As we count down the days to 2025, now is a good time to start taking a look at the year ahead. We’ve taken stock of all the confirmed dates for LA’s biggest events, including highly-anticipated parades, festivals, and cultural celebrations. Whether you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles and want to see what’s going on, or you’re saving the dates to try and make the most of 2025, we have our eyes on plenty of upcoming events in Los Angeles. Grab your calendar and get planning with us.
1. Rose Parade
2025 will kick off in spectacular fashion with Pasadena’s famous Rose Parade, a beloved tradition dating all the way back to 1890. The 5.5-mile procession is famous for its jaw-dropping floral floats, and its 136th annual rendition will be led by none other than Grand Marshal Billie Jean King.
🗓️ Date: Jan. 1, 2025
2. Golden Dragon Parade
In honor of Lunar New Year, Los Angeles’ Chinatown presents its 126th annual Golden Dragon Parade welcoming the Year of the Snake. The event brings out over 100,000 spectators to see traditional Lion Dances, music groups, and performances. The parade takes off at 1 pm on Hill Street at Temple and proceeds along Bernard and Broadway Streets.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 8, 2025
3. LA Art Show
The Los Angeles Convention Center presents the 30th annual LA Art Show, billed as the most comprehensive international contemporary art show in America. Explore 180,000 square feet of world-class displays and exhibits curated by over 120 galleries, museums, and nonprofits.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 19-23, 2025
4. Los Angeles Marathon
Thousands of runners and spectators will turn out for the 40th annual LA Marathon, a bucket-list event in Los Angeles. The race takes off from Dodger Stadium and proceeds through DTLA, Hollywood, WeHo, and Beverly Hills, finishing at Santa Monica Blvd and Avenue of the Stars in Century City. It’s known to host all sorts of entertainment along the course such as lion dancers, DJs, school bands, and drummers.
🗓️ Date: Mar. 16, 2025
5. LA Times Festival of Books
Over 150,000 book lovers have been known to turn out for the LA Times’ Festival of Books, a major literary event held on the USC campus. This year will be the 30th anniversary of the festival, which hosts over 300 exhibitors and famous authors. Past years have included guest speakers such as RuPaul, Maria Bamford, Tiffany Haddish, José Andrés, and more.
🗓️ Date: Apr. 26-27, 2025
6. Fiesta Broadway
Did you know that Fiesta Broadway is one of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations in America? Each year DTLA explodes into a vibrant celebration of Latin American culture that’s great for foodies, families, and music lovers. Taste some of the best Mexican food available at the Fiesta Taco Fest and La Fiesta de los Moles, watch high-energy matches at Lucha Libre, and catch tons of performances on the two music stages.
🗓️ Date: Apr 27, 2025
More Cinco de Mayo festivities
- Venice Cinco de Mayo Parade – TBA
- Cinco de Mayo Rose Bowl Festival – TBA
- Olvera Street Cinco de Mayo Fiesta – TBA
7. LA County Fair
The LA County Fair is coming back to Pomona’s Fairplex this May with the theme “Art Unleashed.” Find inspiration in dozens of exhibitions, displays, performances, and hands-on activities. The popular skating rink will return this year, as will the eye-catching Ferris wheel and plenty of other entertainment.
🗓️ Date: May 2-26, 2025
8. Great Big Family Play Day
Billed as “the West Coast’s biggest family music festival” and “Coachella for kids,” this 9-year-running, traveling festival touches down in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. LA’s version takes over The Autry in Griffith Park with entertaining children’s concerts, sports zones, giveaways, character meet and greets, and games.
🗓️ Date: May 3-4, 2025
9. California Strawberry Festival
This delightfully sweet festival takes place at the Ventura County Fairgrounds as the ultimate summer kickoff. Taste strawberry-inspired food from over 40 food vendors, taste the festival’s signature strawberry beer, and listen to live music all weekend long.
🗓️ Date: May 17-18, 2025
10. LA Pride celebrations
LA Pride Festival & Parade
LA Pride is presented by Christopher Street West nonprofit, which organized the world’s first permitted gay parade in 1970. Over the last 5 decades they’ve continued to produce one of the country’s largest Pride celebrations on Hollywood Blvd.
🗓️ Date: TBA in June
WeHo Pride
WeHo Pride is LA’s other highly-attended Pride celebration every year. It’s known to draw hundreds of thousands of people and hosts additional events including the Women’s Freedom Festival and the Dyke March.
🗓️ Date: May 30 – June 1, 2025
11. Anime Expo
Anime Expo (AX) began in 1991 and grew over the years into North America’s largest celebration of Japanese pop culture. The convention brings together the best of Japanese entertainment, music, fashion, and video games for a wonderful experience over Fourth of July weekend.
🗓️ Date: July 3-6, 2025
12. LA Comic Con
LA Comic Con is the ultimate celebration of all things comics, gaming, anime, and cosplay in DTLA. The event is known to turn out over 120,000 fans to see 800+ exhibitors and artists across three lively days. It also attracts a ton of big-name guests for panel discussions — the 2023 rendition included Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Michael J. Fox, Anjelica Huston, Christina Ricci, and many more iconic stars.
🗓️ Date: Sept. 26-28, 2025
13. WeHo Halloween Carnaval
Since 1987, the WeHo Costume Carnaval has been one of the city’s most beloved Halloween events. See Santa Monica Boulevard overrun by thousands of costumed partygoers, who are there to enjoy live DJ sets, food trucks, and celebrations.
🗓️ Date: Official event announcement is TBA, but it always happens on Oct. 31.
14. LA Auto Show
Thousands of car aficionados turn out for the LA Auto Show, which dates back to 1907 and continues to be one of the world’s largest and most prestigious such events. The show is spread across over one million square feet at the LA Convention Center in DTLA, where you can see over 1,000 vehicles in all makes and models and try out state-of-the-art experiences.
🗓️ Date: Nov 21-30, 2025
15. Music festivals
We’re lucky to have some of the year’s most highly-anticipated music festivals at our fingertips, from Rolling Loud to Coachella. Here’s a rundown of the festivals with confirmed dates in 2025:
- Alter Ego – Jan 11, 2025
- Rolling Loud – Mar 14-15, 2025
- Beachlife – May 2-4, 2025
- Just like Heaven – May 10, 2025
- Cruel World – May 17, 2025
- Newport Beach Jazz Festival – May 30-31, 2025
- Cali Vibes – June 7-8, 2025
- Warped Tour – July 26-27, 2025
- Coachella – Apr 11-13, 18-20, 2025
- Stagecoach – Apr 25-27, 2025
16. Awards shows
Los Angeles is a nexus for most of the major industry awards shows, including the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards. Here’s when to expect them in 2025.
- Golden Globes – Jan. 5, 2025
- Critics Choice Awards – Jan. 12, 2025
- Grammy Awards – Feb. 2, 2025
- People’s Choice Awards – Feb. 16, 2025
- Screen Actors Guild Awards – Feb. 23, 2025
- Academy Awards/Oscars – Mar. 2, 2025
- iHeartRadio Music Awards – Apr. 6, 2025
- Primetime Emmy Awards – Sept. 14, 2025