Best things to do this weekend in LA and SoCal: July 26 – 28

Paris is nine hours ahead of L.A., so spend your morning saying “Bonjour!” to the athletes as the XXXIII Olympiad kicks off. NBC is broadcasting the full Opening Ceremony on its Peacock properties if you want to stay in your WFH loungewear, but you can also head to select IMAX movie theaters to catch the ceremony live on a (really) big screen. Keep an eye out for the Lakers’ LeBron James carrying the flag for Team USA.

This isn’t the Peter Pan you remember. Acclaimed Native American playwright Larissa Fasthorse (The Thanksgiving Play) was brought in to write additional material and modernize the Jerome Robbins classic and the result is a much more inclusive version of the show. According to the Broadway World review, Fasthorse “delicately maintains the charm of the tale, and mentions of TikTok challenges and smearing fingerprints on printers never quite pierce the veneer of Neverland.” This is your last weekend to see it at the Pantages and it’s a great option to introduce kids to the theater. For our Orange County readers, the show heads to Segerstrom Center for the Arts from August 6-18.

A nine-piece retro-soul band, Bruns & Baché consists of musicians who’ve played with tons of big names from Beck to Michael Bublé. Their last album was in the top ten on the jazz charts and they are the next act up at the popular free Jazz at LACMA summer concert series, so come early to grab a spot on the plaza and a drink from Ray & Stark Bar.

The classic California sound of surf guitar takes center stage at this festival in Long Beach, featuring bands like the Surfaris, The Ghastly Ones, The Boss Martians, and The Mermen. Plus a “taboo tiki room” and more. Get your Hawaiian shirt and Wayfarers on and head over. Tickets at StellarShows.

Obon festivals across L.A.’s Japanese community are in full swing, and West L.A.’s Japantown is hosting a packed schedule of dance and celebrations. Enjoy Taiko drumming demonstrations, food booths, live music, and Obon dancing all weekend long. Check out other festivals happening throughout the summer and learn what to expect when you go in our Obon season overview.

Our friends at Something New have another Olympic-sized surprise up their sleeves with this event, billed as a “Field Day for Adults” at the beach in Santa Monica. RSVP to the free event and show up to find out what the events will be. Hope you get picked for Color Wars or the three-legged race, I guess?

Come ready to dance to the beats of West Africa with DJ sets from Kevin Lincoln and Radio Afrodicia, followed by a performance from African highlife artist Okwy Osadebe. Plus, there will be African food and marketplace vendors taking over California Plaza all night long.

MUSE/IQUE is one of the most innovative theater events happening in L.A. and the current performance, Plenty of Heart, Plenty of Hope, is sure to be stellar. Led by MUSE/IQUE’s Artistic and Music Director Rachael Worby and starring Tony-nominated actor Brandon Victor Dixon (Shuffle Along, Hamilton, The Color Purple), the piece explores the history of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic musical Oklahoma and its impact on Broadway. If you happened to catch the most recent — and groundbreaking — revival of Oklahoma at the Ahmanson in 2022, this should be a particularly educational journey.

Comedy legend Mel Brooks is 98 and still coming out to see fans as he makes a rare appearance in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his comedy classic, Blazing Saddles. Brooks will be live in conversation and will host an audience Q&A following a showing of Blazing Saddles on the big screen… Say, is that a ten-gallon hat or are you just happy to be there?

Hop on your bike and head to the Rapha store in Santa Monica where you’ll set off on one of three rides based on your skill level and raise money for a great cause. The fourth annual fundraising bike ride for City of Hop supports treatments and cures for diabetes in honor of founder and music exec Sterling Simms’ brother Joshua, who died at just 19 from the disease.

Two-time Olympian Tasha Danvers won the bronze for Great Britain in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2008 games and has written a book about personal achievements and accountability. She’ll share stories over light refreshments and sign copies of her book, Winning on Purpose, at the Jerk Wings Cafe in Northridge. Enjoy some eats while you get to know her story.

There’s more to Swiss cuisine than fondue and Toblerone. The delicacies of Switzerland are anything but neutral, so pop over to Whittier to taste raclette, various sausages, spatzle, and of course fabulous desserts at this unique festival. There will also be Swiss music from the Accordionaire Pops Orchestra, a lampion parade and more.

The Row DTLA’s Taiwanese restaurant Kato is collaborating with a number of restaurants for their Sunday Summer Series, and this week it’s Korean hot spot Baroo, which was the L.A. Times’ picks for restaurant of the year. There will be a collaborative five-course menu and special cocktails; make your reservation here.

Take a drive up the coast and check out hip olive oil brand Brightland’s partnership with Montecito Italian hot spot Bettina. Taste their Neapolitan-style pizza with Root’s potatoes, Cowgirl Creamery Wagon Wheel cheese, Point Reyes Toma cheese, garlic, rosemary and pickled scallion, topped with Brightland pizza oil.

It is HOT out there, so what better way to cool off than tasting ice cream from the city’s best pop-ups and resident Smorgasburg vendors? Take your Lactaid (or try one of the many vegan options!) and overdo it with treats from Wanderlust, Jeni’s, McConnell’s, Blast Ice Cream, Donut Friend, Afters, Churro Boss and more.