Los Angeles Events
PHOTOS: Los Angeles Events
Events listed below are held in Los Angeles County
JANUARY
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration
Various events celebrating the life of the civil rights leader; Los Angeles; http://www.king-raleigh.org/natlevent/body.cfm
FEBRUARY
Black History Month Celebration
Celebration includes musical entertainment, animal talks, ethnic vendors and crafts; Los Angeles Zoo; http://www.lazoo.org
Pan African Film and Art Festival
Featuring over 150 films from U.S., Africa, Europe, Canada, South Pacific, Asia, Caribbean; Rave Theater in Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza; http://www.paff.org
Ragga Muffin Bob Marley Day
Featuring top entertainers, food and crafts fair; past performers include Marley family members; Long Beach Arena; http://www.raggamuffins.org
African Heritage Festival
Featuring African music, food, drum circles, storytelling and more; Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach; http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/african_american_festival
APRIL
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
America’s largest literary event includes over 300 booksellers, 400 book authors and 150,000 book lovers; Brentwood District; http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks
SpringFest
Harambee’s Farmer Market presents this annual celebration of fresh fruit, vegetables, music, jewelry, African clothing and more; Crenshaw Blvd Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org
Garifuna Day Street Festival
Traditional African festival showcasing Garifuna food, music and culture; South Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org
MAY
International Capoeira Festival
Los Angeles; http://www.capoeirabrasil.com
JUNE
Juneteenth Celebration
Annual celebration of African American culture throughout the Los Angeles community; http://www.juneteenth.com
Real Men Cook
Family celebration and fundraising event; Los Angeles; http://www.realmencook.com
Leimert Park Village Book Fair
Los Angeles, CA; http://www.leimertparkbookfair.com
JULY
Bill Pickett Rodeo
Star studded event that features black cowboys and cowgirls from around the country; past celebrities have included Denzel Washington, Sinbad, and Angela Bassett; Los Angeles Equestrian Center; http://www.billpickettrodeo.com
Brazilian Summer Festival
Annual festival featuring music, dance, arts and crafts; Ford Amphitheatre; http://www.braziliannites.com
Central Avenue Jazz Festival
Two day festival along Central Avenue between 42nd and 43rd Street; http://www.centralavejazz.org
Los Angeles Black Pride Festival
Largest black gay and lesbian event in the city; https://www.facebook.com/LABP.ATBLA
Mid-Summer Nights Dream
Various events founded by Magic Johnson including Harlem Nights, Corporate Scholarship Awards Dinner, Celebrity Basketball game and more; Los Angeles; http://www.magicjohnson.org
AUGUST
Long Beach Jazz Festival
One of the premier California jazz festivals; past performers include Stanley Clarke, Randy Crawford, Phil Perry and Patti Austin; Long Beach; http://www.longbeachjazzfestival.com
Watts Summer Festival
Annual cultural festival featuring arts, music, food, fashion and more; South Central Avenue, Watts; http://www.wattsfestival.org
World Stage Jazz Festival
Leimert Park Village; http://www.theworldstage.org
SEPTEMBER
Brazilian Street Carnival and Independence Day Celebration
Downtown Long Beach; http://www.culturela.org
Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival
Watts Towers Arts Center Amphitheater, Watts; http://www.wattstowers.us
Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival
Watts Towers Arts Center Amphitheater, Watts; http://www.wattstowers.us
OCTOBER
Taste of Soul
Annual family festival in the features entertainment, arts, crafts and food sponsored by the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper; Crenshaw ; http://tasteofsoul.org
Hollywood Black Film Festival
Annual festival featuring film screenings, parties, panels and networking receptions; Hollywood; http://www.hbff.org
Catalina Island Jazztrax Festival
One of the nation’s best jazz festivals; Avalon, Catalina Island; http://www.jazztrax.com
African American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase
Sponsored by Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center; four day film festival featuring over 50 films, seminars, and vendor fair; Los Angeles; http://www.bherc.org
Unity Fest
Event includes Pan African, Asian, European, Native American, Latin American and Middle Eastern villages selling traditional foods; Verdugo Park, Glendale; http://www.culturela.org
NOVEMBER
Harvest Food Festival
Harambee’s Farmer Market presents this annual celebration of fresh fruit, vegetables, music, jewelry, African clothing and more; Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles; http://www.culturela.org
DECEMBER
Kwanzaa
Begins 12/26; annual 7-day celebration of African American culture in various venues around Los Angeles; http://www.soulofamerica.com/events/kwanzaa-celebrations
