With graduation season now in the rearview, a scintillating summer season kicks off in Santa Monica this weekend with a bevy of events, celebrating everything from Black pride to Pride Month and beyond.
Arguably the highlight of the weekend will be at Virginia Avenue Park on Saturday, as the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Juneteenth Celebration Committee, Inc. host the 32nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration from 2pm to 7pm.
Juneteenth became an official federal holiday in 2021, commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Early celebrations date back to 1866, while the first Santa Monica occasion was held in 1992 under the guiding arm of LaVerne Ross, who approached the city to commemorate the holiday she celebrated with family in Texas.
The 2024 celebration’s theme is "Rising Above Racism: A Legacy of Empowerment & Pride," with numerous events bringing a host of performers and vendors. The Main Stage performances include a top-notch team of musicians, such as blues artist Sonny Green, local favorite Operation: BUTTERFLY, gospel group Lifeline Quartet, soloist Miss Aliya and soul singer Sy Smith presented in partnership with BroadStage.
Other happenings at the Juneteenth event include a Community Stage, hosting panel discussions and spoken word artists, as well as a children’s craft area and community resource booths. Over a dozen vendors, including Moondance Books and YM Jewels, will be selling a wide variety of materials at a cultural arts marketplace. For those who get hungry during the event, food will be available to purchase from Jon Sue’s Smokeout barbecue, Wing Lord, Patty Wagon food trucks and desserts from C&L Catering.
Pride Month for the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies also continues strong this weekend, with a number of events hosted by The Crow comedy club at Bergamot Station Arts Center. On Friday evening, two sessions (starting at 7pm and 9pm) of The Crow’s "Storyectomy" series will focus on Family Pride, bringing LGBTQ+ community members and allies together to share personal and comedic stories on stage alongside pro comedians like Netflix’s Cameron Esposito.
The storytellers worked for six weeks alongside Crow Founder Nicole Blaine and transsexual comedian Jeffrey Jay to flesh out their tales, including introspections on coming out, dating life, accepting and non-accepting family members, and one who transitioned to become a woman in her late 60s. Blaine said that "not one story is similar, yet they all completely complement each other."
"There was a safety in this class, and [it] felt like we had to explain less about who we are, and what we’ve been through, to get deeper into our own stories, so there was a shared understanding of queerness … we all had this one shared experience, and it felt very safe to talk about," Jay added.
The next morning, The Crow will team with the Santa Monica Pier Corporation to bring "Fierce Fables: Drag Queen Pride For All Ages" to the Pier Carousel, beginning at 10am. The free, family-focused event brings drag storytelling to the Carousel, including a reading of the Dr. Seuss classic "The Sneetches and Other Stories," which Blaine said "completely symbolizes identity" and acceptance. Drag queens such as Pickle and Pandora Boxx will also be helping with face painting and will be performing dance numbers. After "Fierce Fables," The Crow will host family pride comedy shows for the family throughout the day, ending with the "I Gotta Crow" showcase featuring LGBTQ+ comics. Click here to purchase tickets.
Saturday will also feature an event benefiting Teen Cancer America, a nonprofit founded by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who that develops age-specific facilities and services for adolescents and young adults experiencing cancer. The Will Rogers Polo Club in Pacific Palisades hosts "Rock ’N’ Polo V," an afternoon of polo matches and family activities beginning at 12:30pm. The event also includes music by Grammy-nominated Ryan Ellis, the popular Kids Stick Pony Race, and will have Teen Cancer America ambassadors on hand like Olympic gymnast Nia Dennis and "7th Heaven" actor Barry Watson.
"[This event] brings the majestic sport of polo, music, food and fun to the Santa Monica community - all to benefit young adults experiencing cancer," Teen Cancer America Director of Development Michelle Alande said.
To purchase tickets for the event, visit teencanceramerica.org
thomas@smdp.com
