The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long at the Hollywood Bowl

Some movie nights you watch quietly. This one you're expected to belt out. On Saturday, September 26, the Hollywood Bowl screens The Sound of Music with the lyrics on screen, and roughly everyone in the amphitheater sings "Do-Re-Mi" at full volume. If you're hunting for Things Happening In Hollywood that aren't a bar or a club, this is about as wholesome and loud as a Saturday night gets.

What's on the program

The evening runs in two parts. At 6:30pm there's a pre-show and costume contest hosted by comedian and actress Melissa Peterman. The main event, the Oscar-winning 1965 film, starts at 8pm. The Bowl calls it a tradition, and people treat it that way: expect nuns, lederhosen, a few kids dressed as Gretl, and at least one grown adult wearing curtains.

You don't need a costume to get in. But half the fun is watching the parade of homemade outfits, so showing up early for the contest is worth it even if you're staying in jeans.

Why it works at the Bowl

The Bowl is built into the Hollywood Hills, and the opening shot of Julie Andrews spinning on an Alpine meadow lands differently when there are actual hills behind the screen. A late-September evening also cools off nicely once the sun drops behind the ridge. Bring a layer anyway. The film runs close to three hours, so you'll be out there well past 10.

Singing along is the whole point. Nobody's going to shush you during "My Favorite Things." You'll probably hear a few thousand people attempt the high notes in "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," and that's part of the show.

Practical info

The Bowl sits off North Highland Avenue just above Hollywood Boulevard. Parking there is stacked and slow to clear after a show, so a lot of regulars take the Bowl shuttles or the Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland and walk up. Picnics are a Bowl custom: pack dinner and eat in the grounds before the pre-show starts.

Ticket prices weren't listed on the source page, so check the official listing linked below before you go. It's one of the easier calls on the list of things to do in los angeles this weekend if you've got kids, a musical-theater friend, or a group that needs a reason to get out of the house.

Want more nights like this one? Browse the Hollywood neighborhood page or the full arts and culture calendar. And if the costume contest is your thing, start planning the Mother Abbess outfit now.