The Los Angeles Festivals scene stacks up amongst the best cities in the country. From off the wall events like a Grilled Cheese Invitational to the largest Reggae fest in the country. Major dance music events out in the woods to street festivals that draw 50,000 people. Food, music, culture, art, you name it, LA has a festival for that. We've picked a few of our favorites for you in this handy dandy guide to Los Angeles Festivals and annual events.

Last Updated on 1/10/2012

With over 25,000 attendees annually, the Ragga Muffins Festival is recognized as the premiere and largest Reggae Festival in the US featuring top international artists, reggae legends and up and coming regional acts. The two-day Music and Arts Festival continues the tradition of honoring Bob Marley, and also offers an array of international arts and crafts, food and lifestyle vendors.
Late February
Long Beach
Largest Reggae festival in the US.

THC Expose is a one-of-a-kind business to consumer show, with over 300 cannabis related businesses exhibiting their products and services to the Cannabis based consumer. What does that mean for the afficianado? THC and hemp products, food, fashion, guest speakers, music, live DJs, a special hemp museum exhibit, and 20 Hours of THC-defined movies.
Late April
Los Angeles Convention Center
While businesses conduct B2B during the day, the public will be admitted on Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., then on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Grilled Cheese Invitational (GCI) is the largest, craziest, and most exciting Grilled Cheese cooking contest in the country and is the best thing to happen to sliced cheese since sliced bread! The GCI promotes an almost scary pursuit of perfection in a Grilled Cheese Sammich and allows for amateur and professional chefs to compete side-by-side in the hopes of becoming a true Grilled Cheese Champion.
Late April
1201 W. 5th St.
The tastiest party you have been to in a long, long time. Yes, there is beer.

The twisted sister of its saner Rose Parade counterpart, The Doo Dah parade was started as a grassroots event in 1978 to gain national attention for its eccentric and, often, irreverent satire. Enjoying popular acclaim in the Old Pasadena retail and entertainment district, inventive, zany, art cars and floats accompany a legion of frolickers past the mom-n-pop shops along their shady tree-lined streets.
Late April
Pasadena Downtown
Reverence by imitation, now occurs with irreverence in Columbus, Ohio and Ocean City, New Jersey Doo Dah Parades.

Run entirely by UCLA students, each year the JazzReggae Festival brings together over 25,000 people for one amazing weekend. Combining music, food, art, community and culture, the festival brings artists like Lupe Fiasco, Little Dragon, Q-Tip, The Roots, Stephen Marley, Erykah Badu, Raphael Saadiq, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Nas and Damian Marley & many others
Memorial Day Weekend
UCLA Campus
Big name talent, cheap tickets.

In true Bohemian style, the Silver Lake Jubilee takes place under a bridge and showcases the eclectic character and artistic ethos of the neighborhood. Featuring live bands, DJs, comedians, cartoonists, ensemble readings, artists, gourmet food trucks and local vendors this festival is a great way to savor a slice of the LA hipster set.
Memorial Day Weekend
Silver Lake - duh!
Previous headliners have included Geotic, Ceci Bastida, Ximena Sariñana, We Are The World and Crystal Antlers

Lightning in a Bottle is a celebration of Art, Music, Performance, Sustainability and Life. It takes place annually on Memorial Day Weekend at the Oak Canyon Ranch in Silverado, CA. The event out does itself every year and the organizers (The Do Lab) seem to have their sights set on another big one in 2012. Stay tuned for lineup and other info.
Memorial Day Weekend
Oak Canyon Ranch
2011 headliners included Pretty Lights, Beats Antique, Mimosa and Thievory Corporation

Things to expect from LA's Gay Pride: powerhouse divas on multiple stages, audacious drag queens, tanned and toned boys shaking it in something skimpy, highly danceable grooves, dance tents, drink tents and happy, clappy rainbow colors everywhere.
June
West Hollywood
Previous years have seen divas like Estelle & Mya belt out their classics at Pride, so expect this year's headliners to be just as amazing

The onset of summer in Los Angeles brings out the oenophiles in every corner of this city, heralded mostly by the LA Wine Fest. Two days of wine tasting occurs in Hollywood at raleigh Studios, bringing in wine from not only the favored wine producing communities of California (Sonoma, Napa, Central Coast), but far away places like France as well. Organizers ensure a good time is to be had with the addition of food trucks and musicians, regaling winos with delicious treats and tunes.
Mid June
Hollywood
Two days of wine tasting in Hollywood, featuring a host of California wineries, LA restaurants, and other vendors.

The best in American and foreign cinema is showcased in this 10-day festival that boasts several world premiers and over 200 other films, documentaries and music videos. The Festival line-up will be announced in early May, 2012, so stay tuned!
Late June
Downtown Los Angeles
World premieres of over 200 American and Foreign films each year.

Tacos. Pretzels. Ice Cream. Burgers. Smoothies. Fruit. Burritos. Hot Dogs. Veggie Delights. Beer. Corn Dogs. Popcorn. Bacon wrapped hot dogs. Cookies. French Fries. Cupcakes.The LA Street Food Fest celebrates the local foodie and events scene with a delicious good time in the park, supporting independent small business owners.
Late July
Rose Bowl
Last year's Carmageddeon may have deterred some festival-goers but expect the foodies to be out in full force this year.

This summertime outdoor event features both global superstars and the hottest beats out of Los Angeles, along with food and merch vendors. HARD's reputation as LA's premier dance music organizers has seen them pull everyone from A-Trak, Chromeo, Basement Jaxx and Diplo to Steve Aoki and Skrillex.
Early August
Los Angeles State Historic Park
Big beats, outdoor setting, major DJ talent.

Celebrating a classic American art form for three decades, the Long Beach Blues Festival has become one of the premier blues and jazz events in the country and showcases the top talent in the genre today.
Early August
Rainbow Lagoon Park
Chuck Berry himself graced the stage last year, so expect some pretty illustrious folks to be beltin' out the blues at this one.

The Los Angeles folk music scene is picking up a lot of steam these days, culminating in The New L.A. Folk Festival at Zorthian Ranch. Amid a fitting western atmosphere, folk aficionados can sunbathe, swim, and listen to an expansive line-up of local folksters in this intimate ranch venue setting. It's the perfect place to escape the hardships of urbanity and play, if only for a weekend.
Early August
Zorthian Ranch
The best of LA's folk scene converges upon Zorthian Ranch for two days of music and lots of hipster watching.

The Sunset Strip Music Festival is the pinnacle of LA's music festivals, held in the heart of Hollywood, and at some of tinsel town's storied venues -- the House of Blues, The Roxy, The Viper Room and others. The line-up is varied and usually spans multiple popular genres, hearkening back to bygone eras of rock (for example, Motley Crue played the role of headliners). This concert series sells out to Angelenos and tourists alike, cramming people onto Sunset Boulevard as if the LA riots were back -- and amplified.
Mid August
Hollywood/Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip closes for a few days to accomodate one the summer's most popular festivals.

What started out as an underground party in the early 90's has turned into one of America's longest running dance music festival tours. This year, It returns for its 20th annual Southern California date. The Generation Celebration returns with 2 massive areas of music featuring the best in house, trance, and progressive.
Late August
Oak Canyon Park
Previous years have seen Felix Da Housecat, Paul Oakenfold LA Riots & more headline

Raging like they do every summer, the 2012 Mad Decent Block Party is back! Taking over four cities across four different weekends, the fest finishes up in Los Angeles. Helmed by label-owner, Diplo, Mad Decent'[s track record of curating on the best in everything from dubstep to ghettohouse and Brazilian baile funk means this is one dayparty you won't want to miss. Best part? Totally free!
Late August
Premiere Event Center
Last year's headliners included Major Lazer, Diplo, Das Racist, Claude Von Stroke

A four day culinary spectacle of unlimited food, beer, wine and spirits, where dozens of LA's top chefs set up stalls at the annual gastro-charity and dole out cuisine for hundreds of hungry foodies. Never fear, mixology and craft beer also play a big part, with bartenders from LA's top watering holes -- like The Spare Room and 1886 Bar -- shaking up summertime adult beverages all afternoon long.
Labor Day Weekend
Beverley Hills, Downtown LA & Hollywood
This may be the fest to spring for VIP tickets, with special sections, previews of yet-to-be opened restaurant and hobnobbing with Top Chef" winners.

Sunset Junction is one of Silverlake's most prized music festivals, with roots in helping the at-risk youth community. Now, Sunset Junction Street Festival hosts plenty of bands, local vendors, and a carnival to bring the greater Los Angeles area into its fold. Due to permit complications last year, the city decided to cancel this tradition, however organizers are promising to bring back the festival in 2012.
Early September
Silverlake
Cancelled last year, but here's hoping organizers will get it together in 2012.

RIOT is a weekend long comedy festival to take place along an entire city block of downtown LA in an eclectic set of venues. This festival showcases some of today's best comedic talent in the country to a wider audience—providing mass exposure to a thriving alternative comedy scene.
September
Downtown LA
Want this celebration of underground comedy to happen? Organizers are looking for donations, big or small, so check the website to contribute. Support your local comedians!

This SoCal massive put on by Insomniac (the same folks that put on Electric Daisy Carnival) is known for over-the-top, gothic and absurdist decor along with some of the biggest names in electronic dance music today.
Late September
Downtown LA
Last year's lineup included Fedde Le Grand, AVICII and Dirty South

Venice Beach, one of LA's most diverse and eccentric communities, hosts an annual music, food, and shopping festival where by Abbott Kinney is cordoned off for pedestrian pleasures. You can dine at many of the local and acclaimed restaurants that line its sidewalk, bask in the glow of a local Los Angeles band, frequent one of many beer gardens usually set-up, and check out the many shops that open their doors for this special event.
Late September
Abbott Kinney Blvd., in Venice
Venice artists, musicians, restaurants, and shop oweners open up their neighborhood for a day.

If you were ever curious about what the indie music scene in Austraila, or say, Iran were like, then get a sneak peak at Culture Collide, Filter magazine's music festival. This nascent fest brings bands from all over the globe, including LA, to the Echo Park venues you know and love for a week-long music extravaganza. Tickets are relatively inexpensive, but for those of you who don't want to pay for such a varied line-up, the festival is usualy topped off with a free block party open to all ages.
Early October
Echo Park
Multi-day music festival hosted by FILTER Magazine featuring the best in local, domestic and international musicians and bands.

Now in its 13th year, Eagle Rock Music Festival is a celebration of eclecticism and creativity in music genres ranging from rock, to electronic, experimental, folksy/whatever-stuff and beyond. For one night only, ten different venues ranging from auto-shops and formal stages to historical buildings and balconies open their doors to host both well known acts playing alongside offbeat bands.
Early October
Colorado Blvd. between Argus & Eagle Rock Blvd.
Last year's highlights included Boom Bip, Daddy Kev, Flying Lotus, Miracle Parade and more

The 4th annual Beer Week celebrates local beer establishments, breweries, beer cuisine, restaurants and education on all things related to beer culture. This massive, multi-venue bash sees a ton of brew-houses, bars, and restaurants from LA to Orange County hosting special beer pairings, holding tasting events, and more.
Late October
LA & Orange County
Save room for the Grand Finale, The LA Beer Week Beer Festival at Historic Union Station featuring over 70 local, regional, national, and international Craft and Artisan breweries.

Halloween means so many things to different people, but for the zombie-lover, the Long Beach Zombie Walk is where you want to be. The largest such event in the greater Los Angeles area, the zombie walk spills onto the street of Long Beach, marked by a lot of drunk undead, and ends in a festival to continue boozing and shmoozing among your zombie cohorts. There is also a giant group dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," just to sweeten an already wickedly awesome deal.
October
Long Beach
Zombie walk, plus concert, plus music festival.

The largest Halloween street party in the world happens in West Hollywood, located in the Los Angeles County Region. Each year, more than 500,000 people take to the streets of Santa Monica Boulevard to enjoy the craziest, most eccentric costume creations ever. The big draws of the evening are the Halloween Costume Contest and crowning of an Honorary "Queen of the Carnaval." It's WeHo, so when they say it gets creative, we mean you better 'bring it', son!
Halloween
West Hollywood
Last year, hundreds of thousands filled Santa Monica Boulevard, where MTV treated them to a surprise concert by Swedish pop star Robyn. The network also broke the Guiness World Record for “Longest Dance Party” at West Hollywood’s Roxy Theatre on the Sunset Strip during a streamed online event.

Santacon is an annual, now worldwide celebration of Santa Claus wherein hundreds of revelers dress up like Kris Kringle and commit wanton acts of intoxicated debauchery in bars and on street corners across the city. Sound awesome? That's because it is.
Mid December
TBA
In case we didn't spell it out, this is basically a massive city wide bar crawl, with every venue along the route offering drink specials, in true Christmas spirit

This two-day music and arts festival, takes place right before NYE 2012 (Dec 29/30) at two different locations (Catnap / Chuco's), do-it-yourself music/art/biking event has a line-up boasting 45 bands from various parts of the country, a promising dance party with 2,500 bodies, a zine library, an art gallery, interactive art installations, and a series of workshops at your disposal.
Dec 29-30
Catnap / Chuco's
We highly recommend the chill-out tent with experimental and ambient live performances, perfect for a break from the chaos!

Together As One unites dance music lovers to experience the world's finest DJs & electronic-infused artists on the most epic night of the year! Imagine 30,000 people saying peace out to 2012 by ushering in the New Year with a "special, choreographed, multi-media countdown, climaxing into a spectacular fireworks display."
New Years Eve
Oak Canyon Park
Last year saw Diplo, Felix Da Housecat, Duck Sauce, Dirty South & more headline