Summer is around the corner, and May is ushering in the start of endless fun with Dine L.A., Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and More! Check out the 28 things to do in May in Los Angeles if you’re looking for only good vibes all month long.

*This piece contains a few affiliate links, which may benefit the author. Thank you for considering. 

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Eat the Best for Less During Dine L.A. (May 1st-12th)

Spring Dine LA runs from Now until May 12th, and it’s an excellent opportunity to try a new restaurant that’s been on your list. Grand Central Market has a deal where 14 of its restaurant stalls will serve up $15 meals, which generally include an entree and a drink combo.

Cafe Fig at the Hotel Figueroa in Downtown Los Angeles serves a 3-course meal for just $35 at lunch and dinner! Highlights include Cauliflower Bites to start, Fried Chicken and Waffles as a main, and Cafe Fig’s Apple Pie for dessert. 

Lastly, my top deal of the season is Sichuan Impression, with locations in West L.A., Tustin, and Alhambra. Their $65 4-course menu is not for just one person but actually feeds two to three! Plus, if you visit the Alhambra or Tustin locations, you also get Two Glasses of House Wine in the Dine LA pricing.

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Drink Free Vegan Lattes (May 1st-7th)

Singer Leona Lewis is opening up the second location of her vegan coffee shop, Coffee and Plants, and she’s celebrating with FREE drinks for days! Stop by Monday, May 1st through the 7th to enjoy a VANILLA or signature LAUREL LATTE for FREE from 6 to 9 a.m. – thanks to plant-based milk partners Califia Farms. Food is also available for purchase, like vegan Tartines and an assortment of Pastries like an Almond Cherry or a Mushroom Croissant.

The new location can be found at 12334 Ventura Blvd, Studio City

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Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (Ongoing May)

Here are a few events to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month:

• May 2nd: Ginza Nishikawa will offer a 10% discount on all pick-up orders at the Santa Monica with promo code: AAPIHERITAGEMONTH. If you’ve never had their Shokupan, it’s one of the best in the world, originally from Ginza, Japan.
• May 4th to 13th: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be screening at venues all over the city. So get out and see something new.
• May 7th to 12th: Sake Fest at OTOTO in Echo Park. Get your tickets to the Brewer Block Party on May 10th to taste six sakes plus bites for just $48.
• May 19th to 20th: Mama Đút’s Thuy Pham from Portland will be “popping-up” in L.A. for two nights at Lodge Bread on Pico Blvd from 6 to 10 p.m. The chef specializes in Vegan Vietnamese.

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Eat Birria Pizza (May 1st-7th)

Prime Pizza has crafted a Quesabirria Pizza in Collaboration with La Unica Tacos Y Birria, and you’ll be birri disappointed to miss it! Ingredients include Beef Birria, two kinds of Cheese, red onion, cilantro, and a consomme for dipping. It’s available at all locations.

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Attend First Fridays at the Natural History Museum (May 5th)

Party with the dinosaurs after dark during the First Fridays event at the Natural History Museum. This month’s theme is Fandoms & Fantasy: Giant Monsters/Giant Robot and includes live music, signature cocktails, and curated family fun.

Tickets are $20 or FREE for members. Get them here. The event begins at 5 p.m.

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Enjoy Free Jazz Fridays at LACMA (May 5th,12th,19th, & 26th)

Sway to the sounds of FREE Jazz every Friday in May, and continuing through November, on the plaza of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art beginning at 6 p.m. Check the calendar to confirm who’s playing.

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Party it up on Cinco de Mayo (May 5th)

Cinco de Mayo falls on a Friday this year, which means there’s no excuse for going full-on fiesta to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the French in Puebla back in 1862. 

Start your day on a historic note with the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in the birthplace of Los Angeles on Olvera Street in downtown. The day begins as early as 10 a.m. with Guided Tours that trace the early history of the city. There will also be musical guests, shopping, and a kids’ area. Happy Hour Drink Specials run from 4 to 7 p.m.

From there, you can head to Gracias Madre in West Hollywood for a Pop-Up Margarita Garden from 3 to 9 p.m. It will be a night of mariachi performances, raffle prizes, and margarita and mezcal bars – including spirit-free cocktails from CUT ABOVE.  

Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased via Eventbrite. The ticket price includes 2 drink tickets. 

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Celebrate a Royal Coronation (May 6th)

King Charles III’s coronation is happening on May 6th in England, and The Daily Pint is celebrating with Whiskey and Beer Specials, like $2 off drafts, as well asL.A.hance to be memorialized along with the new King and take a photo beside the mural created by L.A. Artist Cori Alsbrooks.

Hours are 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. most days, and the Pint Specials will be live May 6th and 7th. The address is 2310 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405.

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Take the Kids to Play all Weekend (May 6th and 7th)

The first weekend in May has some pretty great opportunities to bond with your littlest ones:

• Saturday, May 6th, and Sunday May 7th is the 8th Annual Hey, Milestone’s Great Big L.A.mily Play Day presented by Wonderfold at the Autry Museum of the American West in Griffith Park across from the L.A. Zoo. Events include Live Music from kid-friendly artists like Twinkletime and the great Lisa Loeb; Character Meet and Greets; a Dino Dig; a Carnival Section; and so much more! Tickets begin at just 5 dollars. Hours are Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Scheduling varies, so check the website before choosing your day.
• Saturday, May 6th, from Noon to 4 p.m. is the Open House at Glendale Community College which offers FREE PARENT EDUCATION CLASSES with your children from ages 6 months to 5 years. The event will feature games, music, bubbles, and a chance to get all the information to register. More details are on the website, including class schedules and faculty information. It’s an invaluable resource if you’re a parent to younger kids and are looking to engage them on a daily basis. Oh, and did I mention it’s FREE?

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Attend Boots & Brews (May 7th)

If country music is your thing, then you need to be at the Boots and Brews Country Music Festival Sunday, May 7th, at the Ventura County Fairgrounds from 1 to 8 p.m. Chris Young will be headlining. Tickets begin at $49.99 for General Admission.

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Do Some Good for the Youth of Los Angeles (Ongoing May)

These events offer a chance to benefit various youth charities in Los Angeles while doing some fancy things.

• May 13th: The nonprofit organization My Friend’s Place, dedicated to uplifting youth experiencing homelessness, is having its 35th Anniversary Gala at the Hollywood Palladium on May 13th from 6 to 11 p.m. Tickets begin at $250 for Cocktails, Dinner, and Entertainment.
• May 25th: artworxLA Presents “An Evening of Art” Celebration at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel takes place May 25th at 7 p.m., and tickets support the nonprofit that is fighting to stop the high school dropout crisis. Tickets begin at $175

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Visit the L.A. County Fair (May 5th-29th)

The L.A. County Fair is back in Pomona with Rides, Concerts, and all things Carnival. Hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday to Sunday, and you can purchase tickets beginning at $15 on their website or $30 at the door (for adults).

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See something All Consuming (Ongoing May)

All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena runs from now until August 14th, 2023, and offers a chance to experience food in art and see the collection in a new way.

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Show Mom some Love on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day falls on Sunday, May 14th, and nothing says I love you more than a day of pampering.

Start with a meal at the only winery in Los Angeles, the San Antonio Winery, whose restaurant, The 1917 Wine Bar + Bistro, is serving up a 3-course Brunch with Two glasses of Bubbles or a 4-course Dinner plus Wine Pairing for $85 a person. 

Follow that up with a trip to Burke Williams Day Spa which offers affordable luxury with locations all over the city and specialty Massage and Facial Packages for Mother’s Day. 

See more ideas in this dedicated Mother’s Day article.

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Enjoy Movies Outside (Ongoing)

Participate in some of these food+film screenings where it really starts to feel like summer.

• Cinespia is your home for cemetery film screenings under the stars starting May 19th, 2023 with The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings. Tickets start at $22.
• Street Food Cinema is also on beginning May 13th and running through June. Tickets begin at $22, or you can get them for $15 here. Films on deck include Golden Girls Night and Fight Club.

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Have a “World” of Fun (Ongoing May)

Immersive events are still all the rage and offer an over-the-top way to experience your favorite things. Below are two that are perfect for family fun:

• The World of Barbie at Santa Monica Place lets you enter lifesize Barbie experiences like the Dreamhouse, Space, and of course, the Closet. Tickets begin at $25.50 for children 12 and under and $34.50 for adults. Purchase here for 1-hour time slots.
• Bubble World offers rooms full of bubbly fun, including V.R. Technology and plain old-fashioned bubbles. While not available until June, you’ll have to reserve now to get in on the fun as it’s very pop-ular. Tickets begin at $20.90 for kids 4-14, and adults are $26.90. Purchase your tickets here. The event takes place in Montebello.

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Attend a New Queer Festival (May 19th-21st)

LB Proud! Fest, a new FREE Queer Festival, is coming to Long Beach with live music, vendors, and interactive activities for an entire weekend! This event, founded by Sal Flores of L.B. Living, wants to take the commercialization of Pride events and remind the community of what the celebration is all about. The event will benefit the gayborhood through “The Proud Project,” which plans to plant trees and help clean up parts of the community. Check the website for more details or support here.

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Taste the Best Hamburgers in Los Angeles

National Hamburger Day falls on May 28th, and May is also Burger Month, so there’s no better excuse to go out and eat! Among the best in Los Angeles is The Window, with locations in Venice and Silverlake, Burgers Never Say Die in Silverlake, and of course, In-N-Out, with locations all over. 

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Celebrate Memorial Day 

Memorial Day on May 29th brings with it a day of remembrance and the unofficial start of summer. Show your spirit with weekend Concerts at the Hollywood Bowl and a Dodger Game against the Nationals at Dodger Stadium, which includes a special moment for fallen veterans. Tickets are as low as $23 dollars.