This Week in the South Bay: Music, Community, and Coastline Care

Hey South Bay,

We’re rolling into late September with a lineup that’s as vibrant as ever. From ukulele strums in Torrance to glow rides in Hermosa, comedy nights in Redondo to cleanups along our coastline, the weekend is packed with ways to connect, celebrate, and give back. Whether you’re chasing music, community, or just a little fresh ocean air, there’s plenty waiting for you.

Let’s dive in 👇

Thursday, September 18
🎺 Happy Hour with History: Music of the Biltmore @ Hermosa Beach Museum

Saturday, September 20
🎉 Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival (Sat–Sun) @ Torrance Cultural Arts Center
🌅 MindTravel “Silent” Piano Concert @ Miramar Park, Redondo Beach
🎪 West High School Swap Meet @ West High School, Torrance
🧹 Coastal Cleanup Day – Founders Park @ Rancho Palos Verdes
😂 Comedy Night @ St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Redondo Beach
🎉 Main Street Fair @ Downtown El Segundo
♻️ Bulky Item & E-Waste Pick-Up @ Palos Verdes Estates (residents only)
🚴 Glow Ride for Cystic Fibrosis @ Hermosa Beach Pier
🌊 Coastal Cleanup Day with Roundhouse Aquarium @ Manhattan Beach Pier
👘 Discover Japan: Kimono & Culture Fair (Sat–Sun, also Sept 27–28) – Gardena

Sunday, September 21
🎉 Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival – Torrance
🌸 South Bay Orchid Show (Sat–Sun) – Rancho Palos Verdes
👘 Discover Japan: Kimono & Culture Fair – Gardena
🏊 10K Swim for Mental Health – Torrance Beach (benefiting South Bay Children’s Health Center)

🌸 South Bay Orchid Society — Fall Orchid Show & Sale

📍 Palos Verdes Art Center, 5504 Crestridge Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
🕒 Sat–Sun, Sept 20–21 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
💰 $5 adults; kids under 12 free; free parking

Step into a world of blooms at the South Bay Orchid Society’s annual fall show. Dozens of award-winning orchids will be on display, with vendors offering rare species, unique hybrids, companion plants, and all the growing supplies you need to take a little piece of paradise home. Enjoy hourly raffles, shop plants and accessories, and explore the Palos Verdes Art Center galleries during show hours.

🔹 Stunning orchid displays & judging
🔹 Shop rare plants and growing supplies
🔹 Affordable, family-friendly outing
👉 Event Info

🎺 Happy Hour with History: Music of the Biltmore

📍 Hermosa Beach Museum, 710 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
🕒 Thursday, Sept 18 | 6:00–8:00 PM
💰 Free (RSVP required)

Step back into the storied past of the Biltmore Hotel, once Hermosa’s seven-story landmark, through music and history. Local historian Mark Shoemaker will share tales of the Biltmore’s ballrooms, which hosted everything from brass ensembles to folk trios, Merseybeat pop groups, and even the Beach Boys between 1924 and 1969. The evening includes a live performance by the El Segundo Brass Ensemble, recreating the vibrant soundscapes that once defined this legendary venue.

🔹 Fascinating presentation on Hermosa’s historic Biltmore Hotel
🔹 Live music from the El Segundo Brass Ensemble
🔹 Free evening program at the community museum
👉 Event Info

🎉 Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival

📍 Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Dr, Torrance
🕒 Saturday & Sunday, Sept 20–21 | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
💰 $$ (Single-day and weekend passes available)

Celebrate the joyful sound of the ukulele at this two-day South Bay tradition. The festival brings together world-class performers, local musicians, and enthusiasts of all ages for nonstop music, hands-on workshops, and an ukulele marketplace. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a total beginner, the event invites you to strum, sing, and soak in the aloha spirit with food trucks, a beer garden, and family-friendly activities.

🔹 All-star lineup – artists like Abe Lagrimas Jr. showcase the ukulele’s incredible range
🔹 Hands-on workshops – learn new chords or techniques in welcoming group sessions
🔹 Island vibes – Hawaiian dance, ono grindz, and community jams make it a mini vacation
👉 Event Info

👘 Discover Japan – Kimono & Culture Fair

📍 KyotoMaruhisaUSA, 16901 S Western Ave #106–107, Gardena, CA 90247
🕒 Saturday–Sunday, Sept 20–21 & 27–28 | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
💰 Free admission (all ages welcome)

Step into Japanese culture at this two-weekend celebration hosted by KyotoMaruhisaUSA. Explore beautiful kimono, yukata, and hakama for all occasions, plus a wide range of Japanese crafts, fashion, and keepsakes. Visitors can shop accessories, fabric panels, home goods, and traditional trinkets while enjoying a welcoming cultural experience.

🔹 Rare kimono, yukata, and autumn-style accessories direct from Kyoto
🔹 Unique Japanese crafts, décor, and fashion pieces
🔹 Free entry, family-friendly event in Gardena
👉 Event Info

🌅 MindTravel “Silent” Piano Concert

📍 Miramar Park (above Torrance Beach), 201 Paseo de la Playa, Redondo Beach
🕒 Saturday, Sept 20 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM
💰 Free (RSVP required for headphone reservation)

Experience a transcendent musical journey at sunset with composer Murray Hidary’s acclaimed MindTravel concert. Guests gather by the coast wearing wireless headphones as live piano melodies flow in sync with the ocean waves and the setting sun. Each improvisation is unique, turning the beach into an open-air meditation hall where music, nature, and reflection blend into one deeply moving evening.

🔹 Sunset serenity – breathtaking Pacific backdrop enhances the performance
🔹 Immersive audio – wireless headphones create an intimate listening experience
🔹 One-of-a-kind – every MindTravel show is improvised and never repeated
👉 Event Info

🎪 West High School Swap Meet

📍 West High School Main Parking Lot, 20401 Victor St, Torrance, CA 90503
🕒 Saturday, Sept 20 | 7:00 AM–12:00 PM (seller setup from 6:00 AM)
💰 Free for shoppers; sellers $10 for three parking spots (first-come, first-served)

Support local student-athletes while enjoying a morning of bargain hunting and community spirit. This fundraiser for the West High School Softball Team features a lively swap meet and craft fair, where neighbors sell gently used goods, collectibles, and handmade creations. It’s a great chance to shop local, discover hidden gems, and give back to the community.

🔹 Family-friendly event with shopping for all ages
🔹 Mix of bargains, crafts, and personal treasures
🔹 Fundraiser benefiting West High Softball
👉 Event Info

🧹 Palos Verdes Coastal Cleanup Day

📍 Founders Park, 1 Trump National Dr, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
🕒 Saturday, Sept 20 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
💰 Free (bring your own bucket/gloves; limited supplies on site)

Join neighbors, families, and Los Serenos docents for the global International Coastal Cleanup Day. Volunteers will tackle trash and debris along the scenic trails and beaches below Founders Park and Ocean Trails Reserve. It’s a rewarding way to protect marine life, beautify the coastline, and enjoy sweeping views of the Pacific while making a difference.

🔹 Global environmental movement with local impact
🔹 Breathtaking coastal scenery along the cleanup path
🔹 Family- and group-friendly volunteer opportunity
👉 Event Info

😂 St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Comedy Night

📍 St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 301 Avenue D (corner of PCH & Avenue D), Redondo Beach
🕒 Saturday, Sept 20 | Dinner 5:30–6:00 PM | Comedy Show 6:00–7:30 PM
💰 Free (optional offering collected for comedians)

Enjoy a night of laughter and community at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church’s Comedy Night. The evening kicks off with an optional hot dog, chips, and drink meal before the show, followed by 90 minutes of family-friendly comedy in the church’s welcoming space. Free snacks will be available during the performance, and an offering will be collected at the end for those who wish to support the comedians.

🔹 Family-friendly comedy in a relaxed church setting
🔹 Optional pre-show dinner and free snacks included
🔹 Free entry with opportunity to support local comedians
👉 Event Info

🎉 Main Street Fair – El Segundo

📍 Main Street, Downtown El Segundo
🕒 Saturday, Sept 20 | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
💰 Free (open to the public)

A beloved El Segundo tradition for over 30 years, the Main Street Fair transforms eight city blocks into a lively celebration of art, music, food, and community. With more than 160 artist and craft booths, school group fundraisers, kid-friendly activities, and a bustling food court, the fair draws over 3,000 visitors each year. Fairgoers can enjoy live music all day at the LAWA-sponsored Main Stage and the Compass Realty Beer Garden Stage, while browsing unique wares and savoring local eats. Produced by the El Segundo Kiwanis Club, the fair is not just fun — it also raises funds for children’s programs across the South Bay.

🔹 160+ artisan and craft vendors filling downtown El Segundo
🔹 All-day live music across two stages plus a beer garden
🔹 Family-friendly celebration supporting local youth programs
👉 Event Info

♻️ Bulky Item & E-Waste Pick-Up

📍 Curbside collection, Palos Verdes Estates
🕒 Saturday, Sept 20 | Items must be at curb by 6:00 AM
💰 Free for PVE residents

Palos Verdes Estates residents can take advantage of a special curbside collection day provided by Athens Services for bulky items and electronic waste. This is the perfect opportunity to responsibly dispose of large household goods like furniture, mattresses, and appliances, as well as old electronics including TVs, computers, and printers. Just place your items at the curb (not in the street) before 6:00 AM on the collection day, and Athens Services will handle the rest.

🔹 Convenient curbside pickup for large or hard-to-dispose items
🔹 Safe, eco-friendly disposal of electronic waste
🔹 Free community service for PVE residents
👉 Event Info

🚴 Hermosa Beach Glow Ride for Cystic Fibrosis

📍 Hermosa Beach Pier, 1 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA
🕒 Saturday, Sept 20 | Meetup 5:30 PM | Glow Ride 7:30 PM
💰 Free entry (registration encouraged; donations welcome)

Light up Hermosa Beach for a cause at the 11th Annual Glow Ride for Cystic Fibrosis. Hundreds of riders deck out their bikes with glowing lights, neon decorations, and bright costumes for a nighttime ride along the coast. The event raises awareness and funds for families impacted by cystic fibrosis while creating one of the most colorful and high-energy community gatherings in the South Bay. With free rentals available through Hermosa Cyclery and a festival-like atmosphere at the pier, it’s the perfect mix of fun and philanthropy.

🔹 High-energy night ride with glowing bikes and costumes
🔹 Family- and community-friendly event supporting a vital cause
🔹 Free bike rentals available near the pier (reserve early)
👉 Event Info

🌊 Coastal Cleanup Day 2025 with Roundhouse Aquarium

📍 Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach, CA
🕒 Saturday, Sept 20 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
💰 Free (registration required)

Grab your gloves and join the Roundhouse Aquarium for California Coastal Cleanup Day—the state’s largest volunteer event dedicated to protecting our beaches and waterways. Together, volunteers will collect trash, clear debris, and restore the natural beauty of Manhattan Beach’s coastline.

Whether you come solo, bring friends, or rally the whole family, every piece of litter removed makes a big difference for marine life and ocean health.

🔹 Hands-on way to care for the ocean
🔹 Family- and group-friendly volunteer activity
🔹 Hosted at the iconic Manhattan Beach Pier
👉 Event Info & Registration

🏊‍♀️ 6th Annual 10K Swim for Mental Health – Torrance Beach

📍 Torrance Beach (Torrance Tower, 387 Paseo de la Playa, Torrance, CA 90501)
🕒 Sunday, Sept 21 | Check-in 8:00 AM | Swim 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
💰 Registration includes long-sleeve t-shirt, swim cap & lunch

Make a splash for a cause at the 6th Annual 10K Swim for Mental Health, hosted by South Bay Children’s Health Center. Swimmers, kayakers, and paddlers will take to the waters off Torrance Beach to raise funds for youth mental health services in the South Bay. Not only will participants push their limits in the ocean, but they’ll also make a powerful impact for local kids and families.

🔹 Options for swimmers, kayakers, and paddlers
🔹 Post-swim lunch and community gathering at the beach
🔹 Supports the South Bay Youth Project’s vital mental health programs
👉 Register & Info

📸 South Bay Snapshot

That’s a wrap for this week.

Thanks for making it all the way through, it means a lot to have you here. This little community grows stronger each time we share it, so if you know someone who would enjoy being connected to what’s happening around the South Bay, I’d love for you to send this their way.

Catch you out there,

Jaime
Chief Editor @MySouthBay

PS. Want your business or event featured next week? Email [email protected] — let’s make it happen.