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First official weekend of the summer, and some fantastic events in the queue. Let’s talk about ’em.
On tap this June 26-28 in Los Angeles, you’ll find the first 2026 installment of Dance DTLA at the Music Center, the Aesop Queer Library, TARFEST, Pride Nite at Shakespeare in the Park, CicLAvia in South L.A., the Pier360 Festival, TOCApalooza 2026, the Monrovia Music Fest, Art Beyond the Glass, and more.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
World Cup Fan Zone at Union Station – M FA > This Thursday to Sunday, get into the excitement of World Cup as Los Angeles Union Station transforms into an official Fan Zone featuring live match viewing on giant screens, athlete meet-and-greets, immersive soccer activations, and a steady lineup of live music and food vendors. Admission is free, with the zone opening at 10:30 a.m. daily during the four-day experience. More info here.
The Music Center’s Dance DTLA – M FA -> Free evening dance parties return to The Music Center’s Jerry Moss Plaza every Friday from June 26 through August 8. At Dance DTLA, instructors will be on hand to teach guests easy-to-follow steps, allowing everyone to get into the groove right from the jump. Kicking things off this week, catch a Global Mix Night that will include a screening of the World Cup match between Spain and Uruguay. The event is always free to attend, and always all-ages. Start at 7 p.m. More info here.
Aesop Queer Library -> Aesop’s annual literary initiative returns to select stores from Friday through Sunday, offering complimentary books from queer authors in partnership with the ACLU Foundation. Now in its sixth year, the Aesop Queer Library has distributed more than 115,000 books globally, with this year’s edition centered on writing that explores the queer body and the power of literature to challenge assumptions and build community. In Los Angeles, Aesop Larchmont transforms into a Main Branch Library, where visitors can pick a complimentary title from a curated collection featuring Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Torrey Peters, Ocean Vuong, Alejandro Varela, and Kristen Arnett. Aesop Abbot Kinney and Aesop Silver Lake will each host smaller-scale Reading Room experiences throughout the weekend. More info here.
Shakespeare By the Sea – FA > The 28th anniversary season of Shakespeare By the Sea kicks off this Friday and Saturday at The Bandshell at Recreation Park in Long Beach with a production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. All shows are free to attend, but donations are gladly accepted. Performances run at locations throughout L.A. and Orange County through July 25. More info here.
TARFEST – FA TP > This Saturday at Pan Pacific Park, LAUNCH LA presents its 23rd annual free multi-disciplinary arts festival, Tarfest: Beacon 250. Expect a vibrant lineup of live musical performances, world-class DJs, live painting showcases, site-specific art installations, and a curated artisan marketplace. Free to attend as always. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Pride Nite at Shakespeare in the Park – FA > The Independent Shakespeare Co.’s annual Shakespeare in the Park series returned this week to Griffith Park, just in time for summer. For the first half of the ISC season, they’ll be performing Coriolanus on Wednesday to Sunday evenings through July 24. This Saturday, catch a special Pride Nite featuring a mix and mingle session beforehand where audience members can connect with event partners including Glisten and the GALAS LGBTQ+ Armenian Society. Picnics, blankets, or low-backed lawn chairs for seating on the grass lawn are encouraged. While admission is free, an advanced online general admission RSVP is required due to reduced capacity constraints in the Dell. Show starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
Play Day Block Party in West Adams – FA > Head to West Adams this Saturday for the annual Play Day Block Party, which takes over local streets for a community-centered day of recreation in honor of National Play Day. Expect dedicated games and sports activations, continuous live music and dancing, a diverse lineup of local food trucks, and informative neighborhood community booths designed to give area children a fun space to play. While general admission is free, advanced online registration requested if you plan to attend. Runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More info here.
TOCApalooza 2026 – FA > This Saturday, The Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation hosts TOCApalooza 2026, a Festival of the Arts packing the that will take over the Torrance Cultural Arts Center complex. Expect live entertainment across three outdoor stages, a juried art exhibition, an array of local creative vendors, and a curated selection of food and drink options. Families can also participate in interactive, hands-on craft workshops scattered throughout the plaza. General admission is free, while a premium $150 VIP ticket upgrade grants access to an air-conditioned lounge, reserved stage seating, priority karaoke sign-ups, private parking, and a gift bag. Runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. More info here.
QWERTY! Typewriter Festival at the Printing Museum –> This Saturday, the International Printing Museum in Carson collaborates with the Typewriter Connection to host the QWERTY! Typewriter Festival in celebration of National Typewriter Day. The interactive community event invites typewriter enthusiasts to type on an array of rare and unusual vintage machines, shop for mechanical typewriters or type-themed merchandise from vendors like LA Marler and Retro Steno, and win prizes during expert panels. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own personal typewriters to show off, use, or receive a professional repair estimate from on-site specialists. General admission tickets range from $12 to $15. Runs noon to 5 p.m. More info here.
Pier 360 – M FA > This Saturday and Sunday, Pier 360 returns to the Santa Monica Pier offering ocean sports competitions, interactive games, a beer garden and plenty of live music on both days. Festival hours are noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. More info here.
Monrovia Music Fest – FA > On Sunday, the 9th annual Monrovia Music Fest brings a day of family fun to Monrovia Library Park with live band performances, activities, food trucks, and an artisan market. Free to attend. Runs noon to 7 p.m. More info here.
CicLAvia—Leimert Park meets Expo Park – M FA > L.A.’s signature open streets event returns on Sunday for another installment, this time centered along a 3.6 mile course connecting two of South LA’s most historic neighborhoods: Leimert Park and Exposition Park. Explore local businesses and community activation hubs as your walk/skate/cycle/run at your own pace. Event goes from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free to attend as always. More info here.
Art Beyond the Glass -> Now in its 14th year, Art Beyond the Glass returns to Catch One nightclub this Sunday with over 100 of LA’s top bartenders showcasing their craft through creative cocktails. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $250,000 for arts-based nonprofits across the country, with this year’s proceeds benefiting the Hollywood Fringe Festival. Tickets start at $52. Runs 3 to 7p.m. More info here.
Listening by the Moonrise – FA > Clockshop’s latest installment of Listening by Moonrise offers a new performance by artist Kiyo Gutiérrez set along the banks of the Los Angeles River this Sunday afternoon. Through movement and sound, Gutiérrez draws attention to the interconnectedness of human and non-human bodies and the river’s layered ecologies, honoring the Pacific lamprey — an ancient fish once abundant in the river, now locally extinct due to urban development. The ritual-performance is accompanied by a soundscape from artist Eva Aguila. Runs 4 to 6 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Maydan Market Launches Monthly Backyard BBQ (June 27) -> Maydan Market fires up a new monthly tradition this Friday with the launch of its Backyard BBQ Series. Once a month on a Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., guest chefs take over the market’s newly opened back patio for a one-day-only menu built around the grill, with laid-back communal vibes. Kicking things off is Baloot, a Persian kebab and rice concept shaped by Chef Mehran’s Iranian heritage and Le Cordon Bleu training. As always, market vendors are open alongside cocktails from Compass Rose and a diverse wine lineup spanning Lebanon to Morocco at Sook. Coming months bring Island Smoke N Grill with Chef Carmen Naputi Davis and her wood-smoked Chamorro cuisine on July 25, and Mel’s Farmhouse, the beloved West Jefferson Boulevard spot known for its buttery cornmeal-fried catfish, on August 22. More info here.
New Bar Menu at Camèlia -> Courtney Kaplan and Charles Namba’s French-Japanese Arts District bistro just dropped a brand new bar-only menu. Onion rings arrive dusted in shrimp powder, boiled dumplings stuffed with shrimp, pork, and duck come topped with chili oil, and a Country Paté plate lands with violet mustard, grilled baguette, and cornichons. The popular Beef Cheek Sandwich and French Fries round out the lineup. Prices range from $12 to $25. Reason enough to pull up a bar stool. More info here.
Good Boy & Friends (June 27) -> Natural wine festival Good Boy & Friends returns this Saturday, taking over the François Ghebaly and Night Gallery campus in the Arts District. General admission ($75) covers pours from over 60 vendors including Friendly Noise, Scribe, Boucher Wines, Le Chill Wines, and Coquelicot, a tasting glass, live performances, and access to the on-site after-party. Upgrade to VIP ($165) for early entry, bites from Chainsaw LA and Kerrygold, and free espresso rum martinis. More info here.
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