Archives for November 10, 2025

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s twenty-fourth annual Autumn Festival highlights the traditions and cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines through a weekend of learning opportunities and family entertainment celebrating the diversity of Asian and Asian American cultures. The festival will feature traditional craft demonstrations, music, dance, cultural arts exhibits, and storytelling.

During the Sunday of the festival, the Aquarium will honor Eung Hwa Kim, founder and executive and artistic director of the Kim Eung Hwa & Korean Dance Academy. Through her nonprofit Academy, Kim works to provide education and training and to foster cultural awareness and community outreach through performances and workshops. Kim has dedicated her life to the preservation and sharing of traditional Korean dance and music.

WHEN:          Saturday and Sunday, November 15 and 16, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHERE:        Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

COST:           Included with general admission: $44.95 per adult (ages 12+), $34.95 per child (ages 3-11), $41.95 per senior (ages 62+), and free for Aquarium members and children under age three / Reservations required 

INFO:     (562) 590-3100 or aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/autumn_festival  Reservations required.

Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific.

The Paramount Swap Meet’s Inaugural Día de los Muertos Celebration featuring a Catrina Contest

A Celebration of Beauty, Creativity, and Tradition – Calling All Catrinas!

Sunday November 16, 2025

Event Details: The Paramount Swap Meet invites the community to join us for the inaugural Día de los Muertos Celebration.

This event continues our legacy of celebrating heritage, art, and togetherness while honoring the memories that connect us all.

**Catrina Contest: A Celebration of Beauty, Creativity, and Tradition**

We invite participants to showcase their most original and creative Catrina looks for a chance to win 1st and 2nd place prizes in the Most Original Catrina category.

Adding to the excitement, the contest will feature special guest judge La Muerta Maria, known for her stunning artistry and dedication to cultural representation.

Entry to the contest is free—so bring your best look, your brightest spirit, and your love for tradition!

This free, family-friendly event honors the vibrant Mexican tradition of remembering and celebrating loved ones who have passed while embracing the beauty of life, culture, and community.

For 70 years, Paramount Swap Meet has been a cultural and community hub for families across the region.

Join us in celebrating this rich tradition!
Attractions Guests can enjoy a variety of interactive and cultural activities throughout the day, including:
 Face Painting
 Sugar Skull Creations
 Papel Picado Crafts
 Community Altar (bring a photo or offering)
 Catrinas Contest (with prizes!)
 Raffles & Family Fun
 Delicious Food Vendors
 Live Music & Performances
 Photo Exhibition & Live Canvas Painters
 Traditional Aztec Dancers
WHEN: Sunday November 16, 2025
Time: 11 AM – 4 PM

WHERE: The Paramount Swap Meet
Admission: $3
Parking: Free
Family-Friendly | All Are Welcome
The Paramount Swap Meet is located at 7900 All America City Way, Paramount, CA 90723.
https://www.paramountswap.com/about/

2025 LA BikeFest
BikeLA hosts its 4th Annual LA BikeFest Fundraiser Happy Hour and Celebration of bike-minded people from daily commuters to weekend warriors, and everyone in between. A Pedal-Powered Party where attendees are encouraged to ride to and from LA BikeFest via the healthiest, happiest, most sustainable, and equitable transportation available – the BICYCLE. Taking place on Saturday, November 15 from 12 p.m.–3 p.m. at Highland Park Brewery, a hop, skip and roll from the Chinatown Metro station, the event is open to all ages, but you must be 21+ to be served beer. The $25pp ticket (purchased in advance; $35 at the door if capacity allows) includes free bike valet, one beer or non-alcoholic drink, a commemorative sky blue BikeLA bandana, and our biggest yet bike-themed silent auction.

Join fellow BikeLA supporters, local chapter members, and Angelenos with the shared desire to transform Los Angeles into a better place to live and bicycle. Come together for a relaxed afternoon of good vibes, great company, and tasty brews. In addition, BikeLA has announced this year’s three 2025 Spoke Award Honorees who will be honored at this year’s BikeFest:

Hugo Soto-Martinez, Los Angeles City Council for the 13^th District, was born and raised in Los Angeles. His parents immigrated here and worked as street vendors to give Hugo and his five siblings more opportunities than they had in Mexico. As a child, he took pride in building and riding his own bicycles. For 16 years, Hugo organized with UNITE HERE! Local 11, fighting alongside mostly immigrant women in the hotel industry to win better wages, healthcare, and respect on the job. Since his election to City Council in 2022, Hugo has worked to build community power and bring the voice of working people into City Hall. In 2024, Hugo opened his first ever protected bike lanes in Hollywood, as part of his landmark “Access to Hollywood” project.

BikeLA commends Metro staff for the Rail to Rail Path, a new 5.5-mile path for walking, biking and rolling in South LA that connects the K Line at Fairview Heights to the A Line at Slauson Station. Outfitted with five Metro Bike Share Stations at: Denker & Slauson, Vermont & Slauson, Figueroa & Slauson, Avalon & Slauson, and Compton & Slauson these stations installed in May 2025 connect the communities along the Slauson corridor with affordable bicycles.

ActiveSGV, founded in 2010 by San Gabriel Valley residents and public health advocates, addresses the lack of safe, green, complete streets in east Los Angeles County. The organization has led over a dozen active transportation plans, launched one of California’s first Traffic Diversion Programs with the El Monte District Court, and organized eight regional open streets events, including the 626 Golden Streets (2017) and ArroyoFest (2023). ActiveSGV also created the region’s first monthly e-bike share program, GoSGV.com (2022), built the Merced Avenue Greenway bikeway (2024), and expanded green space in El Monte – advancing a more sustainable, equitable, and livable San Gabriel Valley.

Plus, special partner acknowledgements to Streets are for Everyone (known as SAFE) started by cyclist Damian Kevitt as a movement for safer streets after he was hit by a car and nearly killed while riding his bicycle in Griffith Park. SAFE is a non-profit organization celebrating their 10^th Anniversary with an aim to improve the quality of life for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers alike by reducing traffic fatalities to zero; and Highland Park Brewery for graciously hosting BikeFest for the past three consecutive years.

Bike LA’s honorees are passionate, dedicated, and collaborative in making Los Angeles a more bikeable region for everyone.

“BikeFest is more than a bike celebration — it’s a statement about the kind of Los Angeles we’re building together,” explains Eli Akira Kaufman, BikeLA executive director.  “Every time someone chooses to ride, they’re choosing cleaner air, safer streets, and stronger connections among our communities. BikeLA exists to make that choice easier for everyone, in every neighborhood, every day.”

Highland Park Brewery will have a bar in a designated area where additional beer can be purchased as well as offering a special menu (including a vegan option) available for purchase. 

This year’s BikeFest Gold Helmet Sponsor is Waymo, making it safer, more accessible, and more sustainable to get around – without the need for anyone in the driver’s seat; the Silver Helmet Sponsors include Tranzito-Vector, working hard to expand bus shelter structures with better design and amenities to serve the lived experience of all Angelenos, Bicycle Transit Systems, with over a decade of supporting shared mobility in Los Angeles; and  Lyft, growing on-demand, scheduled ahead, late night, or morning commutes by bicycles; Bronze Helmet Sponsors are Laemmle Charitable Foundation, making the family’s vision of a sustainable community a reality; Lime, expanding the world’s largest shared electric fleet; and Serve Robotics, building the next generation of autonomous sidewalk delivery robots.

Silent auction donors for bike-themed accessories include Spurcycle; Patagonia; Yakima; Tern; Road Runner bags; ABUS; Kryptonite and more.

Visit https://www.la-bike.org or sign up for email announcements HERE.

Ticket proceeds and additional donations help raise crucial funds to support BikeLA advocacy and programming to make Los Angeles more bikeable for everyone.

GETTING TO LA BIKEFEST:

– Ride your bike! We highly encourage guests to ride to and from LA Bike Fest via the healthiest, happiest, most sustainable, and equitable transportation available – THE BICYCLE – BikeLA will offer complimentary Bike Valet.

– Sometimes people need to drive their car. Street parking is available, but please be mindful of street signs.

Where:  Highland Park Brewery,1220 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (free bike valet)

When:  Saturday, November 15, 2025; 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Tickets:  $25pp ticket purchased in advance, $35 at the door if capacity allows – for ages 5 and up; includes free bike valet, one beer or non-alcoholic drink, a commemorative sky blue BikeLA bandana, and a bike-themed silent auction.

More Information & Tickets: 
– https://www.la-bike.org; https://events.humanitix.com/bikefest2025/tickets
– For additional information please contact:bikefest@bike-la.org
– Follow BikeLA at https://www.facebook.com/heybikela; https://www.instagram.com/heybikela/; https://twitter.com/heybikela
– https://www.youtube.com/@heybikela
– BikeLA Trailer/B-roll: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AORGteyQp3M&t=213s

BikeLA is a nonprofit organization that works to make all communities in Los Angeles County healthy, safe, and fun places to ride a bike through advocacy, education, and outreach. BikeLA envisions LA County that is a great place for every day, year-round bicycling. People live in healthier, more vibrant communities, where the air is cleaner, and streets are both quieter and safer for everyone. More women, families and children ride their bikes and appreciate opportunities to enjoy their neighborhoods and their city. All people, of varying cultures and backgrounds, can ride their bikes everywhere, safely, and conveniently.