On June 21, the summer solstice will mark the longest period of daylight all year, and Los Angeles is celebrating with free festivals and more
It will be sunnier for longer than ever this Sunday during the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and across the city, Angelenos can take part in celebrations of the season. Here are some free ways to celebrate the longest summer day in Los Angeles this weekend.
On Saturday, on Main Street in Santa Monica, the Summer Solstice Festival will feature live music, local vendors, a beer garden, interactive pop-ups and activities for kids from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Six musicians will perform across two stages throughout the day, and pop-up pickleball courts will be open for all skill levels to play.
The Getty Research Institute’s first summer solstice celebration will feature jazz on the terrace from The Don Brown Collective, tarot readings, craft workshops and choral performances. Events are drop-in throughout the afternoon on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and though tickets for the event may be sold out, visitors to the Getty Center are welcome to drop in.
LA River Arts’ festival along the L.A. River in Frogtown will feature live performances, visual art, and more. From 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park, join performers Mary Lattimore, San Cha, Bob Baker Marionette Theater and Calycosa to celebrate.
Visit the Griffith Observatory West Terrace for golden hour viewing from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Before the sun sets at 8:08 p.m., listen to a talk from observatory staff about the science behind the solstice. They’ll discuss how the Sun’s changing path across the sky causes seasonal changes and determines where on the western horizon the Sun sets. L.A.-based musician Jinshi Ozaki will provide musical accompaniment throughout the evening.
Visit the Fowler Museum at UCLA for a night of film, poetry and music from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The evening will start with a screening of Yáamay: An Ode to Blooming, a short film centering the experiences of contemporary California Indigenous women. Following the screening, there will be a conversation with co-directors of the film Camaray Davalos and Casse Kíihut, and producer Avelaka Macarro. At Fowler Amphitheater, the night will continue with music and live performances and poetry readings before the sun finally sets.
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