Best bet SoCal events for this weekend

Looking for things to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered.

With no shortage of diverse activities to occupy your time, we’ll help you sift through this weekend’s festivities with a few recommendations. For more activities to do throughout the week, check out our Events Calendar for July 15–21.

Friday, July 15

Jazz at LACMA: The Los Angeles County Museum of Art will be hosting trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos at Smidt Welcome Plaza. Starting at 6 p.m., it’s part of the ongoing Jazz at LACMA series that’s running through November. It’s free to get in, but it’s first come first served as space is limited.

Zoo Friday Nights:  If you love to enjoy animals, music and good food, the LA Zoo is the place to be on Friday nights. The after-hours animal party is from 6–9 p.m., with tickets starting at $25 for adults, $20 for kids ages 2–17, and $15 for Zoo members.

Saturday, July 16

Inglewood Movies in the Park: The City of Inglewood is hosting a screening of Luca on south Lawn at Inglewood City Hall. The family-friendly event is open to the public, so seating is first come first served. Make sure you bring snacks since the movie starts at dusk.

562 Flea, 2–9 p.m.; 4908 York Blvd, Los Angeles: This POC-driven flea market originally started to put a spotlight on small businesses run by BIPOC, women and LGBTQIA+ members in the city of Whittier. This Saturday, however, the 562 Flea will be popping up in LA, featuring plants, crystals, toys, jewelry and more! Tickets are from $1–5 depending on when you show up, so get there early.

Goat Yoga at The Gamble House: If you find yourself already in Pasadena after checking out (and possibly adopting) a furry friend from the Pasadena Humane Society’s Free Adoption Day, then head over to the historic Gamble House to do some yoga with goats on their lawn. Non-member tickets are $45 and include 15 minutes of petting and pictures with the goats before and after class, along with a 30-minute goat yoga session led by certified instructor Tina Lenert. 

Sunday, July 17

Chulita Vinyl Club: The Ford, 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Los Angeles, CA 90068. 10:30 a.m.

The Chulita Vinyl Club, a collective of women and non-binary DJs, will be spinning their way through some classic Los Angeles-made and inspired music. You’ll hear everything from Chicano oldies to doo-wop to riot grrrl, and so much more. This is an early one and gates open at 9 a.m., so be prepared to party all day.

Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome: If you’re a fan of classical music, Mount Wilson Observatory’s Sunday concert series inside the historic 100-inch telescope dome boasts some of the finest acoustics in the world. The program for this Sunday features free Jazz from accordionist Cory Pesaturo, violinist Leah Zeger, and percussionist Jorge Villanueva doing two performances that day—one at 3 p.m. and the other at 5 p.m. Tickets are $50.

Platinum Alchemy Party feat. Big Freedia: Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd., Arlington Heights, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. The Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival runs through the 24th of this month, with indoor, outdoor and online screenings of films from beloved members of the community, like Billy Porter’s directorial debut in Anything’s Possible, the 20th Anniversary screening of Todd Haynes’ Far From Heaven as well as other screenings and events. The first big party of the fest is at Catch One nightclub, with performances by the energetic Queen of Bounce Big Freedia, as well as queer supergroup Commando and more. Tickets are $20–25.

All Weekend/On-Going

Friday, July 15 – Sunday, Aug. 14

Green Day’s American Idiot: Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center on the Cripe Stage, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, various times  

American Idiot started as one of the catchiest comebacks of a ‘90s rock band and turned into a Tony Award-winning hit musical, based on Green Day’s multi-platinum album. Thematically, it’s rooted in the post-9/11 world we’ve all been experiencing, and how its lyrical fodder is still as relevant today as it was in 2004. Tickets range from $25 – $40.

Orange County Fair: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa

One of our favorite local fairs returns this week with its usual antics of rides, games, the petting zoo and tons of food. Even more, their concert bill is stacked with classics like Smokey Robinson and Culture Club, along with some comedy from Trevor Noah and much more. Tickets are only $7–14 depending on the day you go but don’t forget, the fairgrounds are closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Cervanté Pope can be reached at cpope@heymediagroup.com