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Alright dads, this weekend is for you.
From June 14-16 in Los Angeles, you’ll find LOTS of family-friendly free concerts, including Chinatown Summer Nights, Off the 405, Summer of Salsa, and Latin Sounds at LACMA. Plus, in view we’ve got numerous Juneteenth celebrations, Father’s Day food specials, L.A. Taco’s Taco Madness, the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance car show, Bloomsday at The Hammer, and much more. We’ll look at all our options below.
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Make Metro Part of Your Weekend
KCRW Chinatown Summer Nights – FA > KCRW Summer Nights in Chinatown brings an evening of all-ages fun to Central Plaza, highlighted by sets from KCRW DJs Travis Holcombe and Jason Bentley. Festivities kick off at 8 p.m. Free to attend as always. Get info here.
Go Metro: Take the A line to Chinatown station.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Summer of Salsa – M FA TP > The LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Summer of Salsa series continues one Friday each month through the end of summer, highlighting some of the city’s best salsa and Cuban bands in the process. This week, catch a performance by Gabrielito y La Verdad. Doors open at 6 p.m., and music starts at 7 p.m. Always free to attend. More info here.
Ivy Station Night Market Summer Kickoff – M FA > Ivy Station’s monthly night market kicks off summer this Friday with 30+ local vendors plus food trucks, craft beer, games, and music. Free to attend as always. Runs 5 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Park – M > After a five-year hiatus, Friday night wine tasting events are back at the Barnsdall Art Park West Lawn. A $45 ticket gets you a flight of wine curated by Silverlake Wine, plus access to a rotation of food trucks, all supported by tunes from local DJs and sweet sunset views of the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory. The series continues every Friday through August 30. More info here.
Movie Fridays at Downtown Santa Monica – FA > Downtown Santa Monica’s free outdoor film series, Movie Fridays, is back on the Promenade every second Friday of the month from April through June. Closing out the series this month is a screening of RENT. Events start at 6:30 p.m. with movies beginning at 7:30 p.m. Each event features photo opportunities, complimentary popcorn, and a DJ spinning music before each film. All ages welcome. More info here.
Jazz at LACMA – FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s annual Friday Night Jazz series is back for a season of free weekly concerts at Smidt Welcome Plaza through November. This week: a performance by Larry Nash & the Jazz Symphonics. Remember that LACMA is free to visit for L.A. County Residents (with I.D.) on weekdays after 3 p.m. Seating is first come, first serve. Music begins at 6 p.m. More info here.
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Family Pride Fest at The Crow – M > This Friday and Saturday, The Crow in Santa Monica hosts their inaugural Family Pride Fest. The two-day affairs will be highlighted by a pair of LGBTQ+ storytelling performances on Friday Night, then a free morning of drag storytelling, face painting and dance performances at the Santa Monica on Saturday. Get details on all the events here.
DTLA Dog Days – M FA > DTLA Dog Days return to Pershing Square on Friday and Saturday this week. The free event features dog-friendly vendors, activities, photo ops, and live DJs. Highlights include Bring Your Dog to Work Day, free community dog walks, Puppy Yoga, and a marketplace with local dog vendors. Registration is required for some activities. More info here.
TARFEST: A Day in the Park – FA TP > On Saturday, The 21st edition of TARFEST pops up at Pan Pacific Park for a one-day festival featuring a reggae and afrobeat musical extravaganza curated by Boomtown LA, free art-making activities, dance classes, artisan booths curated by Runway Boutique, face painting, and local food trucks. Runs 2 to 8 p.m. Free attend. More info here.
L.A. TACO’s Taco Madness 2024 – M > After delaying their May event, L.A. Taco’s annual extravaganza of taco tastings officially arrives at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes this Saturday. The 2024 lineup features a dozen of the city’s best taqueros, including Villla’s Tacos, Evil Cooks, Ditroit, La Carreta, and more. Plus there will be handmade stuffed churros by San Diablo Artisan Churros and beers from Boomtown Brewery. Tickets range between $15-$100 depending on the number of prepaid food vouchers you get, and whether you want basic admission or early access. Event runs 6 p.m. to midnight. More info here.
Santa Monica Juneteenth Celebration – FA > The city of Santa Monica celebrates Juneteenth this Saturday with an afternoon of music, food and craft vendors, a kid’s activity area, a community stage and local resources, all taking place at Virginia Avenue Park. The event runs 2 to 7 p.m. and is free to attend. More info here.
Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival – TP > The annual jazz festival returns to the Bowl for a two-day concert (Saturday and Sunday) that includes performances by Jodeci, Andrea Day, Kamasi Washington, The Soul Rebels, Seun Kuti and others. Tickets start at $29. More info here.
Siam Market Summer Solstice Festival – FA > Celebrate the start of summer this Saturday at Siam Market, the bustling Thai street food market that’s gone viral. This Saturday, in collaboration with the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the summer solstice festival will offer a fantastic lineup of authentic Thai food vendors, vibrant arts and crafts vendors, and live performances. Open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., this event is free to attend and family friendly. More info here.
Movies Under the Stars M FA > Old Pasadena shopping mall One Colorado is hosting Movies Under the Stars on select Saturdays for the months of June and July The series continues this week with a screening of Mamma Mia!. Public seating is first-come, first-served. Movies starts at 8:30 p.m. More info here.
Off the 405 – FA > The Getty’s annual after-hours concerts series offers five dates for the summer of 2024. Off the 405 continues this Saturday with a performance by Slauson Malone 1. You’ll need to pre-register for free to attend, and remember that parking is $10 after 6 p.m. on Saturdays. More info here.
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Grand Performances – M FA > This year’s Grand Performances free concert continues on Saturday with a performance by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band Free to attend. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.
LACMA Latin Sounds – FA > LACMA is bringing a series of Saturday evening, outdoor concerts at Dorothy Collins Brown Amphitheate (just north of the La Brea Tar Pits Museum) in celebration of the exhibition Painting in the River of Angels: Judy Baca and The Great Wall. This weekend, catch a performance by Cambalache, a son jarocho band based in East Los Angeles. Free to attend. Runs 5 to 7 p.m. More info here.
Q Con – FA > Q Con, SoCal’s one and only LGBTQ Comic Convention, is back at Plummer Park in West Hollywood this Saturday. Expect a full day of comics creators, cosplayers, and panelists. This year’s event includes appearances by Holly Chou (voice of Jubilee in X-Men ‘97) and JP Karliak (the voice of Morph from X-Men ’97). Runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Juneteenth Celebration in El Segundo – FA > Black in Mayberry, a nonprofit organization with a mission to combat racism through the arts, is hosting their third annual Juneteenth Celebration at El Segundo Recreation Park on Saturday. Expect live music, performances, interactive arts activities, an art exhibit, a kid’s zone, black-owned business vendors, food trucks, and more. Runs noon to 6 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
CAAM Juneteenth Celebration – M FA > The California African American Museum will host a Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday featuring live music, food trucks, and activities for all ages including storytelling, and discussions on the significance of Juneteenth. Attendees can also explore the museum’s new exhibits. More info here.
Public Star Party at Griffith Observatory – FA > Every month, Griffith Observatory hosts a free public star party with the help of volunteers from the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers, and The Planetary Society. On Saturday, the event runs from 2 to 9:45 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance – FA> Is dad a car guy? Celebrate Father’s Day with an up-close with some of the world’s most luxurious vehicles at this annual free car show in the heart of Beverly Hills on Sunday. Free to attend. Runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome -> Mount Wilson Observatory continues its 2024 season of classical concerts hosted inside the historic 100-inch telescope dome, where the acoustics are said to be some of the finest in the world. The Sunday, the concert features Carte Blanche with Leah Zeger, Cory Pesaturo, and Jorge Villanueva. There will be two musical performances, one at 3 p.m. and the other at 5 p.m. Tickets are $60. More info here
Bloomsday 2024 – FA > The Hammer celebrates author James Joyce and his novel Ulysses with Bloomsday on Sunday, which will offer a theatrical blend of staged readings and performances all centered around the author’s most iconic work. Performances are followed by festivities in the museum’s courtyard with more live music and Guinness on tap. Starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
National Lobster Day at Saltie Girl -> Head over to Saltie Girl in West Hollywood this weekend for a delightful National Lobster Day celebration. In honor of the occasion, Saltie Girl is giving away 20 free lobster rolls from Saturday through Sunday. Guests who order a lobster roll and find a golden lobster sticker on the bottom of their plate will enjoy their roll on the house. Saltie Girl’s lobster roll, priced at $40, comes hot or cold and is accompanied by housemade salt & vinegar potato chips.
Father’s Day Fun at The Rose -> This Sunday take dad to The Rose in Venice Beach for a special Father’s Day Brunch and Beer Garden experience. Brunch runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with specials like braised beef tongue cheesesteak tacos, beer infused brisket sandwiches, bone in carnitas pork shank and a meat board packed with short rib, chorizo, turkey wings, potato salad and grilled corn. Also, SkyDuster Beer will be popping up in the Beer Garden serving $3 beers until 5 pm. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
World Martini Day at Bar Next Door -> Martinis and oysters make the perfect pair, and Bar Next Door on the Sunset Strip has just been crowned Best Martini by Esquire. Swing by this Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. to enjoy $16 Ford Gin martinis and freshly shucked oysters from The Lonely Oyster. It’s a delightful way to kick off summer. More info here.
Pride Month and Father’s Day at the Freehand’s Broken Shaker -> All June long, head up to the Freehand’s rooftop bar, Broken Shaker, for a special cocktail promotion in collaboration with Future Gin, a local queer-owned gin brand that donates 10% of its profits to social justice causes. For just $15, guests can enjoy the Tiki Kiki, a refreshing mix of Future Gin, Velvet Falernum, lemon, passionfruit, and orgeat. Plus, on Father’s Day (June 16), dads can score a free beer with the purchase of any food item. These are two great specials to take advantage of this weekend.
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