As the pandemic starts to appear in the rear-view mirror and vaccination numbers continue to rise, local businesses and organizations are beginning to plan and host events again.
While last year every major summer happening was canceled or went virtual, as we move toward the state’s June 15 reopening date, more activities and events keep getting announced. With many organizations still working on finalizing their calendars for the next few months, here’s a snapshot of some of the exciting events and activities that have been announced so far for this summer!
Marina Drive-In Movies
Fridays and Saturdays starting June 18 through September 5
5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
This pandemic has brought a resurgence of an old time favorite– drive-in movies! Over the past year, drive-in movies have been popping up all over Los Angeles, providing a fun and safe way to enjoy time with your family and get to see some awesome classics.
Marina del Rey is getting in on the action with a summer 2021 drive-in movie series launching this month.
For $20, you can pack the car with your loved ones and catch a flick on the big screen while you enjoy a picturesque view of the marina. Parking spots are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Attendees are welcome to bring their own food, or guests can order their favorite dishes from local restaurants for an early dinner with a waterfront view! Gourmet food trucks will also be on site for all your snack needs.
Movies will be shown Fridays and Saturdays through September 5 with screenings at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Lot 2, located at 13477 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey.
Check mdrmovies.com or call (424) 526-7900 to find out this month’s movie line-up once it’s finalized.
21st Annual Fourth of July Parade Celebrating “Our National Treasures”
Sunday, July 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce is anticipating being able to hold its 21st Annual Fourth of July Parade next month, and the committee is calling on all interested participants, volunteers and sponsors to join them in putting on a successful event.
The parade is scheduled to take place on July 4 with a later than usual start time of 11:30 a.m., since it falls on a Sunday this year. The parade route is Loyola Blvd. from Westchester Park to Loyola Marymount University. The 2021 theme is “Our National Treasures.”
Organizers say that while this will be a scaled down version of the event compared to previous years, attendees should expect parade favorites and a lot of community spirit.
The parade is still pending approval from local officials, and more information will be made available at laxcoastalonparade.com and at facebook.com/laxcoastal as it becomes available.
Those interested in participating, volunteering or sponsoring, can email laxcoastalonparade@gmail.com for details or to receive a participant entry form.
Questions can also be directed to the chamber at (310) 645-5151.
Maker’s Market at RUNWAY
Saturday, June 19 from 10: 30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Stop by Playa Vista’s RUNWAY Shopping Center for their Maker’s Market! The event will feature local artisans, family fun, live music and photo ops.
RUNWAY is located at 12746 West Jefferson Blvd. in Playa Vista. Visit runwayplayavista.com/events for more info.
Summer Games Pass at Bowlero
Various Dates
Bowlero’s cool vibe and excellent food and drinks make it a Westchester destination. But this summer, Bowlero has some great offers for kids that will keep them entertained and happy all summer long: the Summer Games season pass! Pass holders can bowl three games, every day, and the deal includes shoes—all for one low price that pays for itself in three visits or less! Plus, there are special offers exclusively for passholders like access to a discounted Summer Games Kids’ Menu.
The pass is good from May 27 through September 6 and cost about $40 for kids and $50 for adults.
On Saturday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bowlero Westchester will host Kids’ Fest. During this event, kids ages 15 and under will get one free hour of bowling and complimentary shoe rental. There will be discounts on adult bowling as well. As an added bonus for attending, Bowlero will be holding a drawing where one lucky family will win one free year of the PBA Jr. club bowling for their child!
Bowlero Westchester is located at 8731 Lincoln Blvd. in Westchester.
Visit bowlero.com/location/bowlero-los-angeles for more details.
Westchester/Playa Historical Society Discovery Center
Opening August 1
For the past year, a group of dedicated individuals have been working hard to bring the Westchester/Playa Historical Society’s Discovery Center to life and on August 1 they will cross the finish line!
The primary objectives of the historical society are to gather, study and preserve the history of the communities of Westchester, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista. The Discovery Center is in the heart of Westchester–the Triangle–and will be a place to see the historical society’s objectives come to life. The center will house more than 11,000 images of these communities and will provide educational and research opportunities. It will also be able to fulfill the State of California’s history education mandate for fourth and ninth graders through coordinated programmed presentations for field trips. The nonprofit also has plans for walking tours, and eventually bus tours of the area as well. The center will have temporary exhibits under two different themes: Commerce and Community Pioneers.
The Discover Center is located at 6207 W. 87th St. in Westchester. Learn more at wphistoricalsociety.org.
Caravan Swim Club at Hotel June
Various dates
As we all know, the restaurant industry was hit extremely hard by the pandemic, so supporting local eateries has been a mainstay of Safer At Home life. Caravan Swim Club is one of those restaurants that is so excited to be open and getting back to normal.
On June 15, all parts of this hidden gem of Westchester will be up and running and ready to welcome guests. The breezy Baja-inspired Caravan Swim Club has poolside gathering options and a beautiful, elevated terrace.
Right now, poolside dining is only available for guests of the hotel on the weekends, but soon will be fully open for dining and for relaxing at the bar while enjoying your favorite cocktails. Enjoy the view on the elevated terrace with house favorites like locally caught grilled fish, organic steak, seasonal salads, oysters from the raw bar, and shareable snacks paired with drinks like biodynamic wines, craft beers and small-batch tequilas.
Chef Angie Lee is the culinary force behind dining at Hotel June. She is a Le Cordon Bleu graduate with more than a decade of experience in restaurants around the world, including a Michelin star-rated restaurant in La Sarte, Spain. In Los Angeles, she has led kitchens at the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel and the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons.
The Caravan Swim Club is located at 8639 Lincoln Blvd in Westchester. Learn more at thehoteljune.com/caravan-swim-club.
YMCA Swim Lessons
Starting June 21
The Westchester Family YMCA is another organization that has been hit hard by the pandemic. With the government mandating the closure of all gyms over the last year, the YMCA made a major pivot. While being closed for workouts, they opened up a shower program for the unhoused, launched a community food pantry, hosted multiple food drives, and even sponsored a few drive-through events. During this time, the Westchester YMCA has been a true community hero!
Now, as things slowly creep towards normalcy, the Y recently opened for swim lessons, just in time for summer.
Swim lessons at the YMCA are a rite of passage for most families, so don’t miss an opportunity to participate in this fun tradition.
The next sessions start June 21. Member registration opens on June 7 and non-members can register beginning June 14.
The YMCA is located at 8015 S. Sepulveda Blvd. in Westchester. Visit ymcala.org/locations/westchester-family-ymca for more details.
Pride event at The Book Jewel
Saturday, June 26 at 8 p.m.
The Book Jewel is truly a community treasure. In addition to their many events and book club meetings, this summer, the bookstore will host its first LGBTQ Pride and evening event on June 26.
The evening will feature Liz Brown, the author of “Twilight Man.” Brown will read from her newly released biography about her great-grand uncle, William Andrews Clark Jr. and his secret relationship with another man named Harrison Post in Los Angeles during the 1920s–a tumultuous time for LGBTQ folks who had to hide their truth or risk economic and social ruin. Clark is known for launching the LA Philharmonic and helped establish the Hollywood Bowl. The book focuses on Post’s life after the tragic and unexpected death of Clark, and the legal battles that would shape the rest of his life.
The event will also feature a short poetry reading, followed by a drag variety show! This will be a ticketed event and will include a copy of “Twilight Man” with the price of admission.
RSVP at thebookjewel.com. The Book Jewel is located in the Westchester Triangle at 6259 W. 87th St. in Westchester.
Westchester Farmers’ Market
Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
It is hard to think about June and July without picturing all of the abundant offerings at the farmers’ market: from peaches and nectarines to watermelon and all the squashes, heirloom tomatoes and summer corn.
The Westchester Farmers’ Market takes place every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and summer is a great time to check out all their vendors and fresh produce.
Follow them on Instagram @westchesterfarmersmarket to view what’s in season and get the scoop on the week’s schedule as they start to welcome back live music and kids’ activities this summer!
The market is located in the 6200 block of 87th Street in Westchester.
Westchester Arts & Music Block Party
Saturday, September 18
WAM is back! After going virtual last year, the Sixth Annual Westchester Arts & Music Block Party will return just in time to say “goodbye” to summer! This free, day-long event is a community favorite and although it may look a little different this year depending on county guidelines, be prepared for fabulous live music, local artisans, vendors, community booths and a wine/beer garden. Save the date, and get ready to party in the street as Emerson Ave. between 80th St. and 80th Pl. is shut down for the ultimate Westchester block party! Stay tuned for more details at wamblockparty.org.
What’s on your summer activity list? Send us a message at westchesterhometown@yahoo.com or at facebook.com/thehtn.com!
By Lydia Smith.
Posted June 2021.
