Hello summer!
Forget “June Gloom,” we’re ready for the sunshine and all our favorite Westchester/Playa outdoor events! Check out this list of our top local happenings to add to your “ultimate summer” calendar. We’ll add more events as they’re announced! Stay tuned for more summer festivities in our August edition!
Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 10 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Join Runway Playa Vista for its second Annual Juneteenth Celebration.
The event will feature performances from The Furnace Band and traditional African dance. There will also be art demonstrations, delicious food for purchase and more than a dozen vendors showcasing their products.
Runway Playa Vista is located at 12775 Millennium Drive in Playa Vista. Learn more at runwayplayavista.com.
Shakespeare on the Bluff-”Merry Wives of Windsor”
Thursday, June 22 through Saturday, June 24 | 8 p.m.
LMU’s popular Shakespeare on the Bluff series is back this month with three performances of “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” This classic Shakespeare comedy is about “love, marriage, jealousy, lies and pranking.”
All performances are 90-minutes long and are held at LMU’s Drollinger Family Stage. Doors open at 6 p.m. and picnics are welcome. The show is directed by Nenad “Neno” Pervan. Save the date for next month’s performance of “Macbeth” on July 20-22.
Learn more and RSVP at community.lmu.edu/summer.
AMCS Pride Fest
June 17 | noon to 2 p.m.
The Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS) will hold its second annual Pride Fest at LMU’s Drollinger Family Stage.
The free community event is aimed at reducing stigma around mental health and raising awareness of AMCS’ low-cost mental health services.
The event, which is funded by the L.A. County Department of Mental Health, will feature fun and educational “wellness stations” facilitated by AMCS’ LGBTQIA’s Affirmative Therapy Center, guest speakers, free food trucks, music, a photo booth, gift bags and more. Register at amcspridefest.eventbrite.com.
Westchester Family YMCA Teen Takeover
Friday, June 23 | 6 to 9 p.m.
All teens are invited to the Westchester Family YMCA for Teen Takeover 2023!
The Y will close down early for this exclusive teen event featuring a Silent Disco, food, and games and more! Space is limited and RSVPs are requested at https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ymcala/activity/search/detail/246114
This event is sponsored by the Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation.
KXLU Salsa Fest
Saturday, June 24 | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
After a four-year hiatus, KXLU’s Alma Del Barrio Salsa Festival is heading back to LMU. The popular college radio station has delighted listeners for 50 years with its Sunday afternoon (2 to 6 p.m.) show “Alma Del Barrio,” which showcases the best of Salsa and Latin music. The festival will be held at LMU’s Sunken Garden and is dedicated to LMU alumnus and longtime DJ Eddie Lopez, who passed away earlier this year.
Food trucks, dance and pop-up shops round out the event. Learn more at kxlu.com.
23rd Annual Fourth of July Parade
Tuesday, July 4 | 11 a.m.
The LAX Coastal Chamber is inviting the community to celebrate an “Ultimate Summer!” with them at the 23rd Annual Fourth of July Parade.
The parade is Westchester’s largest event and brings together marching bands, floats, community groups and entertainment for a day celebrating our nation’s birthday. Expect about 50 entries, including returning favorites and a few new surprises.
The parade takes place along Loyola Blvd. from Westchester Park to LMU and lasts about an hour and a half. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis along the street or at bleacher seating near Loyola and 83rd Street. Check out next month’s edition of the Hometown News for more info and the parade program. More details on sponsorships and volunteering are available at laxcoastalonparade.com.
Marina del Rey Fireworks Show
Marina del Rey will once again host one of the Westside’s largest firework shows in honor of Independence Day.
View the 20-minute show on the Fourth of July at Fisherman’s Village or Burton Chace Park to enjoy synchronized music or at various spots throughout the community with a view of the Marina. Thousands of people head to MDR for the holiday and to enjoy the show, so it’s recommended that you plan ahead to get there early (paid parking lots around the Marina tend to fill up early in the day and street closures can start as early as 1 p.m.) or consider taking the WaterBus, the Beach Shuttle or use your favorite rideshare app.
For more info and recommended viewing locations, please visit https://beaches.lacounty.gov/4thofjuly.
July Summer Movies & “Macbeth” at LMU
LMU’s popular Shakespeare on the Bluff series will be performing one of the bard’s most popular and oft-quoted plays “Macbeth,” on July 20, 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. This classic Shakespeare tragedy tells the tale of “Macbeth and his wife [who] plot to become rulers of Scotland, but their reign falls apart into violence, paranoia and betrayal.”
All performances are 90-minutes long and are held at LMU’s Drollinger Family Stage. The show is directed by Jo Ann Mendelson.
The university is also hosting two family-friendly movie nights this month. First up is “Coco” on July 7 and “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” on July 28.
Shakespeare on the Bluff and outdoor movies are held at LMU’s Drollinger Family Stage and start when the sun sets around 8 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. and picnics are welcome.
Learn more and RSVP at community.lmu.edu/summer.
MdR Movies in the Park
Various dates
The Department of Beaches and Harbors has a great summer schedule of movies planned!
Enjoy outdoor family-friendly films on Fridays at 8 p.m. this summer during “Beach Movie Nights” at the Dockweiler Youth Center, located at 12505 Vista del Mar in Playa del Rey.
The 2023 Beach Movie Nights schedule is:
July 7-Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
July 14-Minions: Rise of Gru
July 21-Finding Nemo
July 28-Vivo
August 4-The Little Rascals
August 11-Toy Story 4
August 18-Jumanji
August 25-Luca
September 1-The Lion King
September 8-Free Willy
September 15-Coco
September 22-The Super Mario Bros. Movie
September 29-Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
On select Saturdays at 8 p.m., check out “Marina Movie Nights” at Burton Chace Park (13650 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey) for a mix of PG-13 classics and recent blockbusters.
The 2023 Marina Movie Nights schedule is:
July 8-The Wedding Singer
July 29-Jaws
August 12-Grease
August 26-Beverly Hills Cop
September 2-Thor: Love and Thunder
September 9-Love and Basketball
September 16-Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark
September 23-Top Gun: Maverick
September 30-Creature from the Black Lagoon
All showings are free, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t forget to bring your low-back chairs, blankets and snacks! Parking is available onsite for a fee.
Check out the full schedule once it’s available at beaches.lacounty.gov.
Tomato Fest at Emerson Avenue Garden
The Emerson Avenue Community Garden will host its Sixth Annual Tomato Tasting Contest on July 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. The community is invited to stop by the garden for the festivities and try a dozen or so tomatoes grown by garden club plotholders. Attendees will have the chance to vote for their favorite varieties in the categories of sweetest, sourest, biggest, smallest, prettiest, ugliest and juiciest.
The event is presented by Master Gardener and plot holder, Dana Morgan.
The garden, which is a community green space as well as a location for 38 individual plots, is located at 6550 W. 80th St. in Westchester. Learn more at eacgc.org.
Westchester Team Challenge
Saturday, August 5 | 8 a.m. to noon
Get ready to show off your team working skills at the third Annual Westchester California Team Challenge at LMU! Put together a team of eight to 12 players and get ready for a morning filled with friendly competition and games between local community groups, businesses and neighbors. This year’s activities include bocce ball, football toss, hold the rope, kettleball relay and corn hole.
Proceeds raised from the event will go toward supporting the Westchester Streetscape Improvement Association, which helps beautify the community.Learn more and register your team at WestchesterCATeamChallenge.com.
8th Annual Westchester Arts & Music Block Party
Saturday, September 23 | noon to 7 p.m.
Summer wouldn’t be complete without attending the Westchester Arts & Music Block Party (WAM)! This end of summer blast features a full day of entertainment from live bands and community dance groups. Get a prime viewing spot at the Stephanie Younger Group-sponsored beer & wine garden, and make sure to visit all the vendors selling their art and wares. In between the vendors, you’ll also find more than a dozen community groups hosting giveaways, photo booths, crafts and other activities. Food from a variety of trucks, including Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Hart House, Dulce Europa and more will be available for purchase.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Westchester Family YMCA.
WAM takes place on Emerson Ave. between 80th St. and 80th Pl. in Westchester. Stay tuned for more details and get info on sponsorships and being a vendor at wamblockparty.org.