What to KnowFriday Nights at the Gamble House with West Altadena WinePasadena2nd and 4th Friday evenings, May through August 20265:30 to 7:30 p.m.Free for members, $5 for non-members$35 wine-tasting for members (21+); $40 wine-tasting for non-members; picnics are permitted but outside alcohol is notKids 12 and under are admitted freeEnjoy time on the lawn, live music, and the opportunity to stroll around the first floor of the Craftsman home

There are several lovely photographs and wonderful words on the Gamble House web site, but some of the sweetest are found under the “Visit” page: “Visitors are welcome to explore the exterior of the house and gardens at their leisure.”

That means you can call upon The Gamble House Bookstore, where Craftsman pottery, pretty postcards, and “Back to the Future” items are for sale, and you can take a peek at the Hummingbird Cantina, which was installed in early 2025 in response to the Eaton Fire, no tour ticket required.

But if you’re eager to soak up some live music, and savor some sandwiches or salads you packed or pizza you bought on-site, and visit the first floor of the landmark home, something sweet and summer-light is just ahead: “Friday Nights at the Gamble House” will return May 8 for a festive four-month run.

Of course, the popular happenings won’t be a daily thing; rather, the music, wine tastings, and Triple Beam Pizza pop-ups will happen every 2nd and 4th Friday through August.

If you’re a member of the Gamble House, your entry is free, but you’ll still need a ticket. If you’re not a member, it’s $5, and all kids 12 and under receive complimentary admission.

The wine-tasting, presented by West Altadena Wine, is a separate fee: Members will pay $35 and non-members $40, and of course this is open to guests who are 21 and older.

The musical acts are up on the site, with The Bad Look first up on May 8; jazz, reggae, swing, and other styles will flow throughout the summer season.

Showing up with your own food and spreading a blanket out to loll a little is absolutely fine, but bringing alcohol is not permitted.

Whether you dress in your “Back to the Future” best — the Gamble House did famously portray Doc Brown’s manse in the 1985 blockbuster — or something from the early 20th century, around the time when Greene & Greene first imagined the woodsy work of live-inside art, is up to you.

Breezy summer wear is usually what Friday Night revelers opt for, and understandably so. The nights are soft, the sunsets ravishing, and the handsome house makes a one-of-a-kind backdrop to the sylvan scene.