Best bet weekend events: Long Beach Black Dance Festival

From dance festivals to gamer galas, we’ve got your best bets for fun over the weekend. 

The end of the third Long Beach Black Dance Festival is definitely something to be checked out, but if you’re looking for more to do, check out our Events Calendar for Aug. 12–18.

Friday

Coheed and Cambria, Alkaline Trio & Holy Wars, The Shrine Auditorium. Doors at 5:30 p.m., show at 6:30 p.m. $49.50–50

Talk about a throwback! Break out your black eyeliner and travel back to 2007 with this one. Coheed and Cambria are touring in support of their latest, critically acclaimed album “Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind,” the trippy second installment of the “Vaxis” arc in their “Amory Wars” series.

Saturday

Hail Skatin, Alex’s Bar. 2-8 p.m., $12.88

Boarders, this one’s for you. 

This combo concert and fundraiser is meant to benefit the redesign of the Silverado Skatepark, the only skatepark located in West Long Beach. The project has even been supported by the Tony Hawk Foundation, which donated $15,000 to it back in June. 

There’s still almost $140,000 needed to complete the project, so come out, skate around, and enjoy local bands and DJs, a raffle featuring prizes from brands like Vans, Thrasher and more. All proceeds go to the Action Sports Kids Foundation, the organization leading the redesign initiative.

American Icons: Judy Garland & Friends, LA County Arboretum. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m., $10–$152

Michael Feinstein will be conducting soloists Melissa Manchester, Nicole Henry, and Maddie Baillio through the discographical deep cuts and gems of Judy Garland, Peggy Lee and Doris Day, adding in a nod to Garland’s daughter Liza Minnelli.

  
Level Up: A day of video game music, nerdcore, chiptunes, and more, Lux Tea Lounge. Noon, Free.

Nerds, unite! This all-day event features performances from game-focused artists like Nerdknight Music, Almighty Arceus, Mode 7, plus endless food and drink, chances to test out new indie games as well as play some old classics.

Best Coast Anniversary Party, The Ford. Doors at 6:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. $40–45

Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno, the duo behind surf garage pop group Best Coast, dropped their first two albums back in the early 2010s, changing the way we’ve come to understand Southern California beach life and the music inspired by it. A decade later, the duo is taking the stage at the Ford in celebration of the impact those albums have had. The Friday date of this two-night anniversary jamboree is sold out, so snag your tickets to this night while you can!

Exploring Pasadena on Foot: Art Deco, One Colorado. 10 a.m.–Noon. $20–25

Tour guide Julia Long will walk you through some of Pasadena’s oldest districts, filled with old Art Deco and Streamline Moderne architectural treasures. Old Pasadena and the Playhouse Village are definitely on the list, so make sure to wear your comfortable walking shoes.

Sunday

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Durand Jones & the Indications, Celisse; Hollywood Bowl. 7–10 p.m., $20–145

Part of the KCRW festival, these big names in big sounds are also celebrating the Hollywood Bowl’s 100th anniversary. Both Nathaniel Rateliff and Durand Jones bring the best blend of soulful rock, with Jones and his backing band The Indications throwing in some r&b and disco if you feel like dancing.

All weekend/ongoing 

Black August Film Festival, Boston Court Pasadena. 11 a.m.–6 p.m., $10–25

In alliance with the San Francisco Black Film Festival, the Black August Film Festival is bringing awareness to social issues facing prisoners—particularly, Black prisoners—around the world. Started by the Black Guerilla Family of the San Quentin State Prison in 1979, Black August is a month-long, prison-based holiday meant to recognize the atrocities of Black and political incarcerated persons, as well as honor the lives of brothers Jonathan P. and George Jackson, who died within a year of each other in San Quentin State Prison in the ‘70s.

POP SK8 with Benefit Cosmetics, Gimme Pink Roller Rink at the Santa Monica Pier. Aug. 12–14, Noon–8:30 p.m. Free

In this Instagram-worthy marriage of skating and makeup, POP Sk8 is literally popping up at the Santa Monica Pier along with Benefit Cosmetics for three days of roller skating and testing out Benefit’s new eyebrow product Gimme Brow+ Volumizing Pencil. Skate rentals are covered by the pop-up but feel free to bring your own if you’ve got a pair. Each day will have six sessions you can sign up for to skate around and get your eyebrows done at Benefit’s brow bar!

Immersive Frida Kahlo, Lighthouse Los Angeles. Aug. 12–13, multiple times. $34.99-$89.99

Immerse yourself in one of the most iconic artists of all time, Frida Kahlo. This exhibit uses some innovative 360-degree technology to surround you with the vibrant, “magic realism” of her life and art.

Peaches, Lil Mariko, The Fonda Theatre. Aug. 12–13.  9 p.m.. $35

Peaches had one of the catchiest songs of the year 2000, “F**k the Pain Away.” From the moment those pounding tones introduce the song, you’re entirely caught up in the synthy, down-tempo danciness of the track. That’s why for two nights, Peaches is taking the Fonda on The Teaches of Peaches Anniversary Tour, named after a lyric in that iconic song. The feminist artist is sure to have so much more in store, as well.

3rd Annual Long Beach Black Dance Festival 

The CRay Project is bringing its Long Beach Black Dance Festival back for a third year, with a week full of dance classes, enrichment workshops, panel discussions and a dance concert to end it all. This weekend is the last of its festivities, so you can still check out some of the dance parties, a skate party and numerous performances.

Unique Markets Annual Summer Market, California Market Center. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. $15–40

This POC, woman-run event also has pop-up markets in Portland and Washington, DC, but their Los Angeles one is surely one of the biggest! It’s one of the biggest curated indoor shopping events in the country with 225 sellers and tons of installations and activities. To date, they’ve helped over 13,000 small businesses find space in the heavily impacted market, and they’re not done yet.

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