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Happy 4th everyone! It’s a scorcher out there, so if you choose to spend the holiday weekend on a couch with a fan on full blast, no judgment. here.
If you’re looking for things to do TODAY (specifically fireworks), you check this Fourth of July guide. As for Friday to Sunday, the coming weekend promises outdoor movies, concerts in the park, art walks, and twilight strolls… assuming you can handle the heat. Let’s jump into the full list below, and you can judge for yourself.
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Make Metro Part of Your Weekend
Anime Expo – M > Anime Expo’s four-day event returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from Thursday to Sunday, offering anime lovers meet-and-greets with anime creators, special panels, Q&A’s, workshops, interactive experiences and so much more. Four-day passes cost $165, you can also grab a single day ticket which cost between $75-$90. More info here.
Go Metro: Take the A or E Line to the Pico Station
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Cinespia with Fireworks -> This Thursday to Saturday, Cinespia lights up the Hollywood Forever Cemetery with a three-night event to ring in the Fourth featuring an outdoor movie screening followed by a celebratory fireworks show. The lineup includes Rocky (July 4), Charlie’s Angels (July 5), and Shrek 2 (July 6). Tickets start at $37.94 (including fees) per person, and parking onsite is $35.88. More info here.
Amerigo Vespucci World Tour – FA > Italy’s oldest naval vessel, the Amerigo Vespucci, will dock in San Pedro from July 3-8, offering a free and immersive maritime experience. The nearly 100-year-old ship will host a pavilion with programs, concerts, and more for the public to enjoy. More info here.
Anime Expo – M > Anime Expo’s four-day event returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from Thursday to Sunday, offering anime lovers meet-and-greets with anime creators, special panels, Q&A’s, workshops, interactive experiences and so much more. Four-day passes cost $165, you can also grab a single day ticket which cost between $75-$90. More info here.
Frogtown First Fridays – FA TP > The Frogtown neighborhood celebrates the July 4 holiday weekend with a family-friendly activation this Friday, featuring participating 15 venues including galleries, restaurants and shops, all adjacent to the L.A. River Path in Elysian Valley. Guests can see new art exhibits, enjoy free or low-cost art activities, giveaways, DJ’s and live music. Runs 4 to 9 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Live Band Karaoke – FA > This Friday, Casual Encounters brings their brand of live Karaoke to Benny Boy Brewing, offering brave crooners the chance to belt out a selection of over 300 tunes in-front of the beer garden. No cover. Starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
The Handbuilt Invitational -> From Friday to Sunday, this three-day pop-up at DTLA Auto Storage showcases rare collections of custom built cars and motorcycles by friends of Revival Cycles, including Jay Leno, Roland Sands, Jonathan Ward (ICON), Rod Emory (Emory Motorsports), Shinya Kimura, Race Service and more. Guests can also expect special workshops on welding, pin striping, and leather making from Real Deal Revolution. Single-day tickets start at $15. 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.
First Annual Downtown Culver City Independence Celebration – M FA > On Friday, Culver City rings in Independence Day (a day late) with a family-friendly celebration at Town Plaza featuring live music, followed by the first ever aerial drone light show in Culver City. Runs 6 to 9:30 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
First Fridays in Chinatown – M FA > L.A.’s Chinatown stays open late on Friday for an evening of exploring the unique small businesses and contemporary art and culture spaces that make up the historic neighborhood. West Plaza and Chungking Road will activate with local pop-up vendors, DJ-spun music, and area galleries with extended hours. The July edition of First Fridays runs 6 to 10 p.m. Free to attend, as always. More info here.
Bixby Knolls First Fridays -> The monthly Friday art walk along Atlantic Ave celebrates Independence Day weekend with a block party style activation featuring Barbecue pop-ups, live music, and special deals and extended hours at local businesses. Runs 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Get 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 Keyon Harrold. 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.
Movies on the Roof -> Westfield Fashion Square is hosting another season of outdoor film screenings featuring cozy bean bag seating, sweet views, and a lineup of new blockbuster and classic films. Movies On The Roof runs every Friday and Saturday through the month, and tickets cost $20 per person. This weekend, catch Independence Day on Friday, then Top Gun on Saturday. Get more info on the lineup here.
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NoHo Summer Nights – M FA > NoHo Summer Nights brings film screenings and/or live performances to North Hollywood Recreation Center every Saturday from now through August 24. This weekend they’ll host Locked Out of Heaven – The Freshest Bruno Mars Tribute at North Hollywood Recreation Center. Free to attend, and no RSVP required. More info here.
LACMA Latin Sounds – FA > LACMA’s Saturday evening outdoor concert series continues at Dorothy Collins Brown Amphitheater (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 features a performance by the Susie Hansen Latin Band. Latin Sounds concerts are free to attend, and run 5 to 7 p.m. More info here.
The Petersen Automotive Museum All-American Cruise-In – FA > On Sunday the Petersen Automotive Museum will host its annual All-American Cruise-In featuring hundreds of high-octane American muscle cars and hot rods. The day will also host a panel discussion with automotive legends and well as complimentary bagels, coffee and on-site parking for the public. Runs 8 to 11 a.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Twilight Garden Strolls at The Huntington -> Enjoy the gardens during twilight hours on select evenings at The Huntington in the summer including this Sunday from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Advance tickets ($20 per adult) are required. More info here.
Summer Sounds in WeHo FA – >The City of West Hollywood’s Summer Sounds series continues its free concerts this Sunday with Blanco y Negro, Andre Cruz and Chris Lujan, and DJ Monalisa. The event runs 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Plummer Park. More info here.
Poolside Cinema -> Every Sunday the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica hosts film screenings poolside. Tickets cost $45 a person and includes popcorn, and a $45 food credit. This week they’ll screen Independence Day. More info here.
Concerts in the Park FA – > On Sunday Polliwog Park Amphitheater in Manhattan Beach hosts Concerts in the Park with a performance by the OC-based cover band, SEGA 90s. Runs 5 to 7 p.m., and free to attend as always. More info here.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Yakitoriguy x Ayara Thai -> This month, Yakitoriguy and Ayara Thai are teaming up for a Japanese-Thai street food mash-up called YakitoriGai. Every Sunday, head over to Ayara Thai in Westchester starting at noon to catch this dynamic duo cooking up a storm outside the restaurant. This week, look forward to Yakitori Chicken Wing Skewers, Chicken Breast-Wrapped Tomato, Papaya Salad, and Grilled Sticky Rice stuffed with Nam Prik Ta Dang and Nam Prik Num. Add-on options include drinks from Nankai, Livewire, and Moon Bloom. No reservations needed—just get in line, Bangkok street-food style. The weekly menu ranges from $20–$28 per set. Keep an eye on Yakitoriguy and Ayara Thai’s Instagrams for each week’s menu reveal. More info here.
Queen St.’s Crabiversary -> Chef Ari Kolender’s Queen St. is celebrating its first birthday this Sunday. Join the party on the patio with a low country boil, deviled crab rolls, and other Southern delights. Capri Club is taking over the bar, serving up aperitifs and spritzes to keep the celebration flowing. Plus, enjoy the regular menu and freshly shucked East Coast oysters throughout the evening. The festivities run from 4 to 10 p.m., and both reservations and walk-ins are welcome. More info here.
Mozza x Sonoratown -> Pizzeria Mozza has teamed up with the popular downtown taqueria, Sonoratown, to create the Cabeza Stromboli. This delicious stromboli is stuffed with cabeza, pinto beans, chiltepin, and melted jack cheese, then baked to perfection in Mozza’s wood-fired pizza oven. It’s served with Sonoratown’s signature avocado salsa and a side of pickled slaw. You can enjoy this exclusive offering at Mozza for the entire month. More info here.
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