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Happy 4th of July weekend to you!
First of all, sorry for my lack of posts. I was hiking in New Mexico...it was so fun and beautiful. But now I'm back and there are so many fun things going on in LA this weekend! I hope that you will have some time off to enjoy a few of these!
At the House of Blues, they'll be having their 4th annual Reggae Jam with Maxi Priest, Sons of Manasseh, Trey Smoov, Na Drua and Special Guest Appearances by NFL Players from the World Champion Pittsburg Steelers. Tickets are $25-$35.
If you're in the Valley, Burbank is starting up it's annual Starlight Bowl series. In this beautiful outdoor theater location, you'll hear a star-spangled tribute to America, the Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Swing Kings. Tickets are between $7-$20, but need to be bought beforehand, they don't sell them at the door. Buy your tickets here! Even though the weather is good year-round here, there's something about a midsummer night that just feels perfect.
For only $17.76 (haha, get it?), you can get a special deal for Medieval Times (which is usually $54.95) for all shows from July 2-5. Also, with the purchase of a full-priced adult ticket, kids and teens are free! See the details on the website. Medieval Times is such a riot. I've been a couple times and it's so much fun to eat your "feast" with your hands and scream and holler to cheer on your knight! This is something that every member of the family will like. The knights are very skilled at riding and the jousting games are so much fun to watch. I do believe the deal is an add-on to the cost of a normally-priced ticket ($59.95 for adults, $37.95 for kids, or use this online discount, or you can sign up on Goldstar for half off tickets!). But for dinner and a show, it's a good value and lot of fun!
Close to Medieval Times is Disneyland, oh the happiest place on Earth! Every night from July 2-5 around 9:25am they will be setting off a huge fireworks display! If you are in the area, this seems to be the place to see a great, explosive show.
If you anticipate a full day of burger-eating and beer-drinking, why not start your morning with some exercise? I've heard of the Hermosa Beach Ironman...which sounds awesome... Check here and here. While you're in Hermosa, come to the Strand to check out the 5th Annual Margarita Wrestling Championship ($25 unlimited cocktails!) and the tribute to Michael Jackson (between 7th and 8th streets), complete with a light show and a look-alike doing all the classic MJ dance moves.
Run a road race! J.P.Blecksmith Memorial 5k in San Marino, Firecracker Mary Castle 5k/10k in Anaheim, Santa Clarita Independence Day 5k, Village Runner 4th of July 5k in Redondo Beach, and the MOV Sunrise 4-Miler in Malibu (7/5).
While those muscles are warm and pumped up, stop over to Venice Beach for the 75th annual Mr. and Mrs. Muscle Beach competition! This competition is open to all amateur athletes who want to flex their pumped up goods to a cheering crowd! Registration is from 7:30am-9:30am and is $80. Judging begins at 10:30am, with the finals at 1:00pm. Muscle Beach is located at 1800 Ocean Front Walk in Venice. It's free to watch this! Wow, check out some photos from last year's event here!
What a great night to be at the ballpark! This is something my family would do every year growing up--watch the fireworks that lit up the sky from the local minor league ballpark. The Angels are playing the Baltimore Orioles--I used to follow the O's a lot back in the Cal Ripken days...but okay, I'm getting off the subject. You can buy tickets here.
...Or if not the ballpark, what about the soccer pitch? Have you been to a LA Galaxy game yet? If not, this is the perfect night to go down. At 8:00pm the Galaxy will be playing the New England Revolution at the Home Depot Center in Carson. A spectacular fireworks display follows the game. Click here for tickets! Tickets are $40-$75, or $20-$40 on Goldstar.
For the thrillseekers (and someone with some big bucks!), the Zeppelin Airship will be in LA this weekend! In it's first visit to the LA area in more than 70 years, the country's only passenger airship (larger than a Boeing 747) will be taking riders on 1-2 hour trips all weekend, departing out of Long Beach. Individual tickets are $495, or $375 if you buy 2 or more. Click here to get your tickets!
Also in Long Beach, the Queen Mary is hosting a huge party! There will be street performers, karaoke, a DJ dance party and outdoor dance party, radio DJs, and fireworks!
There are 2 events going on at the Ford Amphitheater on the 4th, Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company--Tierra y Luna (Earth and Moon) ("Native dances of Mexico reflect the significant role of natural elements in Mexican culture. Grandeza's superb dancers, in beautifully detailed authentic costumes, create a folklorico heat wave"), and Shin Hae Chul and N.EX.T. Awakening World Tour ("Korean Pop legend Shin Hae Chul, who pioneered the fusion of pop music with traditional Korean instruments, popularized "arena rock" in Korea and launched the Korean techno dance craze, makes his first ever L.A. appearance with his band N.EX.T.") at 7:30pm. Check those websites for more info about tickets.
The Hollywood Bowl is having their wonderful fireworks spectacular with the LA Philharmonic and John Fogerty (guitar and voice of Creedence Clearwater Revival) from July 2-4! Check here for more info and tickets. The Hollywood Bowl is such a beautiful venue, tucked away in the hills of Griffith Park. This would be such a festive way to celebrate the day.
What 4th of July would be complete without music? I was in a very competitive marching band in high school and fell in love with the fast music, dance, artistry, formations, and fun that came with it. That's why I looooooooove seeing the top drum corps compete every summer (do any of you remember that Pasadena held the Drum Corp International Championships in 2007? I do, I was there ;) ) DCI Americafest is held annually at the Rose Bowl and will feature great Corps performances capped off with fireworks at night (supposedly the largest fireworks display in LA). For more information, directions, and to get tickets, click here. Beware, about 25-30,000 people attend this every year so make sure to get your parking spot early! If I didn't already have other plans, this is hands down where I'd like to be for the 4th (unless I was invited up in the Zeppelin Airship!)!
...Or for more music, and if you are in the South Bay like I'll be this weekend (say yesssss for the beach, we are so lucky to live in SoCal!) , you can check out the Redondo Beach Pier Summer of Music Festival. Over 20 bands will perform music of many genres including Blues, Country, Hawaiian, Jazz, Rock, Salsa, Swing and Surf. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a blanket or beach chair fto make enjoying the music and sunset more relaxing. This is a free bi-weekly event!
For those of you that like a late-night frightfest, Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever cemetery is screening Jaws! A movie about a small-town's horrific 4th of July is a fun way to celebrate yours! There is a $10 donation, $5 parking, and the gates open at 7:30 for a 9:00 movie start time. I've been to these cemetery screenings before and they are SO.MUCH.FUN. But be sure to get there at 7:30 or preferably, much much much earlier, so that you get a spot on the lawn. Bring blankets, food, wine, and enjoy a fun night outdoors in Hollywood.
A big 4th of July party is happening in Studio City at the CBS Radford lot...the 11th Annual Fireworks Festival from 5:30-9:00pm. There will be dinner, entertainment, bands, drinks, business expo, strolling magicians from the Magic Castle, a kids fun zone, and more! Tickets are $15 and $8 (or $20 and $10 at the door).
Of course on the 4th we all like to see fireworks. I remember one 4th a few years back when I climbed onto my rooftop in the Valley and did a slow spin around...and saw 8 different firework shows going on all around me. It was amazing. So here are all the fireworks shows around where you are!
Whew, that was a lot! Even if your plans involve going to the beach or your local park with friends and family--THAT is what it is all about. Spending time with your friends and making new memories are the most important events in life. Have a great weekend celebrating, BE SAFE and smart (never drink and drive!), and have fun!
Happy birthday, USA!
What are your plans for the 4th? I'd love to hear from you! Leave me a comment about your festive holiday plans!
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