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America250 is here. Will it be a big celebration for you? A big yawn? Either way, we’ve got you covered for the holiday weekend to come.
This July 3-5 in Los Angeles, you’ll find First Fridays in Frogtown, Anime Expo, the July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at The Hollywood Bowl, the Gloria Molina Grand Park Summer Block Party, Joint Seafood Summer Block Party, the Santa Monica 4th of July Parade and Pulse in the Park, the PCC Flea, and more.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Shakespeare By the Sea – FA > The 28th anniversary season of Shakespeare By the Sea continues this week with performances of Macbeth at Rush Park in Rossmoor on Thursday and Sepulveda Garden Center in Encino on Friday. Both shows start at 7 p.m. and are free to attend. Performances run at locations throughout L.A. and Orange County through July 25. More info here.
Friday Night Jazz at LACMA – M FA > LACMA’s Friday Night Jazz series continues heading into 4th of July weekend, with the Ray Charles Alumni Band set to perform. The standout ensemble features veteran musicians who toured and recorded extensively alongside the legendary Ray Charles, including saxophonists Rickey Woodard and Louis Taylor, trumpeter Jeff Kaye, guitarist Brad Rabuchin, bassist Anders Swanson, and drummer Paul Kreibich. Guests are welcome to bring picnics and blankets to enjoy the music outdoors on the plaza lawns. Admission is free, and no advanced tickets are required. Runs 6 to 8 p.m. More info here.
First Fridays in Frogtown – FA > Frogtown First Fridays returns for July with community activations spread across 15 distinct stops along the LA River in Elysian Valley. Embracing the theme Art & Activism: Express yourself. Highlights include a celebration of the sixth birthday of local plant-based bakery Just What I Kneaded, which will stay open late with a free photo booth alongside neighbor Justine’s Wine Bar selection of natural wines and vegan bites. Attendees are urged to walk, bike, or rideshare to this strictly car-free event, and while admission is free for all ages, voluntary donations to the non-profit Frogtown Arts collective are welcomed. Runs 5 to 10 p.m. More info here.
July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at The Hollywood Bowl –TP> The Beach Boys headline this year’s Hollywood Bowl celebration, which will once again be a three-day event (Thursday to Saturday) featuring a concert followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the iconic shell. More info here.
Anime Expo – M > From Thursday to Sunday, the Los Angeles Convention Center hosts Anime Expo 2026, billed as the largest celebration of Japanese pop culture in North America. Organized by the non-profit SPJA, the four-day convention features an extensive lineup including industry panels, an AMV competition, a masquerade, a fashion show, and live concerts. Attendees can access a massive gaming hall, a dedicated manga lounge, a cosplay repair center, organized cosplay gatherings, a maid cafe, and night events like Lounge 21 and AX Dance. Admission requires a convention badge purchased online. Single day registration starts at $94.75. More info here.
Anime Rave -> This Thursday to Friday, the Regent Theater hosts a two-night anime rave packed with house and techno music and a heavy dose of nostalgia. Vendors and merch on site, cosplay strongly encouraged. Tickets start at $12. More info here.
YesterdayLA -> YesterdayLA brings a month-long exploration of the stories and art that shaped Los Angeles history to the Philosophical Research Society. The lineup spans a presentation on LA architecture past, an Agnès Varda film screening, and a 50th anniversary celebration of a sly satirical noir classic. Catch upcoming events this Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Tickets range from $12 to $14. More info here.
Gloria Molina Grand Park Summer Block Party – M FA > Gloria Molina Grand Park hosts its free Fourth of July Summer Block Party on Saturday across six blocks in Downtown Los Angeles. The outdoor festival features two stages of live music, augmented reality art exhibits, a zine-making workshop, and local food trucks. The celebration concludes with a 700-drone light show over the skyline. Admission is free for all ages, and pets are welcome. Runs 4 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
4th of July Fireworks Show at the Torrance Civic Center -> The City of Torrance will host a fireworks show at the L.A. Galaxy Sports Complex this Saturday, complete with live music by the Satin Dollz, food trucks, and activities for all ages. Doors open at 6 p.m. Pyrotechnics start after sunset. More info here.
4th of July Fireworks in Marina del Rey – FA > Marina del Rey will offer a free 20-minute fireworks show on Saturday along the coast with viewing spots at Burton Chace Park or Fisherman’s Village. Show begins at 9 p.m. and is free to attend. More info here.
Santa Monica 4th of July Parade + Pulse in the Park – FA > Santa Monica’s annual 4th of July Parade returns this Saturday, popping up along Marine Street and traveling north along Main Street to Pico Boulevard. The procession leads directly into Pulse in the Park at Tongva Park, a free World Cup-themed after-party featuring live music by The Jane Fondas, DJ sets, and dance performances. The family-friendly festival includes a beer garden, food from Level Up Burgers and Ubatuba, face painting, and a photo booth. Admission is free. The parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. Pulse in Park begins at 11 a.m.
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield’s July 4th Extravaganza -> This Saturday, the Valley Cultural Foundation’s massive 4th of July event at Warner Ranch Park featuring a musical tribute to Steely Dan by Doctor Wu, plus a over dozen onsite food trucks and 20-minute fireworks display after sundown. The event listing mentions the park can accommodates up to 40,000 attendees, so expect a crowd! Free to attend. More info here.
Joint Seafood Summer Block Party – M FA TP > On Sunday, Joint Seafood’s flagship store throws a seriously delicious block party from 5 to 9 p.m. with bites and sips from Souu LA, Tacos 1986, Porto’s, Fly By Jing, Just Ice Tea, Omiso, and more. A latte art throwdown adds some friendly competition to the mix. Free to attend. Runs 5 to 9 p.m. More info here.
Concerts in the Park in Manhattan Beach – FA > Manhattan Beach’s annual Concerts in the Park series kicks off this Sunday at Polliwog Park with a celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The season opens with a performance by vintage vocal trio The Satin Dollz, delivering 1940s and 1950s big band harmonies. The community festival features live entertainment, neighborhood activities, and the announcement of the local poster contest winner. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets, low-back lawn chairs, and picnics to the outdoor amphitheater. Admission is free. Event runs 4:30 to 7 p.m. More info here.
PCC Flea – FA > The Pasadena City College Flea Market pops up on the first Sunday of every month with some 400 vendors spread throughout multiple parking structures/lots at the Pasadena City College campus. Here you’ll find a seemingly unending assortment of used/vintage clothing, art, records, comics, collectibles, and more. And there are food vendors too! It’s always free to attend. Runs 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. More info here.
The Famous People Improv Show -> Cap your weekend with a Sunday evening of improv at The Elysian Theater. The Famous People Improv Show is classic-format show where a guest monologist (this week: Laura Silverman) shares a true, spontaneous stories from her life. A cast of veteran Los Angeles comedic actors bring it to life with a series of fully improvised scenes. The ensemble cast includes Tawny Newsome, Jacob Wysocki, Emily Pendergast, Jordan Myerick, Chris Grace, Alex Fernie, Payam Banifaz, and Mary Holland. In-person tickets are $15 to $20, while the livestream and video-on-demand option is $6. Starts at 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Found Oyster & Queens Raw Bar Happy Hour Weekend -> Found Oyster and sister restaurant Queens Raw Bar are both running all-day happy hour on July 4th with $10 martinis and margaritas and half-off bubble bottles. Queens is also turning three, extending the specials through July 5 so you can hit both spots in one weekend.
Pink’s America the Beautiful Dog -> Pink’s marks America’s 250th with a hot dog worthy of the occasion. The America the Beautiful Dog is a twelve-inch jalapeño frank loaded with pastrami, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes, served with two sides of fries and onion rings for $17.76, a nod to the year it all began.
Ice Cream Alley Returns at Smorgasburg LA (July 5 – September 6) ->Smorgasburg LA’s beloved Ice Cream Alley is back for its 10th year, running every Sunday at ROW DTLA through September 6. The annual summer tradition celebrates LA’s best independent ice cream makers with a lineup spanning classic scoops to creative frozen treats. This year’s vendors include SadGirl Creamery, Moom Maam, Bernie’s, Churros El Bochito, Boutcha Gelatea, Sweet Lady Jane debuting new gelato offerings, Swrlies, Innamorata Gelato, and Bestie’s Vegan Paradise. More info here.
Free Calm Supplements for Dogs at JustFoodForDogs (Through July 3) -> July 4th is a celebration for us, but for many dogs it’s the most stressful night of the year. JustFoodForDogs is helping by giving away free Calm Supplement samples at their local kitchens now through July 3. The calming chews are formulated with passion flower, valerian, ginger root, magnesium, and melatonin, with no artificial preservatives or cheap fillers. An additional 400 jars are being donated to local shelters to keep pups calm on the one night they need it most.
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