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Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: June 20 - 22
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Courtesy Pasadena Playhouse
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Our Picks
Although we’re still in the midst of a tense time with immigration sweeps and protests, the curfew downtown has been lifted, making it much easier to go to all the events and restaurants that have been struggling these past few weeks. I encourage you to get out and support the great creative folks who make L.A. what it is.
For more to explore, visit LAist.com, where you can learn more about newly crowned James Beard Award winner Jon Yao Kato of Kato (and good luck getting that reservation now!), follow Shohei Otani as he (finally!) takes to the pitcher’s mound for the Dodgers, and get your tickets for next week’s Cookbook Live with one of my favorite chefs in L.A., Nicole Rucker of Fat & Flour.
Events
Through Saturday, July 12
Parade
Ahmanson Theatre
135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.
COST: FROM $40.25; MORE INFO
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Joan Marcus
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Parade, the 2023 Tony winner for Best Musical Revival, was called “timely” in nearly every review two years ago, and I’m sorry to report, it still very much is. The show tells the true story of Leo Frank (Max Chernin), a Jewish factory owner in Georgia who was falsely accused of murder in 1913 and the circus of a trial that follows.
The touring production at the Ahmanson is the last show of the 2024-25 season at the city’s biggest theater, and it’s a big show, with powerful voices and clever staging (the raised platform makes it impossible to have a bad seat). But Parade is not an easy watch. It confronts the realities of the post-Civil War South, and while the music is compelling and there’s little spoken dialogue, you won’t be jamming to the soundtrack on the way home.
An article in the program notes that Stephen Sondheim turned down working on it because he didn’t want to write another “heavy” musical. It is heavy, but it’s also worth it. The chemistry that grows between Leo and his wife Lucille (Talia Suskauer) adds a relatable love story that provides some of the most poignant and uplifting moments in the show.
(Plus, while you’re at the Music Center, get there early to check out the just-released audio tour of Center Theatre Group’s spaces, "Walk With Me," which takes you through the architecture and history of the Ahmanson and the Taper and the historic shows that have premiered there over the years.)
Saturday, June 21, 12 to 8 p.m.
Venice Summer Fest
12257 Venice Blvd., Mar Vista
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Free yoga, vintage finds, art, live music all day, food from your favorite local spots and sunshine along Venice Boulevard are all in store at the Venice Summer Fest. What more could a Westsider ask for when looking for something fun to do with the whole family?
Through Saturday, January 24, 2026
OCMA 2025 California Biennial: 'Desperate, Scared, But Social'
Orange County Museum of Art
3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Jessie Cowan
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Adolescence and young adulthood in California in all their forms across generations are the focus of the sweeping OCMA Biennial, opening this weekend with a block party and performance by featured artists and local favorite punk rockers, the Linda Lindas (Saturday, June 21, at the Museum’s Block Party). Featuring the work of 12 California artists, from Miranda July to Joey Terrill, plus a site-specific installation from the band members of Emily’s Sassy Lime, the show spans music, art and performance. It also celebrates young people in the community by including California impressionist paintings from the Gardena High School Art Collection and work curated by the teenagers participating in OCMA’s Orange County Young Curators group.
Saturday, June 21, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
L.A. Opera Costume Shop Sale
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
135 N. Grand Ave., Downtown L.A.
COST: FREE, OR EARLY BIRD ACCESS FOR $100; MORE INFO
Ever dreamed of donning a big corseted dress and belting out your favorite aria? If your favorite part of the opera is the costumes, L.A. Opera’s annual sale is the place to be. Check out costumes on display from favorites like The Tales of Hoffmann, Don Giovanni, The Ring Cycle, The Marriage of Figaro, and L.A. Opera’s Grammy Award-winning production of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny and imagine yourself on stage.
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June 20-21
Pixies
Hollywood Palladium
6215 W. Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
COST: FROM $75.50; MORE INFO
Joey Santiago, Black Francis and David Lovering of Pixies perform on stage at The Corn Exchange on May 14, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland.
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Roberto Ricciuti
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Getty Images
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I think we’ve all been asking ourselves ‘Where is my mind?’ lately. Take a vacation to the 90s with the original indie rockers, the Pixies, as they take over the Palladium for a two-night residency on the L.A. part of their U.S. tour. Friday they’ll play a Bossanova/Trompe le Monde-inspired set; Saturday is all classic Pixies. Both nights, Kurt Vile + the Imposters will join as a special guest.
June 21-22
Little Women Ballet
Pasadena Playhouse
39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena
COST: FROM $42; MORE INFO
Fans of the March sisters will love experiencing Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women through dance, performed at Pasadena Playhouse in a two-act ballet that's inspired by the novel. With dancers in the company ranging in age from 10 to 75, the choreography takes the audience through classic moments and a few new ones, including Sallie Gardiner’s Christmas party, Meg’s wedding, a dazzling Moulin Rouge-inspired sequence and a breathtaking Christmas finale.
June 20-21, 7:30 p.m.
Glow In the Dark Groundlings
Groundlings
7307 Melrose Ave., Melrose
COST: $32; MORE INFO
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The Groundlings Theatre
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Get your rave gear ready for a glow-in-the-dark comedy night at the Groundlings main stage. Expect classic Groundlings company sketch comedy, outrageous characters and great performances, all supercharged by some glowy magic.
Sunday, June 22, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Underground DVD Scavenger Hunt: Discover SIN3056843Vidéothèque
4102 N Figueroa St., Downtown LA.
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
I’m really not sure where to begin with this one. All I can say is the pitch came across my inbox, and it was too L.A. and too creative not to share with you. Please, someone, go and report back to me! Here’s what I know: Director Dustan J. Hlady’s Amazon Prime series, SIN3056843 — about a documentary filmmaker obsessed with a mysterious cult classic from the late '70s — was cancelled, and now Hlady has planned a scavenger hunt to put the story back in the hands of the show’s fans.
“Participants will start their journey at L.A.’s legendary Vidéothèque movie rental store, where they’ll receive their first clue. From there, a series of cryptic, hyper-local puzzles will lead hunters to hidden DVDs scattered across Hlady’s favorite Los Angeles spots — all within a 15-minute drive of the store. Only one person (or team) will unlock all five discs and own the only complete copy of SIN3056843 in existence.”
Outdoor Pick
Friday, June 20, 6 to 9 p.m.
Pride Sunset Swim
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica
COST: $10; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Annenberg Community Beach House
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Take a dip with an ocean view at the Pride Sunset Swim at Annenberg Beach House. Enjoy the gorgeous Julia Morgan-designed tile pool and make some new friends at this special LGBTQ+ event ahead of Saturday’s Santa Monica Pride celebrations. The PCH lanes are open again, so getting there won’t be too stressful. All are welcome!
Viewing Pick
Saturday, June 21, 3 p.m.
Matinees on the Mountain: Sci-Fi Silent Shorts
Mt. Wilson Observatory
100 Mt. Wilson Circle Road, Mt. Wilson
COST: $20; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Mt. Wilson Observatory
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Venture up the mountain to the Mt. Wilson Observatory for a truly unique filmgoing experience. Silent film historian and projectionist Joe Rinaudo will bring his 1909 hand-cranked 35-millimeter motion picture machine and a slate of science fiction from his personal collection, including the iconic Georges Méliès’ Trip to the Moon. Ed Torres, house organist at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, will provide music accompaniment on organ. You’ll also have a chance to see the projector up close during intermission.
Dine & Drink Deals
Sunday, June 22, 1 to 7 p.m.
Dine Out Pasadena
Union Street between Raymond and Fair Oaks, Old Pasadena
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Support Pasadena’s restaurants as the region continues to recover from the Eaton Fire. Enjoy the new outdoor seating options and taste delicious eats from local spots at Dine Out Pasadena. The event aims to honor the “resilience and spirit of Pasadena’s culinary culture.”
Saturday, June 21, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Garagiste Festival: Urban Exposure
Glendale Civic Auditorium
1401 North Verdugo Road, Glendale
COST: FROM $69.24; MORE INFO
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Courtesy Garagiste Festival
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Artisan winemakers take center stage at the tenth annual Garagiste Festival. Did you know that L.A. was actually considered the birthplace of American wine, with vineyard history going back 200 years? Get your ticket and taste the works of 10 local winemakers pouring more than 100 wines: Adorato Wines, Bivium Wine, Cavaletti Vineyards, Flowers & Cheese, Fuil Wines, Hoi Polloi, Montage Vineyards, Pagter Winery, Pulchella Winery and Sunland Vineyard.
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