What to Do in the South Bay This Weekend: Lunar New Year, Live Music & Antiques

Hello, South Bay!

Lunar New Year’s rolling through the South Bay, and there’s a lot happening because of it. A few different celebrations are popping up this weekend, from the Botanic Garden wrapping up its run to the Port of LA testing out a new drone show over the water.

And that’s only part of it. There’s a major spoken word competition back in town, a Laurel Canyon tribute at Armstrong, and more than 200 antique vendors setting up in downtown Torrance on Sunday. Not a bad weekend to have options.

Here's what's happening this week👇

🗓️ This Week in My South Bay

Friday, February 20
😂 Samay Raina "Still Alive" Tour @ Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Redondo Beach
🎤 Landen Tusi Live Country Music @ Mom Said Yes Pizza & Bar, Torrance
🍫 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory @ Norris Theatre, Rolling Hills Estates (Also Sat & Sun)
🎭 Righteous Among Us World Premiere @ Little Fish Theatre, Redondo Beach (Also Sat & Sun)
🖤 ALYN Heartbreaker Collection Party @ MNML Golf Club, Redondo Beach

Saturday, February 21
🐉 Lunar New Year Celebration (Sat & Sun) @ South Coast Botanic Garden, Palos Verdes
🐉 Port of LA Lunar New Year Festival @ CRAFTED, San Pedro
🎤 FlyPoet Classic Slam @ Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, Redondo Beach
🎵 Sounds of Laurel Canyon @ Armstrong Theatre, Torrance

Sunday, February 22
🎶 Nick Shattuck Live @ Project Barley Taps & Grill, Redondo Beach
🛍️ Torrance Antique Street Faire @ Downtown Torrance
🐉 Lunar New Year Celebration @ The Point, El Segundo

😂 Samay Raina – Still Alive Tour

📍 Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Redondo Beach
🕒 Friday, February 20 | Two shows: 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM
💰Ticketed

Top Indian stand-up comedian and Comicstaan Season 2 winner Samay Raina brings his "Still Alive" North American tour to Redondo Beach for one night only. The show features sharp observational humor and crowd-driven improvisation performed primarily in Hindi/Hinglish. Strict no-phones policy, so you're actually watching the show.

Two back-to-back performances at the 1,437-seat RBPAC with excellent acoustics and free parking.

🔹 One-night-only LA stop with two performances
🔹 Hindi/Hinglish comedy with crowd interaction
🔹 No-phones policy for a fully immersive experience

👉 Tickets

🖤 ALYN Heartbreaker Collection Party

📍 MNML Golf Club, 136 N Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach
🕒 Friday, February 20 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
💰 Free

ALYN teams up with MNML Golf Club for an in-person launch of the Heartbreaker Collection. Stop by to shop exclusive discounts, grab food and drinks, and hang while a live DJ sets the tone. It’s part drop, part Friday night social.

🔹 25% off Terra, Bone & Circe, 20% off accessories, 10% off Morena
🔹 Food by Dave’s Hot Chicken + beer, seltzers, tequila & refreshments
🔹 Free custom chain stitching + live DJ

👉 More Info

🎤 Live Country Music: Landen Tusi

📍 Mom Said Yes Pizza & Bar, 4525 Calle Mayor, Torrance
🕒 Friday, February 20 | 8:30 PM – 11:30 PM
💰 Ticketed

Rising South Bay artist Landen Tusi brings a live set blending pop, soul, and acoustic sounds to one of Torrance's best casual spots. Wood-fired pizza, craft cocktails, arcade games, and a dance floor, all for a $5 cover. Hard to beat for a low-key Friday night.

🔹 Live performance blending pop, soul, and acoustic vibes
🔹 Full food & drink menu with wood-fired pizza
🔹 Budget-friendly at just $5 admission

👉 Tickets

🐉 Lunar New Year at South Coast Botanic Garden

📍 South Coast Botanic Garden, 26300 Crenshaw Blvd, Palos Verdes Peninsula
🕒 Saturday & Sunday, February 21–22 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (live performances at 9:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM)
💰 Ticketed

This is the final weekend of the Botanic Garden's three-weekend Lunar New Year celebration, and they go all out. The 87-acre grounds are set up with interactive cultural stations — Chinese handkerchief dance, Korean Yutnori, Vietnamese Bầu Cua Cá Cọp, Mahjong — plus a wishing tree, zodiac stroll, dragon puppet walk, morning tai chi, and specialty Lunar New Year food and cocktails.

Three live performances each day feature Wushu Shaolin Entertainment with lion dancers, martial artists, folk dancers, and drummers. The performance add-on tends to sell out, so grab those in advance.

🔹 Three daily performances with lion dancers and martial artists
🔹 Hands-on cultural activities across Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean traditions
🔹 Specialty Lunar New Year menu with food and cocktails

👉 More Info

🐉 Port of LA Lunar New Year Festival

📍 CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro
🕒 Saturday, February 21 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
💰 Free (free parking at 22nd & Miner Streets, free Red Trolley rides 2–8 PM)

The Port of LA's 12th annual Lunar New Year Festival is one of the biggest free events in the South Bay. Lion dances, martial arts, live music, food trucks, a petting zoo, wishing wall, arts and crafts, and brand new for 2026, they're debuting an inaugural drone show and firecracker finale (weather permitting).

Everything is free: admission, parking, and the San Pedro Downtown Red Trolley shuttle to the event. This one draws thousands.

🔹 Brand-new drone show and firecracker finale for 2026
🔹 Petting zoo, cultural performances, food trucks
🔹 Completely free including parking and trolley

👉 More Info

🎭 Righteous Among Us World Premiere

📍 Little Fish Theatre, 514 N Prospect Ave Ste L-1, Redondo Beach
🕒 Friday, February 20 | 8:00 PM (Also February 21, 22, 27, 28 & March 1)
💰 Ticketed

Little Fish Theatre presents the world premiere of Righteous Among Us by Amy Tofte, directed by Sabra Williams. The story follows a historian documenting Holocaust rescue stories who uncovers a celebrated family’s hidden truth, forcing her to confront the myths we cling to and our need for heroes. It’s a timely, intimate production backed by a Los Angeles New Play Project Grant.

🔹 World premiere production at Little Fish Theatre
🔹 Directed by Sabra Williams, BEM
🔹 Sunday matinees include select post show talkbacks

👉 More Info

🍫 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

📍 Norris Theatre, 27570 Norris Center Drive, Rolling Hills Estates
🕒 February 20–22 & February 27–March 1 | 7:30 PM evenings, 2:00 PM Sunday matinees
💰 Ticketed | Family-friendly

The Palos Verdes Performing Arts Conservatory brings Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to life on the Norris Theatre stage. Featuring the beloved songs from the original film like “Pure Imagination” and “The Candy Man,” this youth-led production follows Charlie Bucket and four golden ticket winners through Wonka’s wildly imaginative world of chocolate waterfalls and Oompa-Loompas. A fun, high-energy show starring performers ages 10–16 and perfect for the whole family.

🔹 Conservatory Main Stage production at the Norris Theatre
🔹 Includes songs from the classic 1971 film
🔹 Six performances across two weekends

👉 More Info

🎤 FlyPoet Classic Slam

📍 Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, 1935 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Redondo Beach
🕒 Saturday, February 21 | Pre-show 6:00 PM, Main show 8:00 PM sharp
💰 Ticketed

This is the big one. The West Coast's most epic all-star spoken word competition returns with six of America's most decorated slam poets — including Ed Mabrey, Ebony Stewart, and seven-time champion "Masterpiece" — battling for $6,000+ in prize money. Celebrity judges include former LA Superior Court Judge Songhai Armstead, actress Wendy Raquel Robinson, and rapper Ahmad.

Between rounds: DJ battles, beatbox performances, and audience dance-offs. The pre-show party at 6 PM features live music, two full bars with featured cocktails, and food vendors from Black-owned restaurants serving soul food, vegan options, and more. This is a full evening.

🔹 All-star spoken word battle with $6,000+ in prizes
🔹 Celebrity judges, DJ battles, and audience dance-offs
🔹 Pre-show party with food vendors, cocktails, and live music

👉 Tickets

🎵 Sounds of Laurel Canyon

📍 James R. Armstrong Theatre, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 3330 Civic Center Dr, Torrance
🕒 Saturday, February 21 | 8:00 PM
💰 Ticketed

A tribute concert bringing to life the legendary sound of 1960s and 70s Laurel Canyon — Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Doors, The Eagles, Jackson Browne, Carole King, The Byrds, Linda Ronstadt, and more. One night only at the intimate 502-seat Armstrong Theatre, presented by the Torrance Cultural Arts Foundation.

🔹 High-energy tribute to two decades of iconic California rock and folk
🔹 One performance only at the Armstrong Theatre
🔹 Part of TOCA's 2025/2026 season

👉 Tickets 

🎶 Nick Shattuck Live

📍 Project Barley Taps & Grill, 136 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach
🕒 Sunday, February 22 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
💰 Free

Indie folk singer songwriter Nick Shattuck plays a live afternoon set at Project Barley on the Redondo Boardwalk. Expect easy acoustic vibes, originals, and a relaxed Sunday crowd with food and drinks right on the water.

🔹 Live indie folk set from 2–5 PM
🔹 Full grill menu + craft beer on tap
🔹 Boardwalk location at Redondo Pier

👉 More Info

🛍️ Torrance Antique Street Faire

📍 Sartori Ave between Post Ave & Marcelina Ave, Downtown Torrance
🕒 Sunday, February 22 | 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
💰 Free admission and free parking

Over 200 sellers take over the streets of downtown Torrance for this monthly antique flea market. Antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, vinyl records, jewelry, furniture, and more. There's also a professional antique appraisal booth ($3/item), DJ Derrick spinning in the park, and 21 nearby restaurants if you want to make an afternoon of it. Pet-friendly, rain or shine.

🔹 200+ vendors with antiques, vintage items, and collectibles
🔹 Professional antique appraisals for $3 per item
🔹 Live DJ, 21 nearby restaurants, and pet-friendly

👉 More Info

🐉 Lunar New Year at The Point

📍 The Point, 850 S Pacific Coast Hwy, El Segundo
🕒 Sunday, February 22 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
💰 Free

The Point in El Segundo hosts a free Lunar New Year celebration with a traditional lion dance, cultural activities, and family entertainment. The Pacific Symphony may also perform as part of the festivities. Easy, walkable, and family-friendly.

🔹 Traditional lion dance and cultural performances
🔹 Possible Pacific Symphony performance
🔹 Free at a popular El Segundo shopping center

👉 More Info

📸 South Bay Snapshot

That's it for this week.

Lunar New Year doesn’t stick around long, so if you’ve been meaning to get out, this is a good weekend to do it. Whether you're celebrating with lion dances and cultural performances or digging for vintage vinyl at the street faire, there’s no real excuse to stay home.

And if you enjoy getting this each week, send it to a friend who’s always asking, “What’s going on around here?”

See you around,
Jaime
@MySouthbay