, thousands of like-minded drag enthusiasts just like you, and SO. MUCH. MORE.
WATTS TOWERS FESTIVALS (SEPT / OCT)
For more than 40 years, the iconic Watts Towers has hosted a weekend of cultural festivals: the Day of the Drum Festival and the Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival. Both events are free and feature an all-star line-up of international recording artists, local jazz greats, percussionists and dancers. The weekend includes art exhibitions, supervised children's activities, plus food and arts & crafts vendors.
