Los Angeles Memorial Day Weekend Events
JazzReggae Festival
Memorial Day officially kicks off a summer season of stellar events in Los Angeles. Here are our picks for the best things to do in LA Memorial Day weekend.
Edited by Christina Xenos
FESTIVALS
JazzReggae Festival
Mat 26-27. Kick off the summer with live music, food, and live art. Headliners of the 27th annual festival include Santigold, Common, Ziggy Marley and many more. $30-65. UCLA Intramural Field, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. jazzreggaefest.com
Topanga Days
May 25-27. Celebrate music, the arts and the work of local artisans at the 40th annual Topanga Days. Spend the weekend listening to live music, while discovering art, jewelry and clothing from local artisans. Musical headliners include: Jim Crawford Band, Franchot Tone, Lee Rocker, and many more. 1440 N. Topanga Cyn. Bl., Topanga, 310.455.1980. topangadays.com
Drawing On The Moon Music and Arts Festival
May 24-27. Drawing on the Moon is a uniquely eclectic music festival that showcases more than 120 local, national, and international live and electronic music acts of a variety of genres, from African to experimental. Experience entertainment on five stages; art and film; dance, and theater performances; workshops, yoga, massage, health practices, and more. The site of the festival is on top of a mountain in Malibu, 2000 feet above sea level, on more than 25 acres. Surrounded by rolling hills, mountains, the ocean; the property also includes ecosustainable vineyards, orchards, a zoo, a sweat lodge, tipi, yurt, and numerous custom structures created by fierce environmentalist Debra Malmazada over the last 20 years. drawingonthemoon.com
Fiesta Hermosa
May 25-27. Check out one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in the country at the 41st annual “Fiesta Hermosa” in downtown Hermosa Beach. The event features more than 300 artisans including painters, photographers, jewelers, sculptors and more, in addition to live music on two stages, an international selection of food to eat, beer, wine and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Hermosa Beach. fiestahermosa.net
Grand Park Sunday Sessions
May 26. Celebrate Sundays all summer long by listening to the best in electronic music at Grand Park. Carefully curated by Eduardo Castillo from The Eclectech, Castillo brings the beautiful soaring sounds beats of local and international DJs and producers to the heart of downtown Los Angeles. The kick off event features Wolf + Lamb with Baby Prince, No Regular Play, Eduardo Castillo, among others. Also find food from food trucks and cocktails from Pattern Bar. 2-10 p.m. Grand Park’s Performance Lawn, 200 N. Grand Ave., downtown. grandparkla.org
EVENTS
Skybar Pool Party
May 27. Spend Sundays lounging by the pool on large, oversized daybeds, sipping Skybar’s famous mojitos, and dancing to the sounds of special guest DJ’s at this weekly summer party. Sundays through Spet. 30. Dress to impress. RSVP required, early arrival suggested: 323.848.6025 or email skybarla@mhgc.com. 8440 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. mondrianhotel.com
XIV Summer Sessions LA at The Colony
May 26. Each week The Colony’s patio transforms into a high energy dance floor with beats by internationally known DJ talent. Embodying the spirit of the exclusive beach parties born in the South of France, expect revelers sporting summer-chic fashions, bronzed cocktail waitresses flaunting sexy Frederick’s of Hollywood bikinis, hours of dancing in the seamless indoor-outdoor space, and more. The party continues at the official after-hours spot at HYDE Lounge, where resident DJ Connor Cruise will spin beats throughout the night. A double-decker bus will transport guests from The Colony to the chic ultra lounge. 5-10 p.m.; 10 p.m.-2 a.m.1743 N. Cahuenga Blvd., L.A., 323.525.2450. xivsummersessions.com
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena
Kick-off your summer vacation at The Langham with a poolside BBQ menu and live entertainment by the pool all weekend. The Hideaway Pool Bar features a happy hour wine tasting event from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 24, with Bodegas M Tempranillo and Albarino wines and tapas offered at happy hour pricing; while the Terrace’s BBQ menu offers selections like smoked brisket, grilled chicken, BBQ pork ribs and more. 1401 South Oak Knoll Ave., Pasadena. pasadena.langhamhotels.com
Memorial Day Yacht Party, Mini-Cruise & BBQ
May 27. Kick off summer with four levels of sun and fun on the FantaSee One Mega-Yacht. Afternoon featured DJs, BBQ, cabanas with bottle service, karaoke and more. Fantasea One Mega-Yacht, 13509 Fiji Way, Marina del Rey, 310.821.5371. $40+. wantickets.com
Drai’s
May 27. Hip hop DJ Lucky Lou has manned the turntable behind acts like Jay-Z, P. Diddy, The Black Eyed Peas, LMFAO, among others launches a Monday party atop the W Hollywood Hotel. 6250 Hollywood Blvd., L.A. More Info.
MOVIES
Cinespia: The Party | Clueless
May 25, 26. Cinespia continues its picnic/movie season at Hollywood Forever Cemetery with Memorial Day weekend screenings of The Party (Saturday) and Clueless (Sunday). Bring blankets, drinks and a picnic. DJ Carlos Nino spins before and after the screening. Online pre-sale tickets are now available Gates 7 p.m., movie 8:30 p.m. $12. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 600 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. cinespia.org
Eat|See|Hear: The Princess Bride
May 25. LA’s roving outdoor movie event series celebrates Memorial Day weekend with a screening of The Princess Bride. In addition to the movie, which screens on the only three-story HD movie screen west of the Mississippi, expect food trucks and live music from Derde Verde. Each Saturday through Sep. 14, Eat|See|Hear screens a different movie in a different location. Doors: 5:30 p.m., band: 7 p.m., movie: 8:30 p.m. Santa Monica High School baseball field (enter through the walkway on 4th Street between the track and the DoubleTree Hotel). eatseehear.com
EAT | DRINK
STREET
May 26. Because burgers and hotdogs are a bit blasé, Susan Feniger’s STREET and Asian/American pop-culture tastemaker, Giant Robot, are hosting a Korean BBQ on STREET’s patio to celebrate the launch of the summer. Guests can partake in Korean BBQ and saunter up to STREET’s sake lounge, and Susan Feniger will be on hand to spice the party up. 742 N. Highland Ave., L.A., 323.203.0500. eatatstreet.com
Memorial Weekend Brunch at Fig & Olive
May 24-27. Dine on a Riviera-inspired three-course brunch from chef Pascal Lorange. Menu highlights include truffle mushroom croquette, lobster bisque, crab cake eggs Benedict, south of France poached eggs with salmon and more. During brunch, the restaurant will also serve new spa-inspired “mocktails” (think Jardin De Fraises with kefir clover, muddled fresh strawberries and fig, clover honey and a rouch of fig balsamic). $28 brunch, $10 cocktails. 8490 Melrose Place, L.A., 310.360.9100. figandolive.com
Tortilla Republic Memorial Day Brunch
May 27. Celebrate your day off with a special brunch offerings from West Hollywood’s outpost for modern Mexican cuisine. Signature dishes include huevos divorciados (poached eggs with tomatillo ranchero sauce, Applewood-smoked bacon, black beans, tortilla strips and queso fresco), TR Benedict, seared ahi and sweet potato hash and more, including bottomless mimosas. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 616 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood, 310.657.9888. tortillarepublic.com
Hyperion Public Booze and Barbecue Weekends
May 25-27. Stop by Silverlake’s Hyperion Public for grilling delicacies like skirt steak skewers, cheeseburgers, portabella burgers, potato salad, bacon cole slaw, and more. Seating available outside and on the patio. 2538 Hyperion Ave, Silver Lake, 323.761.6440. HyperionPublic.com
