Things to do in the San Fernando Valley, LA area, March 5-13

 

Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Fernando Valley and the greater Los Angeles area.

Today

County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Registration deadline to participate in the parade is today, March 5 ($50): tinyurl.com/2kcnx4u8. The 2026 theme is “Catch the Leprechaun Spirit!” for the parade in the city of Ventura, 10 a.m. March 14. Grand marshal: Brian Brennan. The parade is always held on the Saturday preceding St. Patrick’s Day (the holiday is always March 17). Parade route: Main Street and Lincoln Drive, west on Main, to North Fir Street. 805-746-5999. Details and a link to participating is also here: facebook.com/countyventurastpatricksdayparade. www.venturastpatricksdayparade.com/

Vroman’s Bookstore: Steven C. Bowie discusses and signs “Concerto for Cootie – The Life and Times of Cootie Williams,” 7 p.m. March 5. Upcoming: Melisa Moore, PhD, discusses and signs “The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids – Science-Backed Strategies for Children and Teens with ADHD, Autism, and Other Neurodiversities,” 7 p.m. March. 6. Margaret Chandra Kerrison discusses and signs “Los Angeles Lost and Found – Essays on Identity, Place and Belonging,” 7 p.m. March 10. Cara Black discusses and signs “Huguette,” 7 p.m. March 11. Kim Samek discusses and signs “I Am the Ghost Here – Stories,” 8 p.m. March 17. Mopreme Shakur discusses and signs “This Thug’s Life – An Unapologetically Black Story,” 7 p.m. March 18. Valerie Bertinelli signs “Getting Naked – The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect,” 6 p.m. March 23 (ticketed event; $33.57; book signing-only: vromansbookstore.com/event/2026-03-23/valerie-bertinelli). Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromansbookstore.com

Friday

Asics Los Angeles Marathon Lifestyle Expo: Prior to the 41st Los Angeles Marathon on March 8, the public is invited to the lifestyle expo event to check out the vendors and to purchase souvenirs of the marathon – while bib pickup is required by marathon participants on one of these dates – 10 a.m.-7 p.m. March 6 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 7. Free admission and parking (use Gates A or E for parking). Dodger Stadium, Lot G, 1000 Vin Scully Ave., Los Angeles. lamarathon.com. mccourtfoundation.org/event/los-angeles-marathon/expo-bib-pick-up/. Details about the Lifestyle Expo in the booklet: www.mccourtfoundation.org/event/los-angeles-marathon/race-weekend-overview/

Wildflower Hotline – Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants: The Sun Valley-based foundation presents its 2026 hotline on the best locations for viewing spring wildflowers in Southern and Central California. The weekly reports begin on March 6. New wildflower reports are released on Friday from March through May (depending upon this year’s bloom season). 818-768-1802, Ext. 7. theodorepayne.org/learn/wildflower-hotline/

Island Packers – Winter Whale Watching: Spot Pacific gray whales migrating through the Santa Barbara Channel as they migrate from Alaska to Baja California, now through mid-April. Cruise passengers may also see fin or humpback whales plus Common dolphins. Two boarding locations: Channel Islands Harbor, 3550 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard; Ventura Harbor Village, 1691 Spinnaker Drive, Ventura. Book tickets in advance on the website. Check the website for all prices, other cruising trip types and island destinations through the year: islandpackers.com/all-trips/. Check website for details on boarding locations. 805-642-1393. islandpackers.com

Granada Hills Grubfest and the Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce Farmers Market: The Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce presents the food truck “Grubfest,” 5-10 p.m. March 6 (on Chatsworth Street between Zelzah and White Oak avenues; www.granadachamber.com/food-trucks/); and the certified market, 6-9 p.m. (winter hours; White Oak Avenue between Chatsworth and Los Alimos streets; www.granadachamber.com/56292-2/; 818-298-9790) on March 6. Both events run on Fridays; check website for seasonal changes in hours. 818-368-3235. www.granadachamber.com/

Saturday

Old Town Newhall Farmers Market: A certified market, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Location, parking lot, 24500 Main St., Newhall. 661-253-4300. Santa Clarita Farmers Markets: tinyurl.com/2evb6evz. Details: www.facebook.com/OldTownNewhallFarmersMarket

NoHo Farmers Market: A certified market, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays. Location, 500 Colfax Ave., Valley Village. 818-471-0793. farmersmarketnorthhollywood.com 

Main Street Canoga Park Farmers Market: A certified market, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturdays. Rain or shine. Location, 7248 Owensmouth Avenue, between Sherman Way and Wyandotte Avenue. Coastal Pacific Markets, 805-643-6458. Email: pacific209@hotmail.com. www.facebook.com/canogafarmersmarket

El Nido Farmers Market – Pacoima: El Nido Family Centers and the City of Los Angeles present the certified market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Location, Pacoima Family Source Center, 11243 Glenoaks Blvd. www.elnidofamilycenters.org/farmers-market

Woodland Hills Farmers Market: A certified market, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Location, 5650 Shoup Ave. 818-300-3023. Facebook: tinyurl.com/ybbchwbb

San Fernando Valley Writers – a branch of the California Writers Club: Author Sheila Lowe (“Reading Between the Lines – Handwriting Decoded” and the “Beyond the Veil” paranormal series) discusses “Growing from the Ashes: What I Learned from Grief, Memoir Writing, and Life After Earth,” 1 p.m. March 7. The talk is also available on a Zoom call. For Zoom, register and pay $10 for the link by noon March 6 on the website (cwc-sfv.org). In-person attendees need not register in advance (arrive early however; first in-person meeting is free for non-members, otherwise $10 at the door). Motion Picture and Television Fund, Saban Center, 23388 Mulholland Drive, Woodland Hills. www.sheilalowebooks.com. cwc-sfv.org/

Book Soup: Jacqueline Pennewill discusses and signs “The Book of Eternity,” 4 p.m. March 7. Upcoming: Sujata Massey discusses and signs “The Star from Calcutta,” 7 p.m. March 9. Clark Collis discusses and signs “Screaming and Conjuring – The Resurrection and Unstoppable Rise of the Modern Horror Movie,” 7 p.m. March 11. Dan Simon discusses and signs “Ashland,” 7 p.m. March 12. Brendan Constantine reads from and signs “The Opposites Game – Poems,” 7 p.m. March 13. Location, 8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-659-3110. booksoup.com/

Sunday

Encino Farmers Market: ONEgeneration presents the certified market, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Location, 17400 Victory Blvd. (between Balboa Boulevard and White Oak Avenue). Farmers market manager, 818-708-6611 or email: farmersmarket@onegeneration.org. www.onegeneration.org/farmers-market/

Farmers Market – The Vineyards at Porter Ranch: The certified market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Bring your own reusable shopping bags. Location, parking lot at 20000 Rinaldi St., Porter Ranch. www.thevineyards.com/event/weekly-farmers-market-74

Good Times Farmers Market: A certified market, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays. Los Angeles Valley College, parking lot A, 5800 Fulton Ave. (at Burbank Boulevard), Valley Glen. 818-282-5490. Email: goodtimesfarmersmarket@gmail.com. goodtimesfarmersmarket.com/

Smorgasburg Los Angeles – Festa Della Donna: International Women’s Day celebrated with pop-up Italian theme vendors, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 8. Free admission. No pets allowed at this venue. Row DTLA, 777 S. Alameda St., Los Angeles. la.smorgasburg.com. See the Facebook post on Feb. 24: www.facebook.com/SmorgasburgLA/

Monday

Descanso Gardens: “What’s in Bloom in March” (depending on the weather): https://www.descansogardens.org/gardens-and-collections/whats-in-bloom/. Hours: 9-5 daily. Beginning today, March 9, advance tickets are required for non-members. Admission $18; $14 ages 65 and older and students with ID; $8 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger (www.descansogardens.org/events-and-activities/admission-and-event-tickets). 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. 818-949-4200. descansogardens.org. www.facebook.com/DescansoGardensLA

Tuesday

Rotary Hearts in Action Gala: The reservation deadline is today, March 10, for the Rotary Club of Woodland Hills event that includes dinner, entertainment and a silent auction, 5 p.m. March 14. Honorees: Ken Craft, CEO of Hope the Mission, and Albert Hernandez, CEO of Home Again LA and past district governor of Rotary District 5280. The gala raises funds for Rotary service initiatives for under-served children and youth. Tickets $150. Porter Valley Country Club, 19216 Singing Hills Drive, Porter Ranch. Rotary Club of Woodland Hills information: tinyurl.com/bdf4b945. Details on the gala, whrotary.org/event/rotary-hearts-in-action-gala/, and to purchase tickets here: givebutter.com/c/rotaryhearts

Wednesday

Canyon Country Farmers Market: A certified market, 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays. Canyon Country Community Center, parking lot, 18410 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country. 661-253-4300. Santa Clarita Farmers Markets: tinyurl.com/2evb6evz. www.facebook.com/CanyonCountryFarmersMarket/

March 13

The Play That Goes Wrong: 5-Star Theatricals present the slapstick play, written by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, about a murder mystery play that goes awry for cast members, opens 7:30 p.m. March 13. Show runs 1 and 7:30 p.m. March 14; 1 p.m. March 15; other dates through March 29. Tickets $71 and up. Bank of America Performing Arts Center, Scherr Forum Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 805-449-2787. See the 2026 season for: 5startheatricals.com. Details and purchase tickets: bapacthousandoaks.com/show-details/the-play-that-goes-wrong

UPCOMING

San Fernando Valley Historical Society Rummage Sale: The society holds the event to raise funds to maintain the historic Pioneer Memorial Cemetery, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. March 14. All proceeds from the sale benefit the cemetery that is maintained by the society. Pioneer Memorial Cemetery, 14451 Bledsoe St., Sylmar. 818-365-7810. Email: sfvhistory@gmail.com. sfvhs.com. www.sfvhs.com/pioneer-cemetery

Southern California Garden Club – Celebrating Our Rose Garden: National Garden Clubs gardening consultants Natalie Bloxham and Robin Pokorski discuss the club’s own Rose Garden at the Sepulveda Garden Center, 11 a.m. March 17. Prior to the program: a plant market and country store, both for fundraising plus a plant specimen display, 9:30 a.m.; business meeting, 10 a.m.; a workshop, “Have a Cactus?” presented by NGC gardening consultant Rosemary Ecker, at 10:30 a.m.; the guest speaker presentation at 11 a.m. Bring your own lunch, noon. Club meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month, September-June. Sepulveda Garden Center, 16633 Magnolia Blvd., Encino. 818-996-3530. www.socalgardenclub.org and www.facebook.com/southerncaliforniagardenclub

The Wall That Heals – Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica: The three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. is at Pierce College, March 19-22. The replica — showing the names of the 58,281 men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during the war — is accompanied by a mobile education center about the Vietnam War and the history behind the establishment of the Wall in Washington D.C. Special ceremonies for the public to attend: a “Welcome Home” opening, 6 p.m. March 19; a “Light the Night Candlelight,” gathering, 7:30 p.m. March 20; a “Taps” ceremony, 7:07 p.m. March 21; and a “Closing” ceremony, 1:45 p.m. March 22. The Wall will be available to visit 24-hours from the opening to closing (2 p.m. March 22). Free admission and parking. Use the college’s entrance for the Wall viewing on De Soto Avenue, at the light signal at El Rancho Drive, Woodland Hills. Information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund website: www.vvmf.org. The replica is presented by The Wall That Heals Woodland Hills Committee (323-714-3030). Details about the visit of The Wall That Heals: thewallthathealswoodlandhills2026.org

Santa Barbara International Orchid Show: The 78th annual show, with the 2026 theme “Orchid Escape,” includes garden exhibits, floral arrangements, marketplace of orchid plants, orchid-theme art and photography exhibit, growing supplies and demonstration workshops, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 20-22. Admission $25; free for ages 12 and younger; three-day pass, $35; details, other ticket options and tickets for special demonstrations and workshops: www.sborchidshow.com/show-tickets). Frequently asked questions: www.sborchidshow.com/frequently-asked-questions. Earl Warren Show Grounds, 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara.sborchidshow.com/

Die Kluge (The Wise Woman) – Independent Opera Co.: The Carl Orff opera, based on the Brothers Grimm collected fairy tale “The Clever Peasant Girl” – but with a reworked story by the composer – is performed 8 p.m. March 20-21. Tickets $30; $25 seniors and students. Whitmore-Lindley Theatre, 11006 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood. www.independentoperacompany.org

Breakfast with the Bunny – Reyes Adobe Park: The city of Agoura Hills presents the event that includes breakfast snacks, egg hunts, springtime craft activities and photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, 10 a.m.-noon March 28. Free to attend but registration is required in advance. Location, 30400 Rainbow Crest Drive, Agoura Hills. Questions about the event, Agoura Hills Recreation and Event Center, 818-597-7361. Register on Eventbrite here: tinyurl.com/3mpsdyf3

Neil Forever – Love at the Greek: The tribute bank performs a 50th anniversary homage to Neil Diamond’s 1976 “Love at the Greek” concert, 8 p.m. April 25. A portion of ticket sales go to Drive Toward a Cure, a nonprofit “dedicated to Parkinson’s disease research and to patient care” (www.drivetowardacure.org/neil). Tickets $65.95 and up (shortened Ticketmaster link: tinyurl.com/3tr3ubw2). Los Angeles Greek Theatre, 2700 N. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles. https://www.lagreektheatre.com/. Details: www.neilforever.com/

 

ONGOING

Autry Museum of the American West: Ongoing special art exhibit: “Desert Dreams and Coastal Currents,” through March 29 (theautry.org/exhibitions/desert-dreams-and-coastal-currents). Ongoing special exhibit: “Creative Continuities: Family, Pride, and Community in Native Art,” through June 2027 (theautry.org/creative-continuities). Museum hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission $19; $14 ages 62 and older, and ages 13-18 and also students older than 18 with ID; $8 ages 3-12 (theautry.org/visit). Location, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. theautry.org

California African American Museum: Ongoing special exhibit: “The Black Interior – Imagining Home in the Permanent Collection,” to April 5, 2026 (caamuseum.org/exhibitions/2025/the-black-interior-imagining-home-in-the-permanent-collection). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday; closed on Monday (caamuseum.org/visit/hours-directions). Free admission. Parking $20 before 5 p.m.; $24 after 5 p.m. (parking lot entrance at West 39th and South Figueroa streets. Museum location, corner of Exposition Boulevard and South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles (in Exposition Park). 213-744-7432. www.facebook.com/CAAMinLA/. www.caamuseum.org

Discovery Cube Los Angeles – Sylmar: Special exhibit: “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – The Exhibit,”(discoverycube.org/los-angeles/exhibits/mickey-mouse-clubhouse/), through May 3. Upcoming: Touch-a-Truck,” March 28-April 4: www.discoverycube.org/los-angeles/events/touch-a-truck/. The museum has ongoing exhibits that aim to make science fun for children. Also, the museum has an Eco-Adventure Carousel that includes sculptures of animals native to the surrounding mountains of the museum (additional fee for rides on the carousel). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (except closed on selected dates). Admission $25 ages 15-61; $20 ages 62 and older; $20 ages 3-14 (weekend admission prices; lower admission prices during weekdays; admission vary by date). Parking lot: From Osborne Street, enter through Dronfield Avenue (free parking). Location, 11800 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar. discoverycube.org/los-angeles/visit/

The Getty Center: Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and Sunday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. Free admission but a timed-ticket admission is required (tinyurl.com/yu6fsv3s). Parking $25 (www.getty.edu/visit/center/parking-and-transportation/). Location, 1200 Getty Center Drive (at North Sepulveda Boulevard), Los Angeles. 310-440-7300. www.getty.edu

Natural History Museum Los Angeles County: Ongoing special exhibit: “Unearthed – Raw Beauty,” an exhibit of mineral specimens displayed in their natural and uncut form, through April 18, 2027 (nhm.org/unearthed-rare-mineral-exhibition). Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday (but closed on the first Tuesday of the month and some holidays). Admission $18; $14 ages 62 and older and ages 13-17; $7 ages 3-12; free for ages 2 and younger, but a ticket is required. Location, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. nhmlac.org

Museum of the San Fernando Valley: Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, and also, 1-5 p.m. Tuesday (always check the website to confirm hours and days open). Free admission; donations appreciated. Rancho Cordillera del Norte, 18904 Nordhoff St. (southwest corner of Nordhoff and Wilbur Avenue), Northridge. 818-347-9665. Email: themuseumsfv@gmail.com. themuseumsfvnow.org

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum: The museum presents “Cowboys – History and Hollywood,” through April 19, 2026 (https://www.reaganfoundation.org/library-museum/special-exhibits/cowboys). Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (except closed on some holidays). Tickets $25; $22 ages 62 and older and college students with ID; $18 ages 11-17; $15 ages 3-10; free for ages 2 and younger. Location, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley. 805-577-4066. https://www.reaganfoundation.org/library-museum

Valley Relics Museum: Take a trip down San Fernando Valley memory lane, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (check the website for hours; subject to change). Admission $15; free for ages 10 and younger. The museum is located at 7900 Balboa Blvd., Hangar C3 and C4, entrance is on Stagg Street, Van Nuys. 818-616-4083. www.facebook.com/valleyrelics. valleyrelicsmuseum.org

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