#1 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The New Year’s Day parade is one of the oldest events around, dating back to 1893. The nationally televised parade draws about 700,000 spectators to view intricate floats. The Rose Bowl football game, which is coming up on 103 years old, draws about 100,000. Next: January 2, 2017
#3 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
Produced by Christopher Street West, the pride celebration is the largest of its kind in the United States, drawing about 40,000 people per day. It’s also a long-established one—at nearly a half-century old—as well as the largest ticketed music festival in the city. The thick crowd comes to West Hollywood for a weekend-long celebration that includes a festival, a parade, and other related events. Next: June 10-12, 2016
#4 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
Approaching its 27th iteration this spring, the fiesta is the city’s largest Cinco de Mayo event; in fact, it’s billed as the largest happening of its kind in the world and the biggest Hispanic event in the city. Organized by Access Entertainment, it takes place in downtown Los Angeles along Broadway and around the streets of City Hall. Approximately 300,000 festival attendees come for performances by well-known Latin American artists and food from local vendors. Next: April 24, 2016
#5 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The long-running parade celebrated its 117th year in 2016. Presented by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles as a celebration of Chinese New Year, the event attracts about 100,000 people to North Broadway in Chinatown. The parade is one of the oldest cultural events in the city. Next: February 2017
#6 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The annual July 4 holiday tradition, which kicks off at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena with one of the largest fireworks shows in Southern California, is now in its 90th year. In addition to the fireworks, the event, presented by Honda, offers rides and entertainment for an all-ages crowd. Next: July 4, 2016
#7 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The parade and festival goes back to 1904, when Huntington Beach commemorated the arrival of the first electric passenger train linking the area with Long Beach and Los Angeles; back then the event drew about 50,000. Now, about 200,000 line the parade route on Independence Day. The three-day festival over the holiday weekend at Pier Plaza draws about 150,000 visitors, and holiday fireworks draw about 100,000. Next: July 4, 2016
#8 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
In its 31-year history, the AIDS walk has drawn hundreds of thousands of supporters to walk for the cause, plus many more to contribute donations, raising more than $79 million to combat H.I.V. and AIDS. Los Angeles’s version is one of the largest and longest running in country. Last year, it drew 25,000 walkers and 2,500 volunteers and raised more than $2.3 million for prevention, treatment, and advocacy programs surrounding the disease. Next: October 2016
#9 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
About 30,000 revelers came out to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery last year. The event draws a packed, costumed crowd to meander the paths of the sprawling and historic cemetery, view elaborate and colorful altars, and check out performances on multiple stages. Next: October 29, 2016
#10 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The event has a long history in town and will celebrate its 85th year in 2016. The City of Los Angeles will once again present the parade, which typically draws a million spectators to the streets of Hollywood. Festivities include a pre-parade concert the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Next: November 27, 2016
