San Pedro’s waterfront will be hopping this summer.
Among the brand new offerings will be SailGP (Grand Prix) — billed as the “Formula One” of sailing events in the Port of Los Angeles’s Outer Harbor July 22-23.
Elite sailing teams and athletes will compete in the high-speed sail racing event that also brings in live entertainment. Go to the SailGP website. It’s the first time the event is being held in Los Angeles.
But that’s not all.
Launching out from the recent Memorial Day weekend and running through Labor Day, the Port of Los Angeles will host many of the familiar favorites, from Fourth of July fireworks to car shows and the Labor Day Conquer the Bridge run.
With work now started on what will be a new waterfront attraction — West Harbor — and the port’s cruise offerings ramping up to year-round status, the working port is fast becoming a draw for recreation and entertainment.
LA Fleet Week, which just wrapped up, kicked it all off, with a preliminary estimate of about 40,000 people over the course of the Memorial Day weekend event.
So get your calendar out and start marking off the many more dates to come. Among the events this summer are:
- San Pedro City Ballet’s “Swan Lake,” 8 p.m. June 2 and 3: The debut of the ballet company’s “Swan Lake” will be presented under the stars at Cabrillo Marina’s Berth 37. The 400-seat performance space will provide heaters, though folks might want to dress warm anyway — and bring a seat cushion. Admission is free. Visit San Pedro City Ballet for details.
- Italy 5K Run LA, 8 a.m. June 4: The second annual run starts and finishes at Harbor Boulevard and Seventh Street in downtown San Pedro. Arrive 45-60 minutes before the start of the race and plan to attend the post-race “festa” afterward in the Piazza, 638 S. Beacon St. Register in advance at Raceplace.com/.
- Meet the Grunion at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, June 5 and 19: Stay up late and go to the beach. The events start with an 8 p.m. educational film about grunion. Then, walk over to the beach (bring a flashlight and jacket) for a guided observation, where these curious fish wriggle ashore and blanket the sands under the moonlight before riding the tide back to sea. CabrilloMarineAquarium.org.
- San Pedro Pride 2023 on the Waterfront, June 17: This year’s lineup includes a drag brunch at noon and a 2 p.m. flag-raising ceremony at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. Festivities will be held along the new waterfront promenade south of Sixth Street and Harbor Boulevard. BridgeCitiesAlliance.com.
- Brouwerij West’s Popfuji Summer Series, June 18, Warehouse 9, 110 E. 22nd St., San Pedro: Father’s Day kicks off this popular music event this year. The family- and dog-friendly favorite features a line-up of brews and bands, as well as crafts to browse at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles next door. Go to brouwerijwest.com.
- Juneteenth Fireworks Spectacular, 8:45 p.m. June 19: Celebrate with fireworks at Cabrillo Beach to honor and acknowledge the emancipation of African American slaves in the U.S. on this date in 1865. Go to Juneteenth at the Port of L.A. website for more.
- 13th Annual Cars & Stripes Forever!, 6-10 p.m. June 30: Classic cars, entertainment and fireworks provide a jump-start to Independence Day festivities. The classic car show features nearly 100 pre-1975-era exotic cars and motorcycles arrayed at Harbor Boulevard and the Vincent Thomas Bridge. Live bands, gourmet food trucks and a beer garden round out the party’s festivities. Fireworks go off at 9:15 p.m. More at the Port of Los Angeles site.
- 72nd John Olguin Fireworks Spectacular, 9:15 p.m. July 4: Bring beach chairs and blankets for this event celebrating America’s Independence Day. Co-sponsored by the Cabrillo Beach Boosters and the Port of Los Angeles. Visit Cabrillo Beach Boosters for more information.
- SailGP, July 22-23: A Grand Prix on water, this new entry at the Port of Los Angeles features global elite sailing teams and athletes, along with entertainment, in San Pedro’s Outer Harbor. Go to SailGP
- Insomniac’s Interstellar Experience, Aug. 19-20: The two-day music festival, starting at noon each day in the port’s Outer Harbor, blends music, art and imagination. Concert-goers must be 21 or older. Visit Insomniac.com.
- Conquer the Bridge, 7 a.m. Sept. 4. This Harbor Area favorite offers the rare chance to walk or run over San Pedro’s landmark Vincent Thomas Bridge as part of a 5.3-mile course that starts at the intersection of Fifth Street and Harbor Boulevard. Register in advance at conquerthebridge.com/.
Ongoing attractions, meanwhile, include the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, Battleship Iowa, S.S. Lane Victory, Fort MacArthur Museum, the Muller House, the Banning Museum and the Drum Barracks Civil War Museum.
Visit LAWaterfront.org for more information.