PORT OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES SUMMER SCHEDULE ON THE LA WATERFRONT
Downtown Harbor Grand Opening, Tall Ships® Festival LA 2014 Added to Line-up of Family-Fun Events
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — May 14, 2014 — The Port of Los Angeles is gearing up for its biggest summer season ever, packed with new and exciting events on the LA Waterfront that promise fun and entertainment for the entire family.
Adding to its lineup of annual events, the Port this year will host several new events and celebrations, including the grand opening of Downtown Harbor, Tall Ships® Festival LA 2014 and free family movie nights featuring a film projected for the first time from a floating barge over San Pedro Bay.
“The summer events on the LA Waterfront are about bringing community together,” said Gary Lee Moore, the Port’s Interim Executive Director. “These Port-supported events also allow us to showcase the LA Waterfront, which has become a destination for both residents and visitors to enjoy.”
Among celebrations at the Port this summer will be the opening of San Pedro’s new Downtown Harbor public plaza from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, June 20. The event will feature live music, shoreside strolling jugglers and activities for children. This new 1.2-acre space on the north side of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum will open new access and leisure opportunity for pedestrians and boaters.
From Aug. 20-24, Tall Ships® Festival LA 2014 will take over the LA Waterfront, featuring more than a dozen international and domestic grand tall ships sailing in from across the Pacific. The five-day festival features boat tours, dockside demonstrations, maritime-themed entertainment, a children’s pirate camp, arts and crafts, and the first US West coast debut of the world’s largest Rubber Duck.
Among the events planned along the LA Waterfront this summer:
May 17 – Free Educational Boat Tours – In celebration of World Trade Week, the Port is offering FREE one-hour boat tours of Los Angeles Harbor on Saturday, May 17. Tours are a great way to see giant, working ships up close, while learning about the busiest container port in the U.S. Tours will depart every half hour from Banning’s Landing Community Center in Wilmington and the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. No reservations required.
June 7 – 70th Anniversary of D-Day – Commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day aboard the S.S. Lane Victory at Berth 46 in San Pedro, from 1-4 p.m. Learn more at lanevictory.org.
June 21 – 2014 Fiesta Corazón del Puerto – Enjoy a family day of live music, food, and fun with FREE admission at Wilmington Waterfront Park, located at Neptune Avenue and C Street in Wilmington, from 2-10 p.m. For more information, call (310) 522-2100.
June 27 – Cars & Stripes Forever! – Kick off the Independence Day holiday early with a visit to the Sixth Annual Cars & Stripes Forever! car show on Friday, June 27, from 5-10 p.m. In addition to more than 100 classic cars on display, the FREE event will feature live music, a beer garden, food trucks, free rides on the Red Car, and dancing water shows at the Fanfare Fountain. The fireworks start at 9:20 pm.
July 4 – Cabrillo Beach Fireworks – Join us Friday, July 4, for a FREE fireworks spectacular at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, from noon-10 p.m. A family tradition, this event will also feature live music.
July 10 – Free Movie Night at Wilmington Waterfront Park – The fun starts in Wilmington at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 at Wilmington Waterfront Park. The featured movie is Disney’s “Frozen,” with a crowd warm up provided by Radio Disney.
Aug. 1 – Free Movie Night at Downtown Harbor – The classic 1988 film “Big” starring Tom Hanks will be shown at the Downtown Harbor in San Pedro, at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 1. The movie will be projected from a floating barge with viewers enjoying the movie from the new public plaza.
Aug 9-10 – Navy Days LA 2014 – Navy Days LA returns to the Port, providing Los Angeles residents and visitors the opportunity to tour real-life U.S. Naval vessels at the World Cruise Center Aug. 9-10. Tours are FREE to the public with reservations through portoflosangeles.org at least a month prior to the event.
Sept. 10 – Paper Yacht Challenge – Test competitors of all ages on their boat-building skills, Wednesday, September 10, 4-7 p.m. Contestants will race their paper boat creations to the finish line at the Fanfare Fountains at Gateway Plaza, vying for the win while competing against other paper-boat builders. Proceeds from the event will go to support local nonprofit organizations. Register at portoflosangeles.org.
Sept. 12-14 – Lobster Festival – Holding the Guinness World Record for the most seafood served at an outdoor event, the world’s largest lobster festival at Ports O’ Call Village in San Pedro is an annual event not to be missed. Visitors can feast on fresh Maine lobster and enjoy live entertainment over this three-day event. Featuring fresh discount Maine lobster meals flown in fresh daily, the event has been a South Bay tradition since 1999.
Sept. 19-20 – Red Bull Global Rallycross – Get ready for the dirt to fly at the Port of Los Angeles for the Red Bull Global Rallycross races. Watch small-body cars such as Ford Fiestas, Subarus, and Volkswagens that are modified with four-wheel drive and 600-horsepower engines race along the beautiful LA Waterfront.
For a complete list of events on the LA Waterfront this summer and beyond, visit lawaterfront.org.