#1 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The holiday event is one of the longest-running events in town; the parade first bowed in 1893. It’s held every New Year’s Day, unless the holiday falls on a Sunday, in which case it moves to the next day. The nationally televised parade, filled with eye-catching floats made of fresh flowers, draws about 700,000 spectators. The accompanying Rose Bowl football game, also more than a century old, draws about 100,000. This year, U.S.C. and Penn State squared off. Next: January 1, 2018
#2 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
Drag queens and all manner of costumed revelers make up the massive street party in celebration of Halloween; the event draws about 500,000 people and bills itself as the biggest of its kind in the world. It also claims the title of second-largest annual event in Los Angeles after the Tournament of Roses. The street party is free and open to the public. Next: October 31, 2017
#3 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The 47th annualparade is coming up this year, making it among the oldest events of its kind in the world, and also the largest. However this year, it will take on a new tenor in response to the political climate: It will take the form of an anti-Trump protest, urging attendees to participate in the resistance. Produced by Christopher Street West, the event draws about 40,000 people per day for the festival, which all wraps with the centerpiece event: the parade. Next: June 5-11, 2017
#4 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
Coming up on its 28th year, Fiesta Broadway is a massive Cinco de Mayo event—the largest festival of its kind in the country. Indeed, it’s billed as the largest Latino event in the largest Latino market. It’s produced annually by All Access Entertainment and held in Downtown Los Angeles along Broadway and around the streets of City Hall. A crowd of about 300,000 festival attendees come for performances by popular Latin-American artists and authentic food from local vendors, as well as carnival-style rides and games. Next: April 30, 2017
#5 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles wrapped up its presentation of the 118th annual parade in February. Thousands of spectators line the parade route and view the telecast of the colorful event along North Broadway in Chinatown. It’s considered among the most significant cultural events in the Southern California Asian-American community. Next: February 2018
#7 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The event has come a long way since its debut in 1904 drew about 50,000 people; back then, it celebrated the arrival of the first electric passenger train linking the area with Long Beach and Los Angeles. These days, about 200,000 line the parade route each summer, and a three-day festival taking over Pier Plaza draws about 150,000 visitors. The fireworks bring in about 100,000 attendees. Next: July 4, 2017
#8 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The event brought together thousands who filled downtown streets in October to walk for people affected by H.I.V./AIDS. The 32nd annual event moved downtown after 15 years in West Hollywood. It kicked off in front of City Hall and ended at the western edge of Grand Park, where participants gathered for entertainment, food trucks, and a drag show courtesy of stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race. The 2016 walk raised more than $2 million for A.P.L.A. Health and more than 20 other organizations. The event has raised more than $80 million in its history. Next: October 15, 2017
#9 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
October’s event marked the 17th iteration of the popular festival at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which draws about 30,000 to celebrate Day of the Dead. With numbers swelling as the day turns to dark, the thick crowd packs into the cemetery’s sprawling paths and lawns to check out elaborate and brightly hued altars, plus performances on (and off) multiple stages. Next: October 29, 2017
#10 Parade, Walk & Holiday Event
The long-running tradition is now going into its 86th year. Last year, Olivia Newton-John served as grand marshal for the event, presented and produced by Associated Television International. In addition to the parade, the Thanksgiving-time event includes live musical performances on two stages. Next: November 2017
