What To Do This Weekend: April 17-19, 2026

Caltech students planting a tree on Earth Day, 2014 (File Photo – ColoradoBlvd.net)

Rhythms of all different beats are rocking around the San Gabriel Valley this weekend, from classical quartets & quintets to the heart‑thumping dance and choral beats of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles, plus a full slate of Earth Day festivities bringing eco‑inspired music, community celebrations, and outdoor performances into the mix.

By Melanie Hooks

A delightful mystery farce and a witty activist author entertain onstage, and outdoors, the action can’t be beat with Earth Day celebrations continuing and residents digging into their local grounds. Enjoy some fresh air this weekend!

Click on highlighted event titles for more information.

Star Party at Mount Wilson Observatory (File Photo – LAAS)

Friday, April 17, 2026

9:00 am – 10:30 am: Free Produce Distribution at Pasadena Senior Center. Fresh vegetables available every Third Friday of the month while supplies last, courtesy of The Order of Malta Mobile Ministries. (@Pasadena Senior Center, Pasadena)

10:00 am – 11:00 am: Sierra Madre Senior Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class. Join instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula. Bring a lei, flower skirt, or just your desire to dance. (@Memorial Park, Sierra Madre)

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Thrive Food Bank Free Farmer’s Market. Volunteer organization offers fresh locally sourced fruits and vegetables to food insecure populations. All welcome. (@Iglesia de Nazareth, Pasadena)

5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Monrovia Street Fair and Market takes place every Friday evening in Old Town Monrovia! (@500 Block of Myrtle Ave. between Lemon Avenue and Colorado Boulevard)

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm: “ICE Out of Alhambra” Event. A weekly event taking place every Friday at the corner of Main Street and Garfield Avenue. Organizers describe the gathering as a show of support for the community and a call to protect neighbors. (@corner of Main St. & Garfield Ave., Alhambra)

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Caltech Tai Chi Club. Learn and practice Hao-style tai chi chuan. Additional practice includes Yang-style tai chi, kung fu, and other bare-hand and weapon forms. Free event. (@Hameetman Center, Caltech, Pasadena)

7:00 pm – 1:00 am: Star Party at Mount Wilson Observatory. a free public star party beginning the evening of April 17 and continuing into the early hours of April 18, 2026. (@Mount Wilson Observatory)

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Youth Theatre 360 Presents “The Play That Goes Wrong” at their black box venue. A comedic farce, “this 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines).” Featuring performers aged 3-19. (@Theatre 360, Pasadena)

Pasadena Earth Day 2026

Saturday, April 18, 2026

8:00 am – 10:00 am: Altadena Cars and Coffee. Cruise into the parking lot of Gelato and enjoy a morning of community around classic autos. (@Bulgarini Gelato, 749 East Altadena Drive, Altadena)

8:00 am: Pasadena Arbor Day celebrates with a tree planting ceremony at Villa Park. Participants will gather at the multi‑use field near the picnic tables off Garfield Avenue and East Villa Street before heading out to plant new street trees throughout the surrounding area. (@Villa Park, Pasadena)

8:00 am – 11:00 am: Garvey Ranch Park Monthly Free Compost Giveaway will occur at the Garvey Ranch Park west entrance. These are drive up events with bags of compost available on a first come, first served basis while supplies last. (@Garvey Ranch Park, Monterey Park)

8:30 am – 1:00 pm: Pasadena Earth Day Festival: Residents are invited to celebrate sustainability, community, and creativity at this year’s Earth Day Festiva.. (@Brookside Park, Pasadena)

9:00 am – 1:00 pm: San Gabriel Farmers Market. Grand Reopening Day of weekly market. In front of the Mission Playhouse and steps from Blossom Market Hall, indulge in a wide variety (over 20 vendors) of fresh local produce, artisan foods, baked goods, flowers, and more. (@outside Mission Playhouse, San Gabriel)

10:00 am: Great Altadena Poppy Festival.  The local business shopping day kicks off at Grocery Outlet in Altadena, 2270 Lake Ave., where festival goers can pick up a passport and begin collecting stamps from participating small businesses along the route, then enjoy a drive afterward through the area’s replanted, blooming poppy fields. (Grocery Outlet, Altadena)

10:00 am – 12:30 pm: Silent Day Out with San Gabriel Police Dept. A siren-free, sensory-friendly event in honor of Autism Awareness Month, San Gabriel Police Department hosts its first ever Silent Day Out. (@Vincent Lugo Park, San Gabriel)

10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Repair Cafe & Clothing Swap  Attendees may bring up to five clean, gently used clothing items to exchange with others, followed by a repair cafe where skilled volunteers will be available to help fix broken items such as torn jeans, dull knives, and broken clocks. (@Grandview Library, Glendale)

10:15 am – 2:00 pm: Public Transit Adventure: Arcadia to Glendora. Residents are invited to explore local water systems and enjoy a day outdoors during a special event hosted by Active San Gabriel Valley. (begin @Arcadia Metro Station) 

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Free Caltech Jazz Festival. On the patio of the campus Hameetman Center, enjoy a picnic and free tunes all afternoon long. Bring your own chair and snacks & chill to the sounds of the Caltech Jazz Band, Joey Navarro Band, and the Chris Wabich Trio. (@Hameetman Center Patio, Pasadena)

2:00 pm: Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American Activism. Kristina Wong, a performance artist, comedian, and writer, launches her book that describes how humor, insight, social work and social activism come together to inspire her work in the world. (@Sierra Madre Playhouse)

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm: Spring Gardening Workshop With Master Gardener Chau. The event aims to help attendees make the most of limited gardening areas, offering practical techniques and expert guidance. (@Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Public Library)

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Third@First Concerts: Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. One of LA’s favorite choral groups returns to Third@First, the monthly free concert (@First United Methodist Church of Pasadena).

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Two-Part Writing Workshop for Job Seekers. The Monrovia non-profit Underdog Bookstore is offering a unique, two-part Interview Workshop, the Saturday session online and the Sunday one inside their store, both designed to make applicants stand out in a tough job market. (@Virtual, part one; @Underdog Bookstore, Monrovia, part two)

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Youth Theatre 360 Presents “The Play That Goes Wrong” at their black box venue. A comedic farce, “this 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines).” Featuring performers aged 3-19. (@Theatre 360, Pasadena)

South Pasadena Restoration Concert April 19: Clarinet & Strings Quintets (Photo – painting by Laurie Hendrick, courtesy of Friends of South Pasadena Library)

Sunday, April 19, 2026

8:30 am – 1:00 pm: Alhambra Certified Farmers Market. Find a wide assortment of affordably priced fruits, vegetables, honey, herbs, bread & more from local growers and vendors. (@ 100 South Second Street, Alhambra)

2:00 pm: Shumei Arts Council’s 27th Invitational Concert: California String Quartet. The quartet’s musicians, Luanne Homzy (1st violin), Misha Vayman (2nd violin), Jonah Sirota (viola), and Evgeny Tonkha (cello), will present a dynamic and globally inspired program. (@Shumei Arts Council, Pasadena)

2:00 pm: Youth Theatre 360 Presents “The Play That Goes Wrong” at their black box venue. A comedic farce, “this 1920s whodunit has everything you never wanted in a show—an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines).” Featuring performers aged 3-19. (@Theatre 360, Pasadena)

3:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Earth Day Altadena. A free, family-friendly community event featuring live music, art, and land-based healing practices. Features performances by local and fire-impacted artists, along with workshops, vegan food, free plants, and eco-conscious vendors supporting sustainable recovery efforts. (@Solvang Garden, Altadena)

4:00 pm: South Pasadena Restoration Concert: Clarinet & Strings, Mozart & Brahms. The Joshua Ranz & Friends performance marks the penultimate event of this season’s Restoration Concerts, which will feature a unique ensemble of clarinet and strings. (@South Pasadena Library Friends Room)

4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Two-Part Writing Workshop for Job Seekers. The Monrovia non-profit Underdog Bookstore is offering a unique, two-part Interview Workshop, the Saturday session online and the Sunday one inside their store, both designed to make applicants stand out in a tough job market. (@Virtual, part one; @Underdog Bookstore, Monrovia, part two)