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California entertainment: Music, festivals, venues and more

Explore California’s entertainment scene with guides to concerts, festivals, venues, ticketing laws, and exclusive celebrity interviews. Start planning your next night out. Photo: Visit California.

California entertainment: Music, festivals, venues and more post image

California is one of the entertainment capitals of the world—and we’re here to help you experience it. Whether you're tracking down tickets to a sold-out show, looking for the best festivals in the state, or just trying to understand how California’s ticketing laws work, we’ve got you covered.

From the historic concert halls of San Francisco to the bustling comedy clubs of Los Angeles, the Golden State offers unforgettable live events across every genre and style. California Today’s entertainment coverage is your gateway to what’s happening now—and what’s worth planning for next.

Below, you’ll find direct links to our most popular entertainment sections. These evergreen pages serve as the foundation for everything we do, and are regularly updated with new guides, news, interviews, and insider tips.

Entertainment - CaliforniaToday.com
Stay in the know with the latest entertainment news from across California. From exclusive artist interviews to updates on concerts, festivals, and venue happenings—we’ve got your backstage pass.

Concerts in California

Discover how to buy tickets, avoid scams, and find shows happening near you. We break down California’s top venues, tips for getting great seats, and how to get into concerts even after they’re technically sold out.

Walt Disney Concert Hall | Visit California
With its soaring stainless-steel panels, the exterior of the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall has been likened to everything from a clipper ship to a blooming flower to origami. With the “wow-factor” bar set so high before you’ve even entered, you’d be forgiven for expecting all that glitz to come at a cost when it comes to the practical demands of a performance space, and for preparing yourself for the inevitable letdown. But you’d be wrong.
Hollywood Bowl: World-Class Musicians in a Classic Hollywood Amphitheater
As the largest natural amphitheater in Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl is undoubtedly an ideal place to soak in the quintessential Southern California evening—warm summer sunsets, beautiful people, the occasional star sighting, gourmet food, and the sweet sounds of live music. This is Hollywood.

California Festivals

From Coachella and Outside Lands to local food and culture events, California’s festival calendar is packed year-round. Explore our festival guide to see which ones are worth the trip—and how to get your hands on tickets before they’re gone.

21 Unique Festivals and Events in California | Visit California
Thanks to the harvest seasons, annual wildlife migrations, and a lot of fascinating history, California hosts a cool festival pretty much every weekend. Plan a trip around one of these special events to celebrate garlic, whales, frog-jumping, and more—and also to embrace the spirit of these interesting places. Ed. note: Before traveling to any of the following events, check with their respective websites for exact dates.

Ticketing Info & Laws

Ticketing can get confusing—especially when resale markets, dynamic pricing, and bots get involved. We break down how California regulates ticket sales, what your rights are as a buyer, and how to avoid scams.

These 7 California Laws Protect Ticket-Buyers from Scams
California protects buyers from scams with some of the strongest ticket laws in the US. You should know these 7 before buying tickets in 2025.
How California’s New Consumer Protections Change the Way You Buy Tickets in 2025
California’s StubHub settlement and Senate Bill 478 are reshaping consumer protections, promoting transparent pricing, and ensuring fair refunds for ticket buyers.
Disneyland is Introducing Exclusive Ticket Pricing for SoCal Residents in 2025: Is It *Actually* a Good Deal?
Disneyland’s 2025 Southern California Resident Ticket Offer is live, offering locals 3-day tickets for $199. You should read the fine print.

Exclusive Celebrity Interviews and Collaborations

We sit down with California’s rising stars—before they blow up. Check out our exclusive Q&As with local musicians, comedians, and creators, and see who’s next on the scene.

TMI Sports joins the CaliforniaToday.com network
TMI Sports has officially joined the CaliforniaToday.com network. Here’s what it means.

California Venues

Find the best places to catch a show, from intimate indie clubs to iconic outdoor amphitheaters. Our venue guides cover everything from parking tips to the best seats in the house.

California’s Top Performance Spaces | Visit California
From historic landmarks to contemporary masterpieces, California’s elegant and beautiful settings for live performances are as big a part of the concert-going experience as the productions staged there. Some locations offer self-guided walks or behind-the-scenes tours—a great way to visit even if you are not catching a show. Some sites even let you do some stargazing while you are entertained. Classic open-air venues dot the state, making for memorable evenings especially on pleasant summer nights. Here are 15 of California’s top performance spaces, listed north to south.
Venues and Events
Information for facility/event managers and others responsible for waste management at venues facilities and large events. CalRecycle provides suggestions and examples to help in developing your waste reduction plan, analyzing your waste stream and selecting programs, financing and implementing the programs, and tracking and reporting your diversion achievement.

What’s Next?

We’re just getting started. As this section grows, expect deeper coverage of California’s theater, comedy, and film scenes—plus a curated events calendar, behind-the-scenes stories, and more exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else.

For press inquiries, artist features, or partnerships, contact us here.