Things to do in the San Fernando Valley, LA area, Jan. 16-23
EVENTS
Martin Luther King Jr. Parade and Celebration – Long Beach: The 37th annual parade, 10 a.m. Jan. 18, begins at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and East Anaheim Street (parade route: tinyurl.com/3dhaf98m). Parade is followed by the celebration, noon-5 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon St. Details on the parade’s 2025 grand marshals and events at the park celebration: tinyurl.com/r7459738
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity Walk: The City of Santa Clarita presents the event with this year’s program theme “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Spirit of Nonviolence 365,” 8 a.m. Jan. 20. Santa Clarita Mayor Bill Miranda leads a brief program (between fields 5 and 6 at Central Park), followed by your choice of walk distance (0.6 mile or 1.1 mile). No registration is required to attend. For this year’s “Day of Service,” participants in the walk, and elsewhere, are asked to make donations to these local nonprofit organizations in Santa Clarita. Check the needs and the hours to donate directly to: Bridge to Home (a homeless services provider, btohome.org/); Family Promise (a homeless families service provider, familypromisescv.org); Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry (scvfoodpantry.org). Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita. 661-286-4135. www.facebook.com/cityofsantaclarita/
L.A. Works’ Martin Luther King Day Volunteer Festival: The 2025 event includes hands-on volunteer “action zones” (including activities to help those affected by the recent wildfires), 12:30-3:30 p.m. Jan. 20. Register in advance, on the website, for a free admission ticket. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, 3911 S. Figueroa St. (Exposition Park), Los Angeles. Updates: www.facebook.com/laworks. Registration and details: www.laworks.com/mlk2025
Volunteers Cleaning Communities: Find a list of upcoming projects: https://volunteerscleaningcommunities.com/schedule-of-events. Send an email to register for the project you want to join so they know to expect you and will have enough equipment for everyone. Also, sign the waiver to take part in the clean-up. Information on the group and how to make a donation for clean-up supplies: volunteerscleaningcommunities.com. 818-519-7567. Email: jill@vcc.world
RESCHEDULED EVENTS
Kingdom Day Parade – Peace and Unity, Let it Start with Us: The 40th annual parade, celebrating the work of civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has been rescheduled, 10 a.m. Feb. 17 (rescheduled from Jan. 18). Arrive by 9 a.m. to watch the parade. Rain does not cancel the event. The parade is presented by the Congress of Racial Equality of California. The parade is televised live. Parade route: Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at St. Andrews Place, west on MLK Jr. to Crenshaw Boulevard, south on Crenshaw to Vernon Avenue (parade route map on the website). 323-350-2667; 818-605-7405. www.kingdomdayparade.org. Updates on the parade: www.facebook.com/officialkingdomdayparade/
BOOKS
Friends of Chatsworth Branch Library – Giant Used Book Sale: The quarterly book sale, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 18. Chatsworth Branch Library, community room, 21052 Devonshire St. 818-341-4276. www.laplchatsworthfriends.org
COMEDY
Fritz Coleman – Wildfire Recovery Fund benefit: Coleman’s “Unassisted Living” show, with special guests Laurence Juber and Wendy Liebman, 3 p.m. Jan. 26. All profits raised (100%) at this special performance go to the California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund. Tickets $55 (tinyurl.com/4sadn2br). El Portal Theatre, Monroe Forum, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. www.facebook.com/fritz.coleman.7/
DINING/WINE
Smorgasburg Los Angeles: The outdoor food and drink market holds a grand re-opening, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 19. Check the website or Facebook for vendors. Free admission. No pets allowed at this venue. Row DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St., Los Angeles. la.smorgasburg.com. www.facebook.com/SmorgasburgLA/
Fuil Wines Pop-Up Tasting Room: Owner-winemakers Carolina and Matt Espiro Jaeger discuss and pour the winery’s current releases, noon-3 p.m. Jan. 19. Minimum age: 21. Tastings $15 (purchase online or at the door). Food available for purchase at Buvette Wine Bar. Walk-in or make a reservation on Eventbrite (tinyurl.com/r3ns7nm4). Location, Buvette Wine Bar, 15005 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. www.fuilwines.com
ART
Japanese American National Museum: Closed for renovation through late 2026. Programs will continue during the renovation on the museum’s campus in Little Tokyo (100 N. Centra Ave., Los Angeles), other locations, and virtually. 213-625-0414. www.janm.org
MUSEUMS
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum: Museum hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, except closed on the first Tuesday of the month and national holidays. Admission $18; $14 ages 62 and older and students ages 13-17; $7 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger, but a ticket is required. Location, 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. 213-763-3499. tarpits.org
Natural History Museum Los Angeles County: Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (but closed on the first Tuesday of the month and some holidays). Admission $18; $14 ages 62 and older and students ages 13-17; $7 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger, but a ticket is required. Location, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. nhmlac.org
FAQs
Submit calendar listings at least two weeks in advance to handres@scng.com.
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