All About LA Events Guide to LA

Things To Do in LA in May (2023)

World of Barbie

Through June 30th

Location: Santa Monica Place (Level 1, near 4th street), 395 Santa Monica Pl. Santa Monica

Come on Barbie, let’s got party! The World of Barbie LA, an interactive exhibit that gives guests the chance to live out their life-sized Barbie dreams, is still going strong. Make time to visit Barbie’s Dreamhouse, Fashion Studio and Laboratory (among others), and watch fun Barbie content at Barbie Theater. Plus, check out the World of Barbie Museum to learn more about how Barbie dolls have inspired generations of girls to dream big. Snap some truly amazing pics and get your tickets for World of Barbie in LA. See it before you check out the new Barbie movie.

Scent Week

May 4th-14th

Location: Various locations across Los Angeles

The Institute for Art and Olfaction presents Scent Week, the first ever city-wide celebration of all things aromatic in LA. Scent Week presents an eclectic array of programming that explores the diverse and exciting perfumery practices in Los Angeles and beyond. The week will be filled with workshops, panel discussions, scent raves, and parties in locations across LA. Most events are FREE but you got to RSVP.  Check out what’s on the schedule here.

Beach Life Festival

May 5th-7th

Location: 239 N Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach

Beachlife Festival is back! It’s time to enjoy live music, food vendors, and amazing vibes. Best part? It’s all happening right on the beach. The festival is committed to inspiring the community with authenticity, entertainment and Southern California beach culture. The lineup this year includes artists such as Gwen Stefani, Sugar Ray, the Black Keys, Noach Cyrus, and more. Get your tickets here.

Unique Markets Spring Market

May 6th & 7th

Location: California Market Center, 110 E 9th Street

The 14th annual Unique Markets is back here in LA at the California Market Center in Downtown LA. General admission tickets are $15 and come with an original tote bag, free drinks, DIY activities, a family fun zone, and access to what the Los Angeles Times has called “The Best Shopping Event in LA”. What’s great about this market is that it coincides with both Small Business Month and AAPI Heritage Month. ICYDK (in case you didn’t know), Unique Markets LA was founded by Sonja Rasula, an AAPI entrepreneur and leader in the small business movement since 2008. So shop till ya drop! BTW, you can also purchase VIP tickets and get a few more goodies too. See all the vendors  here.

Creative Communal Artisan Market

May 7th

Location: 6400 E Pacific Coast Hwy, 6400 East Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach

2nd & PCH is back for this month’s community Artisan Market, “Creative Communal”. SO much to do at this street shop with  live music, local makers, leather goods, jewelry makers, boutiques, and home goods. They’ve also got some activities for the kid. Be sure to reserve your tickets here and yup, they are FREE!

BTS Proof Exhibit

Opens May 9th

Location: 1232 Third Street, Santa Monica

K-POP’s biggest boy band – BTS – is coming in smooth like BUTTER with an all new exhibit. BTS Proof Exhibit is an immersive visual journey that explores the K-Pop group members’ past, present, and future through photographs, videos, and experiential installations in a multi-room walkthrough experience. Fans who attend the exhibit will also have the opportunity to shop for limited edition merchandise. Get your tickets now because we know these will go super fast!

Seltzerland 2023

May 13th

Location: Grand Park, 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles

If you’re into hard seltzers, this is the event for you! Seltzerland is a one-of-a-kind, outdoor experience featuring 100+ unique hard seltzers and canned cocktails. While you’re drinking your favorite bubbly there will be tons of entertainment including seltzer pong, lemonade ladder, cornhole , DJ’s spinning, plus photo opps  in the inflatable bubble booth. The best part is that  you get to go home with all the seltzer swag you could dream of. Buy your tickets here.

Cravings by Chrissy Teigan Pop-Up Bakery

May 18th-21st

Location: Shopify LA, 777 S Alameda St Bldg. 1, Los Angeles

So Cravings by Chrissy Teigan has an amazing array of baking mixes for purchase. But if you’re in LA, you’re lucky enough to try them freshly made! This limited time pop-up bakery in DTLA brings her recipes to life. The shop also has goodies to purchase from cozy blankets to her own cookbook, plus you might even see her and the hubby John legend there! Get your ticket for only $5, plus the cost goes towards product purchases in store.

“The Absence Of…” Pop-Up Exhibit

Opening May 19th, Open May 20th-28th

Location: 5225 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles

“THE ABSENCE OF…” features a captivating mix of oil on canvas, works on paper, and paint on found materials by Tex Hammond, curated by Carmen Acosta. The exhibition showcases many works on paper that are fully realized studies produced from Hammond’s almost obsessive sketching, imbuing the pieces with a raw and intuitive energy. RSVP to the opening party here.

California Strawberry Festival

May 20th-21st

Location: Ventura County Fairgrounds, 10 W Harbor Blvd, Ventura

Join the California Strawberry Festival at a new location for a berry-themed blast for the whole fam. With strawberry-inspired treats, food vendors, live entertainment, and tons of arts and crafts, there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. You can even test your skills at the Ninja Nation Obstacle Course. Buy your tickets now.

An Evening of Art 2023

May 25th, 7-9pm

Location: The Hollywood Roosevelt, Hotel 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles

ArtworxLA invites you to join in commemorating the culmination of its 30th anniversary with An Evening of Art. This special fundraising event will launch artworxLA’s next decade of service. The launch includes artist activations and special guests. You can purchase GA tickets or VIP admission with a cocktail hour prior to the opening.

Newport Beach Wine and Spirits Festival

May 26th-28th

Location: Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach

Start summer off right at the 18th Annual Newport Beach Wine & Spirits Festival. Just over an hour away from LA, this is the premier wine, beer, and spirits experience in the most affluent beach city in Orange County. Sip and mingle while enjoying music, tasty bites and beautiful southern California sunshine by the bay. Buy your tickets now.

Deep House Brunch Pool Party

May 27th, 1-7pm

Location: Skybar at Mondrian, 8440 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood

Spend Memorial Weekend taking in some sun and hanging out by the pool. Skybar at the beautiful Mondrian hotel is hosting a rooftop pool party with good food and better drinks. You can reserve a table or buy tickets here.

MAINopoly: Monopoly-Themed Food Crawl

May 27th

Location: The Victorian, 2640 Main St. Santa Monica

Experience MAINopoly, Main Street’s finest restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and ice cream shops with this interactive tasting tour and twist on the classic Monopoly board game. Nearly two dozen locations will offer tastings in exchange for Mainopoly Money, and count as official stops on the game board map. Find more info and tickets here.

Made in Tulum Pool Party

May 29th, 12-7pm

Location: Skybar at Mondrian, 8440 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood

Need Memorial Day plans? Skybar at the Mondrian hotel is hosting a luxury Tulum-themed rooftop pool party. Bringing exotic and hip vibes, party all day long in your most fashionable attire or finest swimwear. Reserve a table or buy your tickets before they’re sold out.

Ted Lasso Finale Screening Celebration

May 30th

Location: 8949 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills

The Paley Center for Media is hosting a conversation with one of the nicest (and coolest) guys on TV – Ted Lasso. Yup the cast of the hit Apple TV+ show and the creatives behind it are coming to the Paley Center in LA to screen an exclusive preview of the highly anticipated Season 3 Finale episode at The Samuel Goldwyn Theater at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Get tickets now. 

A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio

Now – October 15th

Location: 644 North Main Street (corner of Cesar Chavez Avenue)

Venture to the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles to experience a whimsical exhibit: A Real Boy: The Many Lives of Pinocchio. It features the cultural origins, adaptations, and enduring appeal of one of the most popular characters in children’s literature. There will also be artwork on display from Walt Disney’s animated feature film. The exhibit is FREE for all ages, with donations strongly encouraged.

Images by uniquemarkets.com, theworldofbarbie.com, & beachlifefestival.com