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Need to catch a vibe this weekend? Grab on, because we’ve got a few ideas.
This August 15-17 in Los Angeles, you’ll find the final three days of the Nisei Week Japanese Festival, the Eagle Rock Night Market, Spinning Sunset: A Vinyl Wax Fair at The Pink Dot, Echo Park Rising, a Garden Party for Kids at The Getty, Sunday Sessions at Grand Park, CicLAvia: Culver City Meets Venice, and more.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
Friday Night Wine Tastings at Barnsdall Park – M > Friday night wine tasting continue at the Barnsdall Art Park West Lawn this week. Now in its 16th season tickets cost $45 and get you a flight of wines curated by Silverlake Wine, plus access to a rotation of food trucks, all supported by tunes from local DJs and sweet sunset views of the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Observatory. The series continues every Friday through September 26. All proceeds support programming within the Park. Starts at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
Eagle Rock Night Market – FA > Every third Friday of the month, a night market pops up at the Eagle Rock American Legion Post 276 (2109 Merton Ave) from 3 to 9 p.m. Expect a couple dozen vendors selling everything from vinyl to baked goods to jewelry. Plus there will be food, dancing and DJ-spun tunes. Free to attend. More info here.
Jazz at LACMA – FA > The Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Friday Night Jazz series continues this week with another concerts at Smidt Welcome Plaza. For this installment, catch a performance led by Emmy and Grammy-nominated guitarist and composer Grant Geissman. PLUS: Remember that LACMA is free to visit for L.A. County Residents (with I.D.) on weekdays after 3 p.m. Concert starts at 6 p.m. More info here.
Beach Movie Nights at Dockweiler – FA > LA County Beaches & Harbors has been hosting free summer movie nights at Dockweiler Youth Center every Friday evening, and the series continues this week with a screening of Venom: The Last Dance at 8 p.m. All seating is first-come, first-served. Blankets and low-back chairs welcome. More info here.
Grand Performances – M FA > The beats goes on at Grand Performances at this weekend with a pair of free, fun activations taking over California Plaza in DTLA. On Friday, they’ll host host a screening of the 1940 Charlie Chaplin film The Great Dictator. Then on Saturday, catch an evening of house music for DEEP’s 25th anniversary. More info here.
Spinning Sunset: A Vinyl Wax Fair – FA TP > This Saturday, the Sunset Strip Business Improvement District hosts Spinning Sunset: A Vinyl Wax Fair, which pays homage to the Strip’s iconic music legacy, venues, and voices with a one-day celebration featuring vinyl vendors, DJ sets, music memorabilia, drink specials, hotel packages, and local promos, including FREE ice cream from Dippin Dots. It’s all free to attend and check out. Runs 1 to 7 p.m., mostly in and adjacent to the The Pink Dot’s parking lot ( 8495 W Sunset Blvd). More info here.
Echo Park Rising – FA TP > The 2025 edition of Echo Park Rising returns this Saturday with a day of live music and community activations at multiple venues on and adjacent to Sunset Blvd. Among the highlights, there will be a lineup of musicians performing at Semi Tropic from 6 p.m. to late night, plus over a dozen acts performing at The Echo & Echoplex including Tijuana Panthers, La Dona, and puppetry from the Bob Baker Marionettes. Also, if you’re looking for food options school down to our food section for a few specials happening in conjunction with EPR. All concerts free to attend! More info here.
Gather and Grow: Sunshine & Strings – FA > The City of Santa Monica’s summer of free programming continues this Saturday at Reed Park and the Miles Memorial Playhouse as Crystal Jasso leads a Ukulele Strum-A-Long, which will be followed by a concert by hybrid performance ensemble String Theory. It all starts at 4 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
PAST + FUTURE = PRESENT, PT. 1 – M > Head to The Broad this Saturday evening to catch an after-hours viewing of the temporary special exhibition Jeffrey Gibson: the space in which to place me while enjoying a pair of lively performance stages set on two levels of the museum. The lineup of indigenous musicians scheduled to perform includes Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Jlin and DJ Noir. Tickets are $25. Runs 8 to 11 p.m. More info here.
MUD\WTR’s Day Camp -> This Saturday, MUD\WTR turns their Santa Monica flagship :gather into a free, one-day wellness playground to celebrate the launch of Nourish, their new plant-based protein. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., dive into guided cold plunges, energizing breathwork classes, and brain-boosting mind games with wellness-themed prizes. Sip samples of Nourish, snack on bites from Talo Organic, enjoy live music, and soak in a full day of feel-good vibes. More info here.
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles – M FA > Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles continues on Saturday with an evening of rebellious punk featuring performances by La Resistencia and Lxs Cochinxs. Music runs from 7 to 10 p.m. Free to attend as always. More info here.
Nisei Week Japanese Festival – M FA > Little Tokyo’s nine day celebration of Japanese and Japanese American heritage and traditions through a series of cultural exhibits and performances, a grand parade and a plaza festival. This weekend, the programming wraps up with the JANM Natsumatsuri Family Festival on Saturday (noon to 5 p.m.), followed on Sunday by Taiko Drumming at the JACCC Plaza and capped by the Ondo Public Street Dancing & Closing Ceremony. It’s all free to attend. Get more here.
Garden Party for Kids at The Getty – FA > As part of their Garden Party for Kids series, this Saturday and Sunday the Getty welcomes artist, producer, author, educator, and two-time Grammy-nominee Divinity Roxx for an afternoon of music and storytelling in the Central Garden. The program is around 80 minutes and starts at 4 p.m. on both days. Advanced reservation to the museum (free) is required for admission. More info here.
Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Sunday Sessions – M FA > Grand Park’s second summer installment of Sunday Sessions returns this weekend an afternoon of Soul Source Los Angeles DJ sets along with plenty of space to dance, vibe, and picnic. Music starts at 3 p.m. Event runs till 8 p.m. Free to attend as always. More info here.More info here.
CicLAvia: Culver City Meets Venice – M FA > After a July break, CicLAvia returns this Sunday with a 6.75 mile course connecting Venice and Culver City. Expect multiple activity hubs along the way plus plenty of space to walk/run/bike/skate. Free to attend as always. Runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Good Neighbor Block Party – M FA > On Sunday, Angel City Brewery hosts an evening block party to cap off summer with plenty of entertainment and brews on tap. Expect DJ sets, special vendors, tooth gems, art installations and more. The fun runs from 6 p.m. to midnight. 21+ only. More info here.
CITY SHRED -> This Sunday, the Santa Monica Pier transforms into a massive outdoor fitness playground as CITY SHRED takes over for a two-hour, music-fueled experience. Move through a high-energy sequence of breathwork, yoga, pilates, contemporary somatic movement, dance, and HIIT, all choreographed to ignite pure joy. Tickets ($39.99) pack in the perks—think free samples, wellness demos, cold plunges, recovery zones, studio class passes, and swag bags for the first 500 guests. More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Saltie Girl x Fly By Jing Limited-Time Fried Szechuan Lobster Roll (Now through September 1) -> Saltie Girl in West Hollywood has teamed up with Fly By Jing for a bold, flavor-packed twist on a classic. Available through September 1, the Fried Szechuan Lobster Roll is piled high with crispy fried lobster, aromatic spices, charred scallion ranch and a generous dose of Fly By Jing’s signature Sweet + Spicy Chili Crisp. Rich, crunchy, and unexpected—it’s a short-lived indulgence worth planning for. More info here.
Echo Park Rising (August 15–16) -> The all-ages neighborhood festival celebrating local music, art, comedy, food, and the businesses that give Echo Park its character returns this weekend with a packed lineup of events. On Friday, Bar Bacetti kicks things off with a pre-party featuring Italian jazz, a Skyduster Beer tasting, happy hour specials, and a late-night dance party. Saturday brings tropical flair to The Lonely Oyster with daiquiris, $10 garlic shrimp plates, and a lei station courtesy of The Magic Craft Bus. Newcomer Men & Beasts will host a complimentary tea ceremony and a dumpling-making lesson before the evening’s live music. Over at old-school French bistro TAIX, the signature burger will be just $15—and that’s only a taste of what’s happening across the neighborhood. More info here.
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