Orange County Beer Week
June 10-17
Orange County
http://ocbrewers.org/oc-beer-week/
This 8-day beer celebration covers all of Orange County, starting with a beer fest at the Fullerton Arboretum. 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 in Orange County, 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 OC Beer Week, as their website will list them all.
Taps + Tastes: 5th Annual Global Day of Discovery
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, June 15
SIP Lounge, Long Beach
http://www.siplongbeach.com/
https://www.facebook.com/events/554765911369991/
For $20, enjoy an elegant evening of craft beer tastings, food tastings, and live music. No one under 21 may attend.
Taste of Little Italy
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm, June 15
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.
Taste Of Santa Ana 2016
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, June 16
Main Place Mall, Santa Ana
http://www.santaanachamber.com/events/eventdetail.aspx?eventid=621
Sample various bites and sips from Santa Ana restaurants this Thursday evening at the mall. Admission costs $25 presale or $30 at the gate, and gets you unlimited food and drink samples while supplies last. Contrary to the below image, this event allows visitors of all ages to attend.
San Diego Magazine’s Best Restaurants Party
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, June 16
Pirch UTC, University City, San Diego
http://www.sandiegomagazine.com/San-Diego-Magazine/April-2016/Best-Restaurants-Party-2016/
Samples bites and wines from some of San Diego’s top chefs and wineries this Thursday night at Westfield UTC. The $60 admission gets you in to unlimited food and drink samples while supplies last. No one under 21 may attend.
Level Up Game Truck @ SpeedZone LA
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm, June 16
SpeedZone LA, City of Industry
http://www.levelupgametruck.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/1873032412923799/
This gaming center on wheels will make a special appearance at the SpeedZone in the City of Industry this Thursday night. Free to visit, those who do visit will receive a raffle ticket good towards winning a 2-hour gaming session.
San Diego International Beer Festival
Various times, June 17-19
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 costs $61, 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.
7th Annual San Diego Oysterfest
2:00 pm – 10:00 pm, June 17
12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, June 18
Embarcadero Marina Park North, San Diego
http://www.oysterfestsd.com/
More of a music fest than an oyster fest, this all-day festival in San Diego combines live music, oysters, and beer into one crazy festival. As you enjoy the live music, you can purchase fresh oysters from around the world to snack on, then buy some brews to wash it all down. General admission starts at $39 but does NOT include food or drinks. No one under 21 may enter.
K-Town Night Market
4:00 pm – 11:00 pm, June 17
2:00 pm – 11:00 pm, June 18
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.
3rd Annual OC Night Market
4:00 pm – 12:00 am, June 17-18
4:00 pm – 10:00 pm, June 19
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.
Agent Orange @ The Whisky A Go Go
7:00 pm – 12:00 am, June 17
Whisky A Go Go, West Hollywood
http://www.whiskyagogo.com/site/event/agent-orange-motorcycle-boy/
Legendary surf punk band Agent Orange will headline an all-ages show in West Hollywood this Friday night. Tickets to this show cost $20.
The Unseen: Live in Southern California
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, June 17
The Vibe Bar & Grill, Riverside
http://www.facebook.com/events/821685547964605/
Hardcore punk band The Unseen will headline a show in Riverside this Friday night. They will also headline a show in LA – see below for the details of that show. Tickets to this all-ages Riverside show cost $13.
Weird Band Night
9:00 pm – 1:00 am, June 17
California Institute of Abnormalarts, North Hollywood
http://www.facebook.com/events/1736964359883100/
For just $10, guests of all ages can check out this show featuring some of the weirdest bands in the industry.
8th Annual Los Angeles Beer Week
June 18-26
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.
1st Annual U.S. Vets Long Beach 5k/10k
7:00 am – 12:00 pm, June 18
Granada Beach, Long Beach
http://www.usvetsinc.org/information-center/calendar/events/long-beach-5k-10k/
Participate in a charity 5k/10k run/walk this Saturday morning in Long Beach. Registration for this run costs $30.
22nd Annual Dawg Walk & Pet Faire
7:00 am – 12:00 pm, June 18
The Village Green, Mission Viejo
http://www.dawg.org/
A dog walk and pet fair comes to Mission Viejo this Saturday morning. The dog walk starts at 7am and costs $25 online or $30 at the gate to register for the walk. A pet fair starts at 8am, costs nothing to attend, and includes many pet vendors and activities.
AleSmith Tony Gwynn 5.5K Charity Run/Walk
8:00 am – 12:00 pm, June 18
AleSmith Brewing, Miramar, San Diego
http://alesmith.com/tonygwynn5-5k/
Participate in a charity 5.5k run/walk this Saturday morning, hosted by AleSmith Brewing. The post-run party will have food and beer for participants.
10th Annual Car Show
8:00 am – 4:00 pm, June 18
The Crossing Foursquare Church, Whittier
http://www.facebook.com/events/867130493406185/
Enjoy a FREE and all-ages car show this Saturday afternoon in Whittier.
Fairy Festival 2016
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, June 18
San Diego Botanic Garden, Encinitas
http://sdbgarden.org/fairyfest.htm
Bring your children to this event to enjoy fairies, tea, treats, games, arts & crafts, shows, and more. Admission to the venue costs $14 for adults, $10 for students/seniors/military, or $8 for children.
41st Annual Big Irish Fair & Music Fest
10:00 am – 7:00 pm, June 18-19
El Dorado Park, Long Beach
http://www.irishfair.org/
Southern California’s largest Irish Fair returns to Long Beach this weekend. This family-friendly fair brings Irish culture to one location, where attendees can see over a thousands Irish dancers, dozens of live bands, bagpipe demos, a shepherding show, athletic competitions, cultural reenactments, a parade, and more. Guests should bring cash if they want to purchase any food, drinks, merchandise, accessories, or any other Irish goodie. I suggest avoiding American food, and trying the Irish food that you would not find elsewhere. Admission varies depending on how you want to attend, with general admission costing $15 presale, and discounts available for seniors and students.
24th Annual Pasadena Chalk Art Festival
10:00 am – 7:00 pm, June 18-19
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.
9th Annual Chili At The Beach
11:00 am – 5:00 pm, June 18
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.
7th Annual Los Angeles Vegan Beer & Food Festival
11:00 am – 7:00 pm, June 18
Rose Bowl, Pasadena
http://www.veganbeerfest.com/
Taste the best of Southern California’s vegan foods and craft beers at the 7th annual LA Vegan Beer & Food Fest this Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. General admission costs $50 presale or $65 at the door and starts at 12pm. VIP admission costs $100 presale or $115 at the door, and starts at 11am. All attendees will receive unlimited beer pours for the duration of the festival. All food comes at additional costs, so bring cash. No one under 21 may attend. Arrive early, and plan to pay for parking. The fest takes place outdoors, so prepare accordingly with sunscreen and clothes for hot weather.
30th Annual Long Beach Bayou & Blues Festival
11:00 am – 9:00 pm, June 18-19
Rainbow Lagoon Park, Long Beach
http://longbeachbayou.com/
Enjoy a weekend of Blues & Jazz music, specialty Cajun & Creole food, a Mardi Gras parade, dancing, kids’ activities, and more. Ticket prices vary, with general admission costing $25 presale, and discounts available for seniors and students. This fest takes place outdoors with very little shade, so dress for the warm weather, and prepare sunscreen.
Los Angeles Beer Week Kick-Off
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, June 18
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 $45 and starts at 1pm, while VIP admission costs $65 and starts at 12pm. No one under 21 may attend.
Hamilton Family Brewery’s 2nd Anniversary Celebration
12:00 pm – 8:00 pm, June 18
Hamilton Brewery, Rancho Cucamonga
http://www.hamiltonfamilybrewery.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/571254046387222/
Hamilton Brewery turns two years old this week, and to celebrate, they will have lots of special beer available at their tasting room in Rancho Cucamonga this Saturday. Free to attend, they will have over 20 beers on tap, plus free food while supplies last. They will offer prepaid packages that will include beer pours plus other souvenirs, so click on the event’s link above for package details.
Sumo Sushi Show – Orange County
12:00 pm – 9:00 pm, June 18
The Yost Theater, Santa Ana
http://www.sumosushishow.com/
From the organizers of the recent US Sumo Open comes this mashup of sumo wrestling and sushi this Saturday. Admission ranges from $69 to $99 based on the seating location. Dress formally, but keep in mind that some of the attendees may get involved with the sumo wrestling!
Punk Invasion 2K16
4:00 pm – 1:00 am, June 18, Union Nightclub, Los Angeles http://www.facebook.com/events/1732912316987000/
6:00 pm – 1:00 am, June 19, The Observatory, Santa Ana http://www.observatoryoc.com/event/conflict
Two huge punk rock concerts come to Southern California this weekend. Tickets to these all-ages shows vary in price, so click on a show’s link for prices.
Chinatown Summer Nights
5:00 pm – 12:00 am, June 18
Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles
http://www.chinatownla.com/calendar.php?eventId=551
Have a fun time this summer at Chinatown in Downtown Los Angeles. Free to attend for all ages, this nighttime festival brings together food, music, art, and beer in a multicultural setting. Expect to see food trucks, merchandise, arts & crafts, live music, live DJ’s, a dance floor, a beer garden hosted by Eagle Rock Brewery, and more. Guests can find free street parking on Spring St and the side streets connected to Spring, including College St.
Punk Legends @ The World Famous Doll Hut
5:00 pm – 12:00 am, June 18
The World Famous Doll Hut, Anaheim
http://www.facebook.com/events/739230689510990/
Some of the bigger local punk rock bands will perform at the Doll Hut in Anaheim this Saturday night. Tickets to this show cost $12 presale or $15 at the door. No one under 21 may enter.
The Container Yard 2 Year Anniversary
6:00 pm – 11:00 pm, June 18
The Container Yard, Downtown Los Angeles
http://www.thecontaineryard.com/shop/tcy2
A music and art celebration comes to Downtown LA this Saturday night. Admission starts at $15. No one under 21 may attend.
Smorgasburg LA Grand Opening
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, June 19
Smorgasburg LA, Downtown Los Angeles
http://la.smorgasburg.com/
A new kind of market comes to Downtown LA starting this Sunday, representing an upscale farmers market with rotating vendors weekly. Check out the grand opening of it this Sunday, free to attend for all ages.
Cask & Ye Shall Receive: MacLeod Ale Brewing’s 2nd Anniversary
1:00 pm – 9:00 pm, June 19
MacLeod Ale Brewing, Van Nuys
http://www.macleodale.com/
MacLeod Ale Brewing turns two years old this weekend, and to celebrate, they will have a duo of cask beer tasting events 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. Guests can choose to attend any of two sessions that each last four hours, and admission will vary based on how much guests intend to drink. $15 nets five drink tickets, $25 nets ten drink tickets, and $50 provides unlimited drinks for the duration of the session.
Total Chaos @ Brick By Brick
8:00 pm – 1:00 am, June 19
Brick By Brick, Linda Vista, San Diego
http://www.facebook.com/events/1554697108156390/
Punk band Total Chaos will headline a show in San Diego this Sunday night, following their performance in LA the previous night (see above for details). Tickets to this show cost $10 presale or $12 at the door. No one under 21 may enter.