Favorite Summer Activities August 15-31

Haven’t had your fill of summertime adventure yet? There is always something going on in LA! Here are some of my favorite summer events in LA for the second 2 weeks of August! 

Echo Park Rising
For the 6th time, the Echo Park neighborhood is hosting a free festival showcasing music, creativity, diversity, and small businesses of Echo Park. This three-day festival features over 100 local bands, comedians, film screenings and much more. Multiple stages and venues (located on the main routes of Sunset Blvd, Glendale Blvd, Alvarado Avenue, Echo Park Avenue and beyond) are presenting bands, performers, and activities for all ages. However, some areas may be 21+ because alcohol is available for purchase. 

When: The festival runs August 18th – August 21st. Specific times are listed below:
Thursday: NO Main Stage; activities from 7pm – business close.
Friday & Saturday: Doors at 2pm. The Main Stage off of Liberty Street (behind Taix) music starts at 3pm and has a 10pm curfew; additional events throughout the neighborhood will go later.
Sunday: NO Main Stage; activities from noon – 10pm.
Where: Various locations around Echo Park 

Chinatown Summer Nights

The last Chinatown Summer Nights festival of 2016 is taking place on Saturday, August 20th right in the heart of Los Angeles’s Chinatown. Chinatown Summer Nights is part street festival and part all out block party featuring gourmet food trucks, Chinese fireworks, live music, craft brews, and dance parties with KCRW DJs. There is also plenty to see from local artists and merchants, as well as cooking demonstrations, cultural activities, a monkey (you heard me), and much, much more! Did I mention it’s FREE?!

When: Saturday, August 20th 5pm-midnight (although many local shops are open earlier, and the bars stay open later)
Where: Chinatown Central & West Plaza (943 – 951 N. Broadway, Los Angeles CA 90012)

Go Wild with Roaring Nights at the LA Zoo!

Roaring Nights is the Friday night summer concert series held (you guessed it!) inside the LA Zoo featuring live bands, full bars, and plenty of food trucks, as well as zoo keeper talks, animal encounters, and—for the 2016 season only—the chance to experience Dinosaurs: Unextinct at the L.A. Zoo. August 26th is Indie Night featuring the talented Black Crystal Wolf Kids and FifthLaw performing the best hits of the indie music scene from artists like Hozier, The Black Keys, Pavement, and The Pixies. Purchase your tickets in advance. Online ticketing closes at 5 p.m. on the day of the event, but you can still purchase your tickets at the Zoo membership window as early as 6 p.m.

When: Friday, August 26, 2016 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Where: Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens – 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
$25 per person (GLAZA* members $22)
FREE Parking!
Must be 18+ to attend (Valid ID is required for entry).

Farmer’s Markets
There are so many great farmer’s markets in LA- perhaps you saw my earlier post about the Larchmont Village Farmers Market? It is one of the best farmer’s markets in Los Angeles with upwards of 50 venders selling a wide variety of products. Or you can explore the surrounding area, and stop by one of Larchmont Village’s many quaint eateries nestled among the charming tree-lined streets. You may even enjoy some free music by a local artist. The Larchmont Village Farmer’s Market operates Sundays from 10a.m.- 2p.m. Free underground parking is available across the street at the Rite Aid. Meters start at 11am. Or just walk like me! Bring the whole family; the farmer’s market is wheelchair accessible. No pets; service pets only. And remember- many of the vendors are cash only! See you there!

When: Sundays from 10a.m.- 2p.m. (Sometimes they start earlier – shhhh!)
Where: 209 N Larchmont Boulevard. Los Angeles, CA 90004
(north of 1st Street, just south of Beverly Blvd)
My favorite/must have vendor is GOURMET SOUP.

TASTE OF LARCHMONT

The 24th Annual Taste of Larchmont festival returns on Monday, August 29 from 6pm-9pm right here in Larchmont Village! The 2016 celebration is themed "Kickoff on Larchmont" in honor of the Los Angeles Rams returning to the city. The event is the primary fund-raiser for the Hope-Net charitable organization to address hunger and homeless needs, and 90 percent of the funds received are used to purchase and distribute food to those in need in the local area. This family-friendly event features live music, a prize raffle, and of course, plenty of food from 13 different Larchmont establishments.

When: Monday, August 29 from 6pm-9pm
Where: Larchmont Village
Tickets are $40 each.
(Volunteers are welcome and needed in many capacities, including planning, event assistance and clean-up. For more information, visit hopenetla.org)

Doth Thou Even Shakespeare?

The Independent Shakespeare Company presents the Free Shakespeare Festival in Griffith Park of Los Feliz. The annual festival, which includes family events, workshops, mainstage shows with pre-show entertainment, runs all summer long. The mainstage is located in the heart of the old Griffith Park Zoo (don’t worry, the animals moved out decades ago!). This year, they are presenting Shakespeare’s THE TEMPEST: "In Shakespeare’s final play, magic, first love and the forces of revenge intersect on a mysterious island. Prospero has spent 12 years in exile watching his growing daughter, Miranda, all the while plotting to punish his duplicitous brother with the sorcery he has been practicing. But when the opportunity presents itself, he learns that magic doesn’t make the man, the world is stranger than it appears and that perhaps the past is only history." Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and your favorite picnic food, and prepare to be entertained! (Free, but donations are encouraged.)

When: The Tempest plays Wednesday – Sunday until September 4 with Performances at 7:00pm
See the website for workshop and special events details.
Where: The Old Griffith Park Zoo

As always- REMEMBER TO STAY SAFE! 
First-time Lyft users get $20 off when using code LAZOO2.