31 Fun Things to do This Weekend in L.A. [8-20-2021 to 8-22-2021]

As Los Angeles finds its way out of the pandemic and restrictions gradually ease, we’re continuing our bi-weekly round-ups of fun to-dos, mixing in the occasional online/virtual event with an ever-growing listen of in-person experiences and food ideas.

This weekend, from August 20 to 22, features an open streets initiative in Santa Monica, a Sound of Music Sing-Along, live music at Mercado La Paloma, Summer SoundWaves at The Music Center and more.

Friday / All Weekend

1. Hollywood Fringe -> The annual extravaganza of indie theater returns with a huge lineup of community performances at over a dozen small and medium-sized spaces across Los Angeles, all taking place from Aug. 12-29. Get ticketing info and check the full schedule here.

2. Outfest LA -> The 39th Annual Outfest LA film Festival will return for in-person screenings and events August 13-22, 2021. Nearly every film will also be available for streaming for those at-risk or who live outside of the region. Tickets for most in-person screenings are $16 for general admission. Complete film guide here.

3. Los Angeles Magazine Whiskey Festival -> This Friday, LA Mag’s 6th annual Whiskey Festival will take place at The Bloc in DTLA starting at 7 p.m.. The two-hour experience offers guests a chance to meet-and-greet distillers, learn cocktail recipes, and sample new labels. Tickets are $75 plus fees. More info here.

4. Jazz at LACMA Limited Edition -> Free, live jazz is back at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Fridays, but in a new small-capacity and ticketed format. This Friday, Aug. 20, guests will enjoy Phil Ranelin & Friends’ “Forever Bird.” Tickets are free, but must be booked in advance online beginning Tuesday, August 17, at 10 am. More info here.

5. Dance DTLA -> The Music Center’s Dance DTLA is back starting on Aug 13, for five Friday night dance parties on its Jerry Moss Plaza. On-site dance instructors will guide guests on easy-to-learn steps while DJs spin the soundtrack. This Friday’s theme is Disco, and the event is free and open to the public. More info here.

6. Shakespeare in the Park -> The Independent Shakespeare Co. is bringing back free, live theater to Griffith Park starting Aug. 7 with performances of The Tempest. Shows will run Wednesdays to Sundays through Sep. 5. For health and safety reasons, online reservations are required to ensure capacity limits are held. This week’s performances are stand-by only as of now, but tickets for futures shows are released 7 days in advance of each performance, so be sure to check the ISC’s website if you want to reserve a slot for a future show. Get more info and make a reservation here.

7. Daily Harvest on The Hollywood Walk of Fame -> Health focused and time saving delivery service Daily Harvest is taking over the Hollywood Walk of Fame all weekend long. The public will get a chance to “place their very own star” on the iconic walkway for a photo moment, and enjoy new Daily Harvest smoothie flavors not yet released. Free and open to the public Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

8. Levitt Pavilion Concerts -> This Friday, Levitt Pavilion’s summer concert series continues with performances Raashan Ahmad and Mark de Clive-Lowe. The series continues on Saturday with Isaac Torres y Su Alianza, then Sunday with Gustavo Bucardo.  Free. Outdoors. All-ages. More info here.

9. Sing-Along Weekend at Electric Dusk -> Electric Dusk Drive-In has a trio of films. The lineup includes Pitch Perfect on Friday, La La Land on Saturday, and The Little Mermaid on Sunday. Tickets are are $15 per car and first person, and $8 for each passenger. More info here.

10. Grand Performances -> This Friday’ edition of Grand Performances is headlined by Latinx synth-pop artist Katzù Oso, and also features a performance by Mexican signer-songwriter Irene Diaz. Starts at 7 p.m. Free. Outdoors. All-ages. More info here.

11. Ultra -> The Torrance Art Museum has collaborated with over 20 artists to create a series of public art installations freely accessible in locations around the City of Torrance, now through Aug. 28. More info here.

12. Cardboard City -> Third Street Promenade is temporarily home to a 10,000 square foot pop-up art center featuring large-scale cardboard sculptures created by local artists and sponsoring architecture and design firms. Cardboard City is free to attend, open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. through Aug. 29. More info here.

13. Salute Your Shorts Film Festival -> This three-day film festival celebrates a curated collection of short films made by talented filmmakers, both local and international, all taking place at the Assitance League Theater in Hollywood. Friday features and opening night party, following by screenings Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $60 for an all-session pass, or $15 for individual blocks of films. More info and tickets here.

14. Proof-of-Vax Bars -> The list of L.A.-area bars now requiring proof of vaccination for entry has no grown to 49 establishments, according to an ongoing list put together by L.A. Taco. If you’re still looking to grab a drink, but would feel safer in a vaccine required environment, you could head out to one of these spots this week.

15. DiscOasis -> Lights, disco, live performances, and food trucks, all presented in a lush, late-afternoon garden setting. That’s the premise behind DiscoOasis, a new timed experience at the South Coast Botanic Garden that runs Tuesday through Sunday through Sep. 6. Tickets start at $39 per person. Get more info and buy tickets here.

16. Sing for Hope Pianos -> As part of the Sing for Hope Pianos recurring public art project, 16 special artist-designed pianos will pop up around Beverly Hills from Aug 5. to Sep. 6, offering public guests the opportunity to play and enjoy for free. More info here.

Saturday

17. Sharing an Open Main Street -> This Saturday and Sunday, Santa Monica is bringing back its second installment of “Sharing an Open Main Street,” which will transform two blocks between Hill and Kinney streets into a pedestrian plaza featuring al fresco dining and family-friendly activities. If you miss it this time around, two more installments of the open streets initiative are scheduled for Sep. 18-19, and Oct. 16-17. More info here.

18. Sound of Music Sing-Along -> Bring your singing voice and wear your lederhosen for this Saturday’s screening of The Sound of Music at The Hollywood Bowl. The special sing-along movie night also includes a pre-show costume contest. Tickets available as low as $16. More info here.

19. Soulection -> An all-day showcase of DJ-spun tunes courtesy of Grand Performances, with bar service provided by La City. Free to attend. More info here.

20. Summer SoundWaves -> This Saturday, the Music Center’s Summer. SoundWaves series brings East’s L.A.’s own Las Cafeteras to Jerry Moss Plaza for an evening of genre-bending sounds. Kicks off at 8 p.m. Tickets run $20. More info here.

21. 5th Annual Boleros De Noche -> Guatemalan singer-songwriter and guitarist Gaby Moreno comes to the Ford Theatre this Saturday for an evening paying homage to Mexico’s golden era of Boleros. Moreno’s multi-lingual performance will range in styles from blues and jazz, to soul and R&B. Tickets available starting at $50. More info here.

22. Vibrant Vinyasa Yoga with Blakwatter -> Compound, a newly opened cultural complex in Long Beach, hosts is hosting a free vinyasa yoga session on Saturday starting at 9 a.m. Offered both in-person and online for virtual participation. Free to join, but reservation required and space is limited. More details and signup here.

Sunday

23. Music at the Mercado -> This Sunday, Mercado La Paloma will host  César Castro and Cambalache, a Chicano-Jarocho group who play Son Jarocho, the traditional rural music of Veracruz. Event runs from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Free and all-ages. More info here.

24. 32nd Annual MARIACHI USA® -> The annual Mariachi extravaganza at the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday, Aug. 22 for an evening of premier Mariachi performers and a vibrant fireworks display. Tickets available as low as $39.50. More info here.

25. Creative Communal Market -> An open-air market featuring 20+ local vendors, plus live music, kids entertainment, and food. Goes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at 2nd & PCH in Long Beach. More info here.

26. Main Street Market -> Every second and fourth Sunday, Main Street Market pops up in Downtown Los Angeles for a full day of shopping from local apparel, crafts and food vendors. The market is held from noon to 5 p.m. Entry is free.

Dining

27. True Italian Taste Dinner Series -> Not technically for this weekend, but it would be a good idea to get tickets early… From Aug. 23-26, the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West is curating a three-part dinner series in Los Angeles celebrating “True Italian Taste.” Angelini Osteria, N10, and Rossoblu have been tasked to highlight the rich history, along with the evolution of Italian cuisine and its cultural influences. Each restaurant will serve a custom, one-night-only menu that reflects a distinct time period from Medieval Italy to contemporary Italian dishes to a menu that peers into the future landscape of Italian cuisine. Tickets for each dinner cost $75 per person and include wine pairing, tax and tip. We suggest purchasing tickets as soon as possible. This annual series is extremely popular.

28. ROCA -> The creators of the original California Pizza Kitchen have a new project called ROCA, a pizza-by-the-cut operation popping up at The Americana in Glendale. Serving Roman style pizzas with California flair, the pies come in a variety of combinations including asparagus and goat cheese, gold potatoes and Italian sausage and Thai chicken. The ROCA pizza pop-up is a preview of two restaurants that will be opening in Palisades Village and Marina del Rey in early 2022, the Glendale pop-up will close at the end of the year. 

29. Bites at Beverly -> This Sunday, the Beverly Center in partnership with culinary agency carvingblock will host Bites at Beverly, an afternoon event highlighting top local indie makers and chefs. The inaugural series kicks off with Crème Fatale, Fly By Jing, Misha Kind Foods, Sweet Laurel and Tia Lupita Foods. Scheduled to pop up every other Sunday now through October, Bites at Beverly will feature different culinary brands, live music, food-inspired crafts, photo moments, games and special offerings from surrounding retailers and restaurants. The event runs 1-4 p.m. and is free to attend.

30. Pizzeria Vittoria x Ronan -> On Sunday, Savannah’s acclaimed Pizzeria Vittoria will take over Ronan for a one night pop-up introducing Angelenos to their naturally-leavened Neapolitan-inspired pizzas, antipasti and handmade cannoli. Reservations are available on Resy from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Pizzeria Vittoria offerings are available for dine-in only, with the Ronan menu available for dine-in and to-go. Guests dining indoors will be asked to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 48 hours of their reservation time. 

31. White Label Creamery -> Phong Ly Trinh of Pearl’s Finest Teas has added a new ice cream shop right next door to his Fairfax Avenue business. On the menu is vegan ice cream, KAWS shaped waffles, and dairy soft serve. The sweets shop also features streetwear, shoes and art collectibles for sale. Starting August 19, White Label Creamery will host a Tokidoki collaboration of special sweets like a custom Donutella waffle with a variety of fillings, special soft serve and ice cream flavors and a Tokidoki themed out pop-up shop selling exclusive merchandise. The pop-up wraps up on August 29.

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Any notes or corrections? Want to suggest an event we should add to an upcoming list? Hit us up at [email protected].