Listen LiveNo matter where you are or what device you use to listen to KPCC, we've got you covered.
Arts & Entertainment

13 awesome things to do this weekend in Southern California: April 6-8

Surf dog Jojo the Corgi rides a wave during the 9th annual Surf City Surf Dog event at Huntington Beach, California on September 23, 2017.
Surf dog Jojo the Corgi rides a wave during the 9th annual Surf City Surf Dog event at Huntington Beach, California on September 23, 2017.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
KPCC Staff |

Listen to story

03:00
Download this story 2MB

If you make an effort, you can turn any weekend into a holiday. From disco parties and craft fairs to beer and anthropomorphic trains, here's how to live your best Southern California weekend ever.

FUR-FRIENDLY PICK

Corgi Beach Day

Surf dog Jojo the Corgi waits for her heat during the 9th annual Surf City Surf Dog event at Huntington Beach, California on September 23, 2017.
Surf dog Jojo the Corgi waits for her heat during the 9th annual Surf City Surf Dog event at Huntington Beach, California on September 23, 2017.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

WHEN: Saturday, April 7, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE: Huntington Dog Beach — 100 Goldenwest St., Huntington Beach
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Those cheerful, stubby-legged dogs favored by the queen of England take center stage at a day packed with cuteness and contests. Watch corgis do the limbo, eat coconut cream pies, wear cardigans and compete to see who has the cutest little canine wiggle butt.

LIVE STORIES PICK

Unheard LA – live in Baldwin Park (ep.6)

Alex Alpharaoh at KPCC's Unheard L.A.
Alex Alpharaoh at KPCC's Unheard L.A.
Louis Felix/KPCC

WHEN: Saturday, April 7, 5:30–7 p.m.
WHERE: Performing Arts Center of Baldwin Park — 4640 Maine Ave., Baldwin Park
COST: FREE but RSVP required; MORE INFO

KPCC In Person delivers the sixth episode of "Unheard L.A.," a live series that amplifies the experiences, moments and memories of real people in Southern California. Come listen to the tales of community members of different ages, neighborhoods and levels of performing experience. After the participants and the host share their stories with you, you're invited to share refreshments and reflections with them at a post-show mixer.

BOOTY SHAKING PICK

Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours

1970s disco icon Bobby Farrell, singer and dancer with the chart-topping group Boney M, performs in Moscow on December 23, 2009. He died in 2010.
1970s disco icon Bobby Farrell, singer and dancer with the chart-topping group Boney M, performs in Moscow on December 23, 2009. He died in 2010.
AFP/AFP/Getty Images

WHEN: Friday, April 6 - Saturday, April 7, 11 p.m. - 3 a.m.
WHERE: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion — 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown L.A.
COST: $20; MORE INFO

Disco lives! For two nights, flash back to an era of pulsating beats and glittery jumpsuits as the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion transforms into a 1970s nightclub. Experience the evolution of disco from its underground club roots to its long-lasting influence on music and fashion.

YE OLDE TYMEY PICKE

The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire

A performer at the 2010 Bristol Renaissance Faire.
A performer at the 2010 Bristol Renaissance Faire.
Bryan Thompson/Flickr Creative Commons

WHEN: Saturday, April 7 - Sunday, May 20, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. 
WHERE: Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area — 15501 Arrow Highway, Irwindale
COST: $30 adult single day, $15 children (5-12) single day; MORE INFO

Prefer the 1570s to the 1970s? Grab your doublet and a flagon of brandy wine for a day spent in Elizabethan times — hopefully without catching the Black Death or being burned as a heretic. This living history experience includes archery, axe throwing, hair braiding, jousting, tea with the queen, a maypole carousel and other merrie olde rides and carnival booths. Experience the whimsy of the 16th century without sacrificing the benefits of modern dentistry.

COMEDY PICK

Hari Kondabolu

Comedian Hari Kondabolu speaks onstage at a screening of
Comedian Hari Kondabolu speaks onstage at a screening of "The Problem With Apu" at IFC Center on November 14, 2017 in New York City.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for truTV

WHEN: Saturday, April 7
WHERE: Wilshire Ebell Theatre — 4401 W. 8th St., Koreatown
COST: $32.50; MORE INFO

Maybe you know Hari Kondabolu from the documentary "The Problem With Apu," an exploration of his love-hate (or would that be hate-hate?) relationship with Apu, the Kwik-E-Mart owner on "The Simpsons." But the comedian has been making audiences laugh with his smart, culturally savvy stand-up for years.

ARTSY PICK

Los Angeles Plein Air Festival

Teri Dewey, right, assisted by her husband, Joe Dewey, adds a steam plume to her painting of Mount St. Helens, after setting up her easel at Elk Creek Overlook in Washington on October 14, 2004.
Teri Dewey, right, assisted by her husband, Joe Dewey, adds a steam plume to her painting of Mount St. Helens, after setting up her easel at Elk Creek Overlook in Washington on October 14, 2004.
Greg Wahl-Stephens/Getty Images

WHEN: Wednesday, April 4 - Sunday, April 8
WHERE: Raw Materials Art Supplies — 436 S. Main St., downtown Los Angeles
COST: FREE to view or participate; MORE INFO

"Plein air" is a fancy French way of saying "in the open air" and it's what exhibitionist painters like to do. At the largest urban plein air festival in the country, you'll get to watch artists put brush to canvas (or pen to sketchpad) on the streets of Los Angeles. All skill levels are welcome and anyone who registers to participate can exhibit and sell their finished artwork.

CRAFTY PICK

Barnsdall Art and Craft Fair

The Barnsdall Art Park Foundation's Breaking Convention Summer Soiree on July 15, 2015.
The Barnsdall Art Park Foundation's Breaking Convention Summer Soiree on July 15, 2015.
Araya Diaz/Getty Images for Barnsdall Art P

WHEN: Sunday, April 8, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
WHERE: Barnsdall Art Center — 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Los Feliz
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

Shop ceramics, cards, jewelry, prints, paintings and art while doing a little good at the same time. Proceeds from this craft fair go toward arts and education programming at Barnsdall, site of Frank Lloyd Wright's famous Hollyhock House.

SPOKEN WORD PICK

L.A. Get Down Festival

Spoken word artist Charity Blackwell onstage at the 38th Annual Salute To Women in Sports Awards Gala on October 18, 2017 in New York City.
Spoken word artist Charity Blackwell onstage at the 38th Annual Salute To Women in Sports Awards Gala on October 18, 2017 in New York City.
Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Women's Sports Foundation

WHEN: Saturday, April 7 - Saturday, April 28
WHERE: Greenway Court Theatre — 544 N. Fairfax Ave. and Melrose Trading Post — 7850 Melrose Ave.
COST: $10, most events; MORE INFO

What is poetry? What should it be? Wordsmiths from around the world will lead performances and workshops during this month-long celebration of hip-hop and spoken word. The festival will also host the 10th InkSlam championship, a competition between 12 well-known poets.

FAMILY PICK

Day Out with Thomas

A life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine is surrounded by schoolchildren at Shinkanaya station along Japan's Oigawa railway, in the city of Shimada, west of Tokyo.
A life-sized Thomas the Tank Engine is surrounded by schoolchildren at Shinkanaya station along Japan's Oigawa railway, in the city of Shimada, west of Tokyo.
JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images

WHEN: Saturday, April 7 - Sunday, April 8
WHERE: Orange Empire Railway Museum — 201 S. A St., Perris
COST: $17-25; MORE INFO

The world's most popular tank engine comes all the way from the Island of Sodor to visit Southern California. He's bringing his BFF, Percy the Small Steam Engine, and Sir Topham Hatt, who managed to take a few days off from his busy job as railway controller. Train enthusiasts of all ages can hop aboard the storybook engine for a ride.

MUSIC PICK

First Fridays

A visitor looks at a the skull of a Tyrannosaurus rex in the Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles on July 7, 2011.
A visitor looks at a the skull of a Tyrannosaurus rex in the Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles on July 7, 2011.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

WHEN: Friday, April 6, 5-10 p.m.
WHERE: Natural History Museum— 900 W. Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles
COST: $20-26; MORE INFO

Chelsea Jade and Jamila Woods headline the musical portion of the evening. Before that, at the discussion "From Basket Sealant to Black Gold," you'll learn about the history of oil drilling and how it helped make L.A. the car capital of the world. Anthony Valadez and Novena Carmel will provide beats to go with the museum's exquisite dioramas.

SHOPPING PICK

Uptown Whittier Art and Antique Street Faire

A man holds a violin on March 17, 2013 at the National Antiques and Ham Fair in the western Paris suburb of Chatou.
A man holds a violin on March 17, 2013 at the National Antiques and Ham Fair in the western Paris suburb of Chatou.
FRANCOIS GUILLOT/AFP/Getty Images

WHEN: Saturday, April 7, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE: Philadelphia St. & Bright Ave. — Whittier
COST: FREE; MORE INFO

More than 150 vendors selling housewares, art, crafted goods and antiques turn out for this annual festival that also includes live bands, dance performances and raffles.

BOOZY PICK

LA Beer Fest

Stone Brewing co-founder and chairman Greg Koch gulps down a beer.
Stone Brewing co-founder and chairman Greg Koch gulps down a beer.
Beidi Zhang/KPCC

WHEN: Saturday, April 7, noon - 3 p.m. and 5 - 8 p.m.
WHERE: LA Center Studios — 450 S. Bixel St., downtown L.A.
COST: $45-80; MORE INFO

Hopheads can sample 200 domestic and international beers from 80 breweries at this suds fest. Plenty of food trucks will be on hand so you'll be able to buy snacks to soak up all that booze. Live bands, a deejay and a dueling piano bar round out the festivities. 

STYLEY PICK

Dwell on Design

Courtesy of Dwell on Design

WHEN: Thursday, April 5 - Sunday, April 7
WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center — 1201 S. Figueroa St., downtown L.A.
COST: $40, public 1-day pass; $125 for home tours of the east side or Santa Monica and Venice; MORE INFO

Are you a design and architecture professional, or do you just want to look like one? Wear your funkiest eyeglasses and most expensive sneakers as you peruse fire pits, wine glasses, environmentally friendly patio furniture and laser-printed bar carts. OK, we made that last one up — but now that we've dreamed it, someone should get to work creating it.

Correction: This story misstated a date for the "Unheard L.A." event. It has since been updated.

How are you spending your weekend? Let us know on Twitter @LeoHasACat.