Every summer since 2010, LA Commons hosts Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks, a beloved community tradition held during the Leimert Park Art Walk. This annual celebration honors South LA ancestors, ancestral traditions and customs, African and Diaspora artistic expressions, and shared community memories.

Founded in 2010, by artists Najite Agindotan and Ben Caldwell in collaboration with LA Commons, the Festival of Masks is a multicultural, multigenerational and multimedia arts event grounded in the vast identities of Africa and the African diaspora.

This year, we will be honoring:

• S. Pearl Sharp

• Horace Tapscott

• Aiysha Sinclair

• Meri Ka Ra (Reverend Richard Byrd)

• Kimberly Bolanile Paggett

This year’s theme is Nea Onnim — the African Adinkra symbol representing lifelong education and the continued quest for knowledge.

The festival features a libation ceremony, procession and an exciting lineup of dance and musical performances. The blessing and libation ceremony are designed to invoke a healing and reflection process in the community. The procession through the streets symbolizes the people's power and capacity to take ownership over their community, address challenges and create change.

Every Saturday until June 27th, LA Commons will be hosting FREE community workshops!

Participate in these no-cost master classes where you can learn ancestral mask-making, African dancing and drumming. Every Saturday in Leimert Park Village, you can join us in interactive workshops.

11AM - 12PM: West African dance with King Daunté Nabi Fyall

12PM - 2PM: Ancestral mask-making with Maria Elena Cruz & Ronieka Pinkney

2PM - 3PM: African drumming with Mama Nene

Watch Spain v. Uruguay live on giant LED screens on Jerry Moss Plaza and join LA Commons for our mask-making arts workshop!

Join LA Commons at the Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series Kickoff!

LA Commons will be hosting a “Make Your Own Sticker” activity, as well as handing out free posters and bandanas.

Every Saturday until June 27th, LA Commons will be hosting FREE community workshops!

Participate in these no-cost master classes where you can learn ancestral mask-making, African dancing and drumming. Every Saturday in Leimert Park Village, you can join us in interactive workshops.

11AM - 12PM: West African dance with King Daunté Nabi Fyall

12PM - 2PM: Ancestral mask-making with Maria Elena Cruz & Ronieka Pinkney

2PM - 3PM: African drumming with Mama Nene

Every Saturday until June 27th, LA Commons will be hosting FREE community workshops!

Participate in these no-cost master classes where you can learn ancestral mask-making, African dancing and drumming. Every Saturday in Leimert Park Village, you can join us in interactive workshops.

11AM - 12PM: West African dance with King Daunté Nabi Fyall

12PM - 2PM: Ancestral mask-making with Maria Elena Cruz & Ronieka Pinkney

2PM - 3PM: African drumming with Mama Nene

Join LA Commons in celebrating our youth arts team in community! Enjoy free breakfast, an art supplies giveaway & Stop the Hate merch! We’ll be located in front of the UCLA James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center in MacArthur Park

Every Saturday until June 27th, LA Commons will be hosting FREE community workshops!

Participate in these no-cost master classes where you can learn ancestral mask-making, African dancing and drumming. Every Saturday in Leimert Park Village, you can join us in interactive workshops.

11AM - 12PM: West African dance with King Daunté Nabi Fyall

12PM - 2PM: Ancestral mask-making with Maria Elena Cruz & Ronieka Pinkney

2PM - 3PM: African drumming with Mama Nene

Every Saturday until June 27th, LA Commons will be hosting FREE community workshops!

Participate in these no-cost master classes where you can learn ancestral mask-making, African dancing and drumming. Every Saturday in Leimert Park Village, you can join us in interactive workshops.

12PM - 2PM: Mask making

2PM - 3PM: Drumming and dance

Every Saturday until June 27th, LA Commons will be hosting FREE community workshops!

Participate in these no-cost master classes where you can learn ancestral mask-making, African dancing and drumming. Every Saturday in Leimert Park Village, you can join us in interactive workshops.

12PM - 2PM: Mask making

2PM - 3PM: Drumming and dance

Every Saturday until June 27th, LA Commons will be hosting FREE community workshops!

Participate in these no-cost master classes where you can learn ancestral mask-making, African dancing and drumming. Every Saturday in Leimert Park Village, you can join us in interactive workshops.

12PM - 2PM: Mask making

2PM - 3PM: Drumming and dance

Starting from May 9th through June 27th, LA Commons will be hosting no-cost community workshops!

Participate in FREE master classes where you can learn ancestral mask-making, African dancing and drumming. Every Saturday in Leimert Park Village, you can join us in interactive workshops.

12PM - 2PM: Mask making

2PM - 3PM: Drumming and dance

Kickoff the 2026 Festival of Masks season with us in Leimert Park!

Be part of igniting the excitement and kicking off the celebration of the 2026 Day of the Ancestors: Festival of Masks season!

Join us on Sunday, April 26th as we begin the festivities for Festival of Masks with activities including:

• Announcement of the ancestors we'll be honoring

• An art activity connected to the the theme: Nea Onnim - the Adinkra symbol representing knowledge, life-long education, and continued quest for knowledge

• Free grocery giveaway, healthy culture hub resources and more

• Showcase/preview of Festival of Masks' Saturday Workshops

Please mark your calendar for Thursday, April 23, 2026 and reserve your ticket(s) with the button below in celebrating the UCLA Labor Center’s James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center homecoming.

Alongside this celebration, LA Commons will be unveiling its newest MacArthur Park mural.

Join LA Commons at the CA Arts & Culture Summit happening on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Our Executive Director, Karen Mack, and Associate Director of Community Arts Programs, Valery Mendoza-Martinez, will be leading a breakout session called “Creating Joy Through the ‘Healthy Culture Hub’ Model.”

This session will explore LA Commons’ model for promoting wellness, civic engagement and leadership development for residents and youth through programming designed by community for community. 

Come help us care for the park that has offered us so much while building community. Community Members of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate. Students and anyone else who needs community service hours are encouraged to join us. All supplies and lunch will be provided. Dress comfortably; we recommend walking shoes, water, and a hat. Feel free to invite others. Please let us know if you have any questions. 

A Celebration of SAJE and the City We Fight For marks their 30th anniversary! This night is about recommitting to building community power, winning bold policy change, and shaping an LA that works for all of us, not just the wealthy.

LA Commons Founder and Executive Director, Karen Mack, will be honored at this celebration.

This Women's History Month, we're lifting up Queen Califia — the legendary Black Amazonian warrior queen who ruled the mythical Island of California. Her legacy lives in this land and in us.

Come celebrate with art making, movement, and drumming in the heart of Leimert Park!

Co-presented by LA Commons, Masters of Subversion: Confronting Cigar, imagines a story behind the story of Philip Guston’s seminal painting, Cigar, interpreted through spoken word, live music, and dance in the Draw Them In, Paint Them Out exhibition.

Featuring a talkback with artist Trenton Doyle Hancock and community leader Karen Mack, Founder and Executive Director of LA Commons.

Begin planting the seeds for 2026 Festival of Masks! This community story gathering is to share stories of ancestors and to plant the seeds of imagining for the 2026 Day of the Ancestors: Festival of the Masks.

We ask participants to share their stories and to dream how you would like to participate in the upcoming Festival of Masks. This year's Festival of Masks theme is inspired by the Adinkra Symbol Nea Onnim. A symbol of knowledge, life-long education, and continued quest for knowledge.

Please come and enjoy snacks, songs, poetry and sharing your stories.

Join LA Commons for drumming, movement and an interactive art activity!

Black History Month resources and Health & Wellness resources will be available.

More details and RSVP coming soon.

Altadena + Leimert Park Art Walk
Threads of Unity: Celebrating Creative Kinship in the Spirit of George Washington Carver

Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 12PM - 5PM

At this month’s upcoming Leimert Park Artwalk, we honor the deep artistic and historical connections between Altadena and Leimert Park as well as creating space for community gathering and Altadena Recovery. The day’s activities are inspired by the innovative and regenerative spirit of George Washington Carver.

At this community event, you can expect to experience: 

• Rhythmic drumming and movement

• Rootspeak Workshop

• Grounding activities

• An interactive art activity by an Altadena-based artist, Destiny Grant

• Story collections of our Altadena community members 

• An exciting panel featuring Black Altadena community leaders, focused on Altadena Recovery

Learn more here!

Join us at the Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Metro Station and stop by the LA Commons art activity!

Create your own “transit card” with local artist Ronieka Pinkney and LA Commons. Use paint, metallic markers, and foil to create your own art-piece inspired by your Willowbrook stories and experiences!

Join LA Commons at the Leimert Park Art Walk for our art activity:

Ancestral Altar: We Are Our Ancestors’ Wildest Dreams

Led by Anbiya Oshun Taharkah

Expect live art, music, good food, healing activations, and amazing vendors — all celebrating the vibrant, multicultural spirit of Altadena.

LA Commons will be leading a storytelling booth and an art activity.

Please join Arts & Climate CA - LA for its Culture and Climate Exchange: World Cafe in-person event. This FREE event welcomes over 200+ organizations, groups, collectives and artists interested in building a coalition that bridges culture, climate and community. Lunch and beverages provided.

• Date & Time: Thursday October 30, 2025 10:30am - 5pm

• Location: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N Main Street, Los Angeles

• What to Expect: Peer-led presentations and workshops. Engaging discussions with inspiring LA climate change, resiliency and arts leaders. Lunch and beverages.

This is your chance to build community, exchange powerful ideas, and take actionable steps toward climate resilient solutions.

Participants will learn more about using mushroom and coffee to create visual narratives and more about the relationship between art, fungi, healing and earth – led by multidisciplinary artist and self-taught mycologist, Doghan Jah Orah.

Jah Orah’s creative practice is rooted in cultural resilience, Afro-futurism and natural alchemy. Beyond the canvas, Jah teaches community-based workshops on mycology, sharing knowledge on how to grow yourself first, cultivate and then harvest. 

We’ll see you in front of KAOS on Sunday, October 26th from 1pm to 4pm!