Best Things to Do in SoCal and LA This Week: April 27-May 3, 2026
Stacks After Dark
The Library Foundation of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Public Library, and LAist present Night at the Library: A Century of Light at the Richard J. Riordan Central Library. A rare after-hours celebration that transforms one of L.A.’s most iconic landmarks into an immersive playground, this festival brings together more than 200 performers, artists, and storytellers for a night of discovery. Featuring interactive installations tucked between the stacks, pop-up performances, and intimate conversations with creators, the evening invites you to explore and celebrate the Central Library’s enduring role as a beacon of knowledge and creativity.
630 W 5th St
In the mood for jazz and poetry
Experience the spontaneity and power of jazz and poetry at California African American Museum with Jazz at CAAM: On Langston Hughes. Celebrating the exhibition A New Song: Langston Hughes in the West, this performance reimagines Hughes’s poem Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz through a rich blend of spoken word and live music. Led by USC Professor of Music Ron McCurdy and his quartet, the evening brings Hughes’s reflections on the struggle for freedom to life.
600 State Dr
Posters and manifestos
Friends of Residential Treasures: LA presents Frame the Future! Ceremony and Celebration, an evening of bold designs that turn the housing crisis into a platform for civic imagination. Hosted at The Ebell of Los Angeles, this showcase features an exhibition of posters and manifestos from architects, artists, and thinkers reimagining housing in Los Angeles, live readings, a panel conversation, and an awards ceremony recognizing winning entries. Equal parts design show and community forum, Frame the Future! offers a compelling glimpse into the next chapter of housing.
743 S Lucerne Blvd
Paint and pop art
Eastern Projects Gallery presents WISH LIST, a new solo exhibition by artist Gómez Bueno. Marking the artist’s third show with the gallery, this collection uses the visual language of pop art rendered entirely in oil paint to unpack identity, cultural symbolism, and the value we assign to icons. Spanning three distinct bodies of work that explores everyday objects, portraits, and logos, WISH LIST blurs the line between the familiar and the provocative, inviting viewers into an experience that is both visually joyful and a critique on the world we inhabit.
900 N Broadway
#1090
Ranchero for a day
Celebrate California’s rich cultural roots at the Annual Rancho Days Fiesta at Heritage Hill Historical Park. Hosted by OC Parks, this family-friendly event brings the rancho era to life with a day full of hands-on activities, performances, and living history. Experience Native American and Folklórico dancing, charro horse demonstrations, traditional music, and interactive exhibits that showcase early California ranching traditions. Free for the whole family, kids can break piñatas while historic buildings open their doors for deeper dives into the past led by docents.
25151 Serrano Road