Los Angeles events & things to do in May 2027
Start with Santa Monica Pier, Union Station, plus Venice Beach Boardwalk and Canals. May in Los Angeles averages 20°C / 68°F highs, 12°C / 54°F nights, and about 3 rainy days.
Expect 20°C/68°F days and about 3 rainy ones in May. Start with these:
- Santa Monica Pier★ 4.6 · 132.5k reviewsThe pier dates to 1909 and includes the 1916 Looff Hippodrome, Pacific Park rides, Route 66 markers, and broad beach views.
- Union Station★ 4.5 · 11.3k reviewsLos Angeles Union Station opened in 1939 with Spanish Colonial Revival and Art Deco details, tiled waiting rooms, courtyards, and rail links across…
- The Simon & Garfunkel StoryMay 1Hollywood Pantages Theatre · Source: SeatGeek
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Los Angeles in May 2027
Weather
TempTemperature
68°F / 54°F
20°C / 12.4°C
RainPrecipitation
3d
0.3in · 7.9mm
LightDaylight
13.8h
Sea
63.3°F
17.4°C
May is dry but can bring coastal gray mornings, so schedule beach time after midday.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- May 1 – May 2
LA Times Festival of Books
Annual literary festival held at the University of Southern California featuring author talks, book signings, and cultural programming.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 1
- May 2
Show all 38 events for May
- May 4
- May 5
Cinco de Mayo Festival at Olvera Street
Celebration of Mexican heritage with traditional music, dance, food, and crafts in historic Olvera Street.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 5
- May 6
- May 6
- May 7 – May 30
LA Philharmonic Spring Concert Series
A series of classical music concerts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall featuring renowned conductors and soloists.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 7
- May 8
- May 8
- May 9
Mother's Day Brunch Events at The Getty Center
Special Mother's Day brunch with art tours and live music at The Getty Center.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 9
- May 11
- May 12 – May 16
LA Art Show
International contemporary art fair featuring galleries, artists, and special exhibitions at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 12
- May 13
- May 13
- May 14
- May 14
- May 15
- May 15
LA Beer Festival
Annual craft beer tasting event featuring local breweries, food trucks, and live music.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 16
- May 16
- May 18
- May 18
- May 19
- May 20
- May 20
- May 21
- May 22
- May 22 – May 23
KCRW World Festival
Music festival showcasing global artists and diverse genres, hosted by local public radio station KCRW.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- May 23
- May 23
- May 27
- May 28
- May 29 – May 31
Memorial Day Weekend Concerts at Grand Park
Free outdoor concerts and family-friendly activities marking the start of summer in downtown Los Angeles.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- May 31Memorial DayPublic holiday
- May 29-May 31Long weekend
About Los Angeles
City overview
Los Angeles spreads across the Los Angeles Basin between the Pacific, the Santa Monica Mountains, and the San Gabriel Mountains, so a single day can move from Hollywood studios to Downtown concert halls to Venice sand. The city works best as a neighborhood plan: Hollywood for film history, Downtown LA and the Arts District for museums and food halls, Santa Monica and Venice for the coast, and Pasadena for older civic architecture.
Food & drink
Los Angeles food is a city map: street tacos, Korean barbecue, Armenian lahmajune, sushi, French-dip sandwiches, smash burgers, pupusas, and farmers-market produce all matter. Grand Central Market, Thai Town, Koreatown, Boyle Heights, Sawtelle, and the Original Farmers Market give first-time visitors a practical route through that range.
Top sights
Ranked for May suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Venice Beach Boardwalk and Canals
- 2Getty Center
- 3Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
- 4Walt Disney Concert Hall
- 5The Broad
- 6Hollywood Bowl
- 7La Brea Tar Pits and LACMA
- 8TCL Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Walk of Fame
1Venice Beach Boardwalk and Canals
4.5★ · 2,318outdoorDeveloper Abbot Kinney opened Venice of America in 1905, and the remaining canals still show the original resort-city idea. The boardwalk, Muscle Beach, skate park, and Abbot Kinney Boulevard sit south of Santa Monica.
2Getty Center
4.8★ · 36,465indoorClosed MonRichard Meier designed the hilltop Getty Center, which opened in 1997 with European paintings, decorative arts, gardens, travertine terraces, and wide views over Brentwood and the 405. The tram from the parking area is part of the visit.
WikipediaAdmission is free but timed reservations and paid parking are still part of the logistics.
3Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
4.7★ · 17,741indoorClosed MonThe 1935 Art Deco observatory crowns the south slope of Mount Hollywood with telescopes, space exhibits, and one of the clearest skyline-to-Pacific views in the city. It is above Los Feliz and a short drive or DASH ride from the Hollywood/Western Metro station.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Walt Disney Concert Hall
- 5The Broad
- 6Hollywood Bowl
Neighborhoods
1Hollywood and Los Feliz
This side is cinematic and hillside, with the Chinese Theatre, Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, Franklin Village, studio history, and late-night Thai Town food nearby.
2Downtown LA, Bunker Hill, and Arts District
Downtown is dense and mixed, with Union Station, Grand Central Market, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, Little Tokyo, warehouses, galleries, and brewery patios.
3Santa Monica
Santa Monica is coastal and walkable, with the pier, Third Street Promenade, Palisades Park, the E Line terminus, and hotels facing the Pacific.
Day trips
45km / 40-75min by car from Downtown LA or about 1.5h by Metrolink and bus via Anaheim
Disneyland Resort
The 1955 theme park and Disney California Adventure make a full Orange County day, with timing driven by freeway traffic and park reservations.
35km / 1h ferry from Long Beach or San Pedro terminals
Catalina Island
Avalon, Descanso Beach, glass-bottom boats, hiking, and harbor views give Los Angeles a true island day trip.
210km / 2.5-3h by car from Central Los Angeles
Joshua Tree National Park
Desert boulders, Joshua trees, Keys View, and dark skies are reachable as a long day but work better with an overnight in Twentynine Palms or Joshua Tree.
Getting around
Metro rail and buses use the TAP card, with the B Line for Hollywood, E Line for Santa Monica, A Line for Pasadena, and regional trains from Union Station. A car or rideshare is still fastest for cross-basin moves, but parking and freeway traffic make neighborhood clustering essential.
Planning a Los Angeles trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in May.
Common questions about Los Angeles in May
- What to pack for Los Angeles in May
Pack for May's weather, not a generic Los Angeles checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 20°C / 68°F.
- A light evening layer because nights average 12°C / 54°F.
- Sun protection and comfortable walking shoes; rain is usually limited this month.
- How many days do you need in Los Angeles
- 4 days covers the main Los Angeles highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Los Angeles worth visiting in May
- Yes. May in Los Angeles averages 20°C / 68°F highs, 12°C / 54°F nights, and about 3 rainy days.
Ready to plan Los Angeles?
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