On any given warm summer night in MacArthur Park, toddlers can be seen dancing barefoot against the city skyline or on the dancefloor (the string lights got taken down in 2021 after years of wear and tear) , and grandparents swaying gently to the rhythms of cumbia, salsa, afrobeats, and more. Families unpack picnic baskets and enjoy music together. Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles is a place where live music isn’t just reserved for those who can afford it, but offered freely to anyone who comes.

For nearly two decades, Levitt LA has transformed this corner of Los Angeles into something rare: a safe and joyful public space in one of the city’s most densely populated and historically underserved neighborhoods. Situated just west of downtown, in a community that has weathered waves of immigration, disinvestment, and reinvention, the pavilion remains a cultural anchor. Since 2007, more than half a million people have gathered here to share music during summer nights.

“We’re so excited to celebrate our 18th season and continue bringing concerts to MacArthur Park,” said Allegra Padilla, Executive Director of Levitt LA. “Joy is a form of resistance. Every concert we hold creates a third space—a gathering place outside of work or home where people can connect, artists can perform, and local economies flourish. These events create local pride and safety through community presence, as well as offer a powerful antidote to the loneliness epidemic so many are experiencing.”

The programming is intentional, diverse, and deeply rooted in the city it serves. Each season, Levitt LA curates free concerts featuring more than 100 artists across 20 different genres, from emerging talent to Grammy-winning icons. Performers reflect the multilingual, multicultural communities that surround MacArthur Park: Mexican, Central American, African American, Indigenous Latin American, Filipino, Korean, and countless others. As the only fully bilingual outdoor music venue in Los Angeles, the pavilion draws both longtime neighborhood residents and Angelenos from every corner of the city.

But Levitt LA now finds itself at a crossroads. The Moritmer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, its longtime funder, has decided it will provide extremely limited financial support to the Los Angeles location and will remove Levitt LA from the national venues program. In response, Levitt LA is undergoing a major transformation, adopting a new name, structure, partnerships and expanded offerings to ensure its survival. At the heart of that evolution is an unwavering mission: to keep music free and accessible for all.

Support from organizations like the California Community Foundation has been critical during this transition. Flexible funding from CCF’s Arts and Culture portfolio allows Levitt LA to not only continue its programming but also invest in a long-term vision for growth. That includes workforce development initiatives, new partnerships with union stage crews, and expanded programming to reach audiences beyond MacArthur Park.

“As we move into this new chapter, we’re leaning into the full potential of the arts and culture sector as an engine for both community healing and economic opportunity,” Padilla said. “We’re building an ecosystem that supports artists, uplifts cultural legacies, and helps people feel connected to their city and each other.”

On any given night, that mission is visible on the MacArthur Park lawn: parents teaching their kids to dance, strangers striking up conversations, musicians playing their hearts out on stage. 

“There are plenty of conversations about public safety that focus on enforcement,” Padilla said. “But what we do here shows another way. When people feel safe, seen, and celebrated in their public spaces, that’s when real safety takes root.”