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Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: July 25-27
Competitors race to the finish line during an earlier Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival.
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Wally Skalij
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Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
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Our Picks
Last week, I checked out the Hammer Museum’s first free Thursday late night galleries event of the summer, and it was one of the most creative events I’ve been to in a long time. Folks of all ages were hanging out in the craft area, making buttons from vintage collage magazines and Riso prints with the help of Heavy Manners Library. Local bands also took the stage, and inside, I saw the very moving Noah Davis exhibit, here until August 31. The next one is July 31 — don’t miss it!
If I have one must-do rec this weekend, it’s to head south. Long Beach is hosting a bunch of great events, including the Dragon Boat Festival, the Art + Design Festival and the Vans Warped Tour. Huntington Beach has the U.S. Open of Surfing, and Spring Awakening is at the Chance Theater in Anaheim.
More from LAist: we’re remembering some local greats that we lost this week, including the commodore of the Queen Mary, and of course, the Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne.
Events
Sunday, July 27
Quartet with Dave Harrington + Robert Walter + Spencer Zahn + Kosta Galanopolous
Zebulon
2478 Fletcher Dr., Frogtown
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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@zebulonla
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Instagram
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Experimental musicians are taking over Zebulon this Sunday for the last of the Maximum Overdub & Secret Fires July Sundays series, “exploring improvisation, collaboration and sonic ritual.” The free event features Dave Harrington, Robert Walter, Spencer Zahn and Kosta Galanopolous. Plus, Nicole McCabe will perform solo.
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Saturday, July 26, 9 to 6 p.m.
2025 Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival
5255 E. Paoli Way, Long Beach
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
Colorful dragon boats will line the shores of Long Beach for the annual Long Beach Dragon Boat Festival, featuring races, art displays, dancing and more. The sport has its roots in traditions that are more than 2,000 years old in Southern China and has become a popular annual tradition right here in Southern California. Teams are members of the Southern California Dragon Boat Club and practice year-round.
Saturday, July 26, 2 to 7 p.m.
Downtown Long Beach Art + Design Walk
Multiple locations, Downtown Long Beach
COST: FREE; MORE INFO
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Downtown Long Beach Alliance
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After you cheer on the dragon boat racers, stay in Long Beach a little longer for the quarterly Downtown Long Beach Art + Design Walk, where you can explore new public art, installations, and performances. A new mural will be unveiled at Lincoln Park skate park and the Arts Council for Long Beach is hosting guided public tours. The day wraps up with the Long Beach Walls & Art Renzei "Stand Strong" exhibition closing party with Thinkspace Gallery. Plus, it’s all happening alongside the Vans Warped Tour and the last day of the Long Beach Walls / Art Renzei Festival.
Friday, July 25, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Sinego
The Spotlight
1601 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood
COST: $22.70; MORE INFO
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(
Courtesy Vitalic Noise Music Group
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DJ, producer and multi-instrumentalist Sinego headlines The Spotlight as part of a tour celebrating his new remix project honoring the late Mexican singer-songwriter Joan Sebastian with dance remixes of Sebastian’s classic regional Mexican ballads. Sinego is known for embracing the diverse styles of regional Latin music and pairing them with underground electronic beats.
Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All Abilities Celebration
Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
COST: FREE WITH DIGITAL PASS; MORE INFO
Music from DJ B. Diamond, storytime with Josh Lockwood-Wewer reading The School Yard Crisis: A Captain Peanut Adventure, ASL workshops, sensory-inclusive activities and more are happening at the free All Abilities Celebration on National Disability Independence Day from Segerstrom Center for the Arts and Orange County Arts & Disability.
Sunday, July 27, 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Fat Kid Dance Party
602 E Glenoaks Blvd., Glendale
COST: $25; MORE INFO
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If you’ve ever felt like you have two left feet or don’t look like the people in the dance videos you see on TV, this is the dance activity for you. Fat Kid Dance Party is a body-positive dance class for everyone, and it’s coming to Glendale this weekend. Get those leg warmers ready and dance your heart out with Bevin, who’s brought the party to cities all over the country and is heading to L.A. for the first time in five years.
Through Sunday, August 10
Spring Awakening
Chance Theater
5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
(
Doug Catiller
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“The Bitch of Living” is one of my brain soundtrack sounds — the kind of song that is a little inappropriate but also gets stuck in my head forever. Take a listen and you’ll see what I mean. John Gallagher Jr. simply killed it on Broadway.
Now the Chance Theater is putting on Spring Awakening, the show about coming of age in 1891 that had people saying it was the next RENT and camping out in the street in NYC. The music is by Duncan Sheik of Barely Breathing fame and won eight Tonys. Chance Theater’s version stars Corydon Melgoza as Melchior, Kayley Stallings as Wendla, Brody Tarrant Sitton as Moritz and Isabella Kaplan as Ilse.
Sunday, July 27, 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.
Christmas In July
The Baked Potato
3787 Cahuenga Blvd., Studio City
COST: FROM $15; MORE INFO
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Getting a little too hot out there? Chill out with the Chad Willis Jazz Orchestra’s Christmas in July concert at the Baked Potato in Studio City. The show features special guests Don Randi on keys, the “Magic Saxes” — Phil O’Connor, Phil Feather, Sean O'Kelley, Phillip Whack, Quinn Dymalski — and many more fab musicians. Jingle on over!
Sunday, July 27, 5 p.m.
OMNOM
Flora Grubb Gardens
13198 Mindenao Way, Marina del Rey
COST: $41.66; MORE INFO
Garden center by day, house tech party by late afternoon. Marina del Rey’s unique nursery, Flora Grubb Gardens, is hosting OMNOM’s signature offbeat tech house beats at their open-air venue. Dance amongst the flowers and succulents!
Outdoor Pick
July 26 through August 3
Lexus U.S. Open of Surfing
Huntington City Beach
315 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach
COST: FREE TO WATCH, CONCERT TICKETS SOLD SEPARATELY; MORE INFO
See former Championship Tour surfers and elite young talents alike battle it out on the waves at the Huntington Beach Pier for the U.S. Open of Surfing, or check out longboarders facing off for the first time this season on the WSL Longboard Tour as surf culture takes over Surf City USA, Huntington Beach. There’s also live music from bands including Common Kings and Yachty by Nature, food and a great party atmosphere all week long.
Viewing Pick
July 25-27, 8 p.m.
'The Wind Rises: The Natural World of Studio Ghibli'
The Ford
2580 E. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood
COST: FROM $35; MORE INFO
The only thing that could make Studio Ghibli films even more magical is seeing them under the stars. Check out three nights of films at the Ford with The Boy and the Heron, Howl’s Moving Castle, and The Wind Rises, each hosted by film critic and writer Carlos Aguilar and featuring trivia with prizes from Super Yaki.
Dine & Drink Deals
Friday, July 25
National Hot Fudge Sundae Day
Ghirardelli
Santa Monica and Hollywood locations
COST: $7.25; MORE INFO
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David Calavera
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Unsplash
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Celebrate National Hot Fudge Sundae Day with a Mini World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae for just $7.25 on 7/25, available at all participating Ghirardelli shops nationwide! That includes the new Santa Monica location and the one in Hollywood.
July 25 through August 8
DineLA Restaurant Week
Multiple locations
COST: VARIES; MORE INFO
Summer DineLA is here! Check out prix-fixe lunch and dinner deals at a wide range of restaurants all around Los Angeles. There are far too many to list all the great options here, but a few picks include Cosetta in Santa Monica offering a $35 lunch deal, LaoXi Noodle House in Arcadia's $15 lunch and dinner special and Rossoblu downtown offering a $55 dinner deal.
Sunday, July 27, 1 to 3 p.m.
Meet and Greet with Galaxy Goalkeeper John McCarthy
NORMS Carson
20420 Avalon Blvd., Carson
COST: FREE
Goalkeeper John McCarthy of the Los Angeles Galaxy looks on during warm-ups before their game against the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium on June 28, 2025.
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Eakin Howard
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Getty Images
)
Eat for free (if you’re among the first 50 fans) and meet L.A. Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy at the NORMS in Carson. All fans can get autographs and take photos with McCarthy, and every guest will receive exclusive giveaways and merchandise.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
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