Naja’s Place 7th Annual IPA Festival
2:00 pm – 12:00 am, May 13-19
Naja’s Place, Redondo Beach
http://www.facebook.com/events/366165203591325/
For seven days straight, Naja’s Place in Redondo Beach will tap nothing but IPA’s from all over. Come get hopped up at Naja’s Place this week.
Belmont Shore Stroll & Savor
5:30 pm – 9:00 pm, May 20-21
Along 2nd Street, Belmont Shore
http://www.belmontshore.org/events.html
This “Taste of Belmont Shore” occurs during the summer months annually from May through August on the third Wednesday and the Thursday immediately after. Attendees may purchase booklets of 12 tickets for $10, and redeem these tickets for food & drink samples from various restaurants along 2nd Street. Buy tickets presale now at Olives Gourmet, La Strada, We Olive, Mail Boxes etc. & Sweet Jill’s, or purchase tickets in front of CHASE BANK during the event.
Bell’s Brewing Patio Beer Dinner
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, May 20
Restauration, Long Beach
http://www.facebook.com/events/886439111422850/
Enjoy a three-course dinner with five beer from Bell’s Brewing this Wednesday night in Long Beach. This dinner will cost $45 per person. No one under 21 may participate.
Bottle Share @ The Rookery
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm, May 20
The Rookery, Pomona
http://www.facebook.com/events/862242803859282/
Share your favorite craft beer with other craft beer enthusiasts at this bottle share this Wednesday night in Downtown Pomona. Bring in a 750ml bottle of craft beer and order at least $10 of food in order to participate. Guests can find plenty of free parking in the area, and can avoid paying for parking entirely.
2015 Lightning In A Bottle
May 21-25
San Antonio Recreation Area, Bradley
http://lightninginabottle.org/
If I could pick one word to describe Lightning In A Bottle, I would pick hippie. Lightning In A Bottle brings people together from all over the world to celebrate earth and life with music, art, dance, yoga, speakers, workshops, and more. Expect to encounter thousands of people with a hippie mindset, like Woodstock but more controlled. Ticket prices vary depending on the mode of attendance, and they offer a presale discount, so check the prices on their site, and if you like what you see, purchase a ticket online to save some green.
Oskar Blues Tap Takeover
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm, May 21
Select Beer Store, Redondo Beach
http://www.facebook.com/events/832330366836973/
Select Beer Store will have some strong brews from Oskar Blues on tap this Thursday evening. Stop on by and prepare your taste buds for beers with a punch.
IPA Smackdown
5:00 pm – 11:00 pm, May 21
Alpine Village, Torrance
http://www.facebook.com/events/1016129825064177/
This Thursday night, Alpine Village in Torrance will have upwards of 18 IPA’s available for you to try. No admission required – simply show up, and order as you go.
GBH – 2015 US Tour
7:30 pm – 12:30 am, May 21, The Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood, http://www.theroxy.com/event/783693-gbh-west-hollywood/
7:00 pm – 1:00 am, May 23, The Observatory, Santa Ana http://www.observatoryoc.com/event/GBH
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, May 24, The Casbah, San Diego http://www.casbahmusic.com/event/5353
Legendary punk rock band GBH embarks on a US tour this week, and that tour swings through Southern California this week with three shows. Each show has a different age limit and ticket price, so click on a link for more information.
Gamex 2015
12:00 pm, May 22 – 6:00 pm, May 25
Hilton LAX, Los Angeles
http://www.strategicon.net/
This weekend-long expo will feature all sorts of board games, card games, miniatures, role-playing, collectibles, computer games and more. Registration varies, ranging from $5 all the way up to $500, so see the website for a breakdown of the prices to attend.
57th Annual Garden Grove Strawberry Festival
1:00 pm – 10:00 pm, May 22
10:00 am – 10:00 pm, May 23-24
10:00 am – 9:00 pm, May 25
Village Green, Garden Grove
http://strawberryfestival.org/
This free annual all-ages city fair features rides, games, vendors, food, contests, live entertainment, a parade, and more. Despite its name, the festival does not liberally give out strawberries or sell it – it just uses strawberries as its theme. Guests may go on rides with all-day wristbands, which cost $30 each, or just $25 on Friday.
2nd Annual Asian Pacific Festival
4:00 pm – 10:00 pm, May 22
10:00 am – 10:00 pm, May 23-24
Newport Dunes Waterfront & Resort, Newport Beach
http://www.apfestival.org/
Surround yourself with Asian culture at this weekend-long event in Newport Beach. On Friday, attend an EDM beach concert and dance into the night (no one under 18 may attend this). On Saturday and Sunday, a fair will take place complete with food, drinks, treats, rides, games, live music, live entertainment, arts & crafts, vendors, and more. Admission varies depending on when you attend, so check the website for pricing details.
San Diego Jazz Festival 2015
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, May 22
12:00 pm – 9:00 pm, May 23-24
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Carlsbad
http://www.sandiegojazzfest.com/
Enjoy a weekend filled with jazz this week in Carlsbad with famous performers such as R. Kelly, Erykah Badu, Maxwell, and more. Admission varies depending on when you want to attend.
The Rezillos – Live in Southern California
7:00 pm – 12:00 am, May 21, The Casbah, San Diego http://www.casbahmusic.com/event/5324
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, May 22, The Roxy Theatre, West Hollywood http://www.theroxy.com/event/746305-rezillos-west-hollywood/
7:00 pm – 12:00 am, May 24, Glass House, Pomona http://www.theglasshouse.us/event/795383-rezillos-pomona/
Old school punk band The Rezillos will headline some shows this week in Southern California. Each show has a different ticket cost and age limit, so click on a show’s link for more information.
Viernes 13 & Piñata Protest – Live in Southern California
8:00 pm – 2:00 am, May 22, Club Bahia, Echo Park http://www.facebook.com/events/753935388054116/
8:00 pm – 12:00 am, May 24, Slide Bar, Fullerton http://www.facebook.com/events/842129165876161/
Rock out to some Latin punk this weekend. The cover for the Friday show costs $15, while the Sunday show costs nothing. No one under 21 may enter either show.
7th Annual Santee Street Fair & Craft Beer Festival
10:00 am – 7:00 pm, May 23
Riverview Pkwy & Town Center Pkwy, Santee
http://santeestreetfair.com/
Tens of thousands of visitors will roam the streets of Santee this weekend during their annual street fair, now combined with a craft beer garden. Free for all-ages to attend, the fair will contain live music, entertainment, food, drinks, games, arts & crafts, rides, vendors, and so much more. Pricing for the beer festival varies depending on how many tasters a person wants, ranging from $10 to $30.
Hello Kitty Cafe Truck – Irvine Appearance
10:00 am – 9:00 pm, May 23
Irvine Spectrum, Irvine
http://www.facebook.com/events/1553470791582978/
SoCal Hello Kitty fans will not want to miss this rare opportunity to experience the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck. This Saturday, visitors to the truck will enjoy macarons, minicakes, and other Hello Kitty treats not found anywhere else.
Fiesta Hermosa
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, May 23-25
Downtown Hermosa Beach
http://fiestahermosa.net/
Fiesta Hermosa returns to the streets of Downtown Hermosa Beach this weekend. Free to park and attend, this street fair will have food, drinks, music, arts & crafts, games, rides, vendors, and more. You cannot park AT the event – for those driving, you must park at the Northrop Grumman Building at Marine & Aviation in Redondo Beach, and a free shuttle will carry you to and from the fest and parking lot.
Santa Anita Carnival
10:30 am – 6:00 pm, May 23-25
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia
http://www.santaanita.com/events/santa-anita-carnival/
Santa Anita Park opens their gates to the public for this FREE weekend-long festival for people of all ages. Visitors will find food, drinks, treats, rides, games, and more.
Summer Kick Off Craft Beer Fest
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, May 23
NTC Ingram Plaza, Liberty Station, San Diego
http://sandiegocraftbeerfest.com/
A beer tasting event will take place in Liberty Station in San Diego this Saturday afternoon, which will also have live local music and gourmet food trucks. General admission costs $50 presale or $60 at the door and starts at 1pm. Early admission costs $75 presale or $90 at the door and starts at 12pm.
Running of the Dames: 2
12:00 pm – 8:00 pm, May 23
Downtown Long Beach
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/running-of-the-dames2-tickets-16221512982
Running of the Bulls meets Roller Derby in this athletic event on the streets of Downtown Long Beach this Saturday afternoon. Don your best mobile gear and running shoes, and get moving to outrun the roller dames. Registration varies in price, starting at $25 for solo participants.
California Gold Rush Beer Festival
12:30 pm – 5:30 pm, May 23
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia
http://www.santaanita.com/events/california-gold-rush/
Beer and horse-racing mix up at the Santa Anita Park this Saturday afternoon. For $35 admission, you get ten 3oz beer tasters, one 12oz beer pour, and the souvenir cup to take home. No one under 21 may enter this event.
Anaheim Brewery’s Founder’s Day
3:00 pm – 10:00 pm, May 23
Anaheim Brewery, Anaheim
http://www.facebook.com/events/1603864196525268/
Enjoy specials beers, guests food vendors, and live music this Saturday at Anaheim Brewery.
OC Roller Girls – Banked Track Double Header
3:30 pm – 10:00 pm, May 23
OC Roller Skates, Santa Ana
http://ocrollergirls.com/
Watch intense & brutal girl-on-girl action at these back-to-back roller derby bouts this Saturday in Santa Ana. Tickets to each roller derby bout cost $15.
2015 Vista Village Strawberry Festival
7:00 am – 7:00 pm, May 24
Historic Downtown Vista
http://vistastrawberryfest.com/
At this free festival, guests of all-ages can experience a plethora of activities all day in Vista, formerly the Strawberry Capital of the World. The day starts with a 5K run, and when the run ends, the main festival begins. The multitude of activities include a beer garden, pie-eating contests, cooking contest, golf/putting contest, homebrew contest, video contest, strawberry costume contest, demos, live entertainment, car show, rides, games, food, and so much more. Visit the website for a full schedule and list of activities, plus directions on where to park.
Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival
11:00 am – 5:00 pm, May 24
2nd & Sycamore, Santa Ana
http://dearhandmadelife.com/patchwork-show/upcoming-shows/
This semi-annual arts & crafts fair consists of a series of Sunday fests at different locations. As with any typical arts & crafts fair, Patchwork will feature many traditional forms of art and merchandise, but also mixes in alternative art – thinking outside the box, or Rebel Art. Those who have attended Renegade Craft Fair will view Patchwork as a hybrid of that and a traditional art fair. Featuring clothing, accessories, home goods, jewelry, pet items, and more, this FREE fest caters to a wide & diverse crowd. Food trucks will serve guests during the fest. Always remember to carry cash, since most vendors only accept cash. Guests should park in the neighborhood south of the festival.
Liquid Kitty’s Punk Rock BBQ
1:00 pm – 8:00 pm, May 24
Liquid Kitty, West Los Angeles
http://www.facebook.com/events/640286592739169/
Enjoy BBQ and local punk rock bands at this FREE show this Sunday afternoon in West LA. No one under 21 may enter.
2nd Annual MAINopoly: Taste of Main Street
3:00 pm – 8:00 pm, May 24
Main Street & Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica
http://mainopolysm.com/
Sample the flavors of Santa Monica’s Main Street during this Monopoly-themed tasting event this Sunday afternoon. Admission varies in price depending on how much you plan to consume, starting at $25.
Abrasive Wheels & Infa Riot @ Alex’s Bar
8:30 pm – 1:30 am, May 24
Alex’s Bar, Long Beach
http://www.alexsbar.com/event/205891
Enjoy some local punk music this Sunday night at Alex’s Bar in Long Beach. Tickets to this show cost $10 presale or $12 at the door. No one under 21 may enter.
17th Annual City of Laguna Hills Memorial Day Half Marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Run
5:30 am – 11:30 am, May 25
Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills
http://www.lagunahillshalfmarathon.com/
Celebrate this Memorial Day with a run down in sunny Orange County. Register for any of various distances, and head to the starting line by 7am for the race start. Registration fees vary based on the distance, with the half marathon costing $75.
