Best Things To Do Memorial Day Weekend In Los Angeles And Southern California: May 24 - 27

LACMA has teamed up with the California African American Museum downtown to be the last stop on the U.S. tour for Simone Leigh, who explores themes of Black femininity and history in her work and was the American representative at the Venice Biennale in 2022.

The opening event is sure to be powerful and joyful for art lovers of all ages, with DJ sets, art-making, and a somatic movement workshop. The exhibit itself runs through Jan. 20, 2025 and showcases Leigh’s work in ceramic as well as video, bronze, and installation.

Salute sailors in their whites, thank them for their service, and climb on board to explore active duty visiting ships – the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and the U.S. Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter Terrell Horne – at this year’s Fleet Week. Nearby, the Battleship Iowa will be open to visitors as usual, so there’s plenty to see!

It’s officially summer, so that can’t mean anything but a pool party! Country-themed Hollywood hotspot Desert 5 Spot launches its ongoing Sunday rooftop pool party, Swimsuits & Cowboy Boots, from 2 p.m. until close. Get your cowboy karaoke song ready.

If you’ve been binging Baby Reindeer, maybe take a break and head to the Lyric Hyperion for Interrogation: True Crime Stories, an evening of true crime storytelling by comedians where you get to submit your own crime tale for a retelling.

Fancy yourself the next Sarah Koenig or plotting your own Only Murders in the Building podcast? See if you have the stuff when you spend the evening with hosts Korey David and Daniel Van Kirk and get to the bottom of these real cases.

Enjoy food from a dozen local vendors, hear from local leaders, take in a musical performance, and volunteer to distribute produce at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Pico Union Project, a combination outreach organization and music and arts venue. The event is also an opportunity to explore the organization’s historic 1909 building, originally Los Angeles’ oldest synagogue and now a multicultural interfaith destination.

Grab the biggest dinosaur fan in your house and roar down to Orange County for a day filled with life-sized dinosaurs at the new Dino Quest at Discovery Cube. The show features an interactive fossil excavation activity and is recommended for families with kids ages three and up.

Missing Persons (of Walking in L.A. fame) headline the Topanga Days three-day festival on Sunday. The annual event feels like a time machine back to simpler days, with an eclectic parade and games for all ages, including water balloon basketball, an animal imitation contest, three-legged races, and more. Plan your transport accordingly – Topanga Canyon is still closed due to the landslide that shut it down back in March.

The beloved Disney classic The Lion King comes to life under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl, alongside many special guests from the newer 2019 live-action version (Billy Eichner), the Broadway cast (Heather Headley, Brian Gibson) and the original animated version (Nathan Lane, Jeremy Irons). The night features the original 1994 movie, plus an appearance by Jennifer Hudson.

Charlie Chaplin’s 1917 silent film The Immigrant jumps seamlessly from the screen to the stage, as it’s shown alongside a live improvised performance by Venezuelan-born pianist Gabriela Montero. The combination of music and cinema is sure to be a special afternoon, as it wraps up the L.A. Chamber Orchestra’s latest season.

It’s all happening. Cinespia brings its outside movies to the Rose Bowl for the first time with Almost Famous, Cameron Crowe’s classic rock-fueled ode to aspiring music journalists everywhere. Bring a picnic; beer, wine and cocktails will be available on site.

What better way to kick off summer by finally trying out SUP Yoga (that’s stand-up paddle boarding + yoga) in the Marina? YOGAqua hosts all-level 90-minute classes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on the water. Even if you slip, you can’t beat the view!

Check out classic Corvettes while sampling (or even participating in!) a chili cook-off at the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum in El Segundo. First prize takes home $150 and a gold sponsorship at the museum.

In honor of National Burger Day (May 28), Irv’s Burgers is teaming up with sriracha mayo experts Lee Kum Kee and L.A. influencer Eddie Sanchez (@HungryInLA) to launch “Hungry in LA’s Just For You Burger." The burger features a beef patty, pastrami, melted Swiss cheese and a special sriracha mayo slaw.

Chobani isn’t just for breakfast. The favorite yogurt brand is popping up at Larchmont’s Suá Superette for the month of May, pairing their Greek yogurt with spicy Sichuan chili sauce. Some of the featured menu options include a grilled chicken, roasted tomato spread, mozzarella with secret sauce sandwich and crispy Chongqing chicken tenders with secret sauce. Mix up your own version and you could win a year’s supply of Chobani and Fly By Jing products by sharing your concoction on social media.