If you weren’t able to travel as far and wide as you would have liked to this summer, then September is your chance to make up for it. Throughout the month, there are special festivals, exhibits, walking tours, and workshops that offer you the chance to explore cultures from all over the world right here in Los Angeles as well as visit new-to-you areas to broaden your horizons. And this Labor Day Weekend in particular there is an exceptional number of events to consider.

And for Scandinavian enthusiasts, there are two special Scandinavian festivals going on this month. Unfortunately, neither are in the local Los Angeles area, but both could make for interesting excursions out of town. During the weekend of September 15 to 17, Solvang in Santa Barbara County celebrates its Danish heritage with the 81st annual Solvang Danish Days festival. The following weekend, September 23 and 24, you can experience all things Viking and Scandinavian at the Vista Viking Festival in San Diego County.

How will you explore the richness of Los Angeles this month? Continue reading →

Summer is the perfect time to explore and take advantage of all that Los Angeles has to offer. This edition of the Culture Challenge shares events happening throughout the summer. You’ll find special one-time events, ongoing year-round events that continue through the summer, and unique programs just happening during the summer.

Make a pact to visit a new area of Los Angeles or participate in a new activity—a cultural art project, a concert in a special outdoor setting, a festival celebrating a unique culture, or a bike ride exploring a new part of Los Angeles, just to mention a few options. The experience will open your eyes to the richness of where we live. You’ll be amazed at what’s available to us.

How will you explore the richness of Los Angeles this summer?

* SPECIAL EVENTS THIS SUMMER *

Family Festival, Getty Center, Saturday, June 3. Enjoy a day of celebration and discovery for the whole family inspired by magnificent historical scenes on view in the exhibition Eyewitness Views: Making History in Eighteenth-Century Europe, featuring performances, storytelling, and art-making workshops.

17th Annual LA River Ride, Autry Center in Griffith Park, Sunday, June 4. What better way to explore the city we live in than by bike. Join over 2,000 other riders and enjoy a great day of bicycling fun, exploration, a post-ride expo, a raffle, live music, and more. 7 great rides: 100-mile, 70-mile, 50-mile, 36-mile, 25-mile, 15-mile Family Ride, plus a 2-mile Kids’ Ride + Festival. All participants receive a t-shirt, goodie bag, and finisher’s medal. Kids 12 and under ride for free for all rides. All proceeds benefit the work of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, the only non-profit organization working to make all communities in L.A. County healthy, safe, and fun places to ride bikes.

Kids in the Courtyard: Decoding Stories!, Fowler Museum at UCLA, Westwood, Sunday, June 4, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Moche peoples of ancient Peru (100-800 C.E) portrayed complex scenes on painted vessels, depicting everything from daily life to rituals and legends. The scenes were created with such detail that archaeologists today can decode these images to learn about how Moche people lived. Come out and be an archaeologist for a day! Create your own coded picture language and see if others can decode your secret messages.

Irish Fair & Music Fest, El Dorado Park, Long Beach, Saturday, June 10, & Sunday, June 11. This is the largest such festival west of the Mississippi, and it has been around Southern California for more than 40 years. There will be many Irish bands, including the well-known Fenians. For the young folk, there will be a Leprechaun Village with rides, storytelling, and a Freckle Face competition. You are invited to join or just watch the daily St. Paddy parades. Also included in the entertainment line-up is a sheep herding exhibition. And of course, there will be plenty of Irish food and beverages.

CicLAvia – Glendale Meets Atwater Village, Sunday, June 11. Los Angeles welcomes a brand new CicLAvia route in June. Glendale and Atwater Village will host the country’s largest open streets event. Streets will be closed to cars and open for cyclists, pedestrians, runners and skaters to use as a recreational space. You will enjoy the sights, music, food, and culture that make LA such a vibrant city.

LA Film Festival, ArcLight Cinemas, Culver City, June 14-22. The LA Film Festival is a premier platform for new works from emerging and established independent storytellers with unique voices and innovative visions. Index of films by interest include the following: African Diaspora, Directors of Color, LA Stories, Latino/Latin America, LGBTQ+, Native American/Islander, Politics/Social Awareness, plus more. Most screenings and events take place at ArcLight Culver City, with additional screenings and events at venues around Los Angeles.

Kids in the Courtyard: Miniature Painting, Fowler Museum at UCLA, Westwood, Sunday, June 18, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Miniature paintings illustrating books and manuscripts are an integral part of western Indian art traditions. Create your own painting on shrink plastic and watch it miniaturize before your eyes! Be sure to catch the miniature paintings and sparking silver jewelry in the Enduring Splendor: Jewelry of India’s Thar Desert exhibition.

31th Annual Long Beach Bayou Festival, Rainbow Lagoon Park, Long Beach, Saturday, June 24, & Sunday, June 25. Experience the Bayou with this two-day family festival featuring authentic Cajun and Creole food, cultural music, dance lessons, crawfish eating contests, a children’s corner with arts and crafts and other activities, and a Mardi Gras parade. There will also be live performances at the Zydeco Stage, Blues Stage, and Children’s Stage.

Natsumatsuri Family Festival, Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo, Downtown LA, Saturday, August 13. Join JANM for their annual summer celebration featuring Japanese and Japanese American performances, crafts, and activities.

* ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER *

The Undiscovered Chinatown Walking Tour, Downtown LA, first Saturday of each month, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Visit a temple, an herbal shop, art galleries, antique stores, and more when guided to the unique treasures–not to mention great bargains–to be found in Chinatown. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to wind your way through a myriad of alleyways, plaza stalls, and classical courtyards to discover the charm of L.A.’s Chinatown.

Little Tokyo Walking Tour, Japanese American National Museum, Downtown LA, last Saturday of each month, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Relive history and learn about present-day Little Tokyo with JANM docents. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Weather permitting. Buy tickets in advance. Cost is $12 members, $15 non-members. Museum admission is included. Limited to 20 participants.

Barnsdall Art Sundays, Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood/Los Feliz, every Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Every Sunday art instructors present a free art project featuring a different culture and media. All materials are provided. This summer explore Ancient Greece (June 4), China (June 11), Ancient Maya (June 18), India (June 25), USA (July 2), Tibet (July 9), India (July 16), and Kenya (July 23) through a variety of projects. See website for more details.

Andell Family Sundays, LACMA, Los Angeles, every Sunday, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Make, look, and talk about art at Andell Family Sundays! Drop in anytime between 12:30 and 3:30 pm. This weekly family event features artist-led workshops and friendly gallery tours and activities thematically based on special exhibitions and LACMA’s permanent collection. Each month features a different theme: June—Follow the Rainbow, July—Travel to Egypt, and August—Flower Tour.

Roman Holidays, The Getty Villa, Malibu, Saturdays & Sundays, ongoing until September 3. You won’t need a passport to travel back in time at the Roman Holidays celebration this summer. Discover the sights (and smells!) of ancient Rome, offer your prayers to Venus, read your future in a sheep’s liver, and enjoy live musical and comedy performances by the historically hysterical Troubadour Theater Company.

* SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMS *

Chinatown Summer Nights, Downtown LA, 1st Saturdays during summer months (7/1, 8/5, and 9/2), 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Part food event, part summer party, Chinatown Summer Nights presents an exciting hot spot for Angelenos this summer. Taste the many culinary offerings of Chinatown and LA’s gourmet food trucks; sample the neighborhood’s wares; watch Chinese chefs perform cooking demonstrations; experience large-scale, outdoor video projections; take part in hands-on, Chinese cultural activities presented by local organizations and museums; sip on craft brews and dance in Central Plaza with 89.9 KCRW’s DJs!

Family Amphitheater Performances: All Around the World, Skirball Cultural Center, Saturdays & Sundays, July 1 – August 13. This year’s eclectic lineup of bands celebrates an array of musical styles—from the beats of Africa and Latin America to the American traditions of rockabilly and folk. Sing and dance along to music that inspired Paul Simon or was influenced by the legend himself. See website for full schedule.

Grand Performances, California Plaza, Downtown LA, June – August. Grand Performances bring artists and audiences together by thoughtfully curating an array of music, dance, film, and spoken word featuring great artists from around the globe and our very own streets of L.A. The summer series of free outdoor concerts celebrates our city’s rich diversity through performing arts at a stunning outdoor venue in Downtown LA. Some performances are more appropriate for families than others. See website for schedule of performances.

Ford Family Series: Big World Fun, Ford Amphitheatre, Hollywood, Saturday mornings, July & August. Music and dance events that represent the diverse cultural landscape of Southern California are presented on Saturday mornings in July and August in the outdoor amphitheatre. Performances are appropriate for children ages 4 to 12 and their families. Children are admitted free and adults pay $5. Come early to explore wild animals, get busy with craft activities, and grab a bite before the show. See website for schedule of performances and ticket information.

Feel free to add events for the summer months in the comments below. I also welcome feedback on any events you have attended. If you have suggestions about future events and celebrations to include in upcoming months, please email me the details. Thank you!

April offers an abundance of special events and activities about a great variety of countries and cultures to occupy your weekends. Browse through the list below to see if anything catches your eye.

Two of my favorite events return this month, Scandinavian Festival at California Lutheran University and LA Times Festival of Books at USC, and I’m relieved they don’t fall on the same weekend which has happened in the past. The Scandinavian Festival took a hiatus last year but returns the first weekend in April. You can read more about what to expect at the festival here. The Festival of Books is not just about books and authors, which is fun in and of itself, but it’s also music, food, art, and culture.

How will you explore the diverse richness of Los Angeles this month?

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 1 & 2 *

African-Print Fashion Now!: A Story of Taste, Globalization, and Style, Fowler Museum at UCLA, Westwood, March 26 – July 30. This exhibition introduces visitors to a dynamic and diverse African dress tradition and the increasingly interconnected fashion worlds that it inhabits: “popular” African-print styles created by local seamstresses and tailors across the continent; international runway fashions designed by Africa’s newest generation of couturiers; and boundary-breaking, transnational, and youth styles favored in Africa’s urban centers. All feature the colorful, boldly designed, manufactured cotton textiles that have come to be known as “African-print cloth.” The exhibition tells the global stories of these textiles—the early history of the print cloth trade in West and Central Africa, the expansion of production following independence movements, and the increasing popularity of Asian-made print cloth today. Popular African styles from Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, and Senegal are featured, as well as groundbreaking runway fashions by some of Africa’s most talented couturiers

Scandinavian Festival, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Saturday, 4/1, & Sunday, 4/2. The Scandinavian Festival returns for the 42nd year. Both days of the festival are filled with music, dancing, food, lectures, demonstrations, vendors, and activities for young and old alike. The Viking Encampment and Sami Village will once again be present. Family activities include making head wreaths with real flowers, raising the Maypole and dancing around it, learning the ancient Viking game Kubb, playing croquet, and a variety of arts and crafts representative of the Nordic countries.

International Children’s Day Festival, Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, Saturday, 4/1, & Sunday, 4/2. Celebrating the amazing talents of children of all cultures, this festival features West African, Mexican, Pacific Islander, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Persian dance performances. Enjoy performances by a children’s choir and martial arts demonstrations. Kids of all ages can partake in an international percussion circle, face painting, and Native American and Pacific Islander traditional children’s crafts and games.

The Undiscovered Chinatown Tour, Chinatown, Downtown LA, Saturday, 4/1, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Visit a temple, an herbal shop, art galleries, antique stores, and more! The 2 1/2 hour walking tour will take visitors to a number of off-the-beaten-track points of interest and will guide those interested in shopping to some of Chinatown’s best bargains and its trendiest shops. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to wind your way through a myriad of alleyways, plaza stalls, and classical courtyards to discover the charm of L.A’s Chinatown. You must RSVP as group size is limited. This tour is offered every first Saturday of the month.

Reykjavík Festival: Maximus Musicus (Toyota Symphonies for Youth), Walt Disney Concert Hall, Downtown LA, Saturday, 4/1, & Saturday, 4/8, 11:00 a.m. Join Maximus Musicus, a lively Icelandic mouse, on a journey from the sunny shores of Southern California to Reykjavík, where you will explore the music and the great outdoors of Iceland. The concert is preceded by a choice of workshops designed for children ages 5 to 11. These include art-making, a music workshop, an instrument petting zoo, and a dance or theater/storytelling workshop. All activities are free to ticket holders. The Reykjavík Festival is ongoing until June 4 and includes a variety of events. See website for more information and to purchase tickets.

Russia: Lacquerware Mobiles (Family Art Workshop), Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood/Los Feliz, Sunday, 4/2, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Come for a free family art workshop in a real art studio. All materials are provided. Each Sunday a different culture and media are featured.

Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival, Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, Sunday, 4/2, 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Join Bowers Museum in celebrating the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival. All family festivals include art-making activities and cultural traditions along with live music and dancing.

Ukrainian Pysanka Festival, Ukrainian Culture Center, Los Angeles, Sunday, 4/2, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Learn to make traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs. Experience Ukrainian culture by viewing the work of many esteemed artists. Enjoy dance performances, music, and food.

Bright Design: Awazu Kiyoshi (Andell Family Sundays), LACMA, Los Angeles, Sunday, 4/2, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Japanese graphic designer Awazu Kiyoshi had a signature style that wove together folklore and city life, all in bright colors. Check out posters and prints he designed to promote theater and film in the exhibition Awazu Kiyoshi, Graphic Design: Summoning the Outdated. Make your own posters and learn simple printmaking techniques in artist-led workshops. This event repeats every Sunday in April, except Easter Sunday.

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 8 & 9 *

Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, Saturdays & Sundays, April 8 – May 21. Travel back to the 16th century and experience the glory of life during the Renaissance era. The faire provides “a cornucopia of diversity where we are unified in inviting our guests to enjoy an environment we have created to escape from the stresses and demands of the modern day.” There will be artisans of all media, entertainment galore, food trucks and booths, games and rides (including pony and camel rides), a Kids Kingdom (with games, crafts, story-telling, song, shows, and characters), and a gnome quest!

19th Annual Chumash Day Powwow and Inter-Tribal Celebration, Malibu Bluffs Park, Malibu, Saturday, 4/8, & Sunday, 4/9. This year’s 19th annual Chumash Day Powwow will celebrate Native Americans from all over the country. Hundreds of tribes will gather at Malibu Bluffs Park. Native American food, craft vendors, tribal ceremonies, and dances will be a part of the event on both days. Grand Entry will take place 1pm at Saturday and 12pm on Sunday.

Celebrate Japanese American History (JANM Free Family Day), Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo, Downtown LA, Saturday, 4/8, 11:00 a.m. –  4:00 p.m. Learn about Japanese American history and actor/activist George Takei with crafts and activities inspired by the exhibitions Instructions to All Persons: Reflections on Executive Order 9066 and New Frontiers: The Many Worlds of George Takei. At crafts stations, learn how to make koinobori (carp streamers), origami samurai hats, and origami bird pins (much like the ones that were made by incarcerated Japanese Americans during World War II). Learn about famous Japanese Americans by making comic books and paper puppets. Throughout the day, hear stories that share the Japanese American experience. There will also be a Spam Musubi Workshop where you can learn how to create this delicious and uniquely Japanese American treat. See website for complete schedule of activities.

Reykjavík Festival: Maximus Musicus (Toyota Symphonies for Youth), Walt Disney Concert Hall, Downtown LA, Saturday, 4/8, 11:00 a.m. Join Maximus Musicus, a lively Icelandic mouse, on a journey from the sunny shores of Southern California to Reykjavík, where you will explore the music and the great outdoors of Iceland. The concert is preceded by a choice of workshops designed for children ages 5 to 11. These include art-making, a music workshop, an instrument petting zoo, and a dance or theater/storytelling workshop. All activities are free to ticket holders. The Reykjavík Festival is ongoing until June 4 and includes a variety of events. See website for more information and to purchase tickets.

India: Mughal Painting of the Deities (Family Art Workshop), Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood/Los Feliz, Sunday, 4/9, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Come for a free family art workshop in a real art studio. All materials are provided. Each Sunday a different culture and media are featured.

Bright Design: Awazu Kiyoshi (Andell Family Sundays), LACMA, Los Angeles, Sunday, 4/9, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Japanese graphic designer Awazu Kiyoshi had a signature style that wove together folklore and city life, all in bright colors. Check out posters and prints he designed to promote theater and film in the exhibition Awazu Kiyoshi, Graphic Design: Summoning the Outdated. Make your own posters and learn simple printmaking techniques in artist-led workshops. This event repeats every Sunday in April, except Easter Sunday.

Family Jam: Choose Your Words, Fowler Museum at UCLA, Westwood, Sunday, 4/9, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Drop-in on #FamilyJam, an interactive performance featuring musicians, artists and other performers from all over the world. Families learn dance moves, songs, and stories from a variety of cultures. No reservation required, and it is free of charge. In this session, explore how a picture can inspire a thousand words. In collaboration with Westwind, UCLA’s student-run journal of the arts, learn about types of poetry and create your own using the stories, shapes, and patterns seen in the exhibit African-Print Fashion Now! as inspiration.

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 15 & 16 *

Blessing of the Animals, El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, Downtown LA, Saturday, 4/15, 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. This tradition of blessing the animals for the benefits they provide mankind dates back to the 4th century, when San Antonio De Abad was named the patron saint of the animal kingdom and began to bless animals to promote good health. It has been celebrated in the Plaza since 1930. Bring your pets to be blessed. Blessing begins at 2pm and lasts for an hour. Line-up for the blessing begins at 1pm. There will be entertainment from 12pm to 5pm.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, Saturdays & Sundays, ongoing until May 21. Travel back to the 16th century and experience the glory of life during the Renaissance era. The faire provides “a cornucopia of diversity where we are unified in inviting our guests to enjoy an environment we have created to escape from the stresses and demands of the modern day.” There will be artisans of all media, entertainment galore, food trucks and booths, games and rides (including pony and camel rides), a Kids Kingdom (with games, crafts, story-telling, song, shows, and characters), and a gnome quest!

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 22 & 23 *

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, USC Campus, Exposition Park, Saturday, 4/22, and Sunday, 4/23. Enjoy two days of not only books and authors, but also music, food, art, culture, and fun. The Festival of Books is Los Angeles Times’ annual celebration of ideas, creativity, and the written word. The Festival brings book lovers and fun seekers of all ages together with their favorite authors, artists, chefs, musicians, and entertainers. Go Metro and avoid the expense and hassle of finding parking. You’ll also save 10% on your total purchase of official 2017 Festival of Books merchandise, including mugs, T-shirts, and more. The Expo Line will drop you directly at the south end of the festival. The Program Guide with articles, a map, schedule, exhibitor list, and more will be available April 16.

45th Annual Bunka-Sai Japanese Cultural Festival, Ken Miller Recreation Center, Torrance, Saturday, 4/22, & Sunday, 4/23. Come enjoy Japanese culture at the Bunka-Sai Festival sponsored by the Torrance Sister City Association. There will be an anime contest; Kamishibai storytelling; Aikido, Judo, Kendo, Naginata, and Karate; Koto, Taiko, Minyo, Shamisen, and Odori; Ikebana and Bonsai; Shodo calligraphy and tea ceremony; Origami, Roketsu, and Kimekomi Ningyo Dolls; arts and crafts boutiques, games for children, hourly drawings; and food.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, Saturdays & Sundays, ongoing until May 21. Travel back to the 16th century and experience the glory of life during the Renaissance era. The faire provides “a cornucopia of diversity where we are unified in inviting our guests to enjoy an environment we have created to escape from the stresses and demands of the modern day.” There will be artisans of all media, entertainment galore, food trucks and booths, games and rides (including pony and camel rides), a Kids Kingdom (with games, crafts, story-telling, song, shows, and characters), and a gnome quest!

Guatemala: Recycled Animals of the Rainforest (Family Art Workshop), Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood/Los Feliz, Sunday, 4/23, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Come for a free family art workshop in a real art studio. All materials are provided. Each Sunday a different culture and media are featured.

Bright Design: Awazu Kiyoshi (Andell Family Sundays), LACMA, Los Angeles, Sunday, 4/23, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Japanese graphic designer Awazu Kiyoshi had a signature style that wove together folklore and city life, all in bright colors. Check out posters and prints he designed to promote theater and film in the exhibition Awazu Kiyoshi, Graphic Design: Summoning the Outdated. Make your own posters and learn simple printmaking techniques in artist-led workshops. This event repeats every Sunday in April.

Kids in the Courtyard: Flippin’ 4 LYF, Fowler Museum at UCLA, Westwood, Sunday, 4/23, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Learn how to create a flipbook, or a non-digital “GIF”, that brings a scene or character to life by connecting one movement to the next through drawings. Don’t forget to check out the fantastic dance movements photographed in the exhibition Pantsula 4 LYF: Popular Dance and Fashion in Johannesburg, as well as a series of animated and non-animated family films in Lenart Auditorium presented by the Dance Camera West Film Festival.

* WEEKEND OF APRIL 29 & 30 *

Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, select cinemas in the Los Angeles area, April 27 – May 4. Celebrating its 33rd edition in 2017, the festival will bring the best and brightest of new Asian Pacific American cinema to Los Angeles audiences. Check website for news and updates on the festival.

REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival, Walt Disney Concert Hall Complex, Downtown LA, Saturday, April 29, to Sunday, May 7. The annual REDCAT International Children’s Film Festival returns with two full weekends of adventurous short-film programs to appeal to moviegoers of all ages. Magical, exhilarating works made by acclaimed filmmakers and up-and-coming auteurs showcase work from around the globe — including Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, Russia, Taiwan, Belarus, Korea, The Netherlands, and Ukraine — to inspire the whole family. Festival highlights include the latest in both live action and animated shorts. See website for the schedule for the two weekends.

Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, Irwindale, Saturdays & Sundays, ongoing until May 21. Travel back to the 16th century and experience the glory of life during the Renaissance era. The faire provides “a cornucopia of diversity where we are unified in inviting our guests to enjoy an environment we have created to escape from the stresses and demands of the modern day.” There will be artisans of all media, entertainment galore, food trucks and booths, games and rides (including pony and camel rides), a Kids Kingdom (with games, crafts, story-telling, song, shows, and characters), and a gnome quest!

Little Tokyo Walking Tour, Japanese American National Museum, Downtown LA, Saturday, 4/29, 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Relive history and learn about present-day Little Tokyo with JANM docents. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Weather permitting. Buy tickets in advance. Cost is $12 members, $15 non-members. Museum admission is included. Limited to 20 participants.

Mexico & Dia de los Ninos: Votive Painting Using Tin and Cardboard (Family Art Workshop), Junior Arts Center at Barnsdall Art Park, Hollywood/Los Feliz, Sunday, 4/30, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Come for a free family art workshop in a real art studio. All materials are provided. Each Sunday a different culture and media are featured.

Bright Design: Awazu Kiyoshi (Andell Family Sundays), LACMA, Los Angeles, Sunday, 4/30, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Japanese graphic designer Awazu Kiyoshi had a signature style that wove together folklore and city life, all in bright colors. Check out posters and prints he designed to promote theater and film in the exhibition Awazu Kiyoshi, Graphic Design: Summoning the Outdated. Make your own posters and learn simple printmaking techniques in artist-led workshops.

Feel free to add events for this month in the comments below. I also welcome feedback on any events you have attended. If you have suggestions about future events and celebrations to include in upcoming months, please email me here with details. Thank you!

A new month means new opportunities to explore the rich diversity of Los Angeles. Highlights this month include Brazilian Carnival and Chinese Lantern festivals, a celebration of Iranian New Year, and CicLAvia.

CicLAvia is one of my favorite LA events that happens 3 to 4 times a year around the greater LA area. On Sunday, March 26, it returns to a fan-favorite route, Culver City Meets Venice. Six miles of streets between Culver City and Venice will be closed to cars, and participants will be free to explore as cyclists, pedestrians, runners, or skaters. We did this route a year and a half ago as a family, and I hope to repeat it this month. There is no better way to get to know a part of town than to ride slowly through it stopping as you please along the way. There are hubs at both ends and one in the middle with special activities and food trucks.

I want to give readers a head’s up about a Scandinavian event happening the very first days of next month, April 1 and 2, the Scandinavian Festival at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss it!

How will you explore the diverse richness of Los Angeles this month? Continue reading →

February brings another month of many opportunities to explore the rich diversity of Los Angeles. Highlights this month include a multitude of events to celebrate Chinese New Year and to honor African-American history and contributions.

For those interested in delving deep into Scandinavian history, there’s the Nordic Spirit Symposium hosted by Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation happening at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks this month. It’s a unique lecture/performance program that “blends music, dining and the free exchange of ideas to enhance the pleasure of learning.” For more details, see Weekend of February 11 & 12 below.

How will you explore the diverse richness of Los Angeles this month? Continue reading →

Happy New Year! Have you vowed to take advantage of the many diverse cultural opportunities that Los Angeles has to offer? There’s lots to choose from this month. One of my favorite Scandinavian events returns this month, the Scandinavian Film Festival. I always look forward to seeing what’s being offered and hope there’s a movie that will transport me back to Norway through language and setting or bring alive a part of Norwegian history for me. I also don’t mind being an armchair traveler to other countries in the region. For a look at what’s being offered this year, check out Scandinavian Film Festival 2017: A Preview.

How will you explore the diverse richness of Los Angeles this month? Continue reading →

December is always a busy time with the winter holidays approaching, but if you have some time left over, there’s plenty of special cultural events happening. Los Angeles is one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the United States. I challenge you to take advantage of what Los Angeles has to offer and to discover the richness of where we live. Choose one or two events and mark your calendars, but please check suitability for family members and confirm dates and times before heading out.

Another of my favorite Scandinavian events happens this month, the Swedish Christmas Fair. It’s a busy, festive one-day affair which always leaves me with a cozy Christmas feeling. If you go, make sure to time your visit so that you are there for the Lucia pageant at 12pm or 3pm.

How will you explore the diverse richness of Los Angeles this month? Continue reading →

Los Angeles is one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the United States. There are many special events happening in LA in November. I challenge you to discover the richness of where we live. Choose one or two events and mark your calendars, but please check suitability for family members and confirm dates and times before heading out.

November is the month when Norwegians can kick off the holiday season with the Norwegian Church’s annual Christmas Fair, a highlight of the year and a favorite event of mine. You are warmly welcomed with gløgg and ginger snaps, and then Christmas decorations, music, candles, and the smell of freshly baked goods set the mood as you wander the booths filled with Scandinavian goods of all kinds. Don’t forget to enjoy a meal of traditional Norwegian foods in the church’s cafe and to buy Norwegian Christmas foods and baked goods before you leave.

How will you explore the diverse richness of Los Angeles this month? Continue reading →

It’s a busy month ahead, and Halloween and fall festivities aren’t even included in that. Throughout the month, there are celebrations and events featuring countries and cultures from all over the world – Lebanon, Southeast Asia, Lithuania, China, Cuba, Germany, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, Greece, Philippines, Congo, Mexico, India, and Asia in general. Where will you travel to this month without even leaving the city?

October is also the month of one of my favorite LA events – CicLAvia. On Sunday, October 16, close to 6 miles of streets will be closed to cars in Downtown LA, and participants will be free to explore all it has to offer. See more details below. I did it last year with my oldest son. There is no better way to get to know a part of town than to ride slowly through it stopping as you please along the way. Now with the Expo Line open all the way to Santa Monica, it’s even easier for Westside families to participate.

How will you explore the diverse richness of Los Angeles this month? Continue reading →