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Things to Do in Los Angeles in August

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This post covers the best things to do in LA in August (updated for 2023), including free, family-friendly, as well as nighttime activities.

TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST

August is the perfect time to visit Los Angeles.

The weather is warm and sunny, which lends itself to enjoying all the outdoor activities and other attractions, festivals, and events we've listed below.

For some of the most popular tours to take, we also have several separate posts:

Several of the items below are already included for free with the purchase of a tourist attraction discount pass, which is a great way to save money.

1. Attend a Game

Los Angeles is now home to quite a few major sports teams, which means you’ll never be at a loss for a good game or match while you’re in town.

During the month of August, both baseball and soccer are in their regular season, and the NFL is gearing up for theirs with a few pre-season matches.

Follow a link to check on the schedule of your favorite teams.

Basketball

Baseball

Football

Soccer

Find out what other sporting events are on in LA here when you visit.

All of these games make great family outings! Make sure you check out the other family-friendly activities in August.

2. See a Major Concert

There is always something happening in La-La Land, including big-name artists putting on concerts.

Below are concerts and festivals taking place in the LA area.

Concerts - Close to LA

Concerts - Further Afield

Festivals

  • Head in the Clouds | August 5th-6th | Brookside at the Rose Bowl | Featuring: TBA
  • Hard Summer Festival | August 5th-6th | LA Memorial Coliseum | Featuring: Kaskade, Diplo, Skrillex, and more
  • M72 World Tour | August 25th-27th | SoFi Stadium | Featuring: Metallica, Pantera, Mammoth, and more
  • Lost 80s Live | August 26th, 27th | Honda Center/LA | Featuring: Belinda Carlisle, Wang Chung, Stacey Q, and more

Classical and Opera

Click here for a list of other concerts taking place in the Los Angeles area in August.

3. Go on Sightseeing Tours

What’s the best way to see Los Angeles? Taking a tour!

There are plenty of tours available in LA, including our pay-what-you-wish walking tours. We suggest starting with our Downtown LA Walking Tour .

If you don’t want to stick to someone else’s schedule, we also have a self-guided Los Angeles tour.

Other great options for visitors are Hollywood bus tours or the ever-popular hop-on-hop-off tours.

4. See a Comedy Show

Some of the greatest stand-up comedy in the world has come out of Los Angeles.

Below are a few shows and comedy clubs where you'll find some good laughs.

Comedy Shows

Comedy Clubs

Check here for options for a list of comedy shows in Los Angeles in August

5. Take the Warner Bros. Studio Tour

This is a fantastic family-friendly outing for anyone who is a fan of the Warner Bros. movie and TV properties like Harry Potter, DC Universe movies, or Friends.

The Warner Bros. Studios Hollywood tour will take you through exhibits with props, vehicles, and clothing items, as well as fun set pieces that let you feel like you’re in the scene!

The best thing about these tours is that they’re included or discounted with several discount passes and combo packages.

For more family-friendly fun in August, check out the things to do with kids section below.

6. Visit Some Famous Theatres

Hollywood is full of famous movie theatres where notable and important films had their premieres, and a lot of them are all in the same area.

There are three popular examples within a few blocks of each other:

At least two of these venues were crafted by Sid Grauman, and the Dolby Theatre routinely hosts major events such as the Academy Awards.

Both the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre offer tours which allow you to get a behind-the-scenes look, and the Egyptian still operates as a traditional movie theatre to this day.

Whether you want to learn about these movie houses, see them from the outside, or even enjoy a film inside one of them, there are plenty of ways to experience the great theatres of Hollywood.

NOTE: Both the TCL Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre tours are available on at least one major Los Angeles tourist pass.

7. Enjoy a Theatre Production

Nothing beats a great theatre performance, and Los Angeles typically has much to offer.

Theatre

Check out all the shows happening in Los Angeles.

TIP: Groupon is currently offering $10/$15 off of theatrical tickets when you spend more than $100/$200.

8. Attend Jerk Fest

Jerk Fest is a cultural awareness festival that brings together the best of the Caribbean.

In addition to delicious jerk foods (shrimp, beans, fish, chicken, and more) there is music, Carnival dancing, and an organic farmers market.

Events take place August 19th at Exposition Park.

For location information click here.

And if you want to keep having an amazing foodie-focused experience in Los Angeles why not also join a food tour?

9. See a Play for Free

The Griffith Park Shakespeare Festival returns in 2023 with theatre under the stars.

From July to September the Independent Shakespeare Company of LA puts on performances in Griffith Park.

Midsummer Night's Dream begins August 9th.

Be sure to bring your blanket and a picnic basket. All are sure to enjoy the evening!

Only 450 seats are available for each show so be sure to register for a ticket. For information, visit the ISCLA website.

10. 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.

These passes can save you up to 55% off of retail prices. They can also save you time by allowing you to skip the ticket line at select venues.

Attractions on Various Passes Include:

  • Movie Stars Homes Tour
  • Hollywood Sign Adventure Hike
  • LA Martitime Museum
  • Disneyland Transportation
  • Madame Tussauds Hollywood
  • San Diego Zoo
  • SatWorld San Diego

For more information and our in-depth comparison of the discount passes available, check out our tourist pass post .

THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN AUGUST

There are plenty of things to do in La-La Land after the sun goes down.

Here we list some fun festivals, tours, markets, and events happening in August.

For more nighttime activities, don't forget to check out our post on things to do at night in LA .

Attend the Long Beach Jazz Festival

Jazz enthusiasts can spend a weekend in Long Beach taking in a number of talented jazz artists as they share their music.

The festival will take place at Rainbow Lagoon Park from August 11th-13th, 2023.

For a complete lineup and tickets check out the Long Beach Jazz Festival website.

Go on a Ghost Tour

August is the perfect time to take advantage of pleasant summer nights with an evening tour. And what could be more fun than a spooky ghost tour?

This Haunted Downtown Los Angeles tour starts at 6:30 pm and covers famous hauntings, serial killer stories, and unexplained happenings.

Sunset Concerts

The Skirball Cultural Center celebrates its 26th year of free concerts.

In addition to the free music, there's singing, dancing, food, drinks, and shopping.

There are four concerts in August and advanced registration is required.

For information on the August line-up, visit their website.

Experience Universal CityWalk

You'll find a huge selection of restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment at Universal CityWalk.

This pedestrian-only promenade is connected to the Universal theme park properties and tours but stays open long after the parks have closed.

In August, the nights will be warm and perfect for dining or enjoying happy hour on the patios.

Grab Drinks at a Tiki Bar

Summertime is the ultimate season for tropical drinks that can keep you cool and make you feel like you’re in paradise! A great tiki-bar ambiance also helps.

Check out these LA tiki bars for a cool atmosphere and some stellar drinks: Tiki-Ti, The Pacific Seas, and LONO Hollywood.

For more nighttime activities, don't forget to check out our post on things to do at night in LA.

FREE THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST

You don't need to spend a fortune to have fun in Los Angeles, and August is the perfect time to enjoy all the outdoor events.

Here is our list of free things to do in August. For even more free activities, see our guide to free things to do in LA.

Smorgasberg in L.A.

Smorgasberg is the largest open-air weekly food market in America! Stop by every Sunday between 10 am-4 pm.

The market is free but you will definitely be tempted to spend a few bucks on a meal or two or three.

See the Smorgasburg LA website for details.

International Surf Festival

Head down to Hermosa Beach for a few days of fun in the sun (and ocean!).

The International Surf Festival will include surfing championships, paddleboard races, volleyball tournaments, a sand castle design contest, and much more!

It is completely free to attend and watch the competitions.

Events take place August 2nd-6th, 2023.

Nisei Week Festival

At the Nisei Week Japanese Festival, guests can take in performances by Japanese dancers and musicians, see colorful floats, taste some fantastic foods, and much more.

The festival takes place August 12th-20th, 2023 in Little Tokyo.

For more information, visit the Nisei Week Festival website.

Explore the Venice Beach Boardwalk

A warm and sunny summer day is the perfect time to visit Venice Beach's boardwalk.

You can window shop in various boutiques, people-watch, and watch the street performers sing or dance.

If you're a fan of hitting the gym, you can get a workout in at Muscle Beach, which is an open-air gym made famous by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Of course, you can also hit the beach and play in the sand!

Here is our list of free things to do in August. For even more free activities, see our guide to free things to do in LA.

Long Beach Pride Parade

Venture down to Long Beach for the 2023 pride parade and festival on August 4th-6th. 

The parade is on Sunday and is free!  Some of the events have a ticket- so be sure to plan ahead.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN AUGUST

Los Angeles offers loads of summertime activities that are fun for people young and old!

Here are a few more family-friendly activities for August, including festivals and indoor skydiving.

And if you're looking for more things to do with the kids, check out our post on kid-friendly activities.

Attend a Chariot Parade

Enjoy this ancient traditional chariot parade as it moves from Santa Monica to Venice Beach.

This popular festival brings singing, dancing, and celebration to thousands of onlookers.

Events take place on August 6th, 2023.

Visit the Ratha Yatra Festival of Chariots website for more information.

OC Fair

Carnival rides, agriculture, games, food, and more await you and your family at the Orange County Fair.

Throughout the fair, there will also be a number of events, contests, and of course carnival rides.

Events take place July 14th - August 13th, 2023.

For more information, visit the OC Fair website.

Attend The Rams Football Training Camp

For any sports fans, the Rams are hosting Training Camp at U.C. Irvine in Irvine, California.

The Rams Training Camp is completely free and fun for the whole family!

They will have meet and greets with former Rams Legends, play in a fun kid’s zone with face painting and games, eat great food, and have the opportunity to watch the Rams practice up close.

Best of all, tickets to the Los Angeles Rams Training Camp are completely free!

Games usually take place at the end of July and into mid-August. For more information, visit the Rams Training Camp website.

Head to Zuma Beach

Located in Malibu just off Pacific Coast Highway, Zuma Beach is great for everyone!

There are breathtaking views of the ocean and the cliffs of Malibu surround the beach plus there are food kiosks, ample parking (for a fee), and lifeguards on duty.

Visit the Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier has been entertaining visitors since 1909 and now also houses Pacific Park.

Pacific Park is a small amusement park but has rides, carnival games, and delicious dining options.

August is the perfect time to enjoy this outdoor hotspot!

Go Indoor Skydiving

If anyone in your family has ever wanted to skydive without having to jump from a plane, going to iFLY Hollywood is the perfect solution.

You’ll be placed in a wind tunnel that replicates the feeling of flying through the air while remaining safely close to the ground.

And if you have a Los Angeles Pass for discounts, you’ll get 20% off your tickets!

For even more ideas, see our post on kid-friendly activities in LA.

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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: July 27th, 2023
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