Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

Arts and Entertainment

Best things to do Memorial Day weekend in LA and Southern California: May 23 - 26

A lively outdoor event is taking place on a sunny day in front of the California Historical Museum. People are gathered around various booths and tents, with some sitting on blankets on the grass. In the foreground, there is a large Monopoly-themed jail cell prop with people inside posing for photos.
(
Spin Public Relations
)

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

I live in Venice, and this past weekend I slept in too late to see the actual half marathon, but not too late to see the exuberant runners hanging out in the neighborhood, strolling the boardwalk and checking out the party on Windward Avenue afterwards. I then learned the run was more than just a great community event; it’s a test of the new course for the Olympic Marathon that will start and end in Venice in 2028. So cool! L.A. 2028 is really starting to feel like it’s in sight.

This Memorial Day weekend, there are festivals up and down the coast and many ways to honor our military, including the Redondo Beach Memorial Day Ceremony and the annual L.A. National Cemetery ceremony.

For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can learn about the reopening plans for the Getty Villa, the end of one lilac fanatic’s landmark garden in Idyllwild, and — phew! — Sesame Street heads back to PBS Kids and strikes a deal with Netflix. Looking for the public media wins where I can, folks.

Events

Friday, May 23, 7 p.m.
Suppa Club: Office Hours
OffTop Design 
2712 54th. St., Crenshaw 
COST: $25; MORE INFO

Support for LAist comes from
A pink event poster for SUPPA CLUB's 'OFFICE HOURS' on May 23rd.
(
@suppa.club
/
Instagram
)

Jazz from the Don Brown Collective and food from Little Los Angeles are the draw for this Suppa Club event at OffTop Design’s space in Crenshaw. Drummer Don Brown was born and raised in South Central and puts together a great night of music with his talented friends.

Through Sunday, June 8 
A Doll’s House Part 2 
Pasadena Playhouse 
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena
COST: FROM $40; MORE INFO 

Don’t worry, you haven’t missed Part 1. A Doll’s House Part 2 isn’t actually a part two. It’s Lucas Hnath’s modern answer to Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play, A Doll’s House. And you don’t need to be intimately familiar with the original to "get" this version, written in 2017. It all takes place following the “slam heard round the world” — when the main character, housewife and mother Nora, leaves her domestic life behind. Elizabeth Reaser (Twilight) and Jason Butler Harner (Ozark) star as Nora and Torvald.

Sunday, May 25, 1 to 4 p.m. 
Lucky Bead: Beginner beading workshop
The Chapter House L.A. 
1770 Glendale Blvd., Glendale 
COST: RECOMMENDED DONATION $10; MORE INFO

A hand holds a circular beaded pendant with intricate green, black, and white patterns. Below the hand, a small dog looks up. In the background, there is a wicker chair and part of another person's arm.
(
@thechapterhousela
/
Instagram
)
Support for LAist comes from

The Chapter House, an Indigenous community space, is hosting an intro beading workshop taught by Gigi Modrich (Jicarilla Apache). Make a pair of bright “auntie” earrings and participate in an ancient craft that turns out beautiful, wearable things. Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your favorite beads from home, too.

May 24-26
Topanga Days
Multiple parking locations (then a shuttle brings you to the event)
Topanga Canyon 
COST: FROM $31; MORE INFO

The Allah-las, The English Beat and many more musical acts welcome the Topanga community back to Topanga Days after the fires, the biggest celebration of the year in the canyon. There’s music, games, a parade and lots of local food vendors at this little trip back in time. It’s a festival that has stayed true to its 1970s roots and marks 50 years this year.

Shuttle buses will run to the site in Topanga all day long, so leave the car at a convenient lot and don’t worry about battling the still-closed PCH overflow. Plus, on Memorial Day, local indie favorite Inara George sings "America the Beautiful" at the annual flag raising.

Through Monday, May 26 
L.A. Fleet Week
L.A. Harbor 
250 S. Harbor Blvd., San Pedro
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

A fireboat sprays multiple arcs of water into the air from its cannons while cruising through a harbor. The background features an industrial port with cranes, containers, and various buildings. Palm trees and other structures are visible in the foreground along the waterfront.
A Los Angeles Fire Boat performs a water salute by spraying water from its fire extinguishers in the air for LA Fleet Week in San Pedro in 2024.
(
Allen J. Schaben
/
L.A. Times via Getty Images
)
Support for LAist comes from

Take a tall ship tour, check out the maritime expo and attend a Memorial Day tribute to military heroes at the USS Iowa during L.A.’s annual Fleet Week. The view of all those sailors in uniform isn’t bad either.

May 24-26
Fiesta Hermosa 
Hermosa and Pier Aves., Hermosa Beach
COST: GARDEN PASS $10; MORE INFO 

The party is in Hermosa Beach with an oceanside beer garden, tons of live performances, carnival games, food and much more. There’s a free bike valet, and the Marvin Braude bike path goes all the way from the Palisades to Hermosa, so there’s really no excuse not to go enjoy yourself!

May 23-26
Garden Grove Strawberry Festival 
Village Green Park
12732 Main St., Garden Grove
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Literally everything is strawberry at the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, which celebrates its 65th year this summer. From strawberry shortcake to a strawberry-themed costume contest, the day is full of berry treats of all kinds. The annual parade's Grand Marshalls are actress Kate Linder and civil rights icon Sylvia Mendez, plus there’s music from a range of performers, from country bands to School of Rock grads.

Support for LAist comes from

Outdoor Pick

Saturday, May 24, 11 a.m.
Soundbath, Sea and Sails 
Burton Chace Park 
13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey 
COST: SUGGESTED $30 DONATION; MORE INFO

A person wearing a white patterned shawl holds a decorated drum and mallet. The drum features an artistic depiction of a tree with colorful leaves, and several ribbons hang from the drum's edge.
(
Epic Media Events & Spiritual Gangster Productions
)

All you need to bring to this sound ceremony by the sea is your yoga mat. Led by the founders of BodhiBLISS and Well and Whole, the morning features gongs, singing bowls and chimes to create a peaceful meditation environment. Start off your holiday weekend calmly overlooking the Marina.


Viewing Pick

Sunday, May 25, 8:30 p.m. 
Cinespia: Clueless 30th Anniversary 
Hollywood Forever Cemetery 
6000 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood 
COST: FROM $24.11; MORE INFO

A movie still of a Black woman on the phone walking down a school hallway next to another woman with a light skin tone. They are both wearing prepp plaid skirts and blazers as people walk behind them.
Stacey Dash and Alicia Silverstone in the 1995 movie "Clueless."
(
Courtesy Everett Collection
/
Paramount
)

30 years?! As if! Amy Heckerling’s iconic 90s high school comedy Clueless is the Memorial Day pick for Cinespia as the summer favorite outdoor film series gets going. It’s aged like a fine Paul Rudd. So, don your best yellow tartan skirt suit, make sure you don’t get gas in the Valley on your way, and grab your Dionne for movie night in the cemetery.


Dine & Drink Deals

Sunday, May 25, 1 to 5 p.m.
MAINopoly: A Taste of Main Street
Main Street, between Strand Ave. and Pier Ave., Santa Monica 
COST: FROM $30, FREE FOR KIDS UNDER 5; MORE INFO

Two people, a woman and a man, pose for a photo at the outdoor MAINopoly event. The woman is dressed in a black and white striped prisoner costume. The other is dressed as a police officer and holds a Monopoly board game box. Colorful balloons and tents are visible in the background.
(
Spin Public Relations
)

Each year, Main Street turns into a real-life Monopoly board, but instead of a Get Out of Jail Free card, you get MAINopoly dollars. They're good for tastings at local restaurants including Ashland Hill, JuneShine, Triple Beam Pizza, Sunny Blue and more. You can also take a pedicab, grab a drink in the beer garden, swing by the "Just Visiting" photo booth, and complete the game board to win prizes.

May 24-26, 12 to 9 p.m. 
Valley Greek Festival
9501 Balboa Blvd., Northridge 
COST: $5; MORE INFO

If you’re as sad as I am about Papa Cristo’s closing, get your next fill of Greek specialties at the Valley Greek Festival. Gyros, baklava, spanakopita, dolmades — it’s all here. Plus, enjoy live Greek dance performances, cooking demos and more.

Ongoing 
Table 31 Experience 
Tam O’Shanter 
2980 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Feliz
COST: $69 (LUNCH), $89 (DINNER); MORE INFO 

A wooden table set with an assortment of dishes and drinks. In the foreground is a plate of fries next to a bacon chesseburger. To the left are two deviled eggs on a small white plate, and a martini glass with an orange drink. In the center background are bacon-wrapped sausages and a plate of chicken over greens with sauce. To the right is a layered strawberry and cream dessert in a glass bowl and a cocktail.
(
Palm & Ocean
)

Ever wanted to sit where Walt sat? Step into a piece of Hollywood and animation history at the Table 31 Experience at Tam O’Shanter in Los Feliz. Reserve Walt Disney’s favorite table and enjoy a curated, story-rich evening featuring one of Walt’s favorite dishes. Plus, get a personalized history session with Tam’s dedicated Table 31 Ambassador, who shares captivating stories and lesser-known details of Walt’s time at the restaurant, and take home a souvenir to commemorate your night.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist