Weekend: Tall Ships in Dana Point Harbor

The Parade of Sail, the Mermaid Breakfast, and Cannon Battles fill the yo, ho, ho happening.

Tall Ships Festival: Spying a handsome boat on the water? Always a bit of a thrill. Spying a few tall ships, with their massive masts and regal bows, all gathered in one place? It seems like something from the silver screen, unless you're at Dana Point Harbor over the second weekend in September. The Ocean Institute's three-day event — it's on from Friday, Sept. 8 through Sunday, Sept. 10 — will include Cannon Battles, a Mermaid Breakfast, and the timed-to-sunset Parade of Sails to start everything off. It's a photographer's dream, and the history and maritime buffs enjoy it, too. Yo and ho and off to Dana Point you go...

Hello, Oktoberfest: There's no fast-and-hard start date for Oktoberfest, but many SoCal spots tend to start their parties close to the middle of September. Coming up on Friday, Sept. 8? Alpine Village in Torrance begins the oompah-ty, which is a party with a lot of oompah tunes. And on Sunday, Sept. 10 Old World in Huntington Beach is out of the accordion-sweet gate with a Kiwanis fundraiser to kick it all off. More locations'll join in over the next few weekends, but if you want a stein of something cold sooner, call upon Torrance or Surf City.

Long Beach Lobster Festival: It's cooled down — well, a little bit, at least — and the notion of sitting at Rainbow Lagoon, close to the ocean, and dining on tempting seafood? There is an allure there. Of course, you probably will need a bib as you enjoy your Maine lobster, and the trimmings, too (coleslaw, rolls, watermelon, and more). Whether you remove your bib when you get up to dance to the live tunes is up to you. Hey, keep it on if you're feeling the fashion statement. Sept. 8 through 10

Sunstock Solar Festival: The one-day solar-powered music festival rocks out at The Magic Box DTLA on Saturday, Sept. 9. On the stage? A host of acts including Ra Ra Riot, Robert DeLong, Run River North, Wild Cub, Fuzzy Crystals, Swimm, and Yip Yops, as well as many more. Vendors, workshops, and speakers are also part of the solar-tastic day, and a ticket? It's twenty five bucks ahead of time, $30 once you're there.

Citywide Super Adoption: Best Friends Pet Adoptions Center, NKLA, and all six Los Angeles Animal Services shelters are coming together to help those looking for a kitty, puppy, dog, or cat. Adoptions will be discounted on Saturday, Sept. 9 and Sunday, Sept. 10 and, in some cases, the adoption will be free. Will your new sweetie be vaccinated, neutered or spayed, and come with a microchip? You can count on it. More meows and woofs (read: information) may be found here.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us