9 minute read
Recurring Events
Photo Courtesy: Valerie Griffin
EVERY MONTH
Angels Gate Cultural Center Angels Gate Park
Main Entrance: 32nd Street at South Gaffey Daylight entrance: 36th Street and South Gaffey AngelsGateArt.org Rotating gallery exhibitions, art, music, drawing, printmaking and yoga classes, artist studios, special film and poetry events. AGCC’s mission is to provide space for artists to work and to engage the community through arts education, exhibitions of contemporary art, and cultural events
San Pedro Farmers’ Market at Little Italy
638 Beacon Street, in Peppertree Plaza Every Friday from 11am to 3pm Specializing in Italian delicacies and foods, the new location of the Farmer’s market is a collaboration with Little Italy of Los Angeles and the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce. Pick up lunch from food trucks, buy fresh produce, honey, baked goods, crafts and more.
1st Thursday Art Walk Historic Downtown Business District
5:30 - 9pm 1stThursday.com White lights swag crisscross downtown from store to restaurant for blocks, and live music fills the streets. Outdoor music is programmed by the PBID at the corner of 6th and Mesa. Tour and taste Historic Downtown San Pedro’s eclectic art galleries, unique shops, and distinctive eateries with live music at various venues, gourmet food trucks and different tours each month! Check out 1stThursday.com or the SanPedroWaterfrontArtsDisrict.com for free guided one-hour tours and to see galleries featuring local artists. Guided ArtWalk Tours gather at various fun locations. 1st Thursday ArtWalk maps are available for home printing at: SanPedroWaterfrontArtsDistrict.com/map
FREE Concert Series
1st Thursdays 6-9 p.m. Corner of 6th and Mesa San Pedro CA 90731
Green Girl Farms
Every Wednesday from 9 to 11am 390 W 14th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 @greengirlfarms Here’s where to find fresh fruits and vegetables grown in San Pedro’s empty urban spaces, for sale. While food grows, Green Girl Farms is educating communities about urban agriculture using environmentally responsible practices. Founded in 2014 by Lara Hughey. Volunteers are welcome. Follow on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Muller House Museum
1st and 2nd Sundays, except major holidays 1542 S. Beacon Street, San Pedro CA 90731 Tours are from 1-4 pm Sanpedrobayhistoricalsociety.com Guided tours, changing exhibits, special events. After your visit, cross the street and check out CRAFTED and Brouwerij West at the Port of LA.
Curator Tour of the Battleship IOWA
2nd Saturdays 250 S Harbor Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90731 pacificbattleship.com Join Battleship USS IOWA’s Curator Dave Way for an in-depth look at the Battleship USS IOWA. This 4.5-hour tour includes a one-hour history presentation, a 1.5 hour guided tour to decks that are off limits to the general public, a behind-the-scenes presentation, a Q&A session, souvenir photo, and a boxed lunch.
SPRING
Whale Watching
December to April or May
Harbor Breeze Cruises
(Open Year-round) 1150 Nagoya Way, Berth 79 San Pedro, CA 90731 2seewhales.com
Moonlit Grunion Runs
March through June at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro CA 90731 Cabrillomarineaquarium.org, #cmagrunion Under a new or full moon and just after high tides at night, the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium hosts Meet the Grunion nighttime events to explore and celebrate when thousands of silver-sided California grunion beach themselves to spawn and lay their eggs. California grunion are unique to Southern California and Baja California and Cabrillo Beach is one of the best spots to view them.
Tea by the Sea Point Fermin Lighthouse
Every April 807 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro CA 90731 Pointferminlighthouse.org Tea and refreshments are served, and this event includes garden and lighthouse tours at the Point Fermin historic lighthouse. It was built in 1874, in keeping with early Victorian Stick Style. It was also the first navigational light in the San Pedro Bay and its first lighthouse keeper sisters were May and Ella Smith. Entry is free and reservations are not required.
Port of Los Angeles Harbor Cup Regatta Los Angeles Yacht Club
Headquarters: 285 Whalers Walk San Pedro, CA 90731 Layc.org The Harbor Cup intercollegiate regatta invites 10 teams, including the U.S Naval Academy, California Maritime Academy, Cork Institute of Technology-Ireland, USC and UCLA.
March Laharborfilmfest.com The annual LA Harbor International Film Festival (LAHIFF), founded in 2003, is a
non-juried, non-competitive annual film festival that entertains, enlightens and educates by showcasing film and video that reflect the full harbor life.
Earth Day - Take Action Day! Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Each April 3720 Stephen M. White Drive San Pedro CA 90731 Cabrillomarineaquarium.org Volunteer! Cabrillo Marine Aquarium marks this day with action-oriented activities to see the effect of microplastics in the sea, watch grunions hatch, learn about sand crabs, and more. Cleanup is 9am to 11:30 pm.
LA Fleet Week
Memorial Day Weekend May 27 – 30, 2022 • 10am – 6pm daily At the Los Angeles Waterfront, in San Pedro LAFleetWeek.com LA Fleet Week® is an annual, multi-day celebration of our nation’s Sea Services held on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles over the extended Memorial Day Weekend. Past events have included active duty ship tours, military displays and equipment demonstrations, live entertainment, aircraft flyovers, STEM Expo for kids of all ages, sports tournaments, and the Galley Wars culinary cook-off competition between Sailor, Marine & Coastguard teams. Lots of fun for the entire family. And best of all, entrance is FREE to the general public!
SUMMER
Cars & Stripes Forever!
Last Friday in June Harbor Boulevard & Vincent Thomas Bridge San Pedro, CA 90731 Lawaterfront.org/events Features live local bands, approximately 100 classic cars, Harleys, patriotic songs added to the Fanfare Fountain, activities for children, a beer garden, and a lot more. Activities and parking are free. This annual event began in 2008.
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Independence Day Ringing Ceremony: Korean Bell of Friendship Angels Gate Park
Fourth of July, 10 am 3601 S. Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 laparks.org The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce hosts this event, one of just over a dozen times when the six-ton ceremonial bell is rung each year. The Republic of Korea presented the bell in 1976 for the Bicentennial Jubilee of American Independence.
Fourth of July Spectacular
Cabrillo Beach 3720 Stephen M. White Dr. San Pedro, CA 90731 Lawaterfront.org/events 2021 marks the 72nd year for the Annual John Olguin July 4th Spectacular. Picnickers queue up early in the day for parking spots and the best beachside seats for a day and evening of music, family activities, food trucks and –fireworks! Check online calendars for details.
Mary Star of the Sea Fiesta
Each year in July 870 W. 8th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 Marystar.org/fiesta Games, carnival rides and raffle prizes are delightful, and the food is spectacular! Swordfish, tri-tip, mostaccioli and roast beef sit-down dinners are legendary. On the fairgrounds, sample the burgers, dogs, tacos and cotton candy as you stroll along and join the fun.
Music by the Sea
Point Fermin • Every Sunday in July, 2022 807 W. Paseo Del Mar Spmusicbythesea.com Enjoy the ocean breeze and scenic cliffs, next to the historic Point Fermin Lighthouse for an afternoon asthree bandshell performances fill Point Fermin Park with music, while vendors offer food and shopping.
Shakespeare By the Sea
Point Fermin Park June through August 807 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731 Shakespearebythesea.org This traveling Shakespeare company has been producing a free summer festival on an outdoor stage at Point Fermin Park since 1998. Each season features a fresh selection of a show each from the Bard’s comedy and drama works.
Conquer the Bridge Race
Labor Day Vincent Thomas Bridge San Pedro, CA 90731 Conquerthebridge.com This annual Labor Day 5.3-mile run/WALK race is the only legal chance you’ll have to run across the Vincent Thomas Bridge! The Vincent Thomas Bridge is a 1,500 feet long beauty, the 4th longest suspension bridge in California.
FALL
Día de los Muertos Festival
Late October 6th Street between Mesa and Center San Pedro, CA 90731 Sanpedrodayofthedead.com Celebrate the Day of the Dead when the streets come alive with art, culture, strolling musicians, delicious Latin American cuisine and offerings from dozens of San Pedro’s great downtown restaurants. It’s a colorful day with participants in bright painted faces and dark costumes. An exhibition of altars honoring deceased family members and friends is at the heart of the festival.
San Pedro International Film Festival
November (various venues in San Pedro) Spiffest.org San Pedro International Film Festival celebrates the city’s cultural diversity and film production history while providing audiences with extraordinary and sometimes future Academy Award winning films and documentaries. SPIFF also supports community programs to help young filmmakers develop the skills needed to achieve their aspirations.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Sea Scare
Halloween weekend in October 3720 Stephen M. White Drive, San Pedro CA 90731 cabrillomarineaquarium.org The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s annual Halloween party washes ashore with lots of thrills and chills. Sea Scare features include the Trick-or-Treat Trail, Seaside Boardwalk, the Sea Scare Party Zone, and Skull Alley. Come in costume and join in on the masquerade of ghosts and goblins.
Happy Harbor Halloween
Halloween weekend in October Harbor Boulevard Promenade, San Pedro, CA 90731 Lawaterfront.org This LA Waterfront event kicks off with a Halloween-themed Pet Parade, and a family-friendly event follows. Join a costume parade, plus arts and crafts, face painting, games and more. Featuring a pumpkin patch, costume parade, games, candy and more!
WINTER
The Spirit of San Pedro Holiday Parade
First Sunday in December at 1pm from 15th Street & Pacific Avenue to 6th Street at Palos Verdes Boulevard. Spholidayparade.com Crowds cheer the local drill teams, bands, floats, fire engines, police motorcycle brigades and the great diversity of organizations that parade into the heart of town to celebrate the holiday season each year.
LA Harbor Afloat Boat Parade
First Saturday in December at dusk Parade map is online Laharborholidayafloat.org Since 1962, tall ships, tugs and leisure boats have decorated for the holidays and cruised the main channel of the Port of Los Angeles. The best views are anywhere along the main channel, including the Battleship IOWA Museum.
The Nutcracker Holiday Performance The San Pedro City Ballet Dance School Performance
Held annually the second weekend in December at the Warner Grand Theatre Sanpedrocityballet.org This annual holiday weekend tradition is not your ordinary Nutcracker performance. Since 1994, more than 5,000 people have attended over three performance days. Ballet instructors and volunteers organize this production with inclusion in mind: The cast consists of an ethnically and racially diverse cast of 300 children and youth. The San Pedro City Ballet is the ballet-school home of Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer.
Winter/Spring Whale Watching
Pacific gray whales migrate between December and April each year.
Harbor Breeze Cruises
1150 Nagoya Way, Berth 79 San Pedro, CA 90731 2seewhales.com
Korean Bell of Friendship
Angels Gate Park New Year’s Day Ringing Ceremony New Year’s Eve/January 1st 3601 S. Gaffey Street, San Pedro, CA 90731
New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim
January 1st – Cabrillo Beach 3720 Stephen M. White Drive San Pedro, CA 90731 Cabrillobeachpolarbears.com Kick off the new year with a refreshing swim in the Pacific with the Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears. The new King and Queen of the Polar Bears are crowned at 11:30 am and the first swim or dip commences at noon. All participants who completely dip themselves in the water receive a certificate. Free coffee and refreshments.
