Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka presents renderings for the upcoming opening of the West Harbor project during the 11th annual “State of the Port” address at Alta Sea in the Port of Los Angeles on Jan. 22. Photo by Axel Koeste
On Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in San Diego, Ken Kalthoff (l), Sally Young (m), and Isaac Wills (r), crew members of the tall ship Californian, are making preparations to get underway early Thursday morning. The Tall Ship Californian from the Maritime Museum of San Diego and her crew will sail north up to Dana Point Harbor to join a magnificent fleet of seven historic tall ships at the Ocean Institute’s 41st Annual Maritime Festival, one of the largest West Coast gatherings of its kind. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Shakespeare By The Sea presents “The Comedy of Errors” at Point Fermin Park on Friday, July 5, 2019.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
A spotlight shines as the grunion run on Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. (Bruce Hazelton, File Photo)
Hundreds of people watch as fireworks explode over the Port of Los Angeles during the 75th Annual John Olguin Independence Day Fireworks Extravaganza in San Pedro on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Photo by Raphael Richardson, Contributing Photographer)
Tomas Aju and “Hueso” attend “Cars and Stripes,” a free family event featuring classic cars, music and fireworks, in San Pedro on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
A 1948 Chevrolet turns some heads at “Cars and Stripes,” a free family event featuring classic cars, music and fireworks, in San Pedro on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Port of L.A.’s 2027 Earth Day celebration — billed as the largest yet — will be on the Wilmington Waterfront on Sunday, April 19. (Photo Courtesy of the Port of Los Angeles)
Visitors check out the newly completed Wilmington Waterfront Promenade on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, in Wilmington. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The Banning mansion in Wilmington, Calif. on Aug. 10, 2011. (Photo by Jeff Gretchen, The Daily Breeze/SCNG)
A Victorian Christmas celebration took place at Banning Museum on Saturday. The event had tours, carolers in Victorian garb, Santa, crafts, horse-drawn trolley rides and dancers.
(Photo by contributing photographer Chuck Bennett)
Passengers get close-up views of the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles during a free tour of L.A. Harbor on Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Passengers get close-up views of the ports during a free tour of Los Angeles Harbor on Saturday, May 9, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
View of fully-built West Harbor waterfront development in San Pedro. (Rendering Courtesy of West Harbor)
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Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka presents renderings for the upcoming opening of the West Harbor project during the 11th annual “State of the Port” address at Alta Sea in the Port of Los Angeles on Jan. 22. Photo by Axel Koeste
The L.A. Waterfront in San Pedro and Wilmington will be busier than usual this summer.
Along with the traditional Port of Los Angeles-sponsored celebrations, added attractions throughout the season will feature West Harbor openings, World Cup soccer watch parties, and a special U.S. 250th anniversary celebration that will be combined with the 76th annual Cabrillo Beach Fourth of July fireworks.
Kicking off the summer celebrations later this month, on June 26, will be the Port of Los Angeles 2026 Cars & Stripes Forever! — a classic car show that this year will also celebrate both America250, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The summer will also feature the centennial recognition of Route 66, one of the most famous highways in the U.S.
Dozens of classic cars will, as usual, be featured at the port’s popular — and free — Cars & Stripes Forever! event. The gathering will feature live music, a beer garden, food trucks, and a new “Classic Car People’s Choice Award,” which will go to the crowd’s favorite car entry. Hours are from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 26, in front of the Battleship Iowa, 250 S. Harbor Blvd., in San Pedro.
The following month, all eyes will be turned to West Harbor, San Pedro’s long-awaited, mile-long waterfront attraction that’s been years in the making, debuting as a designated Los Angeles World Cup Fan Zone, where soccer enthusiasts can watch live matches on screen.
West Harbor’s World Cup viewing parties are scheduled for July 14-15 and July 18-19, and will include broadcasts of the semifinals and final.
The gatherings will include soccer-inspired activities, interactive experiences, food and drinks for purchase, and a live DJ. For tickets, go to westharborla.com.
The San Pedro Fourth of July celebration this year will again be at Cabrillo Beach. Set for Saturday, July 4, this will be the 76th Annual John Olguin Fireworks Extravaganza, sponsored by the Cabrillo Beach Boosters — and this year will also be celebrated as a U.S. anniversary event. It will come with a VIP party (from 5 to 8 p.m.) in celebration of the 250th U.S. anniversary at the Plaza at Cabrillo Way Marina. The ticketed event ($130, but $35 for children 2-12; parking is $10) will include a barbecue meal, live entertainment, dancing, and the free public waterfront fireworks display over Cabrillo Beach at 9 p.m. Tickets sold in advance only, not at the door. cabrillobeachboosters.com/store.
Others can watch the fireworks from the beach and other vantage points throughout town.
Other upcoming summer events on the L.A. Waterfront, many of which receive Port of Los Angeles Community Investment Grants, include:
Grunion runs at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, and 7:30 p.m. June 30 at the aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr., San Pedro. Aquarium experts will explain it all for those gathering to watch grunion come up onto the beach to spawn.
Vintage Summer Wilmington Artwork Extravaganza: 3-8 p.m. June 27 at the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, 100 E. Water St., Wilmington. “Liverpool Mania,” a free Beatles tribute concert, will highlight the event, along with Wilmington’s Mighty Marching Pilots from Banning High School, all sponsored by the Avalon Arts & cultural Alliance and partners; the vintage summer party includes food, crafts, and a beer garden.
Shakespeare by the Sea: 7 p.m. July 10 and 11. Free outdoor performances of “MacBeth” for two nights at the bandshell at Point Fermin Park, 807 W. Paseo Del Mar, in San Pedro.
San Pedro Pride Festival: 4-10 p.m. Aug. 15. Bridge Cities Alliance will sponsor San Pedro Price 2026 with a free festival celebrating love and diversity at AltaSea, 2451 Signal St., San Pedro.
Free harbor boat tours at the Port of Los Angeles: departing from the Downtown Harbor, 504 S. Harbor Blvd., in San Pedro, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 26; highlights will include views of landmarks and attractions in what is the busiest container port in the Western Hemisphere; one pet-friendly tour and one Spanish-language tour are included in the day’s lineup.
On top of the scheduled events, visitors can check out some L.A. history with visits to historical sites and museums, including the Battleship Iowa, the S.S. Lane Victory, Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the Banning House.
Downtown San Pedro’s First Thursday events will will take place throughout the summer on the first Thursday evening of every month with music, art, shopping and dining, and sunset sails available on one of the port’s historic tall ships via the Los Angeles Maritime Institute.