While summer usually means dusting off your beach chairs or finding the nearest pool, there are other ways to spend the sunny season in Southern California.
It may not be October quite yet, but there are several horror-themed conventions happening this summer, along with festivals centering on the citrusy delight of lemons, Middle Eastern and North African cultures, anime and more.
Here are 10 conventions and music festivals to keep your summer interesting.
Monsterpalooza
Creature creations and horror artistry will take over Pasadena when Monsterpalooza returns to the Pasadena Convention Center this summer. The convention celebrates the world of monsters and movie magic with more than 400 exhibitors, including artists, collectors, toy makers, special effects studios and horror vendors from around the world. Attendees can explore the immersive Monsterpalooza Museum featuring detailed props, creatures and artwork created by professional FX artists. The convention has become a longtime gathering place for horror fans and industry artists alike, celebrating everything from classic creature features to modern special effects in filmmaking.
When: May 29-31.
Where: Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena.
Information: monsterpalooza.com.
(Photo courtesy of PRS)
Los Angeles Festival of Tarot Arts
The Los Angeles Festival of Tarot Arts returns this summer with four days of tarot readings, workshops, rituals, performances and community gatherings centered around this year’s theme, “Ecosystems.” Hosted by the Philosophical Research Society and TarotArts, the festival will feature tarot readers, artists, healers and teachers from around the world. Attendees can expect everything from live group tarot readings and tea ceremonies to tarot-inspired performances, workshops on mythology and ecology, an esoteric marketplace and energy work sessions. Special guests include tarot author and artist Casey Zabala, who will lead readings and an opening ritual for the festival.
When: June 4-7.
Where: Philosophical Research Society, 3910 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles.TarotArts, 1017 Mission St., South Pasadena.
Information: lafestivaloftarot.com.
Upland Lemon Festival
The Lemon Festival has been an Upland tradition since 1997 and originally began as a way to celebrate the city’s citrus industry origins. It has since grown into a town-wide affair including the annual Lemon Idol vocal contest, lemon-inspired food competitions, craft vendors, community organizations, carnival rides and live entertainment throughout downtown Upland. Other activities this year include mechanical bull riding, karaoke, axe throwing, and a nonprofit row featuring regional organizations dedicated to making a positive impact in the community.
When: 4 p.m. June 5 and noon June 6-7.
Where: Historic Downtown Upland, #859, Upland.
Information: uplandlemonfestival.com.
Chicano Music Festival
The Chicano Music Festival was co-founded by Mr. Lil One, a Mexican-American rapper from San Diego, who helped pioneer the Chicano rap scene in the late 1990s. The first festival kicked off in 2023 in San Diego’s Logan Heights and has since expanded to other cities, including Las Vegas. This year, it arrives in Los Angeles with headlining performances by Baby Bash, Los Yesterdays, Sonora Dinamita, The Delfonics Experience and more. The festival will also feature DJ sets, mariachi, Aztec dancers, poetry, live art, food trucks, vendors and lowriders.
When: Noon, June 7.
Where: LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 N Main Street, Los Angeles.
Information: The event is 21 and older only. chicanomusicfestival.com.
OC MENA Festival
The OC MENA Festival is a three-day event that celebrates Middle Eastern and North African culture, music, food, art, community and more. This year’s live entertainment lineup includes Nasser Al-Rayess, Saad Alessa, Dystinct, Tul8te, Mohammed Assaf, Ehab Tawfik, Bayou, Dana Salah, Issam Alnajjar, Anees, Lana Lubany, Gaidaa, Norhan, MC Abdual, Hamzah Saadah, Ana Kasparian, Al-Asala Dabke, Keemokazi, DJ Art Beatz, DJ Nemo, DJ Nara, DJ Ahmed, DJ Black, DJ L’Rythm and DJ Nour. The festival will also feature carnival and camel rides, a hookah lounge, World Cup watch parties and kid-friendly activities.
When: 11 a.m., June 19-21
Where: OC Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.
Information: ocmenafestival.com.
(Photo by Gil Castro-Petres, Contributing Photographer)
Anime Expo
Anime fans, cosplayers and pop culture enthusiasts will once again take over downtown L.A. when Anime Expo returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center this summer. Known as the largest anime and Japanese pop culture convention in North America, the four-day event will feature hundreds of panels, industry presentations, cosplay gatherings, gaming experiences, concerts, artist showcases and exclusive merchandise vendors throughout the convention center. Attendees can also expect nonstop programming dedicated to anime, manga, fashion, music and Japanese culture.
When: July 2-5.
Where: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles.
Information: anime-expo.org.
FoodieLand
Foodies looking to eat their way through summer can head to Pasadena when FoodieLand returns to the Rose Bowl this July. The traveling outdoor food festival is known for bringing together a wide variety of street food vendors, dessert stands and small businesses serving everything from barbecue and seafood to international snacks and sweet treats. Guests can also expect live music performances, shopping vendors, photo opportunities and festival-style games throughout the weekend. The family-friendly event has become a popular summer stop for visitors looking to sample dozens of different dishes in one place.
When: 3-10 p.m. July 3, 1-10 p.m. July 4-5.
Where: Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena.
Information: foodielandnm.com.
Creep I.E. Aftermath
While Halloween and spooky season aren’t for quite a few months, horror fans understand that being a fan of the genre is more of a state of mind than a season. Creep I.E. Aftermath, is back in its fourth year and is the Inland Empire’s largest horror and pop-culture-themed convention, acting as a sequel to the annual spring Creep I.E. Con. It features celebrity guests, over 170 vendors, immersive experiences, live music, and more. This year’s programming will feature an “Addams Family” cast reunion and several cast members from the “Scream” franchise.
When: 5 p.m. July 10 and 11 a.m. July 11-12.
Where: Ontario Convention Center, 2000 E Convention Center Way, Ontario.
Information: creepiecon.com.
OC Tattoo Festival
The OC Tattoo Festival is back this year with a two-day celebration of tattoo artistry, music, community and culture. Inked fans can expect up to 90 tattoo artists from Orange County and surrounding areas, with a variety of styles, including traditional, realism, black and grey, neo-traditional, and fine line. The event will also host live tattooing, artist demos and Q&A sessions. Those who feel spontaneous can also get a flash tattoo on the spot with pre-designed art by participating artists, starting at $90, no appointment needed. There will also be tattoo contests, including one for Ugliest Tattoo, where the winner gets the tattoo removed for free by Removery Tattoo Removal. The festival is also family-friendly, with a Family Fun Zone featuring temporary tattoos and henna, kids’ coloring and art stations, face painting and photo ops and a chill zone with seating and snacks.
When: 10 a.m., July 18 and 19.
Where: The QD Venue, 7722 Garden Grove Blvd, Westminster.
Information: octattoofestival.org.
Midsummer Scream
Halloween lovers can get an early start on spooky season when Midsummer Scream returns to the Long Beach Convention Center this summer. Known as one of the country’s largest Halloween and horror conventions, the three-day event will feature celebrity panels, live entertainment, haunted attractions, spooky shopping and immersive experiences throughout the convention center. This year’s event will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the horror film “Scream” with appearances by cast members including Matthew Lillard, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Roger L. Jackson. Guests can also explore the massive Hall of Shadows haunt zone, browse hundreds of vendors, visit the Black Cat Lounge and attend horror-themed presentations and performances across multiple stages.
When: Aug. 7-9.
Where: Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.
Information: midsummerscream.org.