This post covers the best things to do in LA in April.
We include free, nighttime, as well as family-friendly events and activities, all updated for 2023.
- Top 10
- Nighttime Activities
- Free Things to Do
- Family-Friendly
- Things to Do (any time of year)
- How's the Weather?
Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN APRIL
This section will feature our top 10 activities to enjoy in LA throughout April.
Some of the items listed in this post are included for free with the purchase of a tourist discount pass!
1. Go to a Concert
Los Angeles has many options when it comes to enjoying music and we’ve listed the highlights below.
You can find all the April concerts in LA from StubHub.
- Reba McEntire | April 1st
- Mod Sun | April 2nd
- Muse/Evanescence | April 6th
- Keith Sweat/New Edition | April 8th
- Gordon Lightfoot | April 15th
- Iggy Pop | April 20th, 24th, 27th
- Melissa Etheridge | April 22nd
Find all of the concerts happening in LA here.
2. Attend a Sporting Event
April is a wonderful month to enjoy a Los Angeles game! Check the information below for game specifics.
Hockey
Basketball
Baseball
Soccer
Other
- NHRA Lucas Oil Winternationals | April 2nd
You can find all the game tickets here.
Seeing a big game is a great way to spend your afternoon or evening! For more things to do at night, check the section down below.
3. Attend the Theatre
Live theatre is a wonderful thing to enjoy while traveling. And of course, Los Angeles loves to entertain!
Here are just a few of the many plays and musicals during April.
- Urinetown | April 1st, 4th, 5th
- Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 | April 1st - 9th
- Cirque du Soleil - Cortero | April 1st - 30th
- 1776 - The Musical | April 6th, 9th, 9th, 15th
- Sondheim on Sondheim | April 20th - 26th
- Riverdance | April 18th - 26th
You can find all the theatre tickets here.
4. Save Money with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
To make the most out of your time in LA, and save a lot of money while seeing the sights, consider purchasing a tourist attraction discount pass.
You’ll pay one fee upfront and receive free or highly discounted entry into many of the city’s most popular attractions and activities.
Tourist discount passes work by bundling multiple tickets into one price, usually between 20%-50% of the retail price.
Read our post comparing the different LA tourist discount passes. Several bus tour companies, including hop-on-hop-off buses, also offer discounts and deals.
If you'd like to buy a pass, you can find one here: All-Inclusive - Go City Los Angeles | Explorer - Go City Los Angeles | Flex Pass - Los Angeles Sightseeing | CityPass Southern California
5. Go on a Sightseeing Tour
We offer pay-what-you-like walking tours or you can try our self-guided walking tours.
Check out our calendar to book a guided walking tour.
If you’re looking for a bus tour, we have a great comparison of L.A.’s best. From hop-on-hop-off buses to nighttime tours, you’ll find one to suit you.
Another option is to check out a studio tour. See what it is like to be a working Hollywood actor or a gaffer. Or find out what a gaffer does!
Check out our post about Studio Tour options.
6. Get Inspired at LA’s Book Festival
Mark your calendar on April 22nd - 23rd, 2023 for the 28th annual L.A.
Times Festival of Books, held on the campus of USC.
Bookworms will enjoy numerous conversations and performances by a variety of authors and other groups & individuals.
Additionally, hundreds of booksellers, literary organizations, and publishers will be present to all attendees. Food trucks will also be on-site!
Advance tickets for author conversations (some that are free!) are highly recommended.
7. See California’s Wildflowers & the California Poppy Festival
Plan a visit to any of the areas where California’s wildflowers and state flower, the poppy, grow through the whole month of April when they are typically in vibrant bloom!
During one weekend April 21st - April 23rd, 2023 the California Poppy Festival will be held in Lancaster.
Here guests can enjoy entertainment, shop for arts & crafts, and grab free wildflower maps to learn about the best places to view them.
Festival gates open at 10:00 am on both days. The festival is free and fun for all ages!
Find more free things to do in the section below.
8. See a Stand-up Comedy Performance
There will be several famous comedians performing stand-up in Los Angeles this month.
If you're in need of a good laugh, you couldn't have chosen a better time to visit the City of Angels!
Here are the most noteworthy comics who will be in LA in April:
- Sarah Millican | April 11th
- Noel Miller | April 27th
If you're willing to head outside of LA, you'll find the following comics in April
- Margaret Cho | April 1st
- Paul Rodriguez | April 1st, 2nd
- Eddie Griffin | April 7th, 8th
- Felipe Esparza | April 13th-16th
- Patton Oswalt | April 17th, 18th
For even more opportunities, check out this list of stand-up comedy shows in Los Angeles.
9. Step Back in Time at the Renaissance Festival
On weekends from April 8th - May 21st, 2023 you can enjoy the original Renaissance festival.
Take a day to visit the Renaissance Faire which has drawn more than five million people since its inception as a way to create “living history” in 1963.
Guests of all ages will enjoy live entertainment, creative food choices, activities,
More information and tickets can be found on the website.
10. Experience the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Concert
The Los Angeles Philharmonic will be performing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall all month long with a variety of works by composers such as Sibelius, Brahms, Schumann, and Tchaikovsky.
This is a wonderful opportunity to see one of the most popular orchestras in the world perform in one of the most unique venues in the world.
Purchase tickets or learn more.
NOTE: The Walt Disney Concert Hall is also the starting location of our Downtown L.A. Tour.
Celebrate Earth Day
LA has a number of events planned in and around town for Earth Day.
On April 21st there will be an Earth Day 10K at Peters Canyon Regional Park.
There's an Earth Day concert by multimedia artist Bluetech on April 22nd.
Venice Beach will have a clean-up of the beach event from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. and Hermosa Beach will have one that begins at 9:00 am on April 22nd.
National Park Week will have events between April 16th - 24th, with entrance fees waved on Earth Day.
For more ideas for any time of year, be sure to read our master post on Things to do in LA.
Attend PaleyFest LA
The 40th anniversary of this festival that celebrates television takes place at the Dolby Theatre from March 31st - to April 4th, 2023.
Stars and creators of TV shows make appearances, and there will be screenings of episodes and behind-the-scenes footage.
For tickets and additional information, click here.
THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN APRIL
Below is just a sampling of the many things to do at night in April.
For suggestions on other nighttime activities, see our post Things to do at Night in LA.
Classic Film Festival
April 13th - 16th, presented by TCM, LA’s Classic Film Festival hits Hollywood this April!
Join film lovers from around the globe and watch classic movies on the big screen in some of the most historic and beautiful theatres in the country.
Further, enjoy appearances and panel discussions by a variety of celebrities and filmmakers. This year’s festival focuses on grand illusions: fantastic worlds on film!
Head to the Wallis Center
The Wallis Center in Beverly Hills has amazing performances year-round.
In April 2022, we can look forward to several fantastic events and entertainers. Just a few of them are:
- Rooster's Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume | April 22nd, 23rd
- Ulysses Owens, Jr. & J;Nai Bridges: Notes on Hope | April 27th
For a list of other events, visit the Wallis Center calendar.
See Live Stand-Up Comedy
If you’re in need of a good laugh, Los Angeles is home to some of the best comedy clubs and improv in the world and there are a lot of notable comedians who perform here throughout the year.
Improv/Sketch Comedy
- Upright Citizens Brigade
- The Groundlings
- Comedy Sportz (Family Friendly)
- Improv Hollywood
Stand-Up Comedy
TIP: For many more ideas, be sure to take a look at our post Things to do at Night in LA.
FREE THINGS TO DO IN APRIL
April is a great time to take advantage of the many free events and activities in LA.
For even more free activities, see our Guide to Free Things to Do in LA.
Free National Park Week
A few times a year the National Parks offer a free weekend for visitors but in April, there is an entire free week from the 16th through the 24th!
If you have an available car, this is an excellent time to pack up the family and enjoy a park in California!
The closest National Park to Los Angeles is Joshua Tree.
It is located roughly an hour and a half outside of the city and California is also home to Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Pinnacles which are day trips from LA.
On free weekends, you can expect parking to be limited and crowds to be large so go early for the best experience!
Public Art Fair in Pasadena
April 29th - 30th trek out to Pasadena for the Jackalope Pasadena Art Fair. This event is held in April, August, and November, and is free to attend.
Of course, you may end up spending a few bucks on some amazing art!
Visit Santa Monica Pier and Beach
Opened in 1909, the historic Santa Monica Pier has a lot to offer people of all ages! And the beach is always free to enjoy.
Taking a stroll down the pier will lead you through a number of souvenir kiosks, and past a number of restaurants, street performers & musicians on any given day.
For a fee, experience the rides at the lively amusement park, Pacific Park, or spend some time in the pier’s aquarium.
Enjoy the View from the Griffith Observatory
The historic Griffith Observatory opened in 1935 and is perched on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood.
It offers some of the best views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign and on clear days you can see all the way to the ocean!
Star Parties are held from 2:00 pm to 9:45 pm monthly as well.
Visit the ground and observatory six days a week (the observatory is closed on Mondays).
Smorgasburg in L.A.
Smorgasburg is the largest open-air weekly food market in America!
Stop by every Sunday between 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.
The market is free but you will definitely be tempted to spend a few bucks on a meal or two or three.
TIP: Our Guide to Free Things to do in LA lists a number of activities and events that won't cost you a dime!
FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN APRIL
There are lots of things to do in L.A. with families!
Here are a few more kid-friendly activities for the month of April.
Be sure to read our full post on things to do with kids in LA.
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival
March 10th -April 16th, 2023 is Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Fest which honors its long-standing history with the fruit with a three-week festival celebrating unique foods and beer & wine.
Knott’s Berry Farm is the birthplace of the boysenberry!
Indulge in over 75 boysenberry-inspired dishes among many other events and activities!
After you’ve had your fill of boysenberry treats, you can also enjoy the theme park, of course!
TIP: Admission to this amusement park is included with some Los Angeles tourist passes.
Head to Universal Studio Themepark
The whole family will enjoy this movie-themed theme park. There are roller coasters, rides, attractions, and shows!
Universal is also home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter as well as the world-famous Studio Tour.
Pro-Tip: The third car is the best car (tip directly from a studio tour guide!) Also, if you want to raise your chances of spotting a working celebrity- the best time to take a tour is Monday-Friday.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Visit the La Brea Tar Pits
Step back millions of years and discover what dinosaur, mammoth, and other fossils and bones have been found in these natural tar pits.
The museum includes a number of exhibits and interactive attractions. Opening hours and ticket prices vary.
Ride the Trains at Travel Town
Does your kiddo love trains? A great activity is to go to Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park.
There are daily miniature train rides as well as docent tours on the second Saturday of the month.
See a Movie at the El Capitan Theatre
There is nothing for L.A. than watching movies! The El Capitan Theatre is a gorgeous movie palace in the heart of Hollywood.
If you are a Disney-lover, this is a great theatre to visit because it is owned by Disney and only plays Disney movies!
The best part is that there is often a pre-show event or performance on stage.
Check their website for the updated movie schedule.
TIP: For more ideas of things to do with kids in LA, see our post Things to do in LA with Kids.
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