Ocean-Close Fortresses (Made of Sand): Like leaves go red around Maine in September, castles rise along the beaches of Southern California come August. The International Surf Festival, which catches a wave in a quartet of beach cities through Sunday, Aug. 2, includes the Sandcastle Design Contest, which digs into the fest's final day in Manhattan Beach. Several other events around the Manhattan-to-Redondo nexus are on the get-soaked, have-fun schedule, including a pier-to-pier swim. Hermosa Beach is at the heart of much of the action, so point your board that way and start paddling.
Special Olympics Closing Ceremony: How many events did you see? Did you cheer on the gymnasts and the bocce players and the runners and the thousands of athletes from around the planet who arrived in Los Angeles to go for the gold and have some fun? The week-plus happening will bid goodbye at the place it all kicked off just a few days ago: The LA Memorial Coliseum. The ceremony is in the early evening, but consider arriving early, at 4, when the gates open, for this popular and moving farewell.
OC Pride: Los Angeles and San Francisco celebrated their pride parties in June, and San Diego's gathering experienced a memorable, oh-so-rainy celebratory weekend earlier in July. Now it is Orange County's turn to honor the LGBT community with a series of soirees, concerts, kid-nice fun times, lectures, and cinema events. This is the to-do that rounds out some of the major California pride weekends, so celebrate in Santa Ana through Sunday, Aug. 2 before turning your anticipation to Pride '16.
Big Bite Bacon Fest: The Queen Mary is known for its elaborate Sunday brunch scene, complete with carving stations and various roasts, but a certain savory meatstuff gains the public attention once a year. It's bacon, crispy and strip-shaped and ready for sandwiches and Bloody Marys and the occasional cookie or cupcake. If the breakfast star food is your jam and spending a breezy weekend on a big ship in Long Beach sounds mighty fine, get your tickets and tuck in that bib and/or napkin. Aug. 1 and 2
The New Taste of San Pedro: This long-running favorite has experienced postponement and cancellation in the past, but fans of supping around the city are looking forward to an evening of live tunes and excellent tidbits from local Pedro eateries. Some "20 San Pedro and Peninsula restaurants" will participate, there shall be craft brews and good wines, there shall be bands, there shall be "the open-air setting of the CRAFTED courtyard at the Port of Los Angeles." Nice way to spend Saturday, Aug. 1. Tickets are over here.
