The Five Festivals Every LA Man Should Hit This Summer

No reason to stop now.

Summer festivals are a dime a dozen, which is why we took it upon ourselves to cut through the chaff and pick out the five every Angeleno must grace.

Inside: a weekend-long tour of L.A.’s most stunning homes, a film festival for the serious buff and the culinary Valhalla that’s grown so big it needed a bigger venue.

Oh, and music, of course. We have two that’ll make you shake your tailfeather.

For the film buff who thinks Hollywood films are pap: LA Film Festival
Summer is when Hollywood sets its tentpoles. But we’ll defer to Elmore Leonard re: our feelings on most of those: “I’ve seen better film on teeth.” Instead, get thyself to the L.A. Film Fest, the annual showcase of Film Independent that debuts the finest in Indie cinema for local and international filmmakers. The Archlight in Hollywood is the host this year, along with Culver City and LACMA. (June 1-9)

For the inclusive hard-partier: L.A. Pride Festival
If you haven’t been to L.A. Pride, the nation’s biggest LGBTQ Music Festival, then you haven’t partied in L.A. There are 50 artists performing this year, including Big Freedia, a leading name among the New Orleans Drag Queen bounce hip-hop scene (yes, that’s an actual scene). If you haven’t seen her, go. She’s nuts. (June 10-12)

For the discerning voyeur: Dwell on Design
It’s summer. That means patio parties. Pool parties. Garden parties. You need to get your place right for these. Dwell on Design, the annual design festival brought to you by the aesthetes at Dwell Magazine, is where you’ll get good ideas for home improvements. Also, check out the Dwell Home Tours, aka afternoon jaunts to various Dwell-approved homes in L.A. (June 24-26)

For those who want to eat all of the things in one day: LA Food Festival
The LA Food Fest (formerly the LA Street Food Fest) has moved from the Rose Bowl to Exposition Park this summer, and even has a night component now. This will be the largest year yet, with more than 100 vendors to nosh from. If you get the VIP ticket, you gain access to the Rose Garden and two hours of unlimited sampling. (July 8-10)

For those who want to dance to the best bands in the land: FYF Festival
Coachella, Lollapalooza et al. be damned: the FYF Fest lineup this summer is as good as any. LCD Soundsystem. Kendrick Lamar. Moby. Father John Misty. Hot Chip. Tame Impala. It’s at Exposition Park near USC, which means you can (and should) take the Metro. Also, bring a water bottle. They have stations where you can fill it up, which means more money for beer. (August 27-28)

This is the first installment of 37 Things a Man’s Gotta Do This Summer, our annual compendium of everything worth seeing, doing, eating, drinking and generally making time for in your neck of the woods between now and September