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What To Do in LA in April

Updated: January 20, 2024
 By Mel

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 2024.

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 pass


1. Go to a Concert

Los Angeles is full of concert venues, and there's always a talented artist to be found performing in the LA area.

Pop Concerts


Classical and Opera Concerts

Note that we make a stop at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on our pay-what-you-wish Downtown Los Angeles walking tour!

Music Festivals

Find even more concerts happening in LA in April here.


2. Attend a Sporting Event

April is a wonderful month to enjoy a Los Angeles game!

Click on the links below to find tickets for the various Los Angeles area teams.


Hockey

To appreciate the speed of a hockey game, check out a live game with the Kings or the Ducks.

Basketball

If you're in the mood for a dynamic and fast-paced basketball game, you can find that with the Lakers or the Clippers.

Baseball

To see LA's professional baseball teams in play, check out the Angels or the Dodgers.

Soccer

To catch the most popular sport in the world, purchase soccer tickets for the LA Galaxy or LAFC.

Check here for even more games in the LA area in April.

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 taking place during April.

You can find even more plays, musicals, and events on the stage in April here.


4. Save Money with a Tourist 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 pass.

You’ll pay one fee upfront and receive free or cheaper entry into many of the city’s most popular attractions and activities.

Tourist 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 passes. Several bus tour companies, including hop-on-hop-off buses, also offer savings and deals.


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 20th - 21st for the 29th 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 19th - April 21st, 2024 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

The Los Angeles area is home to some of the most famous comedians in the world. You're sure to find a show you enjoy.

Comedians

Improv Comedy Groups

Stand-Up Comedy Clubs

For additional shows, check this list of stand-up comedy shows in the Los Angeles area in April.


9. Step Back in Time at the Renaissance Festival

On weekends from April 6th to May 19th, 2024 you can enjoy the original Renaissance festival.

Take a day to visit the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. It has drawn more than five million people since its inception in 1963, started as a way of sharing “living history.”

Guests of all ages will enjoy live entertainment, creative food choices, activities, 

More information and tickets can be found on the website


10. Attend the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival

March 9th -April 7th, 2024, and weekends until April 28th is the Knott’s Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Fest.

As the birthplace of the Boysenberry, it celebrates its history with the fruit with a three-week festival of unique foods, beer & wine. 

Guests can 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.


Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day

Many folks are looking for things to do on Earth Day or Arbor Day to help their communities or the communities they're visiting.

Below are just a few of the activities that can be found in the LA area. It's also a great place to meet locals and gain a closer hand look at the cities being visited.

Earth Day

National Park Week will have events between April 20th-28th, with entrance fees waived on Earth Day.

Run for the Planet 5K, 10K, Half Marathon | Santa Monica | April 21st

Earth Day Celebration/Green Expo | Calabasses | April 23rd

Arbor Day

Run for Earth 5K | Palisades Park | April 27th

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 41st anniversary of this festival celebrating television takes place at the Dolby Theatre from April 12th-21st, 2024.

Stars and creators of TV shows make appearances, and there will be screenings of episodes and behind-the-scenes footage.

Click here for tickets and additional information.


Enjoy the LA Beer Fest

The annual craft beer festival features the creations of over 80 breweries.

You can also fill up at one of LA's best food trucks, 15 of which will be in attendance.

And it wouldn't be a festival without some great live music!

All of this takes place on April 6th at Los Angeles Center Studios.

For more information, visit the LA Beer Festival website.


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 18th - 21st, 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. 

Past events have included such shows as The Last Sorcerer, An Evening with Isaac Mizrahi, Songs of Shanghai Sonatas, and much more.

Visit the Wallis Center calendar.


Experience Universal CityWalk

Enjoy an evening of fun within Universal Citywalk, a three-block promenade full of dining, shopping, and entertainment adjacent to Universal Studios.

In addition to a slew of stores and restaurants, there is a movie theater, dueling piano bar, and even an indoor skydiving establishment!

There’s something for everyone at Citywalk--a popular new addition is the Voodoo Doughnuts of Portland, Oregon fame. Hours vary.

TIP: For many more ideas, be sure to take a look at our post Things to do at Night in LA.


Check out a Los Angeles Bar

There are many places to get a good drink in L.A.  Below are just a sample of suggestions.

  • Visit the Idle Hour in North Hollywood- the building is literally a giant barrel, plus they have trivia on Tuesday nights.
  • Check out Hollywood’s favorite speak-easy No Vacancy.  It is a very unique experience!
  • Want to go back in time to a Hollywood-style swing bar?  Go to the Cicada Club.
  • Looking for a themed- bar?  Try Scum & Villainy in Hollywood- It is a STAR WARS themed bar.

For suggestions on other nighttime activities, read the other sections of this post or our post on 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.


Visit National Park Week Opening Day

On the opening day of National Park Week, guests can enter for free!

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!


Head To The Public Art Fair in Pasadena

April 27th - 28th trek out to Pasadena for the Jackalope Pasadena Art Fair. This event is held in April 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 several 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).


Enjoy 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 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.


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 several 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 the 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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About The Author

Mel

Mel loves to be a tourist in her own city. With a background in performing arts, tourism, and photography, giving tours and being a story-teller comes naturally to her. She loves traveling, food, and theatre. Mel splits her time between Chicago and Los Angeles (#theatrelife) and leads tours and manages both cities!
Updated: January 20th, 2024
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