Inside LA - The Los Angeles Lowdown
10 Best Things To Do In LA In April
“Ah! Los Angeles in the Spring”: said absolutely no one. But they should – LA is a great place to be at this time of year. The rainy season is behind us, the nights are longer, it’s nice and warm, but it still hasn’t gotten hot yet. Things are starting to gear up for summer and people are desperate to get out AND DO SOMETHING! But what are you going to do? Well, from book fairs to circuses, via marionettes and Mozart, Los Angeles has it all next month! And we’ve got the lowdown for you right here. These are the 10 best things to do in LA in April.
Events & Activities in Los Angeles This Month
1. VISIT A LOS ANGELES MUSEUM (ALL MONTH)
We have a ton of world class museums in Los Angeles. Why not use April to get acquainted (or reacquainted) with one or two? This is not an exhaustive list, but it’s got more than enough institutions to keep you going for this month at least.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art AKA LACMA
Getty Center (free, pay for parking)
California Science Center (donation)
California African American Museum AKA CAAM (free)
Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles AKA CAM (donation)
The Broad (free)
Museum of Contemporary Art AKA MOCA (free)
La Brea Tar Pits & Museum (free)
Holocaust Museum LA (free)
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes (donation)
Griffith Observatory (free)
2. LOS ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS (APRIL 18 AND 19)
Even in this modern age, with smart phones, tablets and computers, there’s still something very nice about reading from an actual, you know, book. They also make for lovely home decoration.
Since 1996 this festival has grown into the largest one of its kind in the entire United States. Based on the USC campus, the event features public readings, including performances by well-known authors and poets, and loads and loads of, you know, books. Every year it’s one of the best things to do in LA in April.
More information here.
3. KNOTT’S BOYSENBERRY FESTIVAL (TO APRIL 12)
Knott’s Berry Farm is in Anaheim, just south of Los Angeles (near the Mouse Kingdom) and is a great place to visit if you’re in Southern California (it’s also considerably cheaper its OC neighbor). Believe it or not but Knott’s Berry Farm is one of the very first theme parks in the world (it was based on a Western theme). It was also founded by another Walter: Walter Knott.
The Boysenberry festival is an “annual food-inspired event that celebrates the park’s historic roots by highlighting the little berry that started it all, the boysenberry. Indulge in a tantalizing lineup of dishes ranging from savory foods with a boysenberry twist to one-of-a-kind specialty desserts and drinks that you can only find at Knott’s Berry Farm during this limited-time food festival”. Sounds good to me!
More information here.
4. VISIT GRIFFITH PARK (ALL MONTH)
Almost slap bang in the middle of Los Angeles, straddling the highest peaks of the Hollywood Hills between the Westside and the San Fernando Valley, (AKA ‘the valley’) is the wondrous Griffith Park.
There are several museums (including the Griffith Observatory), a zoo, a carousel, a gold course, tennis courts, cafe’s, a horse-riding ranch and numerous hiking trails offering unparalleled views of Los Angeles. And all that’s without even mentioning its most famous resident: the Hollywood Sign.
Is that enough to entice you to pay a visit in April? It’s one of the best month’s to visit, before temperatures climb too much and the sun sets at just the right time of da, so you can grab some great shots for IG, before heading off for dinner.
Read our guide to Griffith Park for a rundown of its fascinating history and information on things to do there (there’s a lot, and not just hiking by any means).
We organize a daily hike up to the top of Mount Hollywood and down to the Griffith Observatory, which offers great opportunities to see the sign too: the Griffith Park & Hollywood Sign Hike. Join us for this fun exploration of Los Angles’ most famous park.
5. BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER (VARIOUS DATES)
Bob Baker Marionette Theater is always a great place to visit. A few years ago the company moved into a new (historic) theater in Highland Park, on York Boulevard. The shows are really something special as this type of theater is something of a lost art. But the kids will love it and there’s some sly humor for the adults too. In April their presenting Hooray LA!.
The people and places of the City of Angels come to puppet life in Hooray LA! A plethora of handcrafted marionettes invite you to celebrate the city, from a fish swimming through the LA River to the traffic jams on LA freeways to the mountains of Griffith Park, where one lone mountain lion looks for love… And so much more!
Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Hooray LA! was Bob Baker’s ode to his city and the last new show he ever created. First performed in 1981 for the Los Angeles Bicentennial, the show was recently revived to include many perspectives and voices of our city, celebrating its diversity and uniqueness.
More information here.
On April 12th Los Angeles State Historic Park is hosting the annual Bob Baker Day It’s always one of best things to do in LA in April.
6. WALT’S BARN (APRIL 19)
Everyone knows about Disneyland, south of Los Angeles in Anaheim, but not many people know of this Disney-related attraction in Griffith Park. Walt had a toy train set at his house in Beverly Hills – and as you can believe that when I say “toy trains” I’m not talking about the Hornby toy-train set you may have had as a child (I did). Some of his “toy” trains are three-quarter size and even the smallest are pretty big. On the third Sunday of every month (this year it’s April 19) this small non-profit opens its doors for the general public to have a play.
Did I mention it’s free?
More information here.
7. CHOCOLATE SUNDAES @ THE LAUGH FACTORY (EVERY SUNDAY)
Who couldn’t do with a good laugh at the moment? The Laugh Factory on the Sunset Strip is a very well established comedy institution here in LA, where many of the most famous comedians first started, and sometimes return to try out new material.
Sprinkled with surprise star-studded guests and produced by Executive Producer Pookey Wigington, you are always in for a treat at Chocolate Sundaes Comedy Show! Every Sunday for a double scoop of sweet, sweet comedy pleasure. Featuring comedians to be announced.
The Laugh Factory Hollywood
More information here.
8. LA: FOOD + HISTORY + DESIGN TOUR (EVERY SUNDAY)
So many people – not only visitors to LA, but also some residents – erroneously think that our city “doesn’t have much history”. How wrong they are! Why not spend a Sunday visiting some of the most historic sites here (including where the city was founded in 1781), seeing some of the most iconic buildings in the World (such as Union Station, City Hall and the Walt Disney Concert Hall) and eating some great food (have you tried the French Dip sandwich, which was invented here?).
Join us on a tour this month and let us show you a whole other side of Los Angeles. More information here.
9. 2026 LA BEER FEST (APRIL 4)
Who doesn’t like beer? Well, if you don’t this event may not be for you – but if you do it might be right down your street. Taking place at Los Angeles Center Studios (the filming lot next to downtown, where shows like Mad Men were filmed), it “features over 80 breweries, 200 beers, LA’s best food trucks, live music, and much more!”
More information here.
10. GO TO A CONCERT AT THE MUSIC CENTER (VARIOUS DATES)
Talking of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, why not enjoy a concert there in April? It’s one of the best live music venues in the world, with one of the leading orchestras (the LA Phil) – and, arguably, classical music’s most charismatic conductor (Gustavo Dudamel). There’s a great program of concerts and events this month, including performances by Jazz great Herbie Hancock and concerts of the work of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Haydn. You can even improve the experience further by adding a Complimentary Wine Reception for some of the shows.
More information here.
If you have any feedback on the 10 Best Things to Do in LA in April please email us or reach out on social media, we’d love to hear from you.
– By Damien Blackshaw (Twitter)
You must be logged in to post a comment.