PIC CREDIT @HOLLYWOODBOWL
list updated for 2026.
If you’re looking for a great list of things to do in Los Angeles in August, you’ve come to the right place. The month of August is packed with seasonal events. It is a great time to explore the city!
This guide highlights some of the best events taking place across Los Angeles throughout August. From cultural celebrations and outdoor entertainment to concerts, community festivals, and family activities, you’ll find a variety of options happening across the region.
Keep reading to discover what’s happening this month and start planning your next outing.
1 – Top Festivals in Los Angeles In August
Description:
If you’re looking to experience the city’s diverse culture, August is an excellent time to explore some of Los Angeles’ most popular festivals. From family-friendly community celebrations to major music events, there is something for every interest.
The Afro-Latino Culture Fest is on August 1 at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles. This free community celebration highlights the rich traditions of the Afro-Latino diaspora through live music, DJs, dance performances, artisan vendors, interactive cultural activities, and authentic food representing Afro-Latino and Afro-Caribbean communities.
Jazz fans can also experience the Leimert Park Jazz Festival on August 29, where internationally acclaimed musicians and emerging artists come together for a full day of performances celebrating the rich jazz heritage of South Los Angeles.
The festival offers an energetic atmosphere that brings together great music, local culture, and community spirit.
Celebrate inclusion and community at San Pedro Pride on August 15 at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, a vibrant waterfront festival featuring live entertainment, food vendors, family-friendly activities, local exhibitors, and an atmosphere that welcomes visitors of all ages.
If electronic dance music is more your style, don’t miss HARD Summer, one of Southern California’s premier music festivals.
The annual event brings together world-renowned DJs, multiple performance stages, immersive art installations, and an electric festival atmosphere that attracts thousands of music fans from around the world, making it one of the biggest entertainment events of the Los Angeles summer season.
Location: various
2 – The Best Free Activities in August
Description:
The month of August always brings great activities for the whole family in Los Angeles and on this list they are all free!
Kick off the month on Saturday, August 1, with the IBTU 7th Annual Back 2 School Festival at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, where families can enjoy free resources and family-oriented festivities. Or head over to the Sunkist Library in La Puente from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM for a creative DIY Back-to-School Pencil Box workshop, perfect for kids ages 5 to 12.
Later in the month, mark your calendar for Sunday, August 16, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, to catch the FREE Back-to-School Supply Giveaway & Family Fun Day at Eucalyptus Park in Hawthorne, featuring essential school supply distributions, entertainment, and a wonderful community vibe
Outdoor movie nights continue across Los Angeles throughout August, offering memorable evenings under the stars. Beach Movie Nights at the Dockweiler Youth Center in Playa del Rey will screen The Princess and the Frog on August 7, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs on August 14, Elf on August 21, and The Nightmare Before Christmas on August 28.
Along the waterfront, Marina Movie Nights at Burton Chace Park in Marina del Rey feature Scott Pilgrim vs. the World on August 22 and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 on August 29.
In Westwood Village, Cinema Under the Stars at Broxton Plaza presents Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on August 8 and Back to the Future on August 22, while the City of Alhambra hosts additional free Summer Concerts and Movies in the Park throughout the month.
Bring the kids to the 4th Annual LA Kids Book Festival at West Hollywood Park on Sunday, August 23, which celebrates early literacy and bilingualism with a day of author readings and interactive booths.
Music lovers can also enjoy the popular Jazz at LACMA concert series, where acclaimed musicians perform free outdoor concerts on Friday evenings at the museum.
Students can take advantage of free admission to The Arboretum and South Coast Botanic Garden through Labor Day by presenting a valid student ID, making August an excellent time to explore two of Southern California’s most beautiful botanical gardens before the school year begins.
With free festivals, concerts, outdoor movies, educational programs, and park activities taking place throughout the region, August offers countless opportunities to experience the best of Los Angeles free of charge.
Location: various
3 – Best Splash Pads
Description:
When summer temperatures rise, Los Angeles offers plenty of places where kids can cool off while enjoying the outdoors. From neighborhood splash pads and scenic recreation areas to interactive fountains and theme park attractions, these destinations provide the perfect way to beat the August heat while creating lasting family memories.
Families looking for free water play will find several excellent options throughout Los Angeles County. Alondra Park Splash Pad in Lawndale is one of the county’s popular seasonal splash pads, featuring colorful spray features alongside playgrounds, picnic areas, sports fields, and a beautiful fishing lake, making it easy to spend an entire afternoon outdoors.
Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale offers another favorite summer destination with a large splash pad, swimming beach, playgrounds, hiking trails, fishing, and spacious picnic areas surrounded by the scenic San Gabriel Valley foothills.
In Downtown Los Angeles, Gloria Molina Grand Park invites children to cool off in its interactive splash fountain while parents relax on the surrounding lawns or grab a treat at the Starbucks next to it.
For families planning a day at Universal Studios Hollywood, Super Silly Fun Land combines an exciting splash zone with colorful water shooters, fountains, climbing structures, and carnival-style games. It is an ideal stop for younger children who need a break between attractions while still enjoying plenty of opportunities to cool off.
All of these splash destinations offer some of the best ways to stay cool during August in Los Angeles.
Location: various
4 – Hollywood Bowl August Events
Description:
August is one of the best months to experience the Hollywood Bowl. The venue is packed with summer energy, blockbuster film concerts, and world-class orchestral performances.
If you enjoy staying active, you can even begin your day by climbing the famous Hollywood Bowl stairs, which are open for morning fitness beginning at 8:00 a.m. It is a popular local workout and a great way to enjoy the beautiful surroundings before the summer heat sets in.
The August concert schedule begins with the Tchaikovsky Spectacular with Fireworks on Saturday, August 1, at 8:00 p.m. (gates open at 6:00 p.m.). One of the Bowl’s most anticipated performances of the summer, the evening combines Tchaikovsky’s powerful orchestral works with a spectacular fireworks finale.
This year’s performance also features the internationally acclaimed Troupe Vertigo, whose breathtaking acrobatics, aerial trapeze, juggling, and contortion acts add another layer of excitement to this unforgettable production.
Families and film lovers can enjoy How to Train Your Dragon in Concert on Sunday, August 9, as the beloved animated film is projected on the giant screen while a live orchestra performs John Powell’s award-winning score in perfect synchronization with every scene.
On Tuesday August 11th, Mozart Under the Stars, an annual Hollywood Bowl tradition that showcases the timeless music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in one of the world’s most iconic outdoor concert venues.
Later in the month, Top Gun: Maverick in Concert takes over the Bowl on Saturday, August 15, at 8:00 p.m. (gates open at 6:00 p.m.), giving audiences the opportunity to watch the Academy Award-winning blockbuster while a live orchestra, conducted by Lorne Balfe, performs the exhilarating score in real time.
Location:2301 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
5 – The Top Fairs in Los Angeles This August
Description:
August is a fantastic month to experience the many fairs and community celebrations taking place throughout the Los Angeles area. From Japanese cultural traditions and lively night markets to neighborhood festivals filled with food, music, and family entertainment, these events showcase the diversity that makes Southern California so special.
Whether you are looking for authentic cuisine, artisan vendors, or live performances, there is something happening almost every weekend.
You may begin the fair tour with A Taste of Anaheim on August 7 at Center Street Promenade, where local restaurants, breweries, wineries, and specialty food vendors come together to showcase some of the city’s best culinary offerings while live entertainment fills the streets.
The following weekend, 626 Night Market returns to Santa Anita Park in Arcadia from August 14 through August 16, bringing hundreds of food vendors, unique shopping, games, art installations, and live entertainment to one of Southern California’s most popular night markets.
On August 15, Chinatown Summer Nights transforms Historic Central Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles into a lively evening destination from 5:00 p.m. until midnight, featuring gourmet food trucks, artisan vendors, cultural activities, craft brews, and live DJ sets curated by KCRW.
The celebration continues with Nisei Week in Little Tokyo from August 15 through August 23, honoring Japanese and Japanese American culture through traditional performances, the Grand Parade, Ondo community dancing, cultural exhibits, authentic cuisine, and family-friendly activities throughout the historic neighborhood.
Also come to Fiesta La Ballona in Culver City, beginning August 28, where visitors can enjoy carnival rides, live music, delicious food, games, community exhibits, and entertainment for all ages.
These spectacular fairs offer the perfect opportunity to sample international cuisine, celebrate local cultural traditions, and enjoy a fun-filled day with family and friends in Los Angeles this August.
Location:various
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