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Best Things To Do This Weekend In Los Angeles and SoCal: Feb. 23 - 25

A close-up shot at LAFC fans in the stands from earlier this year , many wearing the team's black-and-gold colors in the form of bucket hats and jerseys and waving teams flags that say "Los Angeles," "We Are LAFC" and "Campeones"
LAFC fans during the match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Los Angeles FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on April 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 3-2.
(
Shaun Clark
/
Getty Images
)
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Southern California has a little something for everybody this weekend!

Are you a sports fan? Well, LAFC is kicking off its 2024 season with a home game against the Seattle Sounders. Are you into stage shows? Take a ride to see the musical Sweeney Todd, presented by A Noise Within. Music lovers might want to grab tickets to see Juanes bring his North American tour to YouTube Theater in Inglewood.

Our outdoor pick is the 46th Annual L.A. Chinatown Firecracker event, where you can bike, walk your dogs, or go for a run with other Angelenos. And once you've worked up an appetite, check out Unreal Poke and La Borracha's pop-up collab in El Monte.

To share your future events tips with us, email bestthingstodo@laist.com.

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Events

  • February 23, 2024 through March 17, 2024

    The ensemble cast of Sweeney Todd for A Noise Within's 204 production. One actor wearing a bowler hat and a long trench coat stands front and center, holding a bag. Behind him, the rest of the ensemble stands on risers, all facing the audience.
    (
    Craig Schwartz
    /
    A Noise Within
    )

    Diabolical comedy, stunning terror, razor-sharp wit and extraordinary, soaring music all characterize Sweeney Todd. A Noise Within presents the dark yet sharply comic story of love, revenge and meat pies by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler that has become a modern classic. Ticket prices vary based on availability. There are also both evening and matinee performances depending on the day.

  • Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

    An artist rendition of a blue Care Bear that is laying back on a cloud with a rainbow coming out of it. The bear has cloud with hearts and rain pouring out of it. Little stars with smiling faces sit around the bear.
    (
    Courtesy Corey Helford Gallery
    /
    )

    The Corey Helford Gallery is opening its new exhibition this Saturday featuring a blast from the past. Check out the Care Bears Forever exhibition featuring new works from more than 75 artists inspired by the classic characters. The exhibition will be open from February 24 to March 30, 2024.

  • Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 1:30 PM

    A close-up shot at LAFC fans in the stands from earlier this year , many wearing the team's black-and-gold colors in the form of bucket hats and jerseys and waving teams flags that say "Los Angeles," "We Are LAFC" and "Campeones"
    LAFC fans during the match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Los Angeles FC at Dignity Health Sports Park on April 16, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles FC won the match 3-2.
    (
    Shaun Clark
    /
    Getty Images
    )

    Soccer fans get ready as LAFC begins its 2024 season with a home game this weekend. Watch LAFC take on the Seattle Sounders FC at BMO Stadium.

  • Friday, February 23, 2024 at 8:00 PM

    Colombian musician Juanes performs on stage. He's holding a white guitar and wearing a dark blue denim jacket, backlit by a purple flood light with smaller blue pinpoints of light breaking things up.
    Colombian singer Juan Esteban Aristizábal, also known as Juanes, performs during a concert as part of the 'Origen Tour' in October 2022.
    (
    Medios y Media/Getty Images
    /
    Getty Images South America
    )

    Colombian musician Juanes returns to L.A. in his 2024 North American Tour. Affordable seats are still available, so if you love his hits, there's still time to grab tickets for the show!

  • Friday, February 23, 2024 at 9:00 AM

    A woman standing on the base of an oak tree.
    (
    Courtesy Theodore Payne Foundation
    /
    )

    Join us in the TPF gardens with Los Angeles-based consulting arborist Alison Lancaster. She’ll guide the group through evaluations of some oak trees on the grounds. This will be a walk-and-talk presentation with time for discussion. This is a great class for anyone wanting to learn more about this important California keystone species.

  • Friday, February 23, 2024 at 10:00 AM

    A cropped photo of the Micheltorena Stairs in Silver Lake.
    (
    Shinya Suzuki
    /
    Flicker Creative Commons
    )

    Throughout this 2.5-mile walking tour, you will explore beautiful Silver Lake. See famous locations like the Micheltorena Stairs, which have been dubbed "the most Instagrammed stairs in the world" and the "je t'aime Los Angeles" mural on the Swan Place stairs.

  • February 23, 2024 through March 23, 2024

    A poster for a stage adaptation of Ben Hur. A man rides a chariot with four horses inside a coliseum.
    (
    Courtesy Long Beach Playhouse
    /
    )

    Can four theater actors retell one of the largest stories ever told? Find out in this meta-adaptation of Ben Hur. Follow an amateur theater troupe as they attempt to retell the story of Ben Hur complete with chariot races, stage combat and actors struggling with professional rivalries.

  • Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 11:00 AM

    A promotion of a Mommy & Me Tea event in Sherman Oaks.
    (
    Courtesy 2K Creative Studio
    /
    )

    Participate in a fun-filled afternoon of painting and bonding with your kids over tea and finger foods, all included! It's a perfect Sunday outing for the family.

Outdoor Pick

  • February 24, 2024 through February 25, 2024

    A trio of puppeteered dragons, one black, one red and one green, wait at a starting line for a race in Chinatown.
    (
    Courtesy Firecracker
    /
    )

    Do you like to bike? How about going on a run, or taking your dog for a walk? Join others for this year's annual L.A. Chinatown Firecracker races. Saturday is for those looking to bring their dogs or bike ride, and Sunday is for kids and those willing to take on the 5/10K. Register in advance. Throughout each morning, there will also be a free-to-the-public festival happening, complete with a beer garden for those interested. If you can’t make it to the destination, don't worry. You can also join the rides, runs, and walks virtually.

Viewing Pick

  • Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 4:00 PM

    A flyer that says Social Justice now film festival. There's also an graphic of a fist.
    (
    Courtesy Social Justice Now Film Festival
    /
    )

    The Social Justice Now Film Festival (SJNFF) is an annual event showcasing content that confronts the social and economic issues today facing Black and Brown communities in the United States. The festival program includes screenings of films (narratives, documentaries, and shorts) on subjects related to racism, equity, education, healthcare, immigration, and LGBTQ+ rights.

Dine & Drink Deals

  • Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

    A try of Hawaiian-style ahi-tuna poke. The ahi tuna is red with cuts of garlic, onion and greens mixed in.
    (
    Unreal Poke
    /
    Instagram
    )

    This pop-up Hawaiian-style poke shop is making its next stop at El Monte’s La Borracha Hamburgerseria. Try out some Hawaiian garlic chicken wings or sliders. Even add some poke on the side!

  • Friday, February 23, 2024 from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM

    A man talks to a crowd inside a cheese shop from behind a register. He is weighing some cheese on a scale.
    (
    Courtesy Andrew's Cheese Shop
    /
    )

    Do you know what pairs well with a glass of wine? A grilled cheese sandwich. No, really. Come try Andrew’s Cheese Shop’s famous grilled cheese sandwiches with a wine that has a sweet blend of Moscato and Brachetto.

  • Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 9:30 AM

    Pepperoni pizza.
    (
    Foad Roshan/Unsplash
    /
    )

    Bring your kids in for a fun pizza party! Children will learn how to prepare delicious pizzas they can replicate at home. The kids' classes are for ages 6-12.

  • Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 1:00 PM

    Two shots of tequila with limes atop the salted rims.
    (
    Photo by Alena Plotnikova
    /
    on Unsplash
    )

    Whether you're a tequila aficionado or just curious to learn more, this in-person event is the perfect opportunity to expand your palate and deepen your appreciation for agave spirits. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind experience!

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