Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: August 16 - 18

Echo Park Rising is back with free music all day long at venues across the neighborhood. What started as an “impromptu street fair” has grown into a full-fledged neighborhood festival, with food, music, performances, shopping, you name it. Highlights include Lealani at The Echoplex, Urika’s Bedroom at The Echo, and a showcase of opera and musical theater hits at The Chocolate Dispensary. Plus specials like $10 shooters at the Loney Oyster and vintage clothes deals at Sunday’s Last Vintage.

Huge LEGO sculptures will welcome visitors to the L.A. Zoo this weekend for a special event celebrating the new LEGO DREAMZzz: A Wild Adventure TV series. The Zoo installation features creatures made by LEGO master builders and a live construction demo where kids can help stack bricks for a new piece – a giant narwhal – which will be completed on Sunday. And a bonus: Each weekend day, L.A. Zoo will offer free entry for the first 100 visitors.

When comedian Brody Stevens (Chelsea Lately, The Hangover) died in 2019, the comedy community in L.A. came together to push for better mental health awareness. The result? Brodyfest, which features a softball game, a wellness festival, and other activities on Saturday, and culminates Sunday in the annual benefit for Comedy Gives Back at The Comedy Store, featuring a lineup with performances by Jay Mohr, Doug Benson, and more.

Polifronio died in 2022, but he left behind the store's legacy, where you can still find hidden music treasures and flip through vinyl -- even some 45 years after its founding in 1979. The event will include live performances and 50 percent off store-wide at the Franklin Ave hotspot.

The Skirball closes out its summer concert series with a free dance party for all ages featuring the Grammy-nominated TossTones, who merges salsa, hip hop, reggaeton, Caribbean music, afrobeats, jazz, and more. Cuban-influenced DJ and curator Jauretsi, who has collaborated with musicians like Pharrell Williams, Questlove, and Major Lazer, will also perform. Party-goers can take a break and walk through the current Skirball exhibitions, including Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak, Frank Stella: Had Gadya, The American Library, and Common Ground.

I know, I know, who wants to network on a Sunday, but the 310 Coffee Club is partnering with hip Santa Monica coffee airstream 7even Seas Coffee to provide drinks and food, plus there will be lawn games and live music. So ok, networking, but make it fun. The event promises to be a mix of meeting people for work and fun, dates and job opportunities alike.

Sashay your way to the Orpheum to see Drag Race Queens Angeria, Jorgeous, Plastique Tiara, Roxxxy Andrews, Shannel, and Vanessa Vanjie show what it takes to be an all-star. Tons of charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent will obviously be on display – plus lip syncing galore and outfits to die for. Truly the makings of an outrageous evening.

Everyone is family at a Sister Sledge concert! R&B, soul, and disco hit the Music Center Plaza with a chance to dance, picnic, and celebrate the end of summer with music legends Sister Sledge.

Missing Olympic beach volleyball already? The AVP Manhattan Beach Open has you covered. Slather on your sunblock and watch the top men’s and women’s players compete on the sand. Friday and Saturday are the main draw competitions; Sunday is the semifinals and finals.

Disney’s Wish is the outdoor movie at Warner Park’s free movie night. Fun for kids of all ages, the 2023 flick features Ariana DeBose (West Side Story) voicing Asha, a teenager on a quest to save her kingdom using the magic of stars.

Take the opportunity to explore the food and small businesses of Watts at the monthly Watts Culture Fest, happening at the Watts Labor Community Action Committee campus. The seven-acre space is home to visual and media arts studios to explore and the event hosts food vendors like Tortacos, Watts Waffles, Magnolia Street Kitchen, and more.

You don’t have to drive to wine country to have a wine country experience. L.A.’s own San Antonio Winery is hosting a food, wine, and music pairing dinner with fourth generation family winemaker Dante Riboli-Colombatti. The menu features summer strawberry salad, and lobster ravioli; jazz, rock, r&b, and more are on the playlist.

If you’ve been inspired by the cake paintings of Wayne Thiebaud or just dream of having a sundae on your kitchen wall, make a beeline for the Paint & Scoop event at Grand Central Market. You’ll be led by an art instructor to create your own ice cream-inspired masterpiece while enjoying McConnell’s ice cream. Just be careful not to drip on your art!

To celebrate nine years of 8one8 Brewing in Canoga Park, the brewery is hosting a free party with food from Osborne Pizza Kitchen, a cornhole tournament, live music, and, of course, tastes of a special beer release.

Keep celebrating in the Valley with 818 Day festivities and deals at Topanga Social at Westfield Topanga. The food hall will feature games and specials all weekend long to celebrate the area code (get it?) and the people of the San Fernando Valley.