Sunsets, Sips, and the Spirit of LA: Summer Nights at Barnsdall Park

There are Friday nights in LA, and then there are Barnsdall Friday nights.

If you’ve been, you already know. If you haven’t, get ready to make it your new favorite summer ritual.

Every Friday evening from June 6 through September 26, locals and in-the-know Angelenos flock to Olive Hill for one of the city’s most iconic outdoor experiences. Perched high above Hollywood Boulevard, Barnsdall Art Park’s summer wine tastings feel like a scene from a movie: golden hour skies, boutique wines, a blanket on the grass, and 360-degree views of Los Angeles that never get old.

Back for its 17th season, this weekly gathering unfolds on the lawn beside Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece, the Hollyhock House. For $48, you get a curated tasting from Silverlake Wine, one of the city’s best sources for small-batch, natural wines. Bring a picnic or graze from the rotating lineup of food trucks, then settle in as the DJ spins and the sun dips below the hills.

It’s an easygoing, grown-up way to kick off the weekend. And with a 21+ crowd, it’s a welcome excuse for a date night or a catch-up with friends. No kids, no stress, just wine and city lights.

But this isn’t just a great night out. It’s a fundraiser with a purpose. Proceeds from the event support Barnsdall Art Park Foundation, helping fund public art programs and maintain the park’s historic buildings. With city budget cuts threatening cultural institutions, your ticket helps protect one of LA’s most treasured artistic spaces.

And what a space it is.

The park’s roots go back to the early 1900s, when oil heiress and visionary arts patron Aline Barnsdall set out to build a community theater space. In 1927, she gifted the property and Frank Lloyd Wright-designed structures to the City of Los Angeles with one request: keep it a center for accessible, community-driven art. Nearly 100 years later, her vision remains alive.

At the heart of the park is the Hollyhock House, Wright’s first project in Los Angeles and the city’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. The architecture alone is worth the visit. During the Friday night tastings, you can add a guided interior tour for $37. It’s a rare peek inside a piece of LA history and the perfect way to round out your evening.

Art lovers will also want to stop by the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery and the Barnsdall Junior Arts Center Gallery, both of which are open during the event. It’s the kind of immersive, culture-meets-community vibe that makes LA so unforgettable.

“LA Living” means more than loving where you live. It’s about participating in the magic that makes the city one of a kind. Barnsdall Fridays capture that spirit beautifully, offering something effortless, artistic, and uniquely ours.

So, mark your calendar. The 2025 season kicks off June 6 and runs every Friday through September 26 at 5:30 PM. Tickets tend to sell out quickly, so be sure to grab yours early. Then pack a blanket, rally your favorite people, and toast to summer on a hill that’s steeped in art, history, and unbeatable vibes.

Because this is LA at its best.

By IG @kaseycahen