THE BEST OF LOS ANGELES IN 2023 - FESTIVALS

Traditional lion dancers in Chinatown

Photo: Ruben Chairez - Los Angeles Chinatown

Firecracker Run, Facebook

Celebrate LA's diverse communities at festivals taking place across the city all year long.

OSHOGATSU FAMILY FESTIVAL - LITTLE TOKYO

Hosted by the Japanese American National Museum, the annual Oshogatsu Family Festival welcomes the Year of the Rabbit 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 Ichiyanagi; interactive storytimes and a scavenger hunt. Free admission, RSVP at the JANM website. (JAN. 8)

LUNAR NEW YEAR - CHINATOWN

Downtown LA's historic Chinatown ignites the Year of the Rabbit with the Midnight Temple Ceremony at Thien Hau Temple - participants make offerings to deities and burn incense for good fortune; traditional lion dancers will perform; and 500,000 firecrackers will scare away evil spirits for an auspicious start to the new year. The Lunar New Year festivities culminate with the 120+ year-old Golden Dragon Parade and festival, with more than 110,000 spectators lining the route. The Golden Dragon Parade is the oldest celebration of its kind in the U.S.( JAN. 22)

ROLLING LOUD - HOLLYWOOD PARK GROUNDS

Taking place at the Hollywood Park Grounds adjacent to SoFi Stadium, Rolling Loud California features a stacked lineup led by headliners Playboi Carti (March 3), Travis Scott (March 4), Future (March 5) and special guest Lil Wayne. Rolling Loud will be the first music festival hosted at the 300-acre Hollywood Park Grounds. (MARCH 3-5)

TCM CLASSIC FILM FESTIVAL 

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 some of the world’s most iconic venues, with the people who made them. The festival will cover a wide range of programming topics, including its 2023 theme, "You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet: Celebrating Film Legacies." (APRIL 13-16)

Photo: Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, Facebook

FESTIVAL OF BOOKS - USC

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. (APRIL 22-23)

RUPAUL'S DRAGCON - LACC

RuPaul's DragCon | Photo: World of Wonder

RuPaul's DragCon is back, back, back again at the Los Angeles Convention Center on May 12 and 13! 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.  (MAY 12-13)

LA FLEET WEEK - LA WATERFRONT

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.  (MAY 26-29)

LA PRIDE

Los Angeles has a long and rich history in the LGBTQ+ community, from one of the country's earliest Pride demonstrations at Silver Lake's Black Cat bar in 1967, to the world’s first permitted parade advocating for gay rights that was organized in 1970. In 2022, LA Pride returned to its roots, presenting its world-famous parade in Hollywood, along with the LA Pride in the Park festival, featuring a headlining set by Christina Aguilera.  (JUNE)

 

ANIME EXPO

AX Masquerade & World Cosplay Summit USA Finals
Photo: Anime Expo

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.  (JULY 1-4)

AMERICAFEST

For nearly 100 years, Rose Bowl Stadium has hosted AmericaFest, recognized as one of the nation’s largest and longest running shows to celebrate America’s birthday. Festivities include a thirty-minute motocross show, music performances, family-friendly activities and a spectacular fireworks display.  (JULY 4)

LEIMERT PARK JAZZ FESTIVAL

One of LA’s premier summertime music events, the Leimert Park Jazz Festival celebrates jazz, community and the cultural heritage of the historic South LA neighborhood of Leimert Park.  (AUG. 26)

NISEI WEEK 

Spanning two weekends and nine days of family-friendly events in Little Tokyo, Nisei Week includes the Grand Parade, Plaza Festival, Car Show, and traditional performances of Taiko and Ondo. (AUGUST)

WATTS TOWERS FESTIVALS

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.  (SEPTEMBER)

 

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS - HOLLYWOOD FOREVER

Día de los Muertos | Photo: Hollywood Forever

Taking place at the historic Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the 24th Annual Día de los Muertos is California's largest celebration of the Mexican holiday that honors loved ones who have passed away. The festival features two separate events: the family-friendly Día de los Muertos is a daytime event with a children’s plaza; and Noche de los Muertos in the evening. Both events feature traditional ofrendas (altars), live music, cultural performances, art exhibitions, Aztecs, traditional dance, arts & crafts vendors, and culinary vendors.  (OCT. 28)

MARIACHI FESTIVAL 

Now in its 34th year, the Mariachi Festival & Fiesta Anual de Santa Cecilia is a free, all-day event taking place at Mariachi Plaza in Boyle Heights. The annual festival is a cultural exchange of Mariachi music, folklórico art and heritage passed on from generation to generation. The Mariachi Festival is usually held on or near November 22 - the Feast Day of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music and musicians. (NOVEMBER)

*Source: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board
633 West 5th Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90071, USA