LACMA Jazz Fridays: Fun for the Whole Family
From May thru November, attending LACMA Jazz Fridays is a must for seasoned Angelenos. Each Friday during the late Spring, Summer, and Fall, LACMA puts on a free Jazz event, and it is basically the best excuse in the world to have a picnic.
Gather some of your favorite people (or fly solo if you just want some you-time), bring some dinner, snacks, wine, and soft drinks, a cozy blanket or beach chairs, and take in some of Los Angeles’s finest jazz musicians on the meadow under some giant palms near the historic La Brea Tar Pits.
Quick Links
When does LACMA Jazz 2024 start?
Parking at LACMA Jazz
What to bring
What’s available at LACMA Jazz?
Don’t be intimidated by the crowds as the grassy areas are sprawling and there is always room for one more blanket. And the best part is that everyone is so friendly and accommodating. Who wouldn’t be on a beautiful summer night in Los Angeles?!
There is plenty of space for kids to run around and supervision is made easy because the flat area makes for good visibility. Kids on scooters and bikes is a common site at LACMA Jazz Fridays.
When Does LACMA Jazz Start?
The LACMA Jazz 2024 season is in full swing! With performances every Friday beginning in May and every Friday thereafter, make sure you and your family or group of besties get at least one night of jazz in this year!
Parking at LACMA Jazz Fridays
The event officially starts at 6:00 PM, but early picnickers are very common. And getting there early has its benefits! If you arrive early enough, you should be able to find rock star street parking on 6th Street just south of Park La Brea.
If you can’t find parking on 6th Street, then you can also park in the below-ground museum parking lot. The entrance is on the south side of 6th Street near the corner of Fairfax and 6th.
The Page Museum parking lot is hit-and-miss and not always open. Across the street, though, is the SAG-Aftra parking lot. There is plenty of parking in this structure, and it costs about as much as the LACMA underground parking ($20-ish).
What to Bring to LACMA Jazz Fridays
Check out The Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Picnic in Los Angeles!
Without question, you’ll need a nice comfortable blanket. There is often dew on the grass as the sun sets in the early summer and fall months, so a waterproof blanket might be just the thing. If you have beach chairs in the trunk, grab those too!
Make sure you have a nice cooler and some durable ice packs to keep the cheese, meat, and rosé cold. We always bring soft drinks for the girls and a couple of bottles of wine for the grown-ups.
When it comes to choosing your wine for LACMA Jazz Fridays, make sure you bring bottles that are twist-off or be sure to pack a wine opener. That said, if you’re stuck without an opener, just ask your neighbor. Chances are, they brought one!
We sometimes pack a game or two — a good old deck of cards, Uno, Telestrations, or What do you Meme. and a sweatshirt for when the sun goes down.
Up Fairfax at 3rd Street a few blocks is one of the larger Trader Joe’s in Los Angeles, and it’s is a great place to grab food and bev for your picnic. Across the street from Trader Joe’s is the Farmer’s Market at The Grove, and just south of that across 3rd Street is a Whole Foods. There certainly is no excuse for a sub-par picnic. And prepare to compare snacks with your neighbors — we have seen some spectacular charcuterie boards — and settle in for some good people-watching.
What’s Available at LACMA Jazz?
There is food and cocktails for purchase on-site in addition to the museum restaurant. And yes there are bathrooms, though don’t wait until it is too late as there is often a line for the women’s room.
We tend to stay on the periphery, but for the diehard jazz fan, we recommend getting there early and securing a spot up close to the action. There are chairs by the stage, and they are first come-first served.
Make a Day of It
Pro tip? Make a day of it! You are surrounded by world-class museums including the new Academy Museum, the Peterson Automotive Museum, LACMA (of course), the La Brea Tar Pits, and the Page Museum a.k.a. “The Woolly Mammoth Museum” as the girls fondly named it way back when.
Do you have a favorite LACMA Jazz Friday memory? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us and let us know what you love most about LACMA Jazz!
