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Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city we curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles for every weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).
This weekend in L.A. from Friday, August 9 to Sunday, August 11 features Summer Nights at the Tar Pits, Los Angeles Tea Festival, Movie Night at Rose Bowl Stadium, LA Taco & Beer Festival, Burbank Comedy Festival and MUCH more.
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Remember you can always go to our L.A. events calendar page to get an updated rundown of what’s happening around the city.
Hope you find the rundown useful and, as always, enjoy your weekend!
Keep in mind that while we retain complete editorial control of our content, for some of the ticketing options provided we utilize affiliate links and receive a commission if you purchase through our links.
Friday August 9th, 2019
1. Summer Nights at the Tar Pits returns for an evening party featuring DJs, cocktails, museum exploration, discussions and more. FREE
2. The Hollywood Bowl Tchaikovsky Spectacular returns for the 50th year of stunning music paired with a barrage of fantastic fireworks at the iconic outdoor amphitheater. The show takes place this Friday and Saturday. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
3. Board the famed Battleship IOWA Museum for free outdoor movie screenings on the ship’s fantail under the night sky. The screenings are free and open to all ages. This Friday they will screen A Dog’s Way Home. FREE
4. Head to Dodger Stadium to see the Boys in Blue take on the Arizona D-backs and stay for the Friday Night Fireworks Show. (DISCOUNTED) via Goldstar
5. Enjoy a vintage-style summer evening at the drive-in during San Fernando Valley Summer Drive-In Movie Nights at the Lake Balboa Complex. Each evening will offer food trucks, an arcade, live music and more. The series continues with a screening of Born in East L.A. on Thursday, The Goonies on Friday and Grease on Saturday. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
6. The Music Center’s Dance DTLA features live music and/or DJs paired with expert dance instructors providing beginner group dance lessons for attendees. Each night has a different dance theme. The series continues with Salsa at The Music Center. Dance DTLA continues on select Fridays through August 30. FREE
7. The 626 Night Market is back at Santa Anita Park August 9-11 featuring endless vendors selling crafts, merchandise, art and a massive selection of food from local restaurants, food trucks and more.
8. Cinema Botanica: Movies in the Garden happening at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden will feature family friendly movies every Friday in August. Attendees will receive a field guide to plants they can spot in the movies and Garden staff will discuss the plants and landscape during intermission.
9. Back for the 16th year in a row, The Independent Shakespeare Co. presents Shakespeare in the Park at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park with free performances of Pericles Wednesday through Saturday and a performance of Twelfth Night on Sunday. FREE
10. The 15th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival will screen over 400 films from 30 different countries during the festival’s 10-day run from August 8-17 at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood.
11. Spend the season sipping wine during sunset hour at Barnsdall Art Park’s Friday Night Wine Party Series. Happening on the lawn of architectural gem the Hollyhock House, the evening features a fine selection of wines curated by Silverlake Wine, a live DJ and tours of the house. The series happens every Friday evening till September 6.
12. Caltech Astronomy invites the public to sit in on a stargazing and lecture event this Friday at 8 p.m. FREE
13. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Downtown Los Angeles continues their Summer of Salsa concert series this Friday. Dance to the sounds of some of the city’s best salsa and Cuban bands one Friday evening each month through summer. FREE
14. Long Beach’s annual city wide Dine LBC restaurant week August 3-11 will take you on a food exploration in numerous Long Beach neighborhoods. Dozens of participating restaurants are offering special lunch and dinner menus at a discounted price for the occasion.
15. The Groundlings’ latest hilarious main stage show, Groundlings Treasure Hunters runs every Friday and Saturday through September 14.
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16. Shakespeare By The Sea will once again offer a ten-week program of admission-free performances with two featured productions: The Comedy of Errors and Henry V at a variety of venues across Los Angeles on Wednesday through Sunday. FREE
17. Metro Art Presents “Movements at Union Station,” an evening featuring tropical Afro-Latin tunes by La Junta. The party will take place at the station’s South Patio. Guests can also enjoy visual projections, a photo booth, a silkscreen stencil workshop and food trucks. FREE
18. Stop by The Bazaar By José Andrés at the SLS Beverly Hills for their al fresco bubbles and seafood series Terrace Fridays: Mar x Moet. Recurring every Friday starting at 7:30 p.m. and running through the end of September, the summertime series features iced Moet cocktails as well as gin cocktails, a menu featuring local seafood and signature dishes from Miami’s Bazaar Mar.
19.The City of Pasadena hosts Parks After Dark a season of free activities including sports, fitness classes, arts & crafts and much more offered to youth, families and individuals every Thursday through Saturday from July 10 through August 10. FREE
20. Summer Friday Night Drive-In at the Roadium returns every Friday evening from June 7 to August 30 to revive your favorite films in a classic 1950’s drive-in setting. The series continues with a screening of Black Panther.
Saturday August 10th, 2019
21. The Los Angeles Tea Festival brings together 45+ exhibitors, 20+ classes, and over 4,000 attendees to sip on quality tea and engage in discussions and presentations on teas from every region. Attendees will be able to try unique tea pairings and craft tea-infused cocktails and even boba. Check for discounted tickets on select classes and events on Goldstar. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
22. Gabba Gallery hosts Remix: The Art of Music an exhibition for both art and music lovers alike. Over 60 local and international artists and musicians have created visual works using music as inspiration. Their creations are in the forms of imagined album covers, portraits of rock idols, paintings inspired by songs, and much more. Opening night is this Saturday from 7-11 p.m. FREE
23. Beauty Con is a two-day beauty convention featuring makeup tutorials,, fireside chats, tips on self-care, more than 150 top brands, 500 influencers and creators, plus plenty of cool photo opportunities. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
24. The Rose Bowl Stadium will host a movie night on the field for the film Remember the Titans, 19 years after the original premiere at the stadium. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the movie on the jumbotron. Food and drinks are available for purchase before the movie starts. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
25. August 10 is DOGust, the universal birthday of shelter dogs and Wallis Annenberg PetSpace is throwing a celebration. Bring your family and pups to the birthday bash co-hosted by Healthy Spot. The afternoon will feature complimentary treats for canines and people alongside fun activities. FREE
26. LA Taco & Beer Festival returns with unlimited tacos and craft beer from top restaurants around California and beyond. There will be live Lucha Libre wrestling every 30 minutes in addition to art, boutique vendors, games, food trucks, and DJ’s.
27. The first-ever Museum of Weed is 30,000 square foot space of ‘higher learning’ presented by WeedMaps. The museum aims to provide insight and history into marijuana through interactive exhibits, Instagram-friendly art installations and a bevy of historical artifacts. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Admission starts at $35.
28. KCRW Summer Nights will take place at two locations this Saturday! One at KCRW HQ with a performance by Y La Bamba with KCRW DJs Anthony Valadez and Valida. The other event will take place in Chinatown with KCRW DJs Raul Campos and Mathieu Schreyer. Events are free and open to all-ages. FREE
29. The Actors’ Gang will once gain bring back Free Shakespeare in the Park for Families with a production of Toy Story Tempest an original play inspired by William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and the characters of Toy Story. Taking place at Media Park in Culver City, the 45 minute, all‐ages production will run every Saturday and Sunday this month through August 26. FREE
30. Nisei Week Japanese Festival happening August 10-11 returns to the streets of Little Tokyo, beaming with food, culture, entertainment, a grand parade and more. Also happening during Nisei Week is the 11th Annual Tanabata Festival. The family friendly weekend will explore the historic neighborhood of Little Tokyo, guest can participate in workshops and games, shop unique vendor booths, discover the flavors of Japan and enjoy live entertainment. FREE
31. 2019 Natsumatsuri Family Festival at Japanese American National Museum is a free annual summer celebration featuring Japanese and Japanese American performances, crafts, and activities. Highlights include taiko drumming and bon odori dance lessons, several readings and samples of saataa andaagii an Okinawan deep-fried pastry. FREE
32. A colorful, winding installation called The Second Home Serpentine Pavilion is now open at the La Brea Tar Pits for the summer and its 100% free for the public to roam and explore. The pavilion is open daily and will run through November 24. FREE
33. The National Park Service will host a free, bilingual event called Nuestras Montañas: Feria de Comunidad y Recreación/Our Mountains at the Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch from 2 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The community event will include bilingual hikes, live music, arts and crafts, activity stations, a rock climbing wall, food trucks and more. FREE
34. Street Food Cinema returns this weekend with a screening of Monsters Inc. and Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back on Saturday and a screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s on Sunday. All three will be at popular Los Angeles locations.
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35. Think Tank Gallery is teaming up with Pizzaboyzzz and Future Fantasy Delight to present Nothing Cheezy a pizza-fueled, self-aware, selfie-themed pop-up thats a little bit satire and is intentionally too encompassing to be captured in a picture, thus forcing viewers to live inside the art. This is a ticketed experience that takes guests through the “craziest kitchen you’ve ever seen” and thirteen themed environments plus pizza of course. Open all week long.
36. The Griffith Observatory hosts a public star party once a month from 2-9:45 p.m. where folks can get a look at the sun, moon, plants and other objects in the sky through a variety of telescopes. FREE
37. Rhythm Visuals presents their latest exhibit Poolside an immersive abstract painting show featuring vinyl cut installations, 3D Projected Paintings, and interactive installations where water is involved and more. In true poolside manner there will be ice cream and cocktails at the opening. FREE
38. Unique Markets Summer Pop-Up heads to the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica August 10 – 11 for a curated shopping experience. This pop-up features one-of-a-kind gifts from modern, independent designers, artists, and emerging brands. Aside from shopping the market will host free bites, drinks, DIY projects, and other activations.
39. Cinespia is back for its 18th summer season, at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for screenings of films modern, cult, and classic. This Sunday they will screen Boyz N The Hood
40. For the seventh year in a row, Malibu Country Mart is throwing a block party celebrating summer through a plethora of activities and fun for the whole family, including a petting zoo, treats, art making, live entertaining, henna tattoos, tarot card readings, hair braiding station, and much more.
41. The Silverlake Flea Market taking place every Saturday from 12-5 p.m. all summer long features a plethora of local, independent sellers that offer vintage clothing, art, rare vinyl, crafts, and much more.
42. Sierra Madre Shakespeare Festival 2019 returns for its fifth year with the comedy “Much Ado About Nothing.” Performances take place on select weekends in July and August starting at 7:30 p.m FREE
43. The Inter-city Cactus & Succulent Show and Sale happening at that Los Angeles Arboretum in Arcadia August 10-11 is dubbed as the “Comic-Con of Cactus.” Recognized as the largest cactus and succulent show & sale in the country expect over 1,500 specimens and thousands of rare and interesting cactus and succulent plants for sale.
44. Eat|See|Hear returns for 2019 with a screening of Fargo at The Autry Museum. Check for discounted tickets before making your purchase. DISCOUNTED (via Goldstar)
45. The NoHo ArtWalk takes place on the second Saturday of every month. This month the event will be held at Noho Plaza from 2-8 p.m. featuring vendors, artists and live entertainment. FREE
Sunday August 11th, 2019
46. There’s a family-friendly Makers Fest happening at the California African American Museum this Sunday. Learn from community pros the art of paper-folding; join a doll-making workshop; and create small relief prints. No prior art experience necessary and all art materials will be provided. FREE
47. Sunday Yoga + Meditation at Angel City Brewery is a donation based event happening every week. The recommended donation is between $15-$20 and includes one free drink at the brewery.
48. The Burbank Comedy Festival taking place across five different venues will host 200 performers from around the globe for seven days (August 11-17) of nonstop funny business.
49. Death Cab for Cutie will take the stage of the Hollywood Bowl this Sunday with support from Car Seat Headrest.
50. Smorgasburg LA’s 3rd Annual Ice Cream Alley returns bigger and better than ever with awesome scoop vendors, one-of-a-kind collaborations, plus its own dedicated beer garden with extended hours until 6 p.m. Happening every Sunday through September 1. Also at Smorgasburg this Sunday is Hecho in LA a mercado featuring diverse artisans and makers along side 50+ regular pop up vendors and a family friendly I Love Micheladas Beer Garden.
51. The monthly East LA Art Walk returns this month to highlight independent artists, muralists, crafters and local businesses from the Eastside and its surrounding neighborhoods. This event is put on by the East LA Business Association of the 1st St corridor and is designed to be family friendly.
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52. Check out the Rose Bowl Flea Market — one of the most beloved markets of its type this Sunday. Taking place at the Rose Bowl on the second Sunday of each month, the flea market features a staggering 2500-plus vendors and 20,000 shoppers.
53. The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery will host an opening night reception for their latest exhibit Offal, a group show of 45 Los Angeles artists inspired by offal or the culture of consuming innards. The exhibition seeks to celebrate Los Angeles’ relationship to diversity and food in all of its forms. FREE
54. Escape the summer heat during Jazz on the Lawn, a series of free summer concerts at Santa Monica’s Gandara Park every Sunday in August. In addition to live music there will be free dance lessons, food trucks and picnic games. FREE
55. Atsuko Okatsuko hosts Let’s Go, Atsuko! A (woke) Japanese Game Show at Dynasty Typewriter at The Hayworth. The show will transport audiences to a Japanese Game Show full of interactive games, videos, discussions, and appearances by notable funny folks including Andy Richter, Nicole Byer, Sasheer Zamata and Sabrina Jalees.
Food Pick for the Week
This week’s pick by Christina Champlin, Co-Founder of We Like L.A.
Calling all Sideways fans! For one night only, Chinatown’s LA Wine will host Hitching Post 2 a summer barbecue pop-up on their patio. During the pop-up founder, chef and winemaker Frank Ostini will serve his “HP2 to You” Santa Maria Style BBQ while David DeLuca, founder of LA Wine, will pour three of the most popular selections of Hitching Post wines. Highlights include Hitching Post Burgers, Triple-Fried French Fries, Grilled Corn Quesadillas and the Hometown Pinot Noir.
If you happen to miss this one-day pop-up consider a short road trip to Buellton, California and experience the new Hitching Post Wines Tasting Room menu program which includes the “HP2 to You” Santa Maria Style BBQ.
Be sure to look to our Santa Barbara weekend getaway guide for a few other ideas on what to do if you choose to make a mini vacation out of it.
LA Wine is located at 900 N Broadway ste 1070 Los Angeles, CA 90012
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