#1 Trade Show & Convention
With about 130,000 attendees that have long outgrown the San Diego Convention Center, the pop culture convention has expanded to include satellite venues all over town for brands’ parties, events, and stunts. Next: July 9-12, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
#2 Trade Show & Convention
At more than a century old, the event has recently shown it can reinvent itself to grow attendance and meet the changing technology and networking needs of the industry. Press days have expanded to three, and the number of total attendees at the massive show hovers around one million. Next: November 17-29, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Audi
#3 Trade Show & Convention
The gaming show, commonly known as E3, takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center each June. The Entertainment Software Association-owned event draws about 50,000 industry attendees from 100 countries around the globe and generates about $40 million in revenue for the city. Next: June 16-18, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of E3 Expo
#4 Trade Show & Convention
The long-established show dates back more than a century. The National Association of Music Merchants’ event is considered one of the biggest and most important music products shows around in the world. The Anaheim Convention Center—which keeps the show at least through 2018—hosted nearly 96,000 people from more than 100 countries around the world. Next: January 21-24, 2016
Photo: Jesse Grant/Getty Images for NAMM
#5 Trade Show & Convention
After D: All Things Digital co-creators Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher parted ways with The Wall Street Journal, the fate of the tech conference was somewhat unknown. But the duo’s reboot of the conference beat expectations when it debuted last year, having sold out in record time—and it promptly sold out again this year. Next: May 26-28, 2015
Photo: Asa Mathat/Re/code
#6 Trade Show & Convention
The giant convention is considered the top trade show for the natural, organic, and healthy food industry. It takes place at the Anaheim Convention Center, drawing more than 2,600 exhibitors and more than 67,000 attendees over 350,000 net square feet. Next: March 10-13, 2016
Photo: Bryan Beasley Photography
#7 Trade Show & Convention
The Independent Film & Television Alliance produces the event, which gathers the global film industry in Santa Monica for eight days of deal-making as well as screenings, conferences, networking, and parties. The most recent event was the 35th installment, drawing 1,670 buyers from more than 70 different countries and a total of nearly 8,000 industry professionals. Next: November 4-11, 2015
Photo: Alex Wyman/AP Invision
#8 Trade Show & Convention
The expo is now a decade old and billed as the largest consumer travel show in the country. This year’s event, held at the Long Beach Convention Center, set a record of 34,000 attendees and 475 exhibitors. Next: February 27-28, 2016
Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Travel & Adventure Show
#9 Trade Show & Convention
The Progressive Insurance-sponsored event takes place the Los Angeles Convention Center and in the water at Marina del Rey. It’s among the longest-running boat shows in the country, now in its 58th consecutive year, and includes a kids’ area, block party, and seminar series. Next: February 26-29, 2016
Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles Boat Show
#10 Trade Show & Convention
The expo is billed as the largest of its kind on the West Coast. It takes over the Los Angeles Convention Center twice a year—in January and July—with 10,000 product lines spread across more than 200,000 square feet. Since acquiring the show in 2012, Urban Expositions has worked to reinvent the event, bringing back more top-name lines and new resources. The January run included a new handcrafted section and focus on made-in-America and eco-friendly goods. Next: July 17-20, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of California Gift Show
#11 Trade Show & Convention (new to the list)
The investment bank this year hosted its 27th annual Growth Stock Conference at the Ritz Carlton. One the biggest of its kind, the three-day investment conference brings together executives from more than 530 public and private companies and approximately 1,000 investors. Company presentations, Q&A sessions, panels, and management one-on-one meetings offer investor clients opportunities for interaction with executives. Next: Spring 2016
Photo: Cynthia Halverson
#1 Entertainment Industry Event
It’s unlikely the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ Oscars will ever be knocked off its perch as the biggest, buzziest annual entertainment award show in the region. The show hits every winter, with its massive roster of related events including the academy’s own Governors Ball, plus huge parties for Vanity Fair and the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Next: February 2016
Photo: A.M.P.A.S.
#2 Entertainment Industry Event
Each January, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association brings its glitzy dinner ceremony to the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton hotel. Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s last go at hosting the show resulted in nearly 20 million viewers—a dip from the previous year, which had marked a 10-year high. Next year the 73rd annual show will air live on NBC. Next: January 10, 2016
Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon
#3 Entertainment Industry Event
The Recording Academy’s show, billed as “Music’s Biggest Night,” takes over Staples Center annually for a star-packed telecast. The academy’s Branden Chapman is among a team that oversees the massive Grammy Celebration after-party at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Other official and unofficial events like studio- and brand-hosted parties and suites take over town throughout the week. Next: February 2016
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
#4 Entertainment Industry Event
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences award show honors TV’s stars and players with a ceremony at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. After last year’s show moved to August to avoid conflict with Sunday Night Football, this year’s affair will move back to September. The academy’s own massive production, the Governors Ball, is billed as the largest formal dinner in the United States, hosting nearly 4,000 guests with fare from Patina. Next: September 20, 2015
Photo: Danny Moloshok/Invision for the Television Academy/AP Images
#5 Entertainment Industry Event
The show, which marked its 21st iteration this year, draws A-list attendees to the Shrine Exposition Center each January. It includes a production- and decor-heavy official after-party, hosted by People and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, which also takes place at the Shrine, and this year had an opulent speakeasy theme. Next: January 30, 2016
Photo: Rich Polk/WireImage
#6 Entertainment Industry Event
Film Independent’s award show takes place each year on the Saturday before the Oscars, but the vibe is distinctly different from that black-tie affair: Instead, the Spirit Awards take place in an oceanfront tent in Santa Monica with a much more casual atmosphere. Sponsor tents take over the adjacent space. Next: February 2016
Photo: Courtesy of Film Independent and Wireimage
#7 Entertainment Industry Event
BET Networks’ big award show now also comes with a multiday fan experience known as the BET Experience at L.A. Live, which makes for the brand’s largest consumer event in its history. The festival accompanies the televised show at the Nokia Theatre honoring African-Americans in music, sports, and other entertainment realms. Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, and Ice Cube are all on board for this summer’s event. Next: June 25-28, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of WireImage
#8 Entertainment Industry Event
This year, the American Film Institute’s annual honor will go to Steve Martin; last year it went to Jane Fonda. The prize is among the more prestigious in Hollywood, going only to huge names such as Dustin Hoffman, Gene Kelly, Billy Wilder, Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, and Gregory Peck, who are all among past honorees. The longstanding event debuted in 1973 and is now in its 43rd year. Next: June 4, 2015
#9 Entertainment Industry Event
The Environmental Media Association’s annual eco-minded show honors individuals, organizations, movies, and TV programming for their work to raise public awareness of environmental issues. There’s also an after-party and auction with an environmentally conscious production. Warner Brothers’ Hillary Harris produces the event, which could move off the lot this year for its 25th anniversary. Next: Fall 2015
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Environmental Media Awards
#10 Entertainment Industry Event
The music award show doesn’t command the industry importance nor the cachet of the Recording Academy’s Grammy awards, but each year around Thanksgiving—when corporate events recede as private social events ramp up—it does draw big stars and buzz at the Nokia Theatre. Next: November 2015
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
#11 Entertainment Industry Event
Audi is the presenting sponsor for the festival, which has a program of new international cinema and takes place every fall in Hollywood. It’s the only festival of its importance to offer free tickets to the public. The American Film Institute's event, which originally launched as Filmex in 1971 and is billed as the city’s longest-running international film festival, includes red-carpet events and galas in addition to screenings. Next: November 5-12, 2015
#12 Entertainment Industry Event (up from #13)
Now 26 years old, the film festival is one of the biggest on the continent—even though it’s more than 100 miles east of Hollywood—welcoming 135,000 attendees each year for a program of international films. The event is also known for its annual black-tie award gala, which draws celebrity names as big as any in Hollywood. Next: January 1-11, 2016
Photo: Courtesy of Palm Springs International Film Festival
#13 Entertainment Industry Event
The festival passed its 20-year milestone last summer with a program in conjunction with presenting media sponsor The Los Angeles Times and host partner L.A. Live. Film Independent’s Los Angeles Film Festival screened more than 400 films from 40 countries, and also included programs like the filmmakers’ retreat, music in film nights at the Grammy Museum, and master classes. Next: June 10-18, 2015
Photo: Jerod Harris/WireImage
#14 Entertainment Industry Event
Fans and media devotees get exclusive behind-the-scenes details on shows during interactive panel sessions and premiere screenings at the event from the Paley Center for Media. The three-decade-old festival benefits the center’s preservation and archival digitization efforts and last year grew to about 30,000 participants—nearly double the figure from the previous year. Next: Spring 2016
Photo: Michael Bulbenko for Paley Center for Media
#15 Entertainment Industry Event
Having debuted in 1975 and now more than 40 years old, the People’s Choice Awards summon about 700 million fan votes. In 2015, Ben Affleck scooped up the “Favorite Humanitarian” award for his work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Procter & Gamble owns the show, which is produced by United Artist Media Group. Next: January 2016
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
#16 Entertainment Industry Event
The gay advocacy group celebrates outstanding images of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community in the media at the biggest such gala in the country, now in its 26th year. The evening includes a cocktail reception and silent auction, a sit-down dinner award ceremony, and a V.I.P. after-party following the show. A version of the event is also held in New York. Next: March 21, 2015
Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for GLAAD
#17 Entertainment Industry Event
The magazine’s annual award show has an intimate vibe with a curated guest list of mainly A-listers at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Past sponsors like Calvin Klein Collection, L'Oréal Paris, and David Yurman have inspired the look and feel of the ballroom, which gets a total transformation into a chic, understated dining room. Next: October 19, 2015
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
#18 Entertainment Industry Event
The Britannia Award is the highest honor presented by Bafta Los Angeles. It’s meant to celebrate achievements of individuals and companies from the United States, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. Honorees over the years have included Michael Caine, Martin Scorsese, Elizabeth Taylor, Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Steven Spielberg, and George Clooney. Jaguar was the title sponsor for the event last year, presented by BBC America and United Airlines at the Beverly Hilton. Next: Fall 2015
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
#19 Entertainment Industry Event
Playboy Enterprises presents the musical programming at the Hollywood Bowl. It’s one of the best-known festivals of its kind in the country, now nearing four decades of history. Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, and the Roots are all among the performers who have taken the stage. In 2014 George Lopez hosted for the second consecutive year, having taken over from Bill Cosby. Next: June 13-14, 2015
Photo: Mathew Imaging/WireImage
#1 Art & Design Event
Only five years old, the gala hit the ground running in the art world, bringing in millions each year for the museum; last year’s iteration brought in $3.85 million. This year, Lacma is celebrating its 50th anniversary—and will hold a second special April gala as well. Next: Fall 2015
Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for LACMA
#2 Art & Design Event
The inventive benefit often gets buzz going with its over-the-top creative production, like decor homages to marijuana or human heads staring back from tabletops. Last year’s big 35th anniversary celebration sponsored by Louis Vuitton raised $2.4 million for the museum. Next: May 30, 2015
Photo: Donato Sardella/Getty Images for MOCA
#3 Art & Design Event
The 20-year-old show takes over 200,000 square feet at the Los Angeles Convention Center, with 20,000 works of art and 56,000 visitors. It’s billed as the longest-running venue for contemporary, modern, historic, and traditional art in the country. And it pulls in $30 million in sales, plus five billion media impressions. Next: January 27-31, 2016
Photo: Courtesy of L.A. Art Show
#4 Art & Design Event
The art museum’s event last year honored Joni Mitchell and artist Mark Bradford with sponsorship from Bottega Veneta and a menu by Suzanne Goin and Lucques. It raised a record $2.5 million. The Westwood gala is a major date on the fall social calendar, selling out each year. Next: October 10, 2015
Photo: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com
#5 Art & Design Event
Traditionally, the weekend-long program for Lacma donors ends with a gala dinner at the museum each spring. This year’s event marks a temporary format change: Given that the museum is celebrating its 50th anniversary and will be holding an anniversary gala in April, that event will serve as the Collectors Committee program for the year. Next: April 18, 2015
#6 Art & Design Event
One of Orange County’s most recognized social events, the Art of Dining is also the museum’s most significant fund-raiser each year. The black-tie gala last year was presented by Louis Vuitton, and it was the first-ever event held on the Bridge of Gardens at South Coast Plaza. Next: May 30, 2015
Photo: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
#7 Art & Design Event
Pacific Design Center’s spring market is the West Coast’s big showcase for global design. The two-day event introduces the latest wares from among 2,200 product lines presented by 100 showroom manufacturers. This year also commemorates four decades for the Pacific Design Center, and a global audience—last year saw nearly 20,000 attendees—will attend for nearly 100 showroom programs, open houses, receptions, new line introductions, and educational programs. Next: March 25-26, 2015
#8 Art & Design Event
The springtime flower exhibition is the museum’s signature fund-raiser. Last year’s program included 120 floral interpretations of famous works of art and three days of events. More than 10,000 people attended. Next: April 24-26, 2015
Photo: Bauman Photographers
#9 Art & Design Event
The three-day exhibition and conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center draws speakers, product demonstrations, continuing education classes, and seminars. It includes 400 exhibitors over 250,000 square feet of exhibition space and 250 speakers on three stages, plus five full-scale prefab homes. Next: May 29-31, 2015
Photo: Peter Williams
#10 Art & Design Event
Attendance for this year’s event drew about 15,000 attendees, plus a record-breaking 3,600 for the opening gala. Next year’s event will return to the Reef/L.A. Mart in downtown Los Angeles and will be Photo L.A.’s 25th anniversary; special programming will nod to the milestone. It’s billed as one of the largest and longest-running expos of photographic art in the world. Next: January 28-31, 2016
#11 Art & Design Event
This year’s theme will be “the pursuit of happiness,” which will explore concepts both ancient and current. The annual event includes a stage show comprising people who pose as the subjects in modern and historic artworks. The accompanying festival includes the works of 140 local artists and is one of the country’s oldest juried fine art shows. Next: July 8-August 31, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Laguna Beach Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters
#12 Art & Design Event
Now in its 36th year, the Venice Art Walk & Auctions bills itself as the largest event of its kind in the region. It’s also the largest fund-raiser for the Venice Family Clinic, and the program draws about 3,000 attendees every May with artists’ studio tours and a community celebration. Next: May 17, 2015
#13 Art & Design Event
The West Coast art fair at Santa Monica’s Barker Hanger presents 70 top galleries from around the world and attracts more than 12,000 attendees. Fair Grounds Associates produces the event. Next: January 2016
Photo: Getty Images
#14 Art & Design Event
The United States version of the global photographic art fair happens in the spring. Last year it drew more than 16,000 guests to the Paramount Pictures Studios sound stages and New York Street back lot. The public program included screenings, exhibitions, and conversations. Next: May 1-3, 2015
#15 Art & Design Event
Mission Federal Credit Union is the title sponsor for the annual event, which last year filled 17 blocks of Little Italy in downtown San Diego. More than 350 artists participated in the 30th anniversary year. Next: April 25-26, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of ArtWalk San Diego
#1 Festival & Fair (up from #2)
Drawing 1.34 million people for 23 days of food, rides, exhibits, animals, music, and action sports, the annual fair edges out a slightly less-attended Los Angeles. fair. For a sense of scale, the massive event doled out nearly half a million carnival plush toys, and guests ate 1,650 pounds of watermelon during a nightly eating contest last year. Next: July 17-August 16, 2015
Photo: Tsutsumida Pictures for OC Fair
#2 Festival & Fair
The long-established end-of-summer fair drew more than 1.2 million attendees last year. The all-ages music and entertainment club Grinding Gears was a new nighttime addition to the lineup, and the Luminasia Chinese lantern festival also drew thousands of guests to the fair after dark. The program opens Labor Day weekend each year and runs for four weeks. Next: September 4-27, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Los Angeles County Fair
#3 Festival & Fair
The Goldenvoice-produced music and arts festival in the Southern California desert of Indio sells out tickets annually, even after a change in format in 2012 saw it expand to two weekends with the same lineup at the Empire Polo Fields. Parties hosted by brands, largely in the media and fashion realms, take over surrounding towns, typically on the festival’s buzzier first weekend. Next: April 10-12 and April 17-19, 2015
Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Neon Carnival
#4 Festival & Fair
The program attracts more than 150,000 attendees annually for books and authors, as well as for screenings, food, and music. It’s free and open to the public. The most recent program on the University of Southern California campus added stages for poetry and emerging bands. Next: April 18-19, 2015
Photo: Marie Astrid Gonzalez for LA Times Media Group
#5 Festival & Fair (up from #6)
Last year, the event moved to a new venue, the L.A. Sports Arena & Exposition Park downtown, and drew about 30,000—a far cry from its humble beginnings as a small event in Echo Park. Produced in association with Goldenvoice, the festival includes indoor and outdoor stages; Phoenix and the Strokes were among last year’s headliners. Next: August 22-23, 2015
#6 Festival & Fair
Last year, the annual street festival in the Venice community celebrated 30 years. It takes over a mile-long stretch of the closed Abbot Kinney Boulevard near the beach, drawing a packed, laid-back crowd of about 120,000. Nearly 300 vendors offer multiethnic food, music on multiple stages, crafts, shopping, and more. Next: September 27, 2015
Photo: Jakob N. Layman
#1 Benefit
This is an off year for the massive gala, which takes over the Beverly Hilton every two years. Since beginning in 1978, the large-scale and star-studded event has brought in more than $77 million toward finding a cure for diabetes. Barbara Davis is the chair and works with a committee to rake in funds through sponsorships (in 2014, Mercedes-Benz was the presenting sponsor for the sixth consecutive time), a live and silent auction, underwriting, and contributions. Past performers have included such boldface names as Beyoncé, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston. Next: Fall 2016
Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages
#2 Benefit
Led by multiple sclerosis survivor and patient advocate Nancy Davis, the big annual fund-raiser last took in more than $1.75 million at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, with Ceelo Green, Natalie Cole, and Steven Tyler among the performers. This year Race to Erase MS will honor Tommy Hilfiger. Next: April 24, 2015
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS
#3 Benefit
This year’s benefit bash got a Middle Eastern theme relating to the museum’s buzzy Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. Christina Sion heads up the annual event, which has raised nearly $20 million since its inception and typically draws its theme from a big exhibit debut. Next: March 2016
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
#4 Benefit
The Los Angeles Philharmonic and conductor Gustavo Dudamel will kick off the new season—the milestone 30th—at Walt Disney Concert Hall with an opening-night gala. The affair begins with a pre-performance reception and ends with a dinner catered by Patina, plus an after-party. Next: September 29, 2015
Photo: Mathew Imaging
#5 Benefit
Held at a private Mandeville Canyon estate, the affair is the biggest event of the year for the nonprofit Chrysalis. The Butterfly Ball raises funds to support homeless and low-income people, pulling in a record $1.4 million last year with Al Gore as a presenter and performances by Gavin Rossdale and Karmin. Next: June 6, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Chrysalis Butterfly Ball
#6 Benefit
The annual event held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel began in 1977 to acknowledge women’s talents in a male-dominated industry. Tracee Ellis Ross last year hosted Women in Film’s splashy award show, with Amy Adams, Kristen Bell, Cate Blanchett, and Kerry Washington among the honorees and presenters. Next: June 16, 2015
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
#7 Benefit (new to the list)
Drawing an A-list roster of guests and raising and impressive $6 million, the Help Haiti Home gala is an event that Sean Penn and his J/P Haitian Relief Organization hosted at the Montage in January. Buzz-generating attendees included Bill Clinton, Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, and Salma Hayek, with performances by Coldplay and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Next: January 2016
Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for J/P Haitian Relief Organization
#8 Benefit
The large fund-raiser for the cancer nonprofit celebrated 40 years last summer with a “Fiesta Grande” theme and 4,000 people. It raised $1.8 million, marking a steady increase in fund-raising over the years. Next: July 11, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Concern Foundation Block Party
#9 Benefit
This year, the Los Angeles Opera’s season-opening gala will be the organization’s 30th anniversary celebration. Last year’s event had an Art Deco and Gatsby-inspired theme and honored County Supervisor and opera champion Zev Yaroslavsky. The gala followed the opening performance of La Traviata. Next: September 12, 2015
Photo: Steve Cohn Photography
#10 Benefit
The benefit takes place each year on Golden Globes weekend and is the largest annual fund-raiser for the Art of Elysium. This year, the event had a high-concept feel—including a silent cocktail hour and multimedia experiential art—with direction from Marina Abramović. It raised more than $1.3 million. Next: January 2016
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Art of Elysium
#11 Benefit
The black-tie event happens once every two years. And its last iteration was a biggie: In 2013, organizers hosted an event known as the Grand Centennial Celebration in honor of the museum’s 100th anniversary and exceeded their substantial fund-raising goal of more than $2 million. This year, it returns in its familiar format. The evening will be a farm-to-table affair, with dinner served alfresco in the new nature gardens, and will honor the museum’s president and director, Jane Pisano, who is planning her retirement. Next: June 13, 2015
Photo: Ryan Miller/Capture Imaging
#12 Benefit
The high-end car show has a May iteration at Greystone Mansion hosted by the City of Beverly Hills as a fund-raiser for the former Doheny family venue. It includes a fashion show, award ceremony, and vendor marketplace. Another popular version of the Concours (which does not include a benefit element) is free to the public and takes over Rodeo Drive each Father’s Day weekend, drawing a thick crowd. Next: May 3, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Concours D'Elegance
#13 Benefit
The musical fund-raiser kicks off the summer season, as well as generates money for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and its education and community programs that reach more than 150,000 youth, families, and teachers. The opening-night event includes a V.I.P. pre-concert reception followed by a dinner prepared by Patina and served in guest boxes prior to the concert. A fireworks display caps it off. This year, Journey will perform; last year’s event raised more than $1 million. Next: June 20, 2015
Photo: Mathew Imaging
#1 Fashion & Retail Event
There’s no question that Los Angeles Fashion Week does not command the influence, significance, or attention of fashion weeks in other major cities around the world. There’s a well-known (and oft-lamented) lack of cohesion to the events, but twice a year the buzz swirls around events loosely organized under the Los Angeles Fashion Week title—and especially so after Tom Ford brought his show to the city in February (technically a bit ahead of Fashion Week proper, but nevertheless a significant move). With the show calendar now more cohesive at FashionWeekLA.com, a properly organized and reputable local fashion week may indeed be on the way. Next: October 2015
#2 Fashion & Retail Event (up from #3)
The event co-sponsored by the City of Beverly Hills and the Rodeo Drive Committee honors big names in fashion. It happens either once or twice annually, with last year seeing events in February and November, honoring The Great Gatsby costume designer Catherine Martin and Burberry, respectively. Although organizers have yet to announce the date, the event is expected to take place this year. Next: Fall 2015
Photo: Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for Burberry
#3 Fashion & Retail Event (up from #5)
Every year, the black-tie gala presents what is billed as Los Angeles’s largest fashion runway show with more than 70 professional models in more than 175 designs. Approximately 800 guests attend, raising about $1 million for student scholarships. Next: May 2, 2015
Photo: Lee Salem Photo
#4 Fashion & Retail Event (up from #6)
Every year, the event draws about 10,000 people over the course of a three-day program that features designs from graduating students of the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. The black-tie Debut Runway Show & Gala is the centerpiece event and raises money for the school’s scholarship foundation. Next: March 2016
#5 Fashion & Retail Event (up from #7)
The elegant social event benefits the Children's Institute Inc. Last year, the luncheon honored Princess Charlène of Monaco and featured a fashion preview of Oscar de la Renta’s Fall 2014 collection for 800 guests. Next: Spring 2016
#1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The growing festival presented by Food & Wine magazine turns five years old this year; the 2014 event attracted nearly 20,000 attendees throughout the course of the weekend. Over the past two years, the program has closed down Grand Avenue between 1st and 3rd Streets for the strolling tasting events, festivities, and live entertainment. Next: August 21-24, 2015
Photo: Stefanie Parkinson
#2 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The culinary event is The Los Angeles Times’s annual celebration of the Southern California food scene. The major Labor Day weekend food and wine festival will return to Paramount Pictures Studios for its sixth iteration. (It was originally named the Celebration of Food & Wine, and transitioned to the Taste in its second year.) Next: September 4-6, 2015
Photo: Kawai Matthews for LA Times Media Group
#3 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The 2014 edition of the San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival was the biggest year yet, with 10,000 wine and food enthusiasts coming for a week of epicurean experiences. The 11th annual event brought more than 200 wineries, breweries, and spirit purveyors and 70 local restaurants. It’s billed as the biggest wine and food celebration on the West Coast. Next: November 15-22, 2015
Photo: Joey Hernandez Photography
#4 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The restaurant week recently grew to 14 days, with the goal to showcase Los Angeles as a major food destination and underscore the diversity of dining in town. Twice each year—in winter and summer—300 eateries, from casual fare to high-end fine dining, offer prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus as part of the program. Next: July 2015
Photo: Courtesy of DineL.A.
#5 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The 79-year-old expo brings out 500 manufacturers and purveyors from the restaurant and foodservice community over three days. About 8,000 related professionals come for the summer show at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Next: August 23-25, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Western Foodservice & Hospitality Expo
#6 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event (new to the list)
In just its second year, the spring event at L.A. Live takes place in the “Chefs Tasting Arena and Restaurant Stadium,” a venue custom-built for the event with stadium seating, lights, cameras, and LED screens, giving fans clear and intimate views of all the action. This year the program grew into a total of three dinners for 300 and one charity lunch in Restaurant Stadium. The four days of events culminated with a giant cookout, known as Grill & Chill, that expanded from 10 chefs last year to 20 chefs this year. Next: March 2016
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
#7 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
The event now draws foodies to Culver City, having moved from the Lot in West Hollywood. The benefit to end childhood hunger has seen culinary stars like Mary Sue Milliken, Susan Feniger, Ray Garcia, Neal Fraser, and Josiah Citrin attend. Proceeds go entirely to benefit Share Our Strength. Next: June 7, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Share Our Strength
#8 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Chef Suzanne Goin and business partner Caroline Styne along with chef David Lentz host the annual event, which has established itself as a heavy hitter on the food event scene in just five years. It has raised nearly $2.7 million to fund childhood cancer research—with more than $700,000 raised at last year’s event alone. Next: September 12, 2015
Photo: Stefanie Keenan
#9 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Celebrating its landmark 20th year, the Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation's signature event will take place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Fox Broadcasting Company president of entertainment David Madden will be honored at the affair, which will include sips from Italian wineries and dishes from distinguished chefs. Over the past 19 years, the annual fund-raiser has raised nearly $10 million for highest-priority cancer research at U.C.L.A. Next: May 1, 2015
Photo: Vince Bucci Photography
#10 Food, Wine & Hospitality Industry Event
Held over a large footprint on the Warner Brothers back lot, the event has raised $27 million in its quarter-century history. It draws 50 participating chefs and 75 California wineries and takes over Warner Brothers’ Midwest Street. The benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation typically sells out its 1,400 tickets each year. Next: May 16, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of A Culinary Evening With the California Winemasters
#1 Sports Event
With a relatively new sightseeing-friendly course known as “stadium to the sea,” the Asics-sponsored race goes from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier. This year, the marathon was expected to draw more than 25,000 runners from around the world as it becomes ever more of a destination race. And a dramatic nighttime light show illuminated the race route earlier in the big weekend. Next year, the event will move up a month to February to correspond with the Olympic team trials for men’s and women’s marathons, which will be hosted by the L.A. Marathon L.L.C. Next: February 13, 2016
Photo: Jonathan Moore/Getty for Asics
#2 Sports Event
The event is the most-attended tennis tournament in the world after the four grand slams, with attendance figures topping out around 430,000. The event, formerly known as the Pacific Life Open, takes place each year in Indian Wells near Palm Springs with a 16,100-seat main stadium. Next: March 2016
Photo: Courtesy of BNP Paribas Open
#3 Sports Event
Toyota sponsors the race, which covers nearly two miles on a circuit on the streets of downtown Long Beach. It attracts more than 170,000 spectators over three days, making it one of the largest paid spectator events in Southern California. In 2014, the event celebrated its 40th anniversary. Next: April 17-19, 2015
Photo: Joey Ikemoto/Grand Prix Association of Long Beach
#4 Sports Event
The buzzy holiday season college football game drew nearly 56,000 in 2014. The game is televised each year from its home in San Diego, which also hosts the smaller Pointsettia Bowl. Next: December 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Holiday Bowl
#5 Sports Event
Amgen sponsors the annual Tour de France-style road race, created and presented by AEG. Billed as the largest cycling event in the country, the event traces a course through a broad stretch of California roadways, highways, and coastlines each year in the spring. Next: May 10-17, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Amgen Tour of California
#6 Sports Event
The event dates back in various forms to 1959. IMG has owned it since 2000 and bills it as the largest surfing competition in the world. With title sponsorship from Vans, the open draws a crowd of about 500,000 people to Huntington Beach annually. Next: July 27-August 2, 2015
Photo: Michael Lallande
#7 Sports Event (new to the list)
One of the longest-running tournaments on the P.G.A. Tour, the event began as the Los Angeles Open in 1926 and was staged at various courses throughout the city before permanently settling at the Riviera Country Club in 1973. This year’s event marked its 89th, with a list of past champions that includes 25 World Golf Hall of Famers. Next: February 2016
Photo: Jeremy Fletcher
#8 Sports Event
Known as one of the more scenic races in the state, the marathon’s path starts in downtown Long Beach and runs past the Queen Mary and along the Pacific Ocean. There’s also a half marathon, a run/walk, a bike tour, a health and fitness expo, and a finish line festival. Next: October 11, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Long Beach Marathon
#9 Sports Event
Last year’s Sports Spectacular gala at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza benefitted the new Sports Spectacular Health & Wellness Center at Cedars-Sinai. The event brings together big names in sports and entertainment and raises more than $1 million each time—bringing in $24 million since the event’s inception. Next: May 2015
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Sports Spectacular
#10 Sports Event
The big P.G.A. Tour tournament in La Quinta was formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic. Since its inception, Desert Classic Charities, the charitable entity that organizes the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Clinton Foundation, has contributed more than $56 million to a range of Coachella Valley charitable organizations and the Eisenhower Medical Center. Next: January 18-24, 2016
Photo: Courtesy of Humana Challenge
#11 Sports Event
Each summer, the sports channel hosts its award show at the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live. Drake hosted last year’s event and Capital One was the presenting sponsor. The honors also attract satellite pre- and after-parties around the city, plus suites and lounges for athletes, celebrities, and media. Next: July 15, 2015
Photo: Eric Bakke
#1 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
A Los Angeles institution, the Tournament of Roses goes back 126 years, making it one of the oldest events around. It includes elaborate floral and organic floats in the nationally televised parade as well as the Rose Bowl football game, also more than a century old. About 700,000 attend the parade, and another 100,000 come for the game. Next: January 1, 2016
Photo: Courtesy of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses
#2 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The huge street party bills itself as the biggest event of its kind in the world—and the second-biggest event in town after the Tournament of Roses. It started in 1987 and now draws about 500,000. On event night, the petite City of West Hollywood becomes California’s seventh largest city. Next: October 31, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval
#3 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The pride event produced by Christopher Street West includes one of the largest L.G.B.T. parades in the world. L.A. Pride is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year and draws a huge crowd of 400,000 attendees to West Hollywood for a weekend-long celebration that also includes a festival and other related events. Next: June 12-14, 2015
Photo: Jon Viscott
#4 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The streets of downtown Los Angeles, including the new Grand Park, are the backdrop for the giant Cinco de Mayo fair, which draws more than 300,000. It’s billed as the largest celebration of the holiday in the world and is also the biggest Hispanic event in the city, which is the country’s largest Hispanic market. Next: April 26, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Fiesta Broadway
#5 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The historic parade is presented by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles as a celebration of Chinese New Year. The event, which is in its 116th year and is one of the longest-running annual events in town, draws about 100,000 people to North Broadway in Chinatown. Next: February 2016
#6 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
Taking place every Independence Day at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, the event is billed as the largest fireworks show in Southern California. Produced by Pyrospectaculars by Souza, the show is nearing nine decades old. Americafest offers food vendors, kids’ rides, and entertainment, in addition to the big-draw fireworks spectacle. Next: July 4, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Americafest at the Rose Bowl
#7 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The parade and festival has more than a century of history, having first debuted in 1904. Carrying on the long-established tradition, last year’s 32-minute fireworks show included 1,300 rounds, 500 of them during the finale in the last 40 seconds. About 300,000 spectators came out for the holiday spectacle. Next: July 4, 2015
Photo: Tony Gonzalez
#8 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event (up from #9)
The AIDS walkathon is more than three decades old, making it one of the largest and longest running in the United States. Last year, AIDS Walk Los Angeles drew 25,000 walkers and 2,500 volunteers and raised more than $2.3 million for H.I.V./AIDS prevention, treatment, and advocacy programs. Since its beginnings, the event has raised more than $79 million. Next: October 11, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of AIDS Walk Los Angeles
#9 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event (new to the list)
The Dia de los Muertos celebration draws a shoulder-to-shoulder costumed crowd to meander the paths at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, view intricate altars, and check out performances. In addition to a costume contest, food and drink, arts and crafts, and more than 100 altars, last year’s event saw the addition of a third stage for music and theatrical performances. Next: November 1, 2015
Photo: Courtesy of Dia de Los Muertos Celebration
#10 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The event, which takes place the Sunday after Thanksgiving, began in 1928 and has appeared in various incarnations over the years. Last year’s grand marshal was Buzz Aldrin, and the event included live performances by Stevie Wonder, Bill Ray Cyrus, Kenny Loggins, and LeAnn Rimes. The 82nd annual event showed as a two-hour special on Hallmark Channel and was broadcast throughout the holiday season on more than 350 stations. Next: November 29, 2015
Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Hollywood Christmas Parade
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