#1 Festival & Fair
Shortly after Orange County formed in 1889, the long-running fair began. It has since grown from a small, community, five-day celebration to a 23-day festival, last year drawing more than 1.3 million visitors for the “Get Your Fair Face On”-theme festivities, marking an uptick from the previous two years. Next: July 14-August 13, 2017
#3 Festival & Fair
The Southern California desert event draws nearly 100,000 attendees for each of its six days, and is the top-grossing music festival in the country. Goldenvoice produces the festival located in Indio, for which general admission and V.I.P. passes sell out annually. Parties, suites, and promotions hosted by brands take over the desert region stretching to Palm Springs, typically on the first weekend of the two. This year, Lady Gaga was announced late to replace a heavily pregnant Beyoncé among the headliners. Next: April 14-16 and April 21-23, 2017
#4 Festival & Fair
The event is billed as the nation's largest public literary festival, and features panels, demonstrations, and conversations with high-profile authors that include celebrities and other personalities. The festival is free to the public on the University of Southern California campus, offering screenings, food, and music as well as a two-day slate of books and authors. Last year’s speakers included Stan Lee, Buzz Aldrin, and Padma Laksmi, and the university’s Trojan Marching Band kicked off the fest. Next: April 22-23, 2017
#5 Festival & Fair
About 30,000 music fans come out for the summertime event, which now takes over the L.A. Sports Arena & Exposition Park downtown. The festival began as a small program in Echo Park. Produced in association with Goldenvoice, the program includes indoor and outdoor stages. This year’s lineup is slated to be announced this month. Next: July 22-23, 2017
#6 Festival & Fair
The annual Abbot Kinney Festival returned last year for its 32nd go. The neighborhood street party happens annually in the fall, stretching a mile long, with food trucks, beer and spirit gardens, live music, handcrafted goods, restaurants, and galleries. There are also four stages for live music, and an expansive outdoor family area with pony rides, a ferris wheel, crafts, and more. It draws a thick crowd of about 120,000 participants. Next: September 24, 2017
#7 Festival & Fair (new to the list)
The jazz festival at the Hollywood Bowl is a 39-year tradition. For the fourth year in a row, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association will present the fest, hosted by George Lopez. This year’s performers include Common, Gregory Porter, and Corinne Bailey Rae. Next: June 11-12, 2017
