This week, dive into an incredible array of events with something for every interest, from international film festivals and live hip-hop/classical fusion to hands-on art workshops and free family science fairs. Don’t miss the dazzling “Bridgerton” Candlelight concert, the vibrant Cherry Blossom Festival, or the highly anticipated Ube Fest.
Spring Carnival
La Puente | Glendora Ave. & Mayor Dave Way, La Puente | April 9-12 | lapuente.org
Spring Carnival is back with rides, treats, live music, a car show, and games for all ages. Admission: free.
Pasadena International Film Festival
Laemmle NoHo 7 | 5240 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood | April 9-16 | pasadenafilmfestival.org
The thirteenth edition of the Pasadena International Film Festival (PIFF) returns to the NoHo Arts District presenting more than 160 films from over 12 countries. Panels, a nightly Passholders’ Lounge, and an “Old Hollywood Glamour”-themed closing night award ceremony are also scheduled. Festival entries include features, shorts, documentaries, and animated films. PIFF will also showcase films about the California wildfires such as the documentaries “Altadena: The Heart. The Art and The Soul,” “California is Burning,” “Echoes of the Palisades,” “Going For Home,” and the music video “Embers.” Day pass: $35. PIFF gala and award ceremony: $59. All access pass: $99. Platinum pass: $299.
Autry After Hours
Autry Museum of the American West | 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles | April 9 | heautry.org
Enjoy live music, dancing, a full cash bar, food for purchase, and after-hours museum access. This event will feature live performances by Caravan 222 and Same Ol Smile. Same Ol’ Smile is a Los Angeles–based, six-piece, country-boogie band. General admission: $20. Seniors: $14. Children under 12: $8.
‘History of the Tango’
Sierra Madre Playhouse | 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre | April 10-11 | sierramadreplayhouse.org
Violinist Martin Chalifour, the recently retired Principal Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic whose 30-year tenure with the orchestra is the longest in its history, continues his season-long residency at Sierra Madre Playhouse with back-to-back performances of “History of the Tango.” Chalifour, joined by multi-Grammy-nominated guitarist Mak Grgic, traces the evolution of Argentina’s most celebrated musical style in a program anchored by Astor Piazzolla’s “Histoire du Tango.” Tickets: $35.
‘Mean Girls’
La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts | 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada | April 10 – May 3 | lamiradatheatre.com
You don’t have to wear pink to this fetch musical but you should consider it if you don’t want to be personally victimized by Regina George. Adapted from Tina Fey’s hit 2004 film, “Mean Girls” was nominated for 12 Tony Awards. Tickets start at $13.20.
Mirror Painting with Side Quests: Art Café
Black Cat Fables | 415 S. Myrtle Ave. Unit B, Monrovia | April 10 | blackcatfables.com
Join Side Quests: Art Café for a fun workshop where you’ll learn to paint a small mirror, transforming it into a piece of functional art. This session will guide you through the process of designing and painting a custom frame. All materials will be provided. Tickets: $40.
Astronomy Night
Whitewater Preserve | 9160 Whitewater Canyon Road, Whitewater | April 10 | wildlandsconservancy.org
This free hands-on astronomy experience for all ages—presented in collaboration with UC Riverside’s Physics and Astronomy Department—will allow visitors to gaze at the full moon through high-powered telescopes, ask questions to astronomy experts, and enjoy the beauty of the desert after dark.
Inspiration LA
Pasadena Convention Center | 300 E. Green St., Pasadena | April 10-11 | inspirationla.com
This annual vintage fashion and lifestyle event focuses on vintage clothing, accessories, and items from various eras, including the 1920s through the 1990s. It typically features a wide range of exhibitors, including vintage clothing vendors, collectors, and enthusiasts. Tickets start at $10.
Cherry Blossom Festival
Barnes Park | 350 S. McPherrin Ave., Monterey Park | April 11-12 | montereypark.ca.gov
See, hear, and taste a bit of the Japanese and Japanese American culture by watching traditional Japanese dancing, hearing the beats of the taiko drums, observing the various skills of martial arts, participating in a tea ceremony, or buying hand-made crafts or food with an Asian flair. Entry: free.
Sustainability Fair
Arroyo Seco Woodland & Wildlife Park | 100 Pasadena Ave., South Pasadena | April 11 | southpasadenaca.gov
This free, family-friendly event celebrates environmental stewardship and sustainable living. The event will feature plant swapping, a nature scavenger hunt, garden tours, a garden design workshop on creating water-wise landscapes and designing rain gardens, community booths and much more.
Central Park Five
Long Beach Opera | 440 Elm, Long Beach | April 11 | longbeachopera.org
Join LBO for a special evening celebrating the upcoming commercial recording of Anthony Davis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning opera, “The Central Park Five.” Since LBO commissioned and premiered the work in 2019, it has been produced by companies across the country. The evening will feature live performances by original cast members and the composer, alongside reflections on the opera’s journey — and on LBO’s commitment to bringing new operas into the world. Individual ticket: $250.
KJazz Tracks at Union Station.
Los Angeles Union Station (Ticket Concourse) | 800 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles | April 11 | eventbrite.com
Set in the stunning historic Ticket Concourse, this free, open-to-the-public concert will be hosted by KJazz DJ José Rizo and will feature an eclectic lineup of live performances by New Orleans legend Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Emi Secrest, and Merges.
Spring Awakening: Seeds, Greens & Renewal
LA Cocina de Gloria Molina | 555 N. Spring St., Los Angeles | April 11 | lapca.org
In this hands-on cooking class, explore themes of renewal, emergence, and the season’s first foods through Indigenous food traditions. You’ll prepare a vibrant seed mole bowl. The session concludes with a shared tasting and conversation. Tickets: $55.
Candlelight: The Best of Bridgerton on Strings
Immanuel Presbyterian Church | 3300 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles | April 11 | feverup.com
Step into the world of Regency-era romance with Candlelight: The Best of Bridgerton on Strings, a magical live concert experience illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight. Performed by a talented string ensemble, this elegant evening features beloved music from Shondaland’s hit Netflix series Bridgerton, reimagined in a classical style for an intimate and atmospheric setting.
OperaFest LA Kickoff Panel & Performance
The Wallis | 9390 Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills | April 11 | thewallis.org
Join the official kickoff event of OperaFest LA. This special afternoon will feature a panel conversation with one representative from each participating company, offering insight into the works presented during the festival and the artistic vision behind them. The event will also include preview performances from partners’ OperaFest LA presentations, offering a first glimpse of the range of music and storytelling that defines this year’s festival. Panel tickets: $11.
Yuri’s Night Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory | 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles | April 11 & May 4 | griffithobservatory.lacity.gov
Presented in partnership with Griffith Observatory Foundation, Yuri’s Night Los Angeles 2026 will be an all-day public celebration (noon to 10 p.m.) of the first human spaceflight. The day will feature astronaut talks, interactive exhibits, science demonstrations, and presentations. General admission is free and open to all ages.
Native Market
Siban’gna | 203 E. Mission Road, San Gabriel | April 11 | instagram.com/p/DWvL03fFJpv/
Support First Nations and indigenous artists at this free event featuring more than 35 vendors. Shoppers can also enjoy food from Lucy Hale’s Indian Tacos and Frybread and Peoples’ Cafe. And don’t miss a special screening of “Hasta La Rain” with a special Q-and-A at 1 p.m.
Monrovia Wine Walk
Library Park | 321 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia | April 11 | monroviaca.gov
Stroll through Old Town, explore each business and sample various wine offerings. Wine
Walk guests will receive a tasting glass and a map of the participating businesses in Old Town. The event will run from 6 to 9 p.m., and participants will receive tickets for 12 wine tastings. Tickets: $50 pre-sale or $65 at the door.
Repair Cafe Pasadena
Arcadia Public Library | 20 W. Duarte Road, Arcadia | April 11 | repair-cafe-pasadena.mailerpage.io
This is a free, roving, all-purpose repair shop for, and by, the community.
Huerta Del Valle’s 13th Anniversary
Huerta Del Valle | 831 Belmont St., Ontario | April 11 | huertadelvalle.org
Spend a family day out in the garden with Aztec dance performances, live music, horse show, plant exchange, butterfly release, petting zoo and more.
Pinoy Street Food Weekend Series
1512 E. Amar Road, West Covina | April 11 | instagram.com/p/DWp47cbDP73/
Experience Pinoy street food from 10 a.m. onwards.
Ube Fest
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts | 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos | April 11-12 | instagram.com/longbeachubefest
The Los Angeles County Ube Fest is back with more than 200 vendors, live entertainment, and lots of ube. Admission & parking: free.
Imaginology
OC Fair & Event Center | 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa | April 11-12 | ocfair.com
Science, technology, engineering, art and math come alive in this free family event focused on hands-on learning. Imaginology features makeshops, demonstrations, competitions, hands-on activities and entertainment, as well as food and fun. Admission: free. Parking: $15.
Books & Blooms: A Vineyard Affair
Giracci Vineyards | 16162 Jackson Ranch Road, Silverado | April 12 | eventbrite.com
Wander through curated vendors featuring books, florals, handmade goods, art, gifts, and literary-inspired finds. Meet authors, connect with fellow readers, and soak in the cozy vineyard atmosphere. General admission: free. Full experience: $33.85, includes one Books & Blooms tote bag, one Kindle decorating craft, one pressed flower bookmark craft, one paint experience (drink sold separately).
Pasadena Festival of Tea
Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden | 270 Arlington Drive, Pasadena | April 12 | japanesegardenpasadena.com
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., explore the beautiful Japanese garden, sample tea, see tea ceremony demonstrations, and shop ceramic wares, antique and vintage items . General admission: $20. Children 12 and under: free.
Pianist Gilles Vonsattel Playing 3 Beethoven Piano Sonatas
Zipper Hall at The Colburn School | 200 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles | April 12 | cameratapacifica.org
Camerata Pacifica Principal Pianist Gilles Vonsattel takes centerstage, once again. Vonsattel opens the recital with Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3, an often-overlooked gem filled with emotional exploration. He also performs Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp Major, Op. 78, “à Thérèse,” one of the composer’s own favorite sonatas, and the divine and mysterious Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101. Tickets: $35-$75.
Artwalk Guided Tour
Beverly Gardens Park – Lily Pond | 1300 Park Way, Beverly Hills | April 12 & 26 | beverlyhills.org
Join this leisurely stroll through Beverly Gardens Park and explore stunning art pieces from world renowned artists. Knowledgeable guides will provide insights into each artwork. Fee: $10.
Black Violin
Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts | 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos | April 13 | ccpa.cerritos.gov
The Grammy-nominated duo blends classical music and hip-hop in an electrifying way. They have just released their sixth album “Full Circle.” Tickets start at $43.70.
109th National Orange Show Fair
National Orange Show Events Center | 690 S. Arrowhead Ave., San Bernardino | April 15-19 | nationalorangeshow.com
The fair is back with a circus, pig races, live animal exhibits (shark, stingrays, sea lion, dog, reptile), camel rides, stock car races, art exhibits, carnival rides, fair food, live entertainment and more. Admission is free on opening day. Tickets: $5-$15.
An Evening with Gabor Maté: The Myth of Normal
Pasadena Convention Center | 300 E. Green St., Pasadena | April 15 | visitpasadena.com
Speaker, and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté will discuss his most recent work co-written with his son, “The Myth of Normal.” Tickets start at $135.95.
Ghost Racetracks of Arcadia
Gilb Museum Education Center | 80 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia | April 15 | arcadiahistoricalsociety.org
The evening features a lively multii-media presentation, “Ghost Racetracks of Arcadia,” a visual journey into the pioneering days of horse racing in the San Gabriel Valley, and a happy-hour reception from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with beverages and hors’ d’oeuvres. As seating is limited, RSVP by April 13, using the easy form at the society’s website.
ONGOING
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival
Knott’s Berry Farm | 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park | Through April 12 | sixflags.com/knotts/events/boysenberry-festival
Indulge in a lineup of dishes ranging from savory foods with a boysenberry twist to specialty desserts and drinks, including a variety of wines and craft beers that you can only find at Knott’s Berry Farm during this event. The festival also features a selection of local crafters, live music, musical stage shows, and activities. Tickets begin at $65.
‘The Price’
Pacific Resident Theatre | 703 Venice Blvd., Venice | Through April 12 | pacificresidenttheatre.org
In Arthur Miller’s powerful 1968 drama, two estranged brothers reunite in their late father’s attic to settle the estate—only to confront long-buried resentments, sacrifices, and the true cost of their life choices. Directed by Elina de Santos, this poignant and darkly humorous production explores responsibility, integrity, and the moral weight of compromise. Performances run Thursdays–Sundays (no performances March 27 or April 3). Tickets start at $25.
‘The Adding Machine’
The Actors’ Gang | 9070 Venice Blvd., Culver City | Through April 18 | theactorsgang.com
Elmer Rice’s groundbreaking 1923 expressionist drama comes to life in this production directed by Cihan Sahin. The Adding Machine follows Mr. Zero, a bookkeeper replaced by automation after 25 years on the job, whose tragic unraveling becomes a sharp satire on technology, labor, and society. A century after its debut, the play’s themes of mechanization and human worth resonate in the age of AI. Performances Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; select Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets available online or by phone at 310-838-4264.
¡Sí Se Puede!
LA County | Through April 18 | centertheatregroup.org
Follow the life of trailblazing activist, Dolores Huerta, through a blend of movement, music, and actors inspired by El Teatro Campesino, on this journey towards justice. All performances are free and presented in English with some Spanish.
‘Kim’s Convenience’
Ahmanson Theatre | 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles | Through April 19 | centertheatregroup.org
This award-winning comedy drama is a feel-good story about a Korean family-run corner store. Mr. Kim works hard to support his wife and children with his Toronto convenience store. As he evaluates his future, he faces both a changing neighborhood landscape and the gap between his values and those of his Canadian-born children. Tickets start at $40.25.
LA Spring Fair
Whittier Narrows Recreation Area | 1600 N. Rosemead Blvd., South El Monte | Through April 19 | lapradaevents.com/events/los-angeles-spring-fair
LA County’s largest spring festival features kids and adults amusement rides, live music on Saturdays and Sundays, carnival games, local artisans, food court and more. Event admission is $5, cash only. Unlimited ride wristbands are $32 online or $42 on site. Free parking 5-11p.m. on any day of the event, $10 parking fee Saturday and Sunday 2-5 p.m.
Springtime Easter Festival 2026
Moorpark Location | 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark | Through April 21 | underwoodfamilyfarms
Celebrate springtime and Underwood Family Farms with acres to visit and numerous activities including photo opportunities, visits from the Easter bunny, animal shows, giant eggs, wagon rides, baby duck feedings, bird house making, and much more. Weekday admission: $15.00 (at gate only). Weekend admission: $20.00 (on-line tickets required on weekends including Friday, April 3).
‘Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter’
Odyssey Theatre | 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles | Through April 26 | odysseytheatre.com
Veteran director Jack Heller is at the helm of “Sex, Lies and Harold Pinter,” an evening of two rarely staged Pinter one-acts—both darkly comic, both unmistakably unsettling—in this visiting production at the Odyssey Theatre. In “Party Time,” affluent guests at a chic London gathering trade gossip and brag about wealthy pursuits while, just beyond the half-open door, an unjust regime enforces “order” with brutal force. “The Lover” shifts the tone, as a married couple enlivens their relationship by exchanging intimate accounts of their affairs—until Pinter’s sly, bittersweet twist reveals how fragile the boundaries between fantasy, power and desire truly are. Tickets are $35.
‘English’
Bram Goldsmith Theater | 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills | Through April 26 | thewallis.org
Sanaz Toossi’s dramatic comedy about an Iranian ESL class studying for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) debuted at Roundabout on Broadway in 2025. This is a quietly powerful play about four Iranian adults preparing for an English language exam in a storefront school near Tehran, where family separations and travel restrictions drive them to learn a new language that may alter their identities, and represent a new life. Chasing fluency through a maze of word games, listening exercises, and show-and-tell sessions, they hope that one day, English will make them whole — but it might be splitting each of them in half. “English” won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was nominated for five 2025 Tony Awards including Best Play. Tickets start at $53.90.
‘Level Up!’
The Los Angeles Theatre Center | 514 S. Spring St., Los Angeles | Through May 3 | latinotheaterco.org
“Level Up!” is a family-friendly new play by Gabriel Rivas Gómez that unfolds across everyday reality as well as in a vividly imagined virtual realm. Desi López, a trans tween, is afraid to come out to her family. In her oversized hoodie, Desi is seen as a boy IRL (in real life). But inside The Proxy, a richly imagined virtual world within the play’s digital realm, Desi discovers the freedom to exist as her true self: a powerful female warrior with enormous butterfly wings who embarks on an epic quest to save her dying dog and reunite with her mother. Tickets range from $10 for all Thursday performances to $48 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except students and seniors, who pay only $24.
Renaissance Pleasure Faire of Southern California
Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area | 15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale | Through May 17 | renfair.com/socal
Hear ye! Hear ye! The Renaissance Pleasure Faire returns to SoCal with entertaining shows ranging from falconry and magic to drinking songs and jousting. With delicious food, flowing drinks, a marketplace like nowhere else, and actors getting everyone into the spirit, you will undoubtedly have a good time. Huzzah!
LA Zoo Bloom
LA Zoo | 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles | Through May 25 | lazoo.org
The LA Zoo will be buzzing with activity all spring. LA Zoo Bloom is a season-long event featuring colorful photo ops, strolling characters, and the new conservation themed Mission Safari maze. Tickets: $22-$27.
Photography and the Black Arts Movement
The Getty | 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 403, Los Angeles | Through June 14 | getty.edu
“Photography and the Black Arts Movement brings together works by more than one hundred photographers, painters, graphic designers, and multimedia artists who used photographic images in their struggles against inequality,” says Timothy Potts, Maria Hummer-Tuttle and Robert Tuttle Director of the J. Paul Getty. Divided into eight sections, this exhibition brings together more than 150 artworks in a range of media, including video art, paintings, collages, contact sheets, newsletters, and magazines, giving a sense of the varied ways that photographic imagery circulated at the time.Admission to the Getty Center is always free, but a reservation is required for admission.
DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion: Escape
L’ESPACE DIAVOLO | 616 Moulton Ave., Los Angeles | Through June 14 | diavolo.org/escape
Founder and Creative Director Jacques Heim, choreographer of Cirque du Soleil’s long running Las Vegas production KÀ and creative director of the 16th Asian Games Opening Ceremony, continues his mission to explore the relationship between the human body and its environment. This 70-minute piece explores the conditions of the human struggle to break free from a chaotic world — featuring a company of 22 artists testing themselves against a variety of DIAVOLO’s most famous custom-made architectural structures. Pre-show and post-show interactive opportunities give audiences the opportunity to experience movement with the architecture pieces as well. Tickets start at $39.
‘Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo’
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures | 6067 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles | Through Jan. 10, 2027 | academymuseum.org
The Academy Museum presents Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo, celebrating the artistry of Studio Ghibli and the hand-drawn animation behind the 2008 film. The exhibition features over 100 original materials from Studio Ghibli, including art boards, posters, an animation desk, and hand drawings by Hayao Miyazaki, many on display in North America for the first time. Curated by Jessica Niebel with assistant curator Emily Rauber Rodriguez. The museum is open six days a week, closed on Tuesdays. Tickets $15–$25; film screenings $5–$10.
