July 2024 events calendar for Los Angeles

Nobody’s film credits can compare to John Williams: Star Wars, E.T., Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter and literally a hundred others. David Newman and Williams himself both conduct the LA Phil as they tackle some of the composer’s iconic film scores set to a selection of movie clips.

Celebrate the (potential though likely just ceremonial) bloom of Echo Park Lake’s beloved floating flowers with the annual Lotus Festival. Expect plenty of food, music, dragon boat races, lantern launches and—if we’re lucky—the lotus flower beds in full bloom. The historic event celebrates the contributions of Asian-Americans to L.A., and this year, the 43rd, will honor the Filipino community.

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

Do you hear the theater kids sing? Singing the songs of Boublil and Schönberg? Expect thousands of theater fans to pack the Hollywood Bowl for this all-star tribute to the duo of lyricist Alain Boublil and composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, who were responsible for the musicals Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre, The Pirate Queen and La Révolution Française.

We thought this year’s Hollywood Bowl lineup was already kenough, but here’s one more addition that has us dreaming in pink: Barbie will screen at the Bowl this summer with a live orchestra performing the score. On July 27, conductor Macy Schmidt will lead the Barbie Land Sinfonietta, an all-women, majority women-of-color orchestra, in a performance that accompanies a showing of the Greta Gerwig film.

It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult favorites to the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel. The series typically releases its slate one month at a time, with summertime screenings at the cemetery and a few off-site ones on either end of the season.

Celebrate gender swapping culture and couture at this colossal convention from drag juggernaut RuPaul. Meet queens, pop culture personalities and previous RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants—plus an appearance by RuPaul.

Relive songs and clips from ’80s and ’90s Disney movies, performed by guest singers and backed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, during this summertime show. Films include The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Mulan, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Hocus Pocus, Newsies, A Goofy Movie and more.

If you’re on the hunt for a cheap, lively way to celebrate Uncle Sam, shake it over to Grand Park, and watch Downtown L.A. light up for free—though this time around, the park has swapped out fireworks for drones. This Fourth of July, Grand Park hosts a unique block party, featuring scrumptious food truck fare and two stages of live music. The tunes begins while the sun is still high in the sky, so bring yourself an all-day picnic—no booze allowed, only empty water bottles—and relax. Best of all, the event is Metro accessible via the Civic Center/Grand Park station (though $10 parking is also available at the Music Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall). Look out for the drone show—a flurry of some 500 iluminated drones above the Music Center—around 9pm.

Now one of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions, Barnsdall Park’s wine tastings regularly attract sell-out crowds. Perched atop Olive Hill on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House (which you can tour during the evening for an additional $25), the Barnsdall Friday fund raisers include fine selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine with a spectacular sunset and 360-degree views of the city. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just nosh on the variety of food trucks parked up there.