Page 83 - 2025-2026 Travel Guide to California

SPECIAL EVENTS 2025 MUST
SEE,
DO
SKYLINE FESTIVAL This is a festival dedicated to underground dance music, street and
digital art. Feb 15-16 at Expo Park in downtown Los Angeles skylinefest.com
THE HOLLYWOOD REEL INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL Screens new feature
films, documentaries, shorts and videos by emerging filmmakers. Mar. 5-15 at
multiple venues and locations in Los Angeles hollywoodreelindependentfilmfestival.com
LOS ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS Meet hundreds of literary lights and
browse the booths at one of the largest book festivals in the country. April 26-27 at USC
events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks
BEACHLIFE FESTIVAL This celebration of music, art, and Southern California beachlife
culture takes place on four stages with over 50 bands. May 2-4 at Redondo Beach
beachlifefestival.com
LAWINEFEST Take part in a beautiful day at the harbor with wine tasting, craft beer,
ciders, great food, live music and a lot more. Enjoy the party atmosphere while talking
with winery owners and winemakers about the different wines and the grapes.
May 31-June 1 at Harry Bridges Memorial Park, Long Beach lawinefest.com
LOTUS FESTIVAL This annual fête celebrates the Asian-American community in Los
Angeles. Enjoy live music, food, dance and dragon boat races set against a backdrop of
blooming lotus flowerbeds. Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles. July 12-13
facebook.com/lotusfestivalla
MIDSUMMER SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Presented by Ophelia’s Jump Productions,
in co-production with Pomona College, the company has staged past productions of time-
less Shakespeare plays and created Bard-inspired productions like La Tempestad and The
Knight of the Burning Pestle at this local festival. Beautiful lawns surrounding the theatre
are perfect for BYOB picnicking; local restaurants offer picnic specials in town to bring to
the show. July, Sontag Greek Theatre, Claremont pomona.edu/shakespeare-festival
• HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME Launched
on Hollywood Boulevard at Vine Street in 1958, this
constellation of coral-pink terrazzo and brass
sidewalk stars honors motion picture, TV, radio,
recording, live theatre and sports entertainment
legends. Among the first honorees were Burt
Lancaster and Joanne Woodward; in 1994, Sophia
Loren became the 2,000th star. Today there are
more than 2,700 stars, with typically two added
monthly to the 15-block stretch of the boulevard.
Millions of visitors come every year to find their
favorite actors, directors, musicians and other
entertainment luminaries.
• walkoffame.com
• SANTA MONICA PIER Savor a Will Rogers Hot
Fudge Brownie Sundae, ride a vintage carousel, view
the area from the Ferris wheel (a movie celebrity in its
own right) and explore the amusement park on this
century-old pier. Snap a selfie by the End of the Trail
sign on the pier for the legendary Route 66, which
ends its 2,450-mile journey here.
• santamonicapier.org
• OLVERA STREET Known as the birthplace of Los
Angeles, this section of LA was the town center during
the colonial era under Spanish and Mexican rule
through most of the 19th century. Some vendors are the
descendants of the original merchants in this
marketplace, established in 1930 to preserve and bring
back “old Los Angeles” and its customs. Absorb the scent
of tacos and sounds of mariachi music amid the street
stalls and old structures. Browse lucha libre (Mexican
wrestling) masks, Day of the Dead figurines, piñatas and
other souvenirs in this block-long Mexican marketplace
located in Los Angeles Plaza Historic District.
• olvera-street.com
its 4,751 square miles. Geographically, the county is larger than the states of Rhode Island
and Delaware combined.
While LAX drowns in traffic, Long Beach Airport lets you glide through in minutes, all
while being just five miles from the ocean. The stress-free experience has open-air walk-
ways, palm trees, and an art deco terminal that feels more like a breezy resort than an
airport.
FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD SIGN, Los Angeles, below; Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, opposite.
• VENICE BEACH BOARDWALK This 1.5-mile
pathway parallels the Pacific Ocean and is a never-
ending carnival of LA’s most outrageous characters.
Stroll past vendors and street performers trying to
impress you with their breakdancing or juggling.
Others may dress up as if every day is Halloween.
When you’re ready for a break, visit a restaurant or
juice bar, or simply walk down to the beach and
soak up some sun. And if you need souvenir T-
shirts or trinkets, or an affordable painting or
photograph, you’re bound to find it here.
• visitveniceca.com
• SEE IMPROV, SKETCH OR STAND-UP
COMEDY So many great comedians came out of
the clubs of Los Angeles, and you can still catch rising
stars honing their craft or legendary veterans trying
out new material. Notable clubs and improv troupes
include The Groundlings, Hollywood Improv Comedy
Club, Laugh Factory, Upright Citizens Brigade and
The Comedy Store.
• thecomedybureau.com
• discoverlosangeles.com/blog/comedy-clubs-los-angeles
2025-26 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CALIFORNIA 81