The best things to do in Los Angeles this week

Roam the stalls at this Memorial Day arts festival, sample the food and listen to the music—and then take a dip in the nearby Pacific. A few logistical changes for the last few fests have streamlined the layout: You’ll still find on-the-street stalls and sidewalk vendors along Hermosa and Pier Avenues, but the live music has been moved to the beach while there’s a proper carnival (with a wine garden) and arts festival inland behind the Hermosa Beach Community Center.

L.A. has changed immeasurably since 1921, when this event was first staged as an agricultural fair. However, the perennially popular event still has farm-friendly appeal (livestock beauty contests, local produce) alongside the more modern acrobats, wine tastings, exhibitions and concerts.

The summertime screening series returns for the season, first with a screening at the Rose Bowl (Almost Famous on May 25), and then back at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (Se7en on May 26).

Be prepared: The Lion King is turning 30, and to celebrate its anniversary a mix of Broadway and film stars (from both versions of the movie) will perform alongside a screening of the animated classic at the Hollywood Bowl. On May 24 and 25, a live orchestra will accompany a screening of 1994’s animated classic, The Lion King, with song performances by the cast of the original film: Nathan Lane (Timon), Ernie Sabella (Pumbaa), Jeremy Irons (Scar), Jason Weaver (the singing voice of young Simba); the 2019 remake: Billy Eichner (Timon); the Broadway edition: Bradley Gibson (Simba); and a guest appearance from Jennifer Hudson, who hasn’t been involved in any version of the musical, but come on, she’s Jennifer Hudson.

The night before Cinespia returns to the cemetery, Hollywood Forever is holding its own screening event. The details are all pretty similar to Cinespia: Bring a blanket, a picnic and some beer and wine onto the Fairbanks Lawn and watch a screening of E.T., with a DJ set before and after the film. And though you won’t have Cinespia’s famed photo booth, you will have one notable upgrade: a colorful drone show during the credits.

See ceramic and bronze sculptures by Simone Leigh at this exhibition presented at both LACMA and CAAM.

The krautrock and electronic pioneers sent museumgoers into a frenzy over their intimate shows in New York and London institutions about a decade back. Now, the proto-techno quartet is reviving that marathon format to stage nine shows at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Each one will focus on a different album, starting with Autobahn, while the final concert will pull from their entire catalog.

Best known for her rhinestone-studded paintings of Black women, collages of old Jet Magazine spreads and revisions of historic paintings, Thomas’s large-scale works (80 of them from the past two decades) will be on display at the Downtown museum.

Tucked away in picturesque Topanga Canyon, this Memorial Day weekend festival has become a favorite local tradition. Bohemian residents of all ages as well as curious onlookers converge to celebrate music, food, arts and Mother Earth. Some complain that the masses have commercialized this neighborhood event, but there are still plenty of true hippies, vegan food vendors and healing arts to make you think you’re in a West Coast offshoot of Woodstock. Let the kids enjoy their own arts and crafts section, dance to local bands and don’t miss the quirky DIY Memorial Day parade on Monday morning.

David Zwirner has only had an L.A. gallery for about a year—plus a new flagship that opens with this show—but the gallerist’s history stretches back three decades elsewhere around the globe. To celebrate, you’ll find works by all of the gallery’s artists across its three L.A. buildings, including Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Josef Alberts, Diane Arbus, Ruth Asawa, R. Crumb, Dan Flavin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Donald Judd, Toba Khedoori, Paul Klee, Barbara Kruger, Yayoi Kusama, Gerhard Richter, Richard Serra and more.

Singer Anitta brings a taste of Brazil’s singular dance parties to L.A. during the Baile Funk Experience, a relatively intimate tour that includes a stop at the Wiltern.

Feeling like you and your four-legged friend are attached at the hip right now? Spend even more quality time together during this dog-friendly series at Palos Verdes’ South Coast Botanic Garden. Every third Sunday, you can roam the gardens’ 87 acres with your fur baby. You—the human—will need a reservation, while your best friend—the pup—will need to remain on their leash at all times, including in the parking lot.

Chilean singer and multi-instrumentalist Norma Monserrat Bustamante Laferte, better known as Mon Laferte, serves up her warm blend of rock, blues, pop and cumbia.

The steadiest and sturdiest of the great Seattle grunge titans—the only one that hasn’t lost a key member or taken an extended hiatus—rumbles into town for two arena gigs. Expect to hear raucous newer tunes as well as selections spanning a vast catalog that’s far more compelling than the band’s vocal haters would care to admit.

Forged from the same label behind BTS, Tomorrow X Together (or TXT) takes their larger-than-life K-pop tour to L.A. at the Crypto.com Arena.

Yes, that Ellen. Degeneres cemented herself as everyone’s favorite daytime talk show host for nearly two decades… until she wasn’t. Amid it all, though, you may have forgotten that she started as a stand-up comedian. Catch her during occassional sets at Largo.

Slow down and soak in the magic of the woods during this guided, moonlit forest walk at the Arboretum, inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin yoku. Each meditative guided walk starts just before sunset and wraps up underneath the full moon with some herbal tea.

Irish playwright-director Conor McPherson spins a tale of strife in the Great Depression—set to songs by Bob Dylan—in Girl From the North Country, which we gave four stars during its New York run.

For dinner and a movie, all in one, just follow the food trucks. During the spring, summer and fall, Street Food Cinema throws together a series of outdoor parties that include screenings of some of our favorite movies, paired with an assortment of gourmet food trucks and even a live music performance from a cool local band.

One of L.A.’s best free live music offerings, Jazz at LACMA has featured legit legends over its three-decade run at the museum. Seating for the program is available in the museum’s plaza on a first-come, first-served basis, though you’re welcome to picnic on the grass, too (you won’t really be able to see the show, but you’ll still hear it). You’ll find the series on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light) starting in April.