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The Easter bunny is hopping in this weekend, but we’ve got a few non-holiday ideas to fill up your social calendar.
This April 3 to 5 in Los Angeles you’ll find Meet the Grunion at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, OC Japan Fair, Corgi Beach Day, Bardfly Theater, Easy Morning at Grand Park, L.A. Beer Fest, 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
Performance, Protest, Preservation: High Performance Magazine – FA > This Friday at The Getty, explore the radical legacy of High Performance magazine with a day-long gathering dedicated to the journal’s role in shaping performance art from the 1970s through the 1990s. The program features panel discussions on performance as activism and the evolution of magazine culture, alongside live performance works. Highlights include a multilayered lecture by Susan Silton and a rare reanimation of the iconic “Rope Piece” by Linda Mary Montano and Tehching Hsieh. Programming runs 9:30 to 8 p.m. More info here.
Comedy as Resistance: Hollywood Shuffle – FA > Join the UCLA Film & Television Archive at the Hammer this Friday evening for a screening of Robert Townsend’s directorial debut, Hollywood Shuffle. A cornerstone of the “Black Pack” era, this 1987 satire remains a sharp critique of the industry’s limited and stereotypical roles for Black actors. The evening includes an introduction by Professor Artel Great, author of The Black Pack: Comedy, Race, and Resistance, followed by a Q&A with actor Anne-Marie Johnson and Spring Mooney (daughter of Paul Mooney). The program begins at 7:30 p.m. Free to attend, with seating assigned upon check-in. More info here.
First Fridays: Bixby Knolls Long Beach County Fair – FA > Bixby Knoll’s monthly First Fridays series returns with a nostalgic “County Fair” takeover of the business corridor along Atlantic Ave in Long Beach. Expect plenty of live music, interactive art, and local spirit, plus unique activations like a “Symphony Petting Zoo,” salsa lessons, and specials at other local businesses.. The fun runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. More info here.
Meet the Grunion -> This Friday, take a chance to experience one of California’s most unique natural spectacles at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. This seasonal program offers a deep dive into the fascinating biology and “mating dance” of the California grunion—a fish that famously leaves the ocean to spawn on sandy beaches. The evening begins with an educational auditorium session and a “hatching experience” where you can watch baby grunion emerge from their eggs in real-time, followed by a staff-led guided walk to the shoreline for (hopefully) live observation. The event kicks off at 8 p.m. and is $10 for non-members. More info here.
OC Japan Fair -> The largest Japanese cultural festival in Southern California returns this Friday to Sunday as the OC Japan Fair returns to the OC Fair & Event Center. Upgraded to feature more than 250 booths, the festival offers an immersive look into Japanese entertainment, pop culture, and culinary traditions. Attendees can enjoy live performances, participate in cultural activities, and explore a massive marketplace of food and sake. Tickets start at $19.98 for single day admission. Get more info here.
Spring Exhibition Opening Celebration at the Hammer – FA TP > Celebrate the opening of spring exhibitions at The Hammer this Saturday with after-hours gallery access and tunes soundtracked by DJs from Chulita Vinyl Club in the courtyard. Explore four new shows, highlighted by Several Eternities in a Day: Form in the Age of Living Materials and Arthur Jafa’s 30-minute experimental film The White Album. Throughout the evening, enjoy interactive moments including a photobooth and a hands-on cyanotype art-making activity. Food and drinks will be available for purchase all night. The event is free and open to the public, and kicks off at 8 p.m. RSVP and get more info here.
Los Angeles’ Night of Ideas – FA > On Saturday, the Wende Museum in Culver City hosts an expanded all-day edition of Night of Ideas, all running from 2 to 10:30 p.m. The afternoon kicks off with a family-friendly program featuring hands-on animation and climate workshops, a video games forum, and a performance by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Come evening, the program opens with an original musical composition by Victor Le Masne, Music Director of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, before unfolding into an ambitious interdisciplinary lineup spanning art, science, literature, journalism, technology, and performance. More info here.
Grand Performances Brazilian Block Party – FA > This Saturday, Grand Performances kick off their 2026 programming with a high-energy celebration of Samba and Afro-Brazilian culture at the Town Plaza at The Culver Steps. The afternoon event features Viver Brasil, a Los Angeles-based institution renowned for its bold Afro-Brazilian dance theater. The festivities include two live performance sets and an interactive dance workshop suitable for all experience levels. DJ Potira, founder of the Soundbox Truck, will anchor the event with vibrant sets blending traditional Brazilian sounds like Pagode with contemporary global beats. Runs 4 to 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Bardfly Theater -> Experience the Bard with a brew in hand as Bardfly Theatre Co. brings Shakespeare’s classic comedy Love’s Labour’s Lost to Boomtown Brewery this Saturday evening. Bardfly makes Shakespeare a social experience, encouraging audiences to eat, drink, and laugh along with the performance. The plot follows the King of Navarre and his lords, who vow to swear off women for three years of study—only to have their resolve immediately tested by the arrival of the Princess of France and her ladies. Sound intriguing? GA tickets are $15. Performance kicks off at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
The 5th Annual ‘Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Easy Mornings’ -> Celebrate Earth Month with two relaxing Saturday mornings at Gloria Molina Grand Park, beginning this weekend. Angelenos of all ages can unwind and recharge in the heart of Downtown L.A. Enjoy free activities, including special workshops, performances from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, and yoga sessions. Runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Corgi Beach Day – FA > Corgis, costumes, cuteness. It’ll be there at the annual Corgi Beach Day, taking place this Saturday two blocks south of Huntington Beach Pier. Expect special vendors, food trucks, costumes, and plenty of photo ops, whether you’re there with your pup or just want to see the spectacle of it all. The event is free to attend. More info here.
L.A. Beer Fest -> The 17th annual L.A. Beer Fest is back this Saturday bringing 80+ breweries together with a curated selection of local food trucks for a day of tastings, music, and fun, all at L.A. Center Studios. General admission starts at $67.45 per person (with fees and taxes included). More info here.
Renaissance Pleasure Faire -> Beginning this Saturday, ren-faire enthusiasts can expect over 200+ artisans, merchants, and vendors, plus costume contests, games, rides, a food court and more, all taking place at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area on Saturdays and Sundays through May 17. Adult single-day admission starts at $53. More info here.
SoCal Etsy Guilde at Angel City Brewery – FA > Support local makers and artisans at the So Cal Etsy Guild Market, returning to the heart of the Arts District this Sunday. This curated maker’s market features a diverse selection of Southern California vendors offering handmade jewelry, art, home decor, and unique gifts. Runs noon to 6 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.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Yi Cha Launching Brunch (April 5) -> Highland Park’s Yi Cha launches Sunday brunch this Easter, running every week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The menu blends Korean and American influences into something distinctly its own. Standouts include Banana Milk Bread Pudding French Toast with Injeolmi whipped cream and strawberry coulis, Breakfast Ramen in a rich pork broth with pork belly and a jammy egg, Seoul-Style Shakshuka with Korean peppers and perilla pesto crostini, and Asian-inspired tartines on Out of Thin Air sourdough.
Happy Hour Manhattan Beach Post (Daily) -> Chef David LeFevre’s beloved Manhattan Beach Post runs daily happy hour with $9 cocktails, $10 wines, and a food menu ranging from $8 to $13. Weekdays run 5 to 6:30 p.m. and weekends from 3 to 5 p.m. Standout bites include a Hot Honey Glazed Fried Chicken Sandwich, MB Post Burger, Burrata and Salami plate, and Calabrian Chili Butter Shrimp with polenta.
UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances Agnes will no longer host a brunch buffet. They’ll be moving forward with their regular à la carte brunch menu until 4 p.m. and will be closed for dinner. Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery’s Easter Buffets (April 5) -> Pasadena’s Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery is pulling out all the stops for Easter with two full buffets. Brunch ($125 per adult, $30 per child) covers all the bases: house-made breads, an artisanal cheese and cured meats grazing table, made-to-order omelets, glazed ham, braised pork belly, and a dessert station with brownies, banana pudding cups, and mini tacos. Dinner ($175 per adult, $30 per child) steps it up with a seafood bar featuring oysters and shrimp cocktail, a carving station with chicken piccata and prime rib, loaded baked potato dumplings, and housemade pastas. Children 2 and under eat free at both. Reservations can be made through Open Table.
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