Best Things to Do in SoCal and LA This Week: June 8-14, 2026
Ahoy, seafarers!
The Balboa Yacht Club presents the 10th annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival where classic beauty meets the waterfront. This festival showcases more than 30 fully restored and preserved wooden-hull vessels, from elegant cruising vessels to vintage runabouts. Stroll the docks, meet passionate boat owners and builders, and discover the artistry and tradition behind these floating works of art. With rare public access to a private harbor and opportunities to learn about restoration techniques and maritime heritage, this family-friendly event offers a unique glimpse into Southern California’s rich boating culture.
1801 Bayside Drive
Glitch in the system
Ehrlich Steinberg presents Delta, a solo show by Los Angeles-based artist TJ Shin featuring a multi-channel video installation, drawings, and newly commissioned text by scholar and writer Sunny Xiang. Transforming the gallery into an experiment in human behavior, the artist draws inspiration from a Cold War-era game theory model, the Prisoner’s Dilemma, by inviting viewers to consider how systems of power, prediction, and cooperation shape our social relationships.
5540 Santa Monica Blvd
Shine bright with pride
The 56th Annual LA Pride Parade returns to Hollywood Boulevard with a procession of over 120 bands, dancers, floats, marching groups, specialty vehicles, celebrities, and giveaways. Then stop by the LA Pride Village for an all-day street festival with live performances, local vendors, games, and community organizations. With performances from artists including Bentley Robles, Princess Superstar, Candiace, Cassidy King, and Amber Ryann, LA Pride invites everyone to come together.
Sunset Blvd & Highland Ave
Celebrate 40 years of world music
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Grand Performances and their return to California Plaza in the heart of Downtown. Bring your dancing shoes to this free outdoor concert series that has transformed Downtown into a gathering place for music, culture, and community. Kicking off with local favorite Healing Gems, the celebration continues with Jungle Fire, the acclaimed Afro-Latin fusion band that has energized venues across Los Angeles. KCRW DJ Liza Richardson keeps the party moving with sets throughout the night, while an additional surprise musical guest is still to be announced.
350 South Grand Avenue
Printing and weaving
The Benton Museum of Art presents Pattern as Memory: Block Printing & Paper Weaving Workshop with artist Stephanie Mercado. Explore the tactile art in this two-part, hands-on workshop series rooted in the traditions of pattern-making and storytelling. Learn how block printing creates decorative motifs and layered visual narratives and how paper weaving techniques transform prints into interlaced compositions.
120. W. Bonita Ave