10th Annual Taste of La Mesa
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, June 11
La Mesa Community Center, La Mesa
http://taste.lamesachamber.com/
Sample food from the local restaurants of La Mesa tonight at the La Mesa Community Center. General admission costs $60, starts at 6pm, and includes unlimited food samples while supplies last. VIP admission costs $80, starts at 5pm, and includes preferred parking. All drinks come at a separate cost.
8bitLA + Play It Loud! Present: 3rd Annual Hack The Multiverse
6:00 pm – 12:00 am, June 12
Club Los Globos, Silverlake
http://www.facebook.com/events/324476928084361/
Jam out to video game inspired music this Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The cover for this show costs $15. No one under 18 may enter.
San Diego Summer STEAM Maker Festival
8:00 am – 4:00 pm, June 13
Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar
http://www.sdfsmf.org/
An interactive educational event for all ages comes to Del Mar this Wednesday. Admission costs $8 for adults or $6 for children, and provides access to all the vendors, exhibitors, demos, games, activities, and more.
Taste of Little Italy
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, June 13
Little Italy, Downtown San Diego
http://www.tasteoflittleitalysd.com/
Sample the local flavor of Little Italy this Wednesday night, as attendees stroll through Little Italy and sample food directly in each participating business. Attendees pay for a stamp card with boxes representing each participating business. After receiving a sample, that business will stamp their corresponding box. Two different stamp cards exist for a north route and a south route, and each route’s stamp card costs $36 each, while purchasing both costs $50.
San Diego Magazine’s Best Restaurants Party
5:30 pm – 8:00 pm, June 13
Pirch UTC, University City, San Diego
http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/January-2018/Best-Restaurants-Party-2018/
Sample bites and wines from some of San Diego’s top chefs and wineries this Wednesday night at Pirch UTC. The $60 admission gets you in to unlimited food and drink samples while supplies last. No one under 21 may attend.
Long Beach Coin, Stamp, & Sports Collectible Expo
10:00 am – 7:00 pm, June 14-16
Long Beach Convention Center, Downtown Long Beach
http://www.longbeachexpo.com/
This show brings tens of thousands of collectors worldwide to share, buy, sell, and trade their collectibles. Complete with seminars, workshops, press conferences, vendor booths, auctions, and more, this all-ages expo will delight anyone interested in collecting valuable goods. Admission costs $8, with discounts available for seniors and children. Use promo code MEDIA for free passes. Parking at the convention center costs $10.
Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk (Second Thursdays)
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, June 14
Downtown Los Angeles
http://downtownartwalk.org/
This free monthly event takes place over many blocks in Downtown Los Angeles. Many galleries will open late, and some parking lots will contain more art, vendors, food trucks, entertainment, and more. Unless you know business owners, free parking barely exists in Downtown LA, although some meters only operate until 8pm. First-time visitors should attend with someone who has gone here prior.
San Diego International Beer Festival 2018
Various times, June 15-17
Del Mar Fairgrounds, Del Mar
http://sandiegobeerfestival.com/
The San Diego County Fair will import hundreds of beers from around the world for a weekend of beer at the fairgrounds. Over the weekend, the fairgrounds will host five different four-hour sessions of unlimited tastings, and each session will feature different seminars and presentations. General admission starts at $55 and includes admission to the rest of the fair plus the souvenir cup. Parking on-site costs $10, while off-site parking with shuttles costs nothing. Although the beer fest takes place in the arena under a roof, the rest of the fair takes place outdoors, so prepare for sunny weather if you choose to venture outside. I highly recommend arriving as early as possible, as each session tends to run out of beer an hour before a session ends.
Alien Con 2018
10:00 am – 10:00 pm, June 15-16
10:00 am – 5:00 pm, June 17
Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena
http://www.thealiencon.com/
Science-fiction fans will not want to miss this convention taking place this weekend in Pasadena, which will feature science-fiction media, speakers, demos, panels, films, and more. Tickets cost $61 per day per person.
K-Town Night Market 2018
4:00 pm – 11:00 pm, June 15
2:00 pm – 11:00 pm, June 16
Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools, Los Angeles
http://ktownnightmarket.com/
Experience Korean nightlife this weekend at the annual Koreatown Night Market! This event celebrates Korean culture by immersing visitors into the night market experience similar to that of South Korea. Over 40 food vendors and 11 food trucks will serve up delicious Korean delectable eats, while visitors can check out the live entertainment, art exhibits, and vendor village in this outdoor market. Admission costs $2 presale or $5 at the door. Visitors can find $5 parking at nearby parking lots around the venue.
5th Annual OC Night Market
4:00 pm – 12:00 am, June 15-16
4:00 pm – 10:00 pm, June 17
OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa
http://www.ocnightmarket.com/
The popular 626 Night Market comes to Orange County this weekend at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa. This weekend-long all-ages festival brings the nightlife of the east to the west, and shows the locals what goes on at night in populated Asian cities. Visitors will find lots of food, merchandise, live entertainment, music, games, and more. Admission costs $5 per person, while parking costs $8 per vehicle. These night market events always see wall-to-wall people, so expect a big crowd all weekend.
Not Yo Papa’s Ska Show
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, June 15
The World Famous Doll Hut, Anaheim
http://www.facebook.com/events/208986533187785/
Get your skanking on this Friday night in Anaheim. The cover for this show costs $5. No one under 21 may enter.
10th Annual Los Angeles Beer Week
June 16-24
Greater Los Angeles Area
http://www.labeerweek.org/
This 9-day beer celebration covers Los Angeles through Orange County, starting with a beer fest at Los Angeles Center Studios. During this period, virtually every restaurant, bar, gastropub, and any other craft beer establishment will host some sort of beer event. Literally hundreds of beer events will take place over 9 days in the Greater Los Angeles Area, so for an abridged list, visit the website linked above. Even the website cannot contain every single event! Check with your local favorite brewpub to find out how they will participate. For the purposes of condensing this list, I will not include any event that directly relates to LA Beer Week, as their website will list them all.
DTLA Donut Festival
9:00 am – 4:00 pm, June 16
Union Station, Downtown Los Angeles
http://www.unionstationla.com/happenings/dtla-donut-fest
A donut event will take place in Union Station in Downtown LA this Saturday. The website does not mention anything about pricing or any other detail.
Repticon Los Angeles
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, June 16
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, June 16
Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena
http://repticon.com/california/repticon-pasadena/
Check out two days of reptiles, amphibians, exotic pets, pet products, seminars, and more this weekend in Pasadena. General admission starts at 10am and costs $15 for both days, $10 for one day, or $5 for children. Online-only VIP admission costs $12 for adults or $5 for children, allows admission to both days, and allows entry at 9am on Saturday.
23rd Annual San Clemente Classic Car Show
10:00 am – 3:00 pm, June 16
Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente
http://villagesanclemente.org/annual-car-show/
See hundreds of classic cars this Saturday at this free and all-ages car show in San Clemente.
26th Annual Pasadena Chalk Art Festival
10:00 am – 7:00 pm, June 16-17
Paseo Colorado, Pasadena
http://www.pasadenachalkfestival.com/
Watch hundreds of artists create massive works of art on the sidewalks, plus enjoy a classic car show on Father’s Day! Completely free to attend for all ages, attendees will also find live music, arts & crafts, merchandise vendors, food trucks, and more.
11th Annual Chili At The Beach
11:00 am – 5:00 pm, June 16
Downtown Huntington Beach
http://www.hbdowntown.com/chili-at-the-beach.html
Got a craving for heat? Satisfy that craving this Saturday in sunny Surf City, as the streets close to traffic for the annual Huntington Beach Chili Cook Off & Salsa Tasting. Free to attend for all ages, this all-in-one street fair covers a massive portion of Downtown Huntington Beach, filled with arts & crafts, food, drinks, merchandise, a kids’ zone, music, and lots of chili and salsa tastings. In order to taste the chili and salsa, guests must purchase tasting tickets for $10 presale or $15 on the day of the fest. As this area gets extremely crowded on this day, I suggest carpooling, taking public transportation, or parking far and walking to downtown.
SuperHero Summer Fest Alhambra
11:00 am – 6:00 pm, June 16
Renaissance Plaza, Alhambra
http://www.superherosummerfestalhambra.com/
A free and all-ages fandom event takes place in Downtown Alhambra this Saturday afternoon. Visitors will find vendors, live entertainment, cosplay, and more.
Los Angeles Beer Week Kick-Off
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, June 16
Los Angeles Center Studios, Los Angeles
http://labeerweek.org/tickets/
Featuring over 75 breweries bringing over 200 beers, you definitely will not want to miss this epic beer tasting gala that kicks off LA Beer Week. General admission costs $50 and starts at 1pm, while VIP admission costs $70 and starts at 12pm. No one under 21 may attend.
Vegan Playground
12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, June 16
Pershing Square, Los Angeles
http://www.veganhard.com/
Vegans and entertainment collide this Saturday in Downtown LA. Admission ranges from $22 to $44, depending on when you want to enter and what you want included with admission.
Orange County Big Summer Beerfest
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm, June 16
OC Great Park, Irvine
http://www.bigsummerbeerfest.com/
A corporate beer festival comes to Irvine this Saturday afternoon. General admission costs $35 and starts at 3pm while VIP admission costs $50 and starts at 2pm. All attendees receive unlimited beer samples while supplies last. No one under 21 may attend.
2nd Annual Boots & Brews Country Music Festival
2:00 pm – 10:00 pm, June 16
Central Park, Santa Clarita
http://www.bootsandbrews.com/
Country music and beers collide this Saturday in Santa Clarita. General admission costs $45 but does not come with any food or drinks – all attendees will still need to pay for everything once inside. Children 10 and under enter for free with a paid adult admission.
23rd Annual Wine, Brews & Blues Festival
5:30 pm – 10:00 pm, June 16
CA Center for the Arts, Escondido
http://www.bonsallrotary.com/
Enjoy wines from over 80 wineries, beers from local microbreweries, food from over 20 local restaurants & chefs, and blues music from various local musicians. Admission to this festival costs $75 per person, or $55 for non-drinkers.
90s Prom Party
9:00 pm – 1:00 am, June 16
The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood
http://www.drinkeatplay.com/
Party like the 90s this Saturday night in Hollywood. Admission costs $30. No one under 21 may attend.
Father’s Day
June 17
Treat the father in your life to something special this Sunday.
9th Annual Wags-N-Wine Food & Wine Tasting Fundraiser
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, June 17
Paséa Hotel & Spa, Huntington Beach
http://www.wagsnwine.com/
Sample food, wine, and beer at this fundraising event this Sunday afternoon in Huntington Beach. General admission costs $75 presale or $85 and starts at 1pm. VIP admission costs $95 presale or $105 at the door, starts at 12pm, and includes an upgraded tasting glass, VIP food & drinks, and a swag bag. All attendees receive unlimited samples while supplies last. Attendees may also bring their dogs for free. No one under 21 may attend.
Cask & Ye Shall Receive: MacLeod Ale Brewing’s 4th Anniversary
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, June 17
MacLeod Ale Brewing, Van Nuys
http://www.macleodale.com/
MacLeod Ale Brewing turns four years old this weekend, and to celebrate, they will have a cask beer tasting event at their tasting room in Van Nuys this Sunday. Expect to encounter a handful of other breweries sampling their cask beers as well as this event. Admission comes in three levels. General admission starts at 1pm, and comes with five drink tickets for $20 or ten drink tickets for $35. VIP admission costs $50, starts at 12pm, and comes with unlimited beer pours for the duration of the event. No one under 21 may attend.
11th Annual The Car Show at WVCC
4:00 pm – 7:00 pm, June 17
West Valley Christian Church, West Hills
http://www.thecarshowatwvcc.com/
Enjoy a free and all-ages car show in West Hills this Sunday evening.
A Punk, A Camera, and An Empty Stomach 