socal events Archives

Chelsea Parrish and her family luxuriate in the lavender fields at 123 Farm in Palm Desert. PHOTO COURTESY CHELSEA PARRISH

School has been out for weeks now, but before your kids start complaining of boredom, remind them that in a place like SoCal, there are endless ways to take advantage of our long, golden days. If you’re fresh out of ideas, the L.A. Parent team shares our summer rituals, favorite hidden gems and must-have treats that we seize each summer to ensure the season feels complete.

New Swan Shakespeare Festival

A couple of years ago, my mom surprised me with tickets on my birthday to see “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” at the New Swan Shakespeare Festival hosted at UC Irvine. Ever since then, it’s been a tradition for my mom and me to see a production on my birthday. I never liked reading Shakespeare in school, but I love watching Shakespearean performances. I particularly enjoy the beautiful theater that New Swan sets up in the middle of UC Irvine’s campus. The warm lights shining through the summer night as someone performs poetry is my favorite way to end my birthday. –Ash Wang

Palm Desert

My family and I love going to the desert for July 4^th weekend. We stay together in our house and enjoy the fireworks from our backyard. We love swimming and playing board games as a family. After dinner, we usually get Handel’s ice cream and watch a movie. In the mornings, we get breakfast from our favorite restaurant, Wilma & Frieda. The homemade pop tarts and cinnamon rolls are amazing! We also love heading to 123 Farm, where they have unique festivals like the lavender festival we went to last year. It’s my kids’ favorite weekend of summer. –Chelsea Parrish

Echo Park Lake

I love that we have this wetlands oasis just on the other side of Downtown L.A. Early in the morning, there are more Canada geese than people here, and they make you move around them as you get your steps in; this is their world, and we’re just allowed to co-exist in it. People from all walks of life flock to this bountiful lake to work, fish, daydream, take their lunch break and exercise. My favorite time to visit is in late spring and early summer, when the lotus flowers bloom and the lotus pads are thick and emerald, catching the sunlight as they sway against the water. It’s easy to find parking around the park, and yummy spots like Stories Books and Café and Little Fish Echo Park are just a short walk away. –Cassandra Lane

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long” at the Hollywood Bowl

The season is not complete without a concert at Hollywood Bowl. For Elena Epstein’s family, that must-see is “The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long.” PHOTO COURTESY HOLLYWOOD BOWL

This is two of my favorite things wrapped into one: A night at the Hollywood Bowl with a showing of my favorite movie on the screens, with the Philharmonic playing in the background. Is there a better way to spend a summer night than at the Bowl? Bring food, wine, family or friends. It’s such a beautiful setting. Arrive early for this show because people dress up as characters from the movie, and they are invited on stage prior to the show. We started going to the Hollywood Bowl when our daughters were in early elementary school and have continued as they have become young adults — with the Sing-A-Long being the first show we look for on the schedule. –Elena Epstein

Theatricum Botanicum

In high school, I fell in love with Shakespeare — and Topanga Canyon — through Theatricum Botanicum’s summer theater camp, learning Elizabethan songs, sonnets and monologues among the oak trees. Summer became synonymous with the magical outdoor theater, and to this day my summer isn’t complete without attending the theater company’s signature production, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Now that I live in East L.A., I love driving out early so I can stop by Hidden Treasures to browse the eclectic mix of clothes, accessories and trinkets followed by a picnic in Theatricum’s gardens before the show. –Nina Harada

Zuma Beach

It takes me less than five minutes to throw a beach chair, towel, snacks, sunscreen, a book or magazine and my boogie board into the car. The short prep time is part of what makes this a great excursion. The beach takes minimal planning. From there, it’s pretty much 30 minutes until I’m set up in the sand at Zuma Beach — and the relaxing begins. When the heat comes to the Valley, my escape is to hit the beach, and it doesn’t get any better than Zuma. I enjoy the cooler weather, the waves and the fact that I can usually find (free) parking along Pacific Coast Highway. It’s total serenity. –Ron Epstein

Salt & Straw: Berries, Berries and More Berries

Zuma Beach is an easy and much cooler escape for L.A. Paren Publisher Ron Epstein, who lives in the San Bernadino Valley. PHOTO BY RON EPSTEIN

Salt & Straw is an ice cream shop that, along with being delicious, is known for its unconventional flavors such as pear and blue cheese and strawberry-honey-balsamic with black pepper. The shop has a set menu of flavors available year-round and a seasonal menu with flavors that rotate every month. My favorite monthly menu lands in July, when all of the flavors are centered around berries. My love for berries only increases in the July heat, so enjoying a scoop of the goat-cheese-marionberry-habanero ice cream at the Salt & Straw in Downtown Disney is a summer staple. I especially enjoy eating my ice cream in one of the rocking chairs by the fireplace in the Disneyland resort lobby while being serenaded by Disney songs played on the piano. –Ash Wang

Newport Beach

My family and I love driving down to Newport Beach for the day. We go to the pier and get frozen chocolate-covered bananas, our favorite! We usually walk on the beach and put our feet in the ocean. We love spending the rest of the day at the outdoor shops and eating dinner at True Food Kitchen before heading back. It’s always a quick trip, but it feels like a little vacation. –Chelsea Parrish

We’ve rounded up some of the must-go events of the summer. From movie nights on a boat to local art fairs to Moon Jellies, we’ve got your family covered to have the best SoCal summer.

1. Kayak the L.A. River

Thanks to local organizations like FoLAR, the Los Angeles River has been getting some much-needed attention over the last few years, which has led to revitalization efforts. Today, you can bike along the river, go fishing or even kayak! Take advantage of this unique summer-only experience and book a tour or rent a kayak from local rental companies like L.A. River Expeditions and L.A. River Kayaks. This urban kayaking experience is for adults and kids 10 years and over.

2. Movie night on the beach

Nothing says SoCal summer more than a movie on a beach. Whether its catching Disney classics, like “Frozen” or “Coco” at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort Marina, or a family-friendly film, like “Little Giants,” at Catalina Island’s South Beach, you’ll want to make sure to bring a blanket, snacks and drinks for the full experience.

3. Movie night on a boat

Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s “Holiday Brouhaha” takes place July 10, 24, 25, Aug. 14 and 28 at select venues throughout L.A. PHOTO BY LINNEA BULLION

If you want to level up your outdoor movie-going experience, how about movie night on a boat? The same team behind L.A. Haunted Hayride present Boat Cinema, running July 2 – Sept. 26. Guests can experience movies like “Jaws” and “Moana” while riding a boat on Castaic Lake.

4. Roller skate in a garden

The DiscOasis, a music-filled magical roller-skating disco party, arrives at South Coast Botanic Garden July 16 and runs through Labor Day weekend. Guests of all ages can experience the 90–120-minute theatrical journey, which includes live performances, DJs, food, beverages and a custom roller-rink.

5. Catch a puppet show

Families have a few opportunities to check out Bob Baker Marionette Theater’s beautiful puppets. Head over to Knott’s Berry Farm to see “Alegre!” This colorful celebration of music and marionettes features samba-dancing cacti, a majestic marimba player and more newly restored puppets. Or catch Bob Baker’s free summer tour, “Holiday Brouhaha,” a 30-minute puppet-filled musical celebration of a years’ worth of holidays. The show takes place at various public locations throughout L.A.

6. Go on a carnival ride

The OC Fair returns this summer with cute animals, contests, concerts, delicious carnival treats and carnival rides. New carnival rides include the Liberty Wheel and space-themed adventure, Moonraker.

Carnival rides at the OC Fair. PHOTO COURTESY OC FAIR & EVENTS CENTER

7. Get inspired at an art show

Browse over 100 local artisans featuring their hand-made goods from home décor to photography to accessories and more at Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair in Pasadena. The free outdoor festival is open July 17 – 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Take a stroll through Grand Park to admire photography and video exhibitions that celebrate the culturally rich and diverse communities that comprise L.A. County. The month-long public art installation, “Portraits of Freedom: Building a Life in L.A.” runs July 1 – 31. For even more inspiration, head over to Laguna Beach for their annual Festival of Arts show, featuring over 100 local Orange County artists. The festival runs July 5 – Sept. 3.

Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair returns to Pasadena July 17 – 18. PHOTO BY GIL RIEGO PHOTOGRAPHY

8. Eat your way through a food fest

Delicious Little Tokyo is back this summer with a hybrid virtual and in-person festival. Every weekend from July 10 – 25, experience and celebrate Little Tokyo’s food history with virtual events and in-person promotions and culinary experiences. If you’re up for a little road trip, take a drive up the coast for the 61^st Annual Artichoke Festival in Monterey. Try artichoke prepared in different forms like lumpia and cupcakes by local chefs and shop the farmer’s market to bring a taste of the festival home.

9. Pop bubbles

It’s the summer of bubbles! Checkout Discovery Cube OC’s Mega Bubblefest Laser Show as part of their 2021 Bubblefest, or head over to Kidspace Children’s Museum for Bubble Planet, a multi-sensory, outdoor bubble-themed exhibit.

10. Attend an outdoor concert

There are no shortages of places to experience the joy of life music in the great outdoors. OC Parks Summer Concert Series brings free outdoor concerts and local food trucks to various parks through Sept. 10. The Laguna Beach Festival of Arts presents their Concerts on the Green and Music in the Parks series weekends through Aug. 22. Segerstrom Center for the Arts offers feel-good music through Summer Sounds, sunset concerts on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza.

11. Walk with butterflies

Experience live tropical butterflies at South Coast Botanic Garden’s SOAR exhibit through July 31 or at the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion through Sept. 6.

12. Have an outdoor family “staycation”

Shakespeare by the Sea is back with their free summer performances. PHOTO BY MIGUEL ELLIOT

You don’t have to travel far to get the full family camping experience. L.A. County Parks and Recreation is hosting “Overnight Family Camping” select weekends through the end of August. Participating parks include Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park, Castaic Lake Recreation Area, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area and Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.

13. Enjoy Shakespeare by the sea

Take in an evening of Shakespeare at Point Fermin Park in San Pedro. The free summer festival “Shakespeare by the Sea” returns with “Richard III” and “Love’s Labour’s Lost” Friday, Saturday and Sunday July 16 – Aug. 22.

14. Immerse yourself in art

Immersive Van Gogh arrives at the former Amoeba Music building in Hollywood on July 31. Experience Van Gogh’s works through 300,000 cubic feet of projections, which highlight brushstrokes, detail and color of his famous paintings.

15. See fireworks

Catch an early 4^th of July fireworks show off Long Beach Harbor with Harbor Breeze Cruises on July 3. If you’re looking for fireworks on the 4^th, head over to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the 95^th annual AmericaFest celebration, or to Orange County’s newest outdoor venue, FivePoint Amphitheater, for their July 4^th Spectacular featuring the music of Elton John.

16. Visit a cardboard city

Cardboard City at Third Street Promenade opens July 8 and runs through Aug. 29. PHOTO COURTESY REDISCOVER CENTER

Santa Monica’s pop up community art center features large-scaled cardboard sculptures by local artists and the “Cardboard City” shop selling tools and materials families can use to make cardboard art at home.

17. Pick your own food

Underwood Family Farms’ second location, Somis Farm Center, offers a variety of “pick your own” opportunities throughout the summer. Pick your own strawberries and blueberries through early July. Raspberries are available through November and blackberries are available through December.

18. Build a sandcastle

Work on your sand sculpture skills while raising funds for the Roundhouse Aquarium’s Education Programs. The Sunsational Sandcastle Contest is accepting entries through July 6.

19. Join the largest urban cleanup in the nation

Volunteer with Friends of the L.A. River (FoLAR) as they remove trash from a different stretch of the river every weekend through July 31. Have fun with your community members while taking part in the Great L.A. River Cleanup.

20. Experience the magic of moon jelly

Birch Aquarium launched a new 600-gallon cylindrical Moon Jelly experience, which provides guests to get up close and personal with the jellies.