Events and Festivals in Los Angeles
Tournament of Roses Parade
The Tournament of Roses Parade held in Pasadena, has been a traditional event since 1890. Celebrating the beginning of the New Year on the 1st January, the annual Rose Parade showcases an exquisite pageantry marked by traditional floral floats, exemplary equestrians and cheerful marching bands. The Tournament of Roses Parade is considered one of the greatest events of the US and is typically followed by the Rose Bowl Game.
Kingdom Day Parade
Like many other cities across the state, the Kingdom Day Parade in mid-January pays tribute to the life of Martin Luther King Jr and features a two-mile long parade packed with more than one hundred floats, several drill teams, dance performances, military marching bands and equestrian shows.
Golden Dragon Parade
The Golden Dragon Parade celebrates the Chinese New Year at the end of January in Los Angeles' North Broadway. This fun event attracts over 100,000 people annually and features everything from one-hundred-foot dragons, Chinese music and dancing, firecrackers and terrific martial art performances. An event filled with traditions and fit for the entire family.
Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, a highly anticipated event held annually in late February, is one of the most famous events of the film industry. Taking place in Hollywood, Los Angeles, at the Hollywood's Academy of Motion Pictures Art & Sciences, this prestigious event celebrates filmmaking and acting like no other. If you want to feast your eyes on some of your favourite Hollywood celebrities, this is the event to do so. Watch the rich and famous arrive and depart from the event and take pictures as they walk across the famous red carpet.
Mardi Gras and Carnival
Los Angeles is one of the most exciting cities in the USA to enjoy Mardi Gras. Held during mid or late February, LA's Mardi Gras festival is vivacious, wild and jam-packed with all the traditions of a classic carnival – samba music, samba dancing, bright costumes, floats and stilt walkers. The event is highly popular and has existed already for over 100 years.
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach
Watch the world's top drivers compete in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Los Angeles, during mid-April. Decades old, this popular event welcomes some 200,000 people yearly seeking to watch pro and celebrity races and then wraps up with an entertaining concert.
Unusual Doo Dah Parade
The Unusual Doo Dah Parade is an extremely popular event held in mid-April in Pasadena, LA. Acting as a parody to the Rose Parade, the Doo Dah Parade offers dozens of weird and wacky floats and is known for its mock-style fun, harmless political satire and what some might call "bad taste" jokes. The Doo Dah Parade is stated as one of America's Best Parades by Readers Digest and should not be missed if you happen to be around at the time.
July 4th Fireworks Spectacular
For the ultimate 4th July celebration, the Fireworks Spectacular hosted in Hollywood, Los Angeles, is the best you'll find. Attracting people in their thousands, the event showcases the most patriotic traditions including heart-warming concerts, inspiring music and a magnificent fireworks display over Hollywood Hills.
Hollywood Christmas Parade
Welcoming the Holiday Season, the Hollywood Christmas Parade in late November is a long-held tradition that features Santa Claus himself alongside Hollywood's famous celebrities and Disney animation characters. Apart from an exciting line-up of guests, expect plenty of entertainment in the form large decorated floats, marching bands, folk dancing, giant balloons and of course the classical equestrians.
Festival Navideno de la Calle Ocho
Early December in Los Angeles sees one of the largest Latino events take place with over 100,000 attendees known as Festival Navideno de la Calle Ocho. This big time event in Los Angeles that is held across an entire 10 blocks has been celebrated for over a century already and comprises an array of concerts, celebrity acts and performers, carnival rides, Latino music and plenty of food! The entertainment is non-stop!
