A NOT-TO-BE-MISSED SUMMER ON THE LA WATERFRONT
Free Events, Exciting Attractions and Authentic L.A. History Ready to Explore and Experience Like Never Before
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – June 18, 2019 – The sun is shining, school is out and there’s no better time to check out all there is to see and do on the LA Waterfront at the Port of Los Angeles. Many of the Port’s free signature events — Cars & Stripes Forever!®, movie nights under the stars, and LA Fleet Week® — are among some of the most popular annual traditions in and around the LA Waterfront.
Independence Day celebrations are never complete without a visit to the Cars & Stripes Forever! classic car show, which features more than 100 cars built before 1975, in addition to exotic models and motorcycles. Now in its 11th year, the Port-sponsored event will be held on Friday, June 28, from 5-10 p.m., at Harbor Boulevard and the Vincent Thomas Bridge. The night wraps up with a grand fireworks finale at 9:15 p.m.
While at Cars & Stripes Forever!, attendees can also visit booths from the Los Angeles Chargers, California Harley, T-Mobile, Los Angeles Port Police, U.S. Army and Navy, Special Olympics and more. Visitors can grab a scoop at the Tillamook Ice Cream booth, a frothy mug at the beer garden hosted by the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, or a fresh cup of joe at the San Pedro Rotary Club’s beverage booth. Super car buffs also won’t want to miss the Legends Car Show by the Sea on August 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Cabrillo Way Marina.
Also on tap for June will be the Peruvian Tall Ship B.A.P. Unión visit to the Los Angeles World Cruise Terminal. The 378-foot, four-mast sailing school Peruvian Navy ship hosts more than 100 cadets learning sailing techniques, teamwork and about life at sea. The Unión will be open to the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 20-22. Also happening on June 22 will be the action-sport, rock music and craft beer tasting fest GnarlyTown: Bikes, Boards and Bands in the outer harbor, featuring the bands Pennywise and Rancid, among other performers. The ticketed event is being hosted by Los Angeles radio station KLOS.
The Port will once again host a summer evening of free live music on Saturday, July 13, and the Grammy-winning Mariachi Divas will return to the LA Waterfront for a one-night performance at Wilmington Waterfront Park. The popular all-female band takes the stage at 8:30 p.m., with local dance group Sabor Latino opening the show at 7 p.m.
The Port of Los Angeles will also host several free family “movie nights” under the stars this summer. The computer-animated musical film “Sing” plays Friday night, August 2, at the Wilmington Waterfront Park. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” will screen the same night at the CRAFTED/Brouwerij West Courtyard in San Pedro, with the latter also featuring a petting zoo and craft making.
LA Fleet Week 2019 over Labor Day Weekend will round out the major LA Waterfront events for the summer. This annual, multi-day event pays tribute to the armed services and offers free public tours of active military ships docked at the Port of Los Angeles for the event. Free and open to the public, the event also features military equipment demonstrations, live entertainment and performances, food and the famous Labor Day morning Conquer The Bridge 5.3-mile race across the Vincent Thomas Bridge.
While experiencing the many free LA Waterfront events, visitors can also enjoy authentic moments in Los Angeles history with stops at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, LA Maritime Museum and the area’s many historical sites open year-round. These include iconic places like Battleship IOWA, S.S. Lane Victory, Fort MacArthur Museum, and The Banning Museum, among others. The free San Pedro Waterfront Trolley provides an easy way for visitors to enjoy many of these iconic destinations along the trolley’s 25-minute loop.
For a list of all LA Waterfront events this summer, visit lawaterfront.org.
The Port of Los Angeles is America’s premier port and has a strong commitment to developing innovatively strategic and sustainable operations that benefit Southern California’s economy and quality of life. North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $297 billion in trade during 2018. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs in the five-county Southern California region.