Text by Anne Wallentine
Images courtesy Skirball and PST Art
Between breezy beach activities and sunny hangout spots, there is never a shortage of things to do in Santa Monica. Even beyond the beach, there are endless cultural events to explore. We’ve rounded up the best local happenings you shouldn’t miss this season, from exciting events and cultural festivals to must-see exhibitions and outdoor activities.
This fall, “Art & Science Collide” in the Getty’s latest PST ART initiative, which is taking over Southern California museums with more than 60 exhibitions grappling with the fascinating and visually stunning intersections of art and science. Museums across Los Angeles will host related exhibitions through spring 2025, with several Westside highlights like the Hammer’s “Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice,” which will include an installation involving live bees by the artist and beekeeper Garnett Puett. The buzz is real.
The Getty itself is mounting several intriguing exhibitions exploring light in varied mediums like photography and holography. Meanwhile, the Fowler Museum at UCLA will be lit up with “Fire Kinship: Southern California Native Ecology and Art” while the Skirball Museum focuses on the thought-provoking evolution of “trees, time and technology.” With such a broad range of topics within the scientific theme, there will be something for everyone—from cinephiles learning about the evolution of color in film at the Academy Museum to history buffs exploring Cold War surveillance technology at the Wende Museum.
Technophiles will also enjoy the Digital New Arts (DNA) Festival, which is hosting digital art exhibitions, installations, and performances at Santa Monica’s creative institutions like the cluster of galleries at Bergamot Station and the contemporary art space 18th Street Arts Center through November. The final, avant-garde event on November 21 interprets holographic and 3D imaging technology through a modern dance performance.
Tree of Knowledge at Skirball
For those interested in more theatrical arts – and thrilling acrobatics—Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA is playing at a Big Top near the Santa Monica Pier from October 19 to December 1. It’s a fitting homecoming, as the dazzling and daring acrobatic troupe made their U.S. debut in Santa Monica in 1987.
You can always walk, run, roller-skate, or bike along the iconic Santa Monica State Beach path. To mix up your motion for the season and find some holiday cheer, grab a pair of ice skates at the popular pop-up rink Ice at Santa Monica between November 8 and January 20.
The Santa Monica Farmer’s Market is a year-round favorite and a must-not-miss while in town. Held on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, it’s a joy to stroll through the colorful stands and seek out the freshest seasonal produce. Local chefs (and those in the know) tend to haunt their favorite stalls on Wednesday, which is also the largest of the markets.
Ready to laugh? Check out the latest lineup at The Crow comedy club, located in Bergamot Station—and then head next door to Birdie G’s for classic homestyle dishes that have won the restaurant a place on the Los Angeles Times’ 101 Best Restaurants list. If you’re seeking an inspiring musical evening, try the Broad Stage for emotive jazz and classical concerts, like the accomplished, moving violinist Lucia Micarelli’s performance on February 22. The Broad Stage also hosts the National Geographic Live series, which features stimulating stories about the natural wonders of the world.
To find the latest fashion trends, peruse the window displays of Montana Avenue’s many highly curated, high-end boutiques. The shopping street offers a lovely stroll and many cozy cafes and bakeries for a break between shops. On the first and fourth Sunday of each month you can also browse for vintage treasures at the Santa Monica Airport Antique Market.
The Frieze Los Angeles art fair descends on the Santa Monica Airport again on February 20-23. Last year’s event showcased nearly 100 galleries with work by leading global contemporary artists and a variety of local installations and collaborations. 2025’s fair promises the same infusion of energy from the international art jet-set and a ripple effect that inspires art activations at galleries across Los Angeles.
In 2025, the City of Santa Monica will also mark its sesquicentennial: the 150th anniversary of its founding as a town through the land-lot auction organized by Senator John P. Jones and Robert S. Baker. The City and its cultural institutions are planning a variety of celebrations throughout the year to honor and examine how the city has evolved—and continues to—through its vital cultural life.
