The Top 5 Things to Do in LA This Weekend

There's always something exciting happening in Los Angeles!

From cultural events to superstar concerts and world-class sports, Discover LA is your go-to source for what's happening in Los Angeles. Be sure to follow @discoverla on Instagram to find out even more about what to do in LA.

Read on for the best things to do in LA this weekend.

GRAMMY-winning composer Osvaldo Golijov and librettist David Henry Hwang collaborated on Ainadamar, which makes its premiere with LA Opera on Saturday, April 26. The opera, with a title that is Arabic for “fountain of tears,” is based on the life and death of Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca and will run at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion through May 18.

Before they begin their summer tour, Phish will play three nights at the Hollywood Bowl, beginning on Friday, April 25. Three-day passes to see the jam band greats are sold out, but individual show tickets are available at Ticketmaster for their Friday, Saturday and Sunday night concerts. Gates open at 5pm on Friday and Saturday and 4:30pm on Sunday, giving you two hours to picnic at the Bowl before showtime.

The World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers are hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 25-27. The three-game home stand will include Dodgers Date Night on Friday, April 25; a Dave Roberts Bobblehead giveaway (April 26) and the ever-popular Kids Run the Bases on April 27.

Whether you're a newbie or a lifelong fan, we've got you covered with the Ultimate Guide to Dodgers Game Day.

SpectreVision, the production company behind cult favorites like Mandy and A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, brings the SpectreVision Radio podcast to Philosophical Research Society on Friday night for Clairvoyance, a live recording featuring a panel of clairvoyants. Tickets at Eventbrite.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Festival of Books is the largest literary festival in the country, featuring more than 600 favorite authors, artists, celebrities, musicians, poets and exhibitors. The Department of Cultural Affairs will host a Creative Art Zone, including hands-on workshops, live performances, Drag Story Hour and a Community Mural.

Festival highlights include a special edition of the Ideas Exchange series with poet Amanda Gorman; cooking demos, book-to-screen panels, Main Stage and Children’s Stage events with Chelsea Handler, Blippi and many others; a conversation celebrating the festival’s three decades of storytelling, family-friendly entertainment, bilingual programming, interactive games and exhibits and much more.

The San Pedro Arts and Cultural District is set to come alive on Saturday April 26 and Sunday April 27, with the much-anticipated Arts Open San Pedro 2025. Visitors will be able to see more than 100 artists over the course of two days. From live performances to interactive art installations and hand-on classes, this immersive weekend event invites art enthusiasts, collectors and the public to explore the rich tapestry of creativity that defines the San Pedro art scene. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP ahead of time to plan their visit by exploring the event map and schedule, available on the official Arts Open San Pedro website.

Taking place at L.A. LIVE on April 26-27, Pizza City Fest offers a stellar lineup of Southern California’s best pizza makers in one location, giving fans the unique opportunity to taste, see live demos, and attend panel discussions with culinary experts this weekend.

Tickets are now on sale at AXS. A portion of proceeds benefit the nonprofit Culinary Careers Program (C•CAP), which provides culinary, job and life skills to more than 25,000 underserved high school students and adults, annually.

Event series Take It Outside returns to LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes on Saturday, April 26 with disco-head favorite DJ Harvey, who will be playing his only open-to-close set of the season. The party in the stunning walled garden starts at 5pm and goes until midnight. Tickets at Resident Advisor.

Presented by Autism Speaks and hosted by Kristen and Stephen Stills, Light Up the Blues boasts a stellar lineup. Stephen Stills is set to play, as is his Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young bandmate Neil Young, who will appear alongside his band Chrome Hearts. Billy Idol and Steve Stevens, Cat Power, Linda Perry, Chris Stills, Nathaniel Rateliff and Rufus Wainwright will also perform, as well as special guests TBA. Tickets at Ticketmaster.

John Waters is finally coming clean, so to speak, and his all-new, secret-sharing, one-man crackpot comedy show dares to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the filthy truth. It’s an endless bag of trans-gressive and hetero-non-aggressive twisted tales that will warm the dark little hearts of non-binary brats all over the world. Over-sharing? You bet. Too much information? Maybe so, but airing his dirty laundry makes Waters feel clean. He’ll talk to you straight even when he’s definitely not.

One of the Petersen Automotive Museum's most popular events, the Japanese Car Cruise-In is taking place from 8am to 11am on Sunday, April 27. From time-attackers to showstoppers and custom builds, the event promises an impressive showcase of JDM legends spanning several floors of the Petersen Garage. Car enthusiasts from across California flock to Los Angeles for this renowned show, eager to display their prized vehicles and share in the culture and history of Japanese automotive excellence.

One Grain of Sand Puppet Theater, The Gottabees and East Wind Lion Dancers are among the performers  at this year’s Skirball Puppet Festival, taking place from noon to 5pm on Sunday, April 27. This family-friendly day of puppetry and music is one of the most popular events at the Skirball Cultural Center, so don’t miss out. It’s free for members, as well as children under age 2.

On Sunday, April 27, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy is hosting a special skate edition of Dancing in the Light: Healing With the Arts with Sunshine Skate Foundation. Lace up and roll in for a free day of roller skating – cruise at your own pace with Debbie Allen or jump into an action-packed class! Skate experience is not required for this community class - all levels are welcome, from children 4 years and up to adults, beginners to experienced movers.

If you’ve been meaning to venture back into LA’s clubs, but can’t find a babysitter, The Goldfish has a party for you! Once a month, the Highland Park Thai street food destination presents Tiny Disco, where families can hit the dance floor together. This is an all-ages event, but you must have kids with you to attend. Tickets at Dice.

For the best guide to what's happening in Los Angeles, visit the Discover LA Events Calendar and book your stay today!