The Oscars unsurprisingly top the entertainment category every year in Los Angeles, and the awards are among the buzziest events in the region. Every winter, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ dazzling ceremony draws A-list stars and international media, as do hot-ticket parties for entities like Vanity Fair and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Next: February 26, 2017
In Los Angeles, big entertainment industry events—including award shows like the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Grammys—garner major buzz throughout the year. But throughout Southern California, significant events span the gamut of sectors.
For instance, the desert region’s BNP Paribas Open draws nearly half a million spectators for tennis, and West Hollywood’s Halloween street party pulls in the same number for costumed revelry. The Los Angeles and Orange County fairs draw a staggering combined figure of more than 2.5 million attendees through their turnstiles.
On the charity circuit, galas helmed by celebrities like Rihanna and Sean Penn are pulling in millions of dollars in their first years.
To choose and rank the annual events on this list, BizBash considers several factors, including economic impact, buzz, innovation, and an event's prominence within the communities it intends to serve.
