Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk (Second Thursdays)
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 8
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.
51st Annual California International Antiquarian Book Fair
3:00 pm – 8:00 pm, February 9
11:00 am – 7:00 pm, February 10
11:00 am – 5:00 pm, February 11
Pasadena Convention Center, Pasadena
http://cabookfair.com/
Discover hundreds of books this weekend in Pasadena. Presale admission costs $13 per day or $23 for the full weekend. Admission goes up by $2 at the door.
Lunar New Year Tết Festival 2018
5:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 9
11:00 am – 10:00 pm, February 10
11:00 am – 8:00 pm, February 11
SDCCU Stadium, San Diego
http://lunarnewyearfestival.org/
Celebrate Lunar New Year at this festival in San Diego this weekend. Visitors of all ages will find cultural food, vendors, rides, games, arts & crafts, music, entertainment, merchandise, and more. Admission costs $5 for adults and $4 for children.
Gamer Bowl, a GamerCon event
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 9
10:00 am – 10:00 pm, February 10
10:00 am – 6:00 pm, February 11
Tenth Avenue Arts Center, Downtown San Diego
http://www.gamercon.com/
This weekend, check out an all-ages event featuring video games, board games, prizes, and other activities. Admission costs $17 for adults or $13.50 for children, and provides entry to the event for all three days.
12th Annual Croatian Cultural Extravaganza
7:30 pm – 12:00 am, February 9
3:00 pm – 2:00 am, February 10
10:30 am – 3:00 pm, February 11
St. Anthony Croatian Catholic Church, Los Angeles
http://www.facebook.com/events/1901040880178563/
A handful of Croatian events will take place near Downtown Los Angeles this weekend. Every event has different admission costs (some free) and age limits. Click on the event page linked above for details.
31st Annual Vintage Fashion Expo
9:00 am – 6:00 pm, February 10
11:00 am – 5:00 pm, February 11
The Reef, South Central Los Angeles
http://www.vintageexpo.com/
Find all the latest trends in vintage fashion this weekend at The Reef in Los Angeles. Attendees to this expo will find hundreds of vintage clothing, jewelry, and accessories for sale from over 50 different vendors for both men and women. Ticket prices heavily vary, but note that general admission starts at 10:30 am on Saturday. Those that purchase an upgraded ticket can enter as early as 9am. Parking at the venue costs $15 per vehicle, but visitors can either search for other parking lots or street meters, or take public transportation to save on commute costs.
2018 Gluten Free & Allergen Friendly Expo
10:00 am – 3:00 pm, February 10-11
Del Mar Fairgrounds Wyland Center, Del Mar
http://gfafexpo.com/expos/san-diego
Find all things gluten-free and allergen-friendly at this expo in San Diego County this weekend. Adult admission costs $15 for one day or $25 for both. Children’s admission costs $5 for one day or $7 for both. Parking costs $13 per vehicle. Admission grants access to the entire expo floor, full of vendors, seminars, free goodies, and more.
Hello Kitty Cafe Pop-Up – Burbank Appearance
10:00 am – 8:00 pm, February 10
Burbank Town Center, Burbank
http://hellokittycafe.us/
http://www.facebook.com/events/574540182895864/
SoCal Hello Kitty fans will not want to miss this rare opportunity to experience the Hello Kitty Cafe. This weekend, visitors will enjoy macarons, minicakes, and other Hello Kitty treats not found anywhere else.
4th Annual Los Angeles Cookie Con & Sweets Show
11:00 am – 5:00 pm, February 10
11:00 am – 4:00 pm, February 11
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim
http://www.lacookiecon.com/
Got a sweet tooth? You will not want to miss this event featuring all things sweet. General admission costs $25, and includes access to unlimited treats while supplies last. Celebrity chefs will also make an appearance for anyone wanting photos or autographs.
3rd Annual San Gabriel Lunar New Year Festival
11:00 am – 8:00 pm, February 10
San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, San Gabriel
http://sglunarnewyear.org/
Celebrate the upcoming lunar new year with this FREE and all-ages festival in San Gabriel this Saturday afternoon. Visitors will find music, dance, art, food trucks, a beer & wine garden, tea garden, live calligraphy, fortune telling, and more.
Jav’s BBQ Grand Opening
11:30 am – 9:00 pm, February 10
Jav’s BBQ, Anaheim
http://www.javsbbq.co/
http://www.facebook.com/events/542970226087753/
Though already open to the public, this barbecue restaurant in Anaheim will hold its grand opening celebration this Saturday, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and live music all day. Free to attend, customers will receive chances to enter to win raffle prizes.
Cupid’s Undie Run
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, February 10
The Victorian, Santa Monica
http://www.cupidsundierun.com/city/los-angeles/
Enjoy Valentine’s Day by running about a mile in your skivvies at this fun run in Santa Monica. Registration for this run costs $55 per participant, and anyone interested can also register as a team. For full rules and regulations, please see the official website linked above. No one under 21 may participate.
14th Annual Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival
12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, February 10
2nd Street, Belmont Shore, Long Beach
http://www.belmontshore.org/event/14th-annual-chocolate-festival/
The Belmont Shore Chocolate Festival features a Homemade Chocolate Dessert Contest and various Pie-Eating Contests, in addition to the restaurants up and down 2nd Street sampling their chocolate goodies. Completely free to attend, guests may purchase booklets of 12 tickets for $10 on the day of the fest in front of Chase Bank. Guests may use these tickets to exchange for various eats & drinks from participating businesses in Belmont Shore.
9th Annual Brewbies Fest
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, February 10
Bagby Beer Company, Oceanside
http://www.brewbies.org/
If you could not tell from the event name, this craft beer festival supports breast cancer research. Enjoy craft beer tastings from a multitude of breweries from across the nation during this four-hour tasting gala. General admission costs $45 presale or $60 at the door, and starts at 1pm. VIP admission costs $65 and starts at 12pm. All attendees receive a souvenir glass, souvenir bracelet, and unlimited beer tasters while supplies last. Absolutely no one under the age of 21 may enter.
4th Annual Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm, February 10
Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro
http://www.portoflosangeles.org/community/Lunar_New_Year_2018.asp
A free and all-ages event celebrating Chinese New Year comes to San Pedro this Saturday evening. Guests will find arts & crafts, vendors, a petting zoo, live entertainment, food, and more.
Art Crawl Experience
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm, February 10
Center Street Promenade, Downtown Anaheim
http://downtownanaheim.com/events/ace/
Downtown Anaheim will see a variety of activities and exhibits this Saturday night. Visitors can expect to find tons of art exhibits, live music, food, food trucks, drinks, yoga, dance, and more. Visitors may park for free in the parking structure located at S Clementine Street and W Oak Street.
14th Annual Bulldog Beauty Contest
9:30 am – 3:00 pm, February 11
Marine Stadium Park (north end), Long Beach
http://www.hautedogs.org/bulldog.html
Surround yourself with cuteness this Sunday morning at the Bulldog Beauty Contest in Long Beach. Completely free to attend for all ages, guests will see over 500 bulldogs in attendance, as many will strut their little legs on the red carpet runway. Each entry can win from any of 19 contests, some of which will cater to other dog breeds. Guests wanting seats at the runway will have to pay $5, while anyone wanting to enter their dog must pay $10 per entry.
Valley Retro Game Swap
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, February 11
Game Realms, Burbank
http://game-realms.com/
http://www.facebook.com/events/147674192603218/
A swap meet for video games will take place in Burbank this Sunday, free to attend for all ages. The venue may also have some retro games available for play as well.
KSPC CD & Record Expo
10:00 am – 4:00 pm, February 11
Smith Campus Center Ballroom, Claremont
http://kspc.org/cd-record-expo/
For $2 admission and free parking, enter a room full of music albums available for purchase. Interact with dozens of vendors selling all sorts of music, new and old.
4th Annual San Diego Fermentation Festival
11:00 am – 5:00 pm, February 11
Leichtag Commons, Encinitas
http://sandiegofermentationfestival.com/
This annual all-ages festival showcasing Southern California’s bounty of artisanal foodmakers returns this weekend to a new, bigger location. This event will feature seminars, workshops, arts & crafts, activities, vendors, food & beverages, live music, and more. Regular admission costs $30 and provides access to food and non-alcoholic beverages, while a $45 admission will include ten tasters of craft beers and wines.
