Archives for October 8, 2025

The largest Guatemalan festival outside of Guatemala!

9th Annual Festival Chapin de Los Angeles 

Commemorating the heart of the Mayan World

Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12, 2025, in Lafayette Park, Los Angeles.

The Festival Chapin de Los Angeles is a non-profit organization returning for its 9th edition.

We are pleased to announce that the theme of the 2025 Festival Chapin de Los Angeles will be the municipality of Chichicastenango, Quiché, a place steeped in the magic and mysticism of Mayan culture.

The festival spans a seven-block stretch in the heart of the Guatemalan community in Lafayette Park. It is a two-day community event, open to the public and free of charge. Attendees will experience vibrant Guatemalan music, engaging arts and crafts, and delicious Chapin cuisine.

Gastronomy:
Food will be available for purchase, including delicious and traditional Guatemalan dishes such as garnachas (similar to a Mexican sope), shucos (Guatemalan-style hot dogs), chicken pepián, enchiladas, and hilachas (stewed meat), and much more.

Handcrafts:
Footwear, pottery, jewelry, clothing, traditional tablecloths and purses, etc.

History:
The Republic of Guatemala is a Central American country that was historically the core of the Mayan civilization, one of the most sophisticated and developed societies in the history of the Americas and the world. After being subjected to Spanish rule, Guatemala gained independence in 1821 and became an independent republic. In the 1950s, a civil war began that lasted for decades, driving generations of Guatemalans to seek a better life abroad, often in Florida, Texas, and California.

The Los Angeles metropolitan area is home to one of the largest Guatemalan populations outside of Guatemala. Communities with substantial numbers of Guatemalans include the cities of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Hawthorne, Palmdale, Inglewood, Paramount, and the unincorporated communities of Lennox and Val Verde.

“Chapin” is a word many Guatemalans proudly use to describe their ethnic origins. Its history dates back to the 15th century. Chapines were a platform-style shoe popular in Spain. Over time, the footwear that gave its name to the Guatemalan nickname disappeared, and is now used as an adjective for a person who comes from Guatemala.

Sponsors:
Los Angeles City Council Districts 1 and 10; Banrural; Bantrab Remittances; Cerveza Famosa; Telemundo 52, Raffallo’s Pizza, an Italian restaurant in Hollywood; Mega 96.3; Hollywood Mobile Pet Grooming; Temple Recycle, World Connection; Pollo Campero; Grupo AlbaVisión; Ducal, among others.

About the Festival Chapin de Los Angeles 
Chapin Summer Festival Inc. is a California-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Guatemalan art and culture abroad. The organization’s mission is to provide resources to educational institutions in Guatemala, supporting the education, health, and well-being of the country’s underprivileged children.

 Laguna Art Museum (LAM) proudly announces the return of its 13th annual Art + Nature, a vibrant celebration that explores the relationship between art and the natural world. Starting the week of November 1, this dynamic event brings together thousands of attendees and continues to be one of LAM’s marquee events, as emphasized by this year’s unprecedented free admission throughout November generously provided by the Office of Vice Chair Katrina Foley, Orange County Board of Supervisors.“The 13th annual Art + Nature continues to deepen the museum’s exploration of the profound relationship between creativity and the environment,” said Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum. “This year’s events and exhibitions invite the community to engage with the natural world in bold new ways, reflecting our commitment to inspiring dialogue, awareness and action through art.”

This year’s Art + Nature will feature a full schedule of exhibitions and community events, including:

SOS by Ana Teresa Fernández:

This year’s Art + Nature commissioned artist, Ana Teresa Fernández, presents SOS, a multi-dimensional project incorporating sculpture, performance and photography that will bring a dynamic and community-focused approach to Art + Nature 2025. 

From November 6 – 10, Fernández’s  SOS  will unfold in phases, culminating in a collective activation involving 800 participants holding circular mirrors. The sculptural installation, An Ocean in a Drop, will invite exploration on Main Beach while Fernández engages visitors with a photography station named We Are Water, where visitors can pose with Fernández’s artwork that reflects the ocean. 

Silence and Solitude: Conrad Buff and the Landscapes of the American Southwest:

Silence and Solitude will be on view from September 20, 2025 -January 25, 2026. This landmark exhibition, curated by Dr. Deborah Solon, marks the first major museum exhibition dedicated to modernist painter Conrad Buff. Through evocative depictions of the American West, Buff forged a unique vision that contributed to California’s artistic identity in the 20th century. 

On the Road to Zion, Oil on canvas, 47 1/2 x 64 1/2 in. Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum

Eternal Construction: Photographic Perspectives on Southern California’s Built Environment:

Eternal Construction will be on view from September 20, 2025 – January 18, 2026. This exhibition brings together artists from Laguna Art Museum’s permanent collection who have engaged deeply with themes of urbanization, infrastructure, environmental transformation and conceptual interpretations of space. Rather than presenting a wide survey, this exhibition offers an in-depth exploration of artists with multiple works in the collection, allowing for a richer, more layered engagement with their investigations of land-use and development. 

Barbara Kasten (b. 1936), Construction A&A, 1984. Polacor ER Photograph. 28 x 21 1⁄2 in. 1994.127. Gift of the Richard H. Mumper Trust. Image courtesy of Laguna Art Museum.

Event Highlights:

Saturday, November 1, Art + Nature will kick off with Upcycled Couture: Restoring the Future Runway Show at Laguna Art Museum. This innovative runway show brings together the creative talents of students and early-career designers with the impactful missions of LAM’s community partners. The runway will feature one-of-a-kind sustainable and upcycled designs, which artfully interpret and illustrate the partner organizations’ missions, blending sustainability with high fashion. This exciting showcase highlights the powerful synergy between art, nature and our community.

On Sunday, November 2 , Art + Nature will host a Block Party at Main Beach featuring local non profit partner organizations, local vendors and family art activities.

On Thursday November 6,  Ana Teresa Fernández will debut her multi-dimensional project, SOS. The project incorporates sculpture, performance and photography that will bring a dynamic and community-focused approach to Art + Nature 2025 and will be on view from November 6 – 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. daily at main beach. Also on November 6, artist Ana Teresa Fernández will host an engaging Artist Talk at Laguna Art Museum. 

On November 9 at 10:30 a.m., 800 participants will come together on Laguna’s Main Beach to create Fernández’s social sculpture SOS. The participants will use the artist’s handheld acrylic mirrors to spell “SOS” or “Save Our Seas” in morse code along the beach and mimic the movement of the waves on the shoreline. Sign up as a participant in the SOS Social Sculpture here.

Other special events include an SOS Performance by Laguna Dance at Main Beach on November 7, Keynote speech by former NASA scientist Jonathan Trent on November 8 and an SOS Paddle Out on November 11.  To sign up as a participant in the SOS Social Sculpture and all other events, visit lagunaartmuseum.org/event-calendar. 

Art & Nature 2025 Events Schedule:

• Saturday, November 1: 
  • 5 – 8 p.m.: Upcycled Couture: Restoring the Future Fashion Show at Laguna Art Museum
• Sunday, November 2: 
  • 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.: Art + Nature Block Party at Main Beach
• Thursday, November 6: 
  • 5 p.m.: Artist Talk: Ana Teresa Fernández at Laguna Art Museum
  • 6  – 9 p.m.: First Thursdays Artwalk
• Friday, November 7: 
  • 3:15 – 5:00 p.m. – SOS Performance by Laguna Dance at Main Beach
• Saturday, November 8: 
  • 3 – 4 p.m.: SOS Artistic Swimming Performance at Laguna Beach High School & Community Pool
  • 6:00 p.m.: Keynote: Jonathan Trent at Laguna Art Museum
• Sunday, November 9:
  • 10:30 a.m.: SOS Social Sculpture at Main Beach
• Monday, November 10:
  • 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.: SOS Paddle Out at Main Beach

Laguna Art Museum’s Art + Nature continues to bridge art and nature, inspiring creativity, sustainability and deeper reflection on the environment’s role in our lives. This year’s event promises to be an enriching experience for all ages, showcasing cutting-edge art and fostering environmental awareness.

Art + Nature is generously sponsored by early support from: Capital Group, Anonymous, McBeth Foundation, Laguna Beach Garden Club, FOA Foundation of Laguna Beach, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Kathleen and Richard Malcolm, The Bush Family Foundation, Jan and Ken Kaplan and Lori and Harley Bassman.

Free admission during the month of November is generously provided by the Office of Vice Chair Katrina Foley, Orange County Board of Supervisors. This support partially funds Laguna Art Museum’s 13th annual Art + Nature initiative.

For more information about Art + Nature and Laguna Art Museum, visit lagunaartmuseum.org. To stay connected and learn about upcoming events, follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Credit: Laguna Art Museum.

On Sunday, October 12; between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CicLAvia will celebrate its 15^th year and 63^rd car-free open streets event bringing joy to Angelenos,catalyzing vibrant public spaces, active transportation and good health through car-free streets. CicLAvia—Heart of LA, presented by Metro, connects several of the most important and historic Los Angeles neighborhoods, welcoming everyone of all ages and abilities to enjoy this day of 7.15-mile of open streets. Always free, enjoy the day by walking, jogging, biking, roller skating, skating, chilling, or simply spectating. Participants can show up anywhere along the route between 9am-4pm to enjoy the open streets, take the time to explore, and see where the day takes you.

Imagine streets alive with joy, laughter, and the freedom to roam. CicLAvia is a nonprofit organization that has been opening streets throughout Los Angeles County for 15 years. It transforms city streets into a car-free celebration of community, connection, and possibility — places where participants can slow down, connect, and appreciate the city in a new way. CicLAvia is about reimagining our city streets as welcoming spaces for everyone — places for walking, running, rolling, skating, cycling, gathering, and enjoying the moment.

As a nonprofit, CicLAvia relies on the public’ssupport to continue bringing opportunities for meaningful community connections, mindful exploration, and greater understanding across Los Angeles.

CicLAvia—Heart of LA includes four (4) hubs filled with plenty of activities and programs along the route. Hubs are walking zones (mandatory dismounts) and meeting points along the route which include the MacArthur Park Hub located on West 7^th St adjacent to MacArthur Park; Chinatown Hub located on N Broadway north of College St; Little Tokyo Hub located on S Central Ave south of 1st St; and Mariachi Plaza Hub located on 1^st St east of S Boyle Ave. Hubs offer free family-friendly activities, restrooms, free water refilling stations, free basic bike repair, bike parking, places to sit and meet up with friends and family, and first aid. Free pedicab rides are available at each hub’s information booth.

The CicLAvia—Heart of LA route is accessible via many different forms of transportation. There is not one place to start or finish. Read more about getting to the route through these links: Hubs, Metro, Bike Share, Parking for the event, Group Meet-Ups: Walk/Run Clubs, Feeder Rides, Bus Detours, and Help Getting to CicLAvia.

Please note, if you are biking to and from CicLAvia along any streets that are open to cars, it is at the discretion of the individual.

“Returning each October to where CicLAvia started in Los Angeles is always nostalgic but there’s also always something new along the route to explore, see, taste, enjoy,” says CicLAvia Executive Director Romel Pascual. “We have some extra special things planned for this event, which marks CicLAvia’s 15th birthday.”

In partnership with Caltrans, a special exhibit honors 15 years of CicLAvia joy, culture, and community – with memorabilia, photos, and maps from every route since the first event. Since 2010, CicLAvia has transformed streets into car-free spaces for nearly 2 million people to walk, bike, roll, and connect across Los Angeles. This exhibit is FREE and open to the public. Visit the Norma Dorsey Museum at Caltrans District 7 Headquarters (100 Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm, and from 9am-1pm during CicLAvia on Sunday, October 12.

To celebrate their birthday, CicLAvia is launching a $15 per month Street Star level in  support of future CicLAvia Sundays. New monthly contributors at the $15 or above level will get a limited edition commemorative pin and a special invitation to the Heart of LA Friends of CicLAvia Birthday Lunch. Street Stars are monthly supporters who keep CicLAvia rolling all year long.

Lastly, don’t miss the Natural History Museum “LA on Wheels” exhibit and the October honoree, CicLAvia’s executive director Romel Pascual.

Inspired by Bogotá’s weekly ciclovía, CicLAvia has been temporarily closing streets to car traffic and opening them as public parks in Los Angeles since 2010. CicLAvia car-free streets connect all of us to the neighborhoods where we live, work, shop, learn, and play. Active participants at CicLAvia use people-powered mobility to navigate public streets in a safe and joyful way. Along the way there is shopping at local businesses, access to cultural and architectural gems, using open streets as spaces to connect with each other, and making a positive impact on the environment by creating a more sustainable and climate resilient city and region. Over the past 15 years CicLAvia has helped communities re-imagine a greener and cleaner Los Angeles, while also promoting equitable transportation options, healthier lifestyles, and closer connections to community.

Only people-powered vehicles are allowed. No electric scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards, electric unicycles, motorcycles and other non-people-powered vehicles are allowed at CicLAvia. Class 1 e-bike pedal-assist allowed. Class 2 e-bikes are allowed when the throttle is powered off. Class 3 e-bikes are allowed when pedal-assist is powered off. Manual and motorized wheelchairs are allowed. Learn more here.

Participants assume all known and unknown risks of participation in CicLAvia. More information regarding participants rights can be found here: https://www.ciclavia.org/ciclavia-safety

Since CicLAvia launched in 2010, over two million Angelenos had the chance to stroll, jog, skate, and cycle through neighborhoods like Boyle Heights, Chinatown, Culver City, Hollywood, Lincoln Heights, Little Tokyo, Mid City, North Hollywood, Pico Union, Canoga Park, Winnetka, Reseda, South LA, Venice, Watts, and West Hollywood. CicLAvia could not have had such a successful year without amazing supporters, dedicated volunteers, a hard-working team, and all of the participants and CicLAvia enthusiasts.

The 2025 CicLAvia Season concludes on November 23 with CicLAvia—Melrose Ave.

WHO:
Free for all, CicLAvia is a nonprofit organization committed to introducing Angelenos to the vibrant civic and cultural treasures throughout Los Angeles. CicLAvia highlights important issues to all Angelenos – from environmental health and air quality improvement to access to safe and open parks, physical and mental well-being. CicLAvia has captured the imagination of nearly two million people who have traveled together along more than 355 miles of streets. CicLAvia builds a unifying social fabric, joyously connecting culturally diverse neighborhoods and neighbors to each other through open streets. CicLAvia is not just about cycling, it’s also about multiple modes of people-powered transportation. Whether one walks, strolls, skates, jogs, scooters, or bikes, CicLAvia creates so many incredible moments and experiences enjoying our city streets together.

HOW & MORE INFORMATION:
• Visit https://www.ciclavia.org/ciclavia_heart_of_la25 for more detailed information
• https://www.ciclavia.org/; info@ciclavia.org; 213-355-8500
• Stay up to date on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciclavia/
• Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ciclavia
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CicLAviaLA

Join OC Parks and celebrate the spooky season at the fifth annual Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park, Oct. 10-12 and 17-19.

Enjoy festive, family-friendly activities and explore the decorated historic grounds during special park hours. Grab your costumes and take your photo at a variety of fall and Halloween-themed photo opportunities, as well as enjoy a scavenger hunt for spooky surprises and a spirited straw maze. The event is free to attend with free parking.

“We’re thrilled to mark five years of Fall-O-Ween at Heritage Hill Historical Park,” said Supervisor Donald P. Wagner, Orange County Board of Supervisors. “This beloved tradition continues to bring friends and families together year after year, while also introducing them to one of Orange County’s treasured historic spaces.” 

Costumes are highly encouraged. Pets are welcome on leashes no longer than 6 feet. Bring your cameras and join the tradition as OC Parks marks five years of fall festivities in one of Orange County’s most charming historic settings.

Fall-O-Ween

Date: October 10-12 & 17-19

Time: 4:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Heritage Hill Historical Park 

Address: 25151 Serrano Road, Lake Forest, CA 92630

Website: www.ocparks.com/heritagehillhistoricalpark

Cost: Free

Parking: Free

Public Contact: (949) 923-2230 

Credit: OC Parks.