Festival of Books Returns to USC This Weekend

Los Angeles, CA · April 24, 2026

Happy Friday—the marine layer is holding steady this morning, but it’s the perfect backdrop for the start of the Festival of Books over at USC. If you’re heading toward Exposition Park today, expect some extra foot traffic and a lot of literary energy as the tents go up.

📰 The Lead

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books officially begins its setup and early programming today at the University of Southern California. As the largest literary festival in the country, it’s a massive logistical undertaking that transforms the campus into a maze of stages and stalls. This year’s lineup is particularly heavy on local history and climate fiction, reflecting our current anxieties and aspirations.

Beyond the big-name authors, keep an eye out for the "Poetry Stage," which has moved to a more central location near the Doheny Library to accommodate larger crowds. If you’re planning to attend tomorrow or Sunday, today is the day to download the digital map and pre-reserve tickets for the indoor panels, as the most popular sessions are already hitting capacity. It’s a quintessential local weekend, where the city’s intellectual curiosity is on full display.

🏙️ Local Pulse

  • Venice Boulevard Bike Lane Expansion Work begins today on the next phase of protected bike lanes connecting Mar Vista to the coast. Expect intermittent lane closures between Inglewood Boulevard and Lincoln. The project aims to close a critical gap in the Westside cycling network.

  • Metro D Line Construction Update Crews are moving to the next stage of station finishing at Wilshire/La Brea. While the street remains open, sidewalk detours are in place on the north side of Wilshire. This brings the "Purple Line" extension one step closer to its 2027 opening.

  • Echo Park Lake Lotus Update Parks and Rec officials confirmed this morning that the lotus beds are showing early blooms ahead of schedule. It’s a quiet win for the lake’s ecosystem after several years of delicate replanting and water quality monitoring.

☁️ Today's Outlook

  • High 77°F · Low 54°F — Overcast It’s a classic "May Gray" preview arriving a week early, so keep a light layer handy if you’re near the coast. The clouds should thin out by mid-afternoon, but don't expect a full breakout of bright sun today.

📅 What's On Around Town

  • Friday Night Wine Tasting Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd 5:30–8:00 PM The seasonal tradition returns to the West Olive Grove; grab a picnic blanket and enjoy the sunset views of the Griffith Observatory with a flight of curated whites and rosés.

  • Jazz at LACMA Smidt Welcome Plaza, 5905 Wilshire Blvd 6:00 PM A free outdoor performance by the Los Angeles Jazz Collective. It’s the best way to kick off the weekend—just get there early to snag a spot on the stairs.

  • Culver City: Night Market at Ivy Station Ivy Station, 8840 Washington Blvd 5:00–10:00 PM A short hop for local crafts, food trucks, and live music right off the E Line. It’s a great spot to grab dinner if you’re avoiding the downtown Friday rush.

  • Santa Monica: Pier 360 Beach Festival Prep Santa Monica Pier, 200 Santa Monica Pier All Day While the main competition starts tomorrow, you can catch the paddleboarders and sand volleyball pros practicing on the south side of the pier throughout the afternoon.

  • The Groundlings: Friday Night Show Groundlings Theatre, 7307 Melrose Ave 8:00 PM High-energy sketch comedy and improv that often serves as a testing ground for future SNL cast members. Tickets are tight, but standby lines usually move.

📸 Spotlight & Story

  • The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens While technically in San Marino, the Huntington is a crown jewel of our regional cultural landscape. Spanning 120 acres, its Japanese Garden recently celebrated a century of quiet contemplation. Did you know the library holds one of the few remaining vellum copies of the Gutenberg Bible? It’s a reminder that even in a city built on the "new," we house some of the world's most enduring history just a short drive from the 110.

Los Angeles Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

Sent with care by MailerDot — your city, every morning.

More Los Angeles editions → · Subscribe →