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Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: June 19-21
Smorgasburg L.A. celebrates its 10th anniversary this weekend.
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Peridot Photos
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Smorgasburg LA
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It’s a big long weekend — Father’s Day, Juneteenth, the Art Parade, the World Cup and so much more. Narrowing the list for this weekend was tough!
Music-wise, there are a lot of big celebrations going on. On Friday, there’s Chance the Rapper’s Juneteenth extravaganza at the Hollywood Bowl and superstar DJ Chris Lake at L.A. State Historic Park (he’ll be there Saturday as well). Also on Saturday, there’s the official Opening Night at the Bowl with Halle Bailey, Darren Criss and more; the L.A. Block Party at Pershing Square Park with Keyshia Cole, Twista, Petey Pablo, Juelz Santana and Nivea; Red Bull Midsummer with TOKiMONSTA and many more at the Hollywood Roosevelt; and Sports Raves for All Ages at the Broad with Peanut Butter Wolf and Lucha VaVoom. Plus, the annual Venice Fest is back in Mar Vista on Saturday with multiple music stages.
Finally, the celebratory weekend wraps Sunday at the Hollywood Bowl with Reggae Night 24, featuring Ziggy Marley, Zuri Marley and Burning Spear.
Elsewhere on LAist, you can grab a ticket for Cookbook Live with La Copine’s Nikki Hill and Claire Wadsworth next Thursday, meet the artist making World Cup players out of gum wrappers and find the best eats for under $15 in Little Saigon.
Events
Smorgasburg 10-Year Anniversary
Sunday, June 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Row
777 South Alameda St., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Sponsored message
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Courtesy Peridot Photos
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Celebrate Dad with all his favorite L.A. treats at the 10th anniversary of Smorgasburg celebration. Get a taste of favorites from vendors like The Base, Shrimp Daddy, Bub and Grandma's, Carnitas El Momo, Ramen Burger and more. Plus, check out food specials, collabs, live music and an “I Love Micheladas” menu!
CAAM Juneteenth Events
Friday to Sunday, June 19 to 21
California African American Museum
600 State Drive, Expo Park
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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CAAM
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Courtesy Sutton Comms
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From a family scavenger hunt on Friday to a dance party on Saturday to a sound bath and yoga meditation on Sunday, Juneteenth comes alive at the California African American Museum. I just went last week to check out the Willie Birch and Gordon Parks exhibits — both are well worth seeing, and the space is a light-filled sanctuary from the busyness of everything else happening in Expo Park with the FIFA Fan Fest.
Sponsored message
LACMA Art Parade
Saturday, June 20, 6 p.m.
LACMA
5905 Wilshire Blvd., Miracle Mile
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
The weekend’s marquee event is a massive art parade to welcome the new LACMA Geffen Galleries on their official opening weekend, highlighting dozens of local artists hand-selected to participate. The parade and block party will run down Museum Mile and promise to be a moveable feast of art projects, performances, music and more in the spirit of the original art parades, envisioned by gallerist Jeffrey Deitch and held in NYC 20 years ago.
Juneteenth Improv Extravaganza
Friday, June 19, 7 p.m.
UCB Franklin
5919 Franklin Ave., Hollywood
COST: $10; MORE INFO
Sponsored message
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Courtesy Friday Block Party
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Kick off your holiday weekend with some laughs at UCB. Hosted by Sean Williams and Itanza Saraz, the Juneteenth-themed show features comedians Jacquis Neal, Nnamdi Ngwe, Monique Moses, Toni Adeyemi, Courtney Theophin and many, many more. Can’t make it out to Hollywood? You can also livestream the show.
Third Annual Compton Film Festival
Saturday and Sunday, June 20 and 21
Compton College
1111 E. Artesia Blvd., Compton
COST: FROM $11.52; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Compton Film Festival
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Get access to conversations with producers, filmmakers and local politicians — and check out some great new films, of course — at the third annual Compton Film Festival at Compton College. The selections this year include student films, as well as animated, documentary and narrative shorts.
Sponsored message
LA River Arts: River Solstice Festival
Sunday, June 21, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park
2944 Gleneden St., Frogtown
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Party along the river with performances from the Bob Baker Marionettes, Mary Lattimore, San Cha and Calycosa; explore tons of art from local artists; and gain a deeper understanding of the city’s relationship to our own L.A. River at the River Solstice Festival.
Gil Scott-Heron: Bluesology
Friday to Sunday, June 19 to 21
Hollywood Fringe
Hudson Theaters Main Stage
6539 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood
COST: $50; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Hollywood Fringe
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Experience the words and music of Gil Scott-Heron in a new way with this never-the-same spoken word production that comes to the Hollywood Fringe with several iterations already under its belt, plus eight NAACP Theatre Award nominations. Featuring Scott-Heron’s daughter, Gia Scott-Heron, the show reimagines works from his 17 albums using poetry, art, music and an activist spirit.
Sip of History: Baseball and Japanese American History
Friday, June 19, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Far Bar
347 1st St., Little Tokyo
COST: $15, includes drink ticket; MORE INFO
Ohtani fever is in full bloom this summer, and you can learn about the deep history of Japan’s love affair with baseball at this drink-and-learn event with the Democracy Center at Far Bar in Little Tokyo. The program features a conversation with JANM’s Director of Collections Management & Access and Curator, Kristen Hayashi, about how baseball brought hope, unity and a sense of normalcy to Japanese Americans during World War II incarceration.
Last Remaining Seats: 9 to 5 and North by Northwest
Saturday, June 20, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Million Dollar Theater
307 S. Broadway, Downtown L.A.
COST: $25; MORE INFO
Exterior of Orpheum theatre during the 2024 Last Remaining Seats season
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LA Conservancy
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Catch the last films of the Last Remaining Seats series at the historic Million Dollar Theater on Broadway. The matinee is 9 to 5 starring Dolly Parton, and the evening pick is the Hitchcock classic North by Northwest. What a way to make a living!
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