L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade 14th Annual Cookout

L.A. Loves Alex's Lemonade is one of the more generous food gatherings on the city's calendar. Chefs from Los Angeles and well beyond set up on the UCLA campus, cook for a crowd and support childhood cancer research. If you track LA food festivals, this fourteenth edition belongs on the list.

When: Listed for October 27, 2026, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM Where: Royce Hall area, UCLA campus, Los Angeles Benefits: Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

What to expect

The cookout is built around chefs and the people who love their food. Organizers say the 2025 edition raised more than $1.3 million for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, and this year's roster is nearly complete at 65 chefs, with wineries and mixologists still being announced. It is presented at Royce Quad, the brick-lined courtyard at the heart of the UCLA campus.

There are some notable first-timers on the list. Dan Richer of Razza in Jersey City, Nok Suntaranon of Kalaya in Philadelphia and Wylie Dufresne of Stretch Pizza in New York are all cooking for the first time. Expect a wide spread of regional cooking in one afternoon, which is part of the draw: you taste a handful of cities without leaving Westwood.

The presenting sponsors this year are American Express, Northwestern Mutual, Resy, Volvo Cars and World Gold Council. Because the lineup is subject to change, treat the chef list as a snapshot and check the official campaign page for the latest.

Why it matters

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation grew out of a child's lemonade stand and has become one of the better known names in pediatric cancer fundraising. The L.A. event is the local chapter of that story: casual, outdoors and very much about showing up. For anyone building a list of things to do in Los Angeles this fall, it pairs a real meal with a real cause.

Plan your visit

Tickets are sold through the foundation's registration page, and early bird pricing was advertised through September 1, 2026. We could not confirm a current ticket price, so check the registration page before you go. The listing date and the organizer's own copy do not agree on the exact day, so confirm the date and time with the foundation before making plans.

UCLA parking fills quickly on event days, so give yourself extra time, or consider a rideshare to Westwood. Bring sunscreen and comfortable shoes, since the campus is walkable and the event is outdoors.

Not far from here, Westwood has plenty of places to extend the day, from coffee to dinner. Browse more food and drink events across Los Angeles on OTBLA.