Best Things to Do in SoCal and LA This Month: July 2026
Light up the Fourth
Gloria Molina Grand Park presents the Gloria Molina Grand Park's Summer Block Party, the West Coast's largest free Fourth of July celebration. Stretching across six blocks in the heart of Downtown L.A., this all-day festival pairs two stages of live music with immersive augmented reality art, interactive experiences exploring the city's civil rights legacy, and family-friendly activities. As the sun sets, look up for a spectacular drone light show featuring 700 synchronized drones illuminating the downtown skyline. Free and open to all, this celebration offers a uniquely Angeleno way to celebrate Independence Day.
200 N Grand Ave
The art of downtown
Art/Space 114 presents BGFA.DTLA.00.26, a survey show curated by Bert Green Fine Art featuring artists with a significant presence in the Historic Core and Gallery Row districts throughout the 2000s. Featuring painting, sculpture, photography, performance, assemblage, and conceptual art, the exhibition offers a snapshot of a community that has inspired generations of artists while tracing its evolution through the people who know it best.
114 W 4th Street
Meet your persona
David Kordansky Gallery presents Persona Works, the first solo exhibition in the U.S. by South Korean artist Moka Lee. Presenting a new series of paintings that blur the line between portraiture, performance, and self-expression, Lee's imagined figures explore the shifting roles we inhabit and the personas we construct in everyday life. This exhibition is an opportunity to discover one of South Korea's compelling contemporary voices while experiencing a body of work that invites viewers to reflect on identity, vulnerability, and the many faces we present to the world.
5130 W Edgewood Pl
A century of stories
The Los Angeles Public Library presents the Central Library Centennial Festival, a free day of live performances, family-friendly activities, and behind-the-scenes experiences honoring one of the city's most beloved landmarks. For 100 years, the iconic Central Library has been a place where history, culture, and community come together and the festival offers the public an opportunity to explore the building's architecture, discover its rich legacy, and celebrate a century of curiosity and creativity in the heart of Downtown LA.
630 W 5th St
Handmade is one-of-a-kind
The Pacific Artisan Markets presents the California Makers Festival, a showcase of local artisans, designers, and independent makers at ROW DTLA. Support California’s creative community and shop for one-of-a-kind goods, handcrafted home décor, jewelry, apparel, artwork, and specialty foods while meeting the artists behind them. This market is a reminder that California’s most inspiring work is still made by hand.
777 S. Alameda St.
Meet me at the fair
The Orange County Fair returns to Costa Mesa for the summer’s biggest gathering. From blue-ribbon exhibits to live performances, monster trucks to demolition derbies, and barnyard animals to carnival rides, this annual fair blends timeless traditions with new experiences for all ages. Spend the day exploring exhibits like the VHS Revival, watching pig races, catching a headline concert, or winning prizes at classic midway games before ending the evening with a spin on the Ferris wheel. The Orange County Fair is a quintessential Southern California summer experience packed with fried foods and loads of fun.
88 Fair Drive
Heat and history
Wönzimer Gallery presents Thermidorian Reaction, a new group exhibit curated by acclaimed artist Umar Rashid. Bringing together an international roster of contemporary artists to explore the relationship between heat and history, the exhibit takes its title from the pivotal moment that marked the end of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror. Through painting, sculpture, and multidisciplinary works, participating artists offer thought-provoking perspectives on transformation, resilience, and the cycles that continue to shape our collective future.
341-B S Avenue 17
Fairgrounds after dark
San Bernardino County Fair presents Summertime Night Market, a celebration of food and music inspired by the open-air markets found throughout Asia. This evening event features a mix of street food vendors, artisan makers, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities. Browse handcrafted goods and enjoy the festive atmosphere with friends and family, the Night Market is one of the Inland Empire's growing traditions after dark.
14800 7th St
Cowboys and cowgirls
The Autry presents National Day of the Cowboy and Cowgirl in Griffith Park to celebrate the enduring spirit of the American West. This family-friendly festival brings Western traditions to life with trick roping demonstrations, live music, cowboy poetry, country line dancing, hands-on crafts, and interactive workshops for all ages. Meet horses, explore the museum's galleries on themed docent tours, catch a classic Annie Oakley film screening, and discover the diverse stories that have shaped cowboy culture across the West.
4700 Western Heritage Way
Bats after dusk
Join OC Parks naturalists for Dusk Discovery: Bats, an evening adventure exploring the nocturnal creatures that help keep Southern California's ecosystems in balance. Learn how bats navigate the night, separate fact from fiction, and discover why these remarkable mammals are among nature's most important pollinators and insect controllers. Keep your eyes on the sky to spot bats in flight while experiencing the park from an entirely new perspective. Blending science, nature, and nighttime adventure, this guided program is a memorable way to connect with the wild side of Orange County after dark.
8800 Rosecrans Ave