The Best Things to Do This Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: May 27-30

C.Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with festivals in Topanga and Hermosa Beach. See a new exhibition of works by Keith Haring. Look at a mix of Village and Radiohead.

events

Saturday May 27 – Monday May 29

Topanga Days Country Fair
Topanga Community Club Grounds
1440 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga
The bohemian festival, located in the Santa Monica Mountains, features live music on two stages, food and games for the whole family, and a Memorial Day Parade. Musical artists this year include Allah-Las, Young Dubliners and Spazmatics.
COST: Adult admission: $15 – $50; MORE INFORMATION

Saturday May 27 – Monday May 29

beautiful party
pier square
Hermosa Ave. and Lower Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach
The festival is expected to attract more than 100,000 people over the three-day weekend with live music stages, a food fair, Makers Mercato, carnival and The (beer) Garden. There is free parking and a shuttle bus leaves from the Northrop Grumman parking lot in Manhattan Beach.
COST: FREE – $5 admission to The Garden; MORE INFORMATION

Saturday May 27 – Sunday October 8

Keith Haring: art is for everyone
The width
221 S. Grand Ave., Downtown Los Angeles
The art exhibit marks the late pop artist’s first exhibition at a museum in Los Angeles to feature a display of his expansive body of his most iconic works. The sample includes more than 120 works and archival materials.
COST: $15 – $22; MORE INFORMATION

Saturday May 27; 12:00 – 23:00

I LOVE RNB FESTIVAL: Ashanti, Ja Rule, Keyshia Cole
Queen Mary Event Park
1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach
It’s time to bring it back to life with classic ’90s R&B. The lineup includes Ashanti, Ja Rule, Keyshia Cole, Fabolous, Chingy, Bobby V., Pleasure P, Nivea, Marques Houston, Ruff Endz and others.
COST: $199; MORE INFORMATION

Saturday, May 27, 8 – 11 pm

Radiohead + Hamlet: Maybe to dream
The Peak Union Project
Valencia Street 1153, Pico-Union

This conceptual concert features a full band, strings, and a cast offering a dark, dystopian take on Shakespeare’s work. Village to life through the music of Radiohead’s OK Computer, Kid A and The Bends.
COST: $10 – $25; MORE INFORMATION

Saturday May 27; 17:30 (doors)

ghost world
street food cinema
The Autry Museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Griffith Park
Watch Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson as two directionless high school grads who get into some serious trouble in this Street Food Cinema event. The night also features several on-site food trucks and music by the Pleasures.
COST: $22 – $32; MORE INFORMATION

Sunday May 28; 8 – 11 a.m.

Japanese car cruise in
The Petersen Automobile Museum
6060 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire
The museum’s annual Japanese Car Cruise is back, featuring all makes and models of Japanese cars. The biggest cruise ship and courtroom competition of the year, spectators can wander among show cars, historic cars and one-of-a-kind unicorns. Complimentary coffee, donuts and parking will be provided to spectators on a first-come, first-serve basis.
COST: $20 spectator admission; MORE INFORMATION

Sunday May 28; 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Los Angeles Zine Fest 2023

The Expo Center of the Arts
4321 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach
The DIY print celebration returns for the first time since the pandemic. The one-day event brings together nearly 200 magazine vendors, hands-on workshops, panels, local DJs, independent bookstores, and grassroots community groups. The festival also provides a safe space for creators to post on topics ranging from community awareness and mental health to intersectional identities and more.
COST: FREE admission; MORE INFORMATION

Sunday May 28; 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Corgi Nationals
Santa Anita Park
285 Huntington Dr., Arcadia
SoCal Corgi Nation, the group of Corgi enthusiasts behind Cal Corgi Beach Day, hosts the annual racing event for these furry four-legged riders. The day features Corgi and dog-themed vendors, food, drinks, carnival rides (additional cost), and track racing. Enter through gate 6 and park for free in the Infield Colorado driveway.
COST: $12 – $17 general admission; MORE INFORMATION

Monday May 29; 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

jazz and reggae festival
UCLA Sunset Recreation Center
111 Easton Dr., Westwood
The student-run festival, now in its 36th year, combines music, art and good vibes into one day in the sun. After a performance by the UCLA Sparker Band, listen to performances by Your Grandparents, Jordon Ward, Maxo Kream and Hempress Sativa.
COST: Tickets start at $20 for the general public; MORE INFORMATION

outdoor selection

Hike to Yoga LA
Every Saturday at 8 a.m. Hike to Yoga LA offers free yoga sessions and a guided hike at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. The group’s mission is to increase individual self-awareness and collective physical health through connection to nature, community, and intentional movement. The moderate hike begins at 8 am (set your GPS for La Brea and Don Lorenzo and meet at East Trailhead Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area). The hike ends at the yoga session at The Bluffs, so if you just want to do yoga, pay $7 cash for parking, enter through the La Cienega entrance, and park next to the Burke Roche restroom/picnic area. Hike to Yoga LA sessions are free, but donations are accepted.

display selection

The Oath of the Sword, presented by the Japanese American National Museum
On Sunday, May 28 at 2:00 p.m., watch the 1914 film the oath of the sword at the Academy Museum with live musical accompaniment. Presented by the Japanese American National Museum, the Japanese American Film Company film is believed to be the first Asian-American film production. Following the film, Renee Tajima-Peña, Professor of Asian American Studies at UCLA, moderates a panel discussion with guests Stephen Gong, Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media; Karen L. Ishizuka, JANM Chief Curator; and Denise Khor, Associate Professor of Asian American Studies and Visual Studies at Northeastern University. Tickets are $5.

Food and drink offers

Here are some dining and drinking options to enjoy this week.

• MAINopoly: A Sampler of Main Street returns to Santa Monica on Saturday, May 27. The culinary walking tour doubles as an interactive version of the classic board game. Attendees exchange “Mainopoly” dollars for tastings at restaurants, cafes and ice cream parlors, and work their way around the board to win prizes. General admission tickets include 20 tastings at venues like Ashland Hill, Holey Grail Donuts, Alfalfa, JuneShine, Library Alehouse, Stella Barra Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Jameson’s Pub, Tavern on Main, The Victorian, Papille Gustative, Pasjoli, Ubatuba Acai, and others.
• Aster’s emerging culinary series, Food as Art, continues May 26-28, with chef Álvaro Clavijo contributing his avant-garde touch in classic Latin American flavors for a five-course rooftop dinner. Tickets are $185 per person.
• If you’re headed to Big Bear for the long holiday weekend, the Grill + Chill BBQ Festival takes place on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28 at The Village at Big Bear Lake. Grillmasters from across the country converge to compete for top honors, while attendees can sample some of the best barbecue and craft beer while enjoying live music, shopping and kid-friendly activities. Tickets are $10 – $100.
• The newly renovated pool at the Hotel Marina del Rey kicks off the summer season with a weekly visit Sunday Funday Pool Party, starting Sunday May 28. Guests will enjoy the beats of local DJs and delicious bites and drink specials while soaking up the SoCal sun. Adult tickets are $50 – $60, $20 for children.
• Little Dom’s Seafood in Carpinteria has a Santa Maria Grill Summer Series kicks off on Saturday, May 27, from 12-4pm, and serves up some of the region’s barbecue favorites prepared at the restaurant’s new Santa Maria Grill, including Calabrian chicken wings, barbecued oysters, tri-pound sandwiches, tips and more. If you can’t make it this weekend, the series continues on the fourth Saturday of each month through Labor Day weekend (June 24, July 22, August 26, and September 2).
• The Newport Beach Wine Festival at Balboa Bay Resort takes place this Memorial Day weekend (May 27 and 28), with wine tastings from more than 60 vineyards and spirit labels, California coastal-inspired bites, live music and a new speakeasy sponsored by Macallan Whiskey. Tickets start at $125.
• the 63rd annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival takes place from Friday, May 26 to Monday, May 29 in downtown Garden Grove. Ride the rides, watch the strawberry parade, shop at the vendors and listen to live music.