Happy Juneteenth Pasadena!

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Juneteenth, observed each year on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, it is recognized across the country as a celebration of freedom, resilience, and African American culture and history.

• Juneteenth Celebration and 5^th Annual Roller Jam

• Pasadena to Host Free Mexico vs. Czech Republic World Cup Watch Party on June 24

• Events this Weekend

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

P.S. Happy birthday Pasadena! 🎂
Happy Father’s Day to my dad, who is the handiest, strongest, hard-working, and caring dad out there. I love you! And to all the Dads out there! 👨‍🍼

THE DIGEST⚽

Juneteenth Celebration and 5^th Annual Roller Jam

Pasadena will mark Juneteenth with an afternoon of music, skating, art, and community at Pasadena City Hall this Saturday, June 20. Hosted by the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena NAACP, the Juneteenth Celebration and 5th Annual Roller Jam runs from 3 to 8PM and features free roller skate rentals, family-friendly activities, arts and crafts from the Armory Center for the Arts, a live DJ, and community resource booths. Food will be available for purchase.

Juneteenth commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States and serves as a time to celebrate African American history, culture, and achievements. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, click here.

Pasadena to Host Free Mexico vs. Czech Republic World Cup Watch Party on June 24

Pasadena's World Cup watch parties continue on Wednesday, June 24, with a free community viewing event for Mexico vs. Czech Republic at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Plaza. Hosted by the City of Pasadena and the Pasadena Center Operating Company, the event begins at 4:30PM with kickoff at 6PM.

The plaza will be transformed into a fan zone featuring food trucks, soccer-themed games, music, a merch customization station, family-friendly activities, and a beer garden. Fans are encouraged to wear their team's colors and bring their own chairs, as seating is limited. Pasadena Transit will provide extended service after the match.

The watch party follows the success of Pasadena's first World Cup viewing event earlier this month and offers another opportunity for residents and visitors to come together and celebrate the tournament in the heart of the city. For more information, click here.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

This Weekend

🎨 DesignerCon Pasadena: Explore a weekend of art, collectibles, designer toys, artist signings, exclusive releases, and pop culture exhibits from independent creators and brands. Pasadena Convention Center | Saturday–Sunday | June 20–21 | 10AM–7PM (5PM Sunday)

🍜 626 Night Market: Enjoy Asian-inspired street food, handcrafted merchandise, and live entertainment at the original 626 Night Market. Santa Anita Park | Friday-Sunday | 3PM–11PM

Friday (6/19)

✊ 2026 Juneteenth Celebration: Join the Altadena Historical Society for a community luncheon, scholarship awards, photo exhibits, quilt displays, and a program exploring the history of Juneteenth. Loma Alta Park | Friday | June 19 | 12PM

⛺ Lacy Park After Dark Camp Out: Bring your own tent and camping gear for an overnight campout featuring dinner and breakfast, s’mores, crafts, organized games, a movie, educational activities, and a tent decorating contest. Lacy Park | Friday | June 19 | 3PM–10AM (Next Day)

✊ Friday Night Cook Out and Boogie & the 6th Annual DENA Juneteenth: Kick off a two-day Juneteenth celebration with an evening of food and music, followed by a community festival featuring art workshops, water games, live music, raffles, historical exhibits, wellness resources, and more. Metropolitan Baptist Church | Friday | June 19 | 5PM

🚴 Community Bike Ride: Join a community bike ride following a bicycle safety and maintenance workshop, then stick around for Movies in the Park featuring Lilo & Stitch. Sierra Madre Memorial Park Pavilion | Friday | June 19 | 6PM

☯️ Caltech Tai Chi Club: Learn and practice Hao-style tai chi chuan along with Yang-style tai chi, kung fu, and other forms in a welcoming environment open to all experience levels. Caltech's Hameetman Center 220 – Multipurpose Room | Friday | June 19 | 7PM

🎬 FILM | Flesh and the Devil: See the 1926 silent film Flesh and the Devil with live piano accompaniment by Lary Garf and a post-screening discussion led by Rich Procter. Sierra Madre Playhouse | Friday | June 19 | 8PM

🎬 Movies in the Park: Lilo & Stitch: Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a free outdoor screening of Lilo & Stitch under the stars. Sierra Madre Memorial Park | Friday | June 19 | 8PM

Saturday (6/20)

⛳ 2026 SPTOR Golf Tournament: Enjoy a day of golf featuring a scramble and best-ball format, lunch, awards, and raffle drawings while supporting the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses float. Arroyo Seco Golf Course | Saturday | June 20 | 7AM

🥕 Pasadena Farmers' Market at Victory Park: Shop fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and farm products directly from certified California farmers. Pasadena Farmers' Market | Saturday | June 20 | 8AM–12PM

🦋 Summer: Wildlife Observation + Nature Journaling with Pasadena Humane: Celebrate the summer solstice with wildlife observation, nature journaling, and community science activities alongside Pasadena Humane naturalists at Arlington Garden. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Saturday | June 20 | 8AM–10AM

🌸 Flower Arranging: Pinkie and Blue Boy Florals Event: Create a floral arrangement inspired by Pinkie and Blue Boy using roses and blue delphiniums with guidance from Flower Duet instructors. The Huntington | Saturday | June 20 | 10AM

✊ Dena Juneteenth – Liberation, Light & Legacy: Celebrate Juneteenth with live music, performances, water games, DJs, food, art, cultural exhibits, scholarship awards, and community grant presentations. Metropolitan Baptist Church | Saturday | June 20 | 10AM–3PM

🔧 Repair Café Pasadena Returns This Saturday at Throop Unitarian Church: Bring broken household items for free repair assistance, including electronics, clothing, jewelry, bicycles, computers, and more, and browse the Really, Really, Free Market. Throop Unitarian Universalist Church | Saturday | June 20 | 10AM–1PM

🍷 Garagiste Wine Festival: 11th Annual Urban Exposure: Meet more than 30 California micro-wineries and sample over 150 small-production wines while exploring artisan vendors and a silent auction. Glendale Civic Auditorium | Saturday | June 20 | 1PM–5PM

✊ Juneteenth Celebration: Celebrate Juneteenth with the NAACP 5th Annual Roller Jam, free roller skating, live music, arts and crafts, community resources, and family-friendly activities. Pasadena City Hall Centennial Square | Saturday | June 20 | 4PM–9PM

🌌 Talks & Telescopes: Gabriel Vajente: Learn how gravitational waves have transformed astronomy over the past decade during a talk by LIGO Laboratory's Gabriel Vajente. Mt. Wilson Observatory | Saturday | June 20 | 5:30PM

🎼 PCM @ The Gamble House: Music Through the Seasons: Celebrate the summer solstice with performances by the Rogue Lemon Collective string quartet and the Indian classical duo of Neelamjit Dhillon and Chris Votek. The Gamble House | Saturday | June 20 | 6PM

🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic Soiree: An Evening to Celebrate Pride in Pasadena: Celebrate Pride with an evening of speed-friend dating, games, small bites, and community-building activities hosted by Lez Pasadena. Archetype Yoga Pasadena | Saturday | June 20 | 6:30PM

🎬 Star Spangled Salute to the Movies: A Special Tribute to John Williams: Hear iconic film music from Star Wars, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Superman, and more during the opening concert of the Pasadena Symphony & Pops Summer Series. LA County Arboretum | Saturday | June 20 | 7:30PM

🎭 The Frogs Juneteenth Live Show: Join a live taping of The Frogs podcast featuring conversations with local artists, special guests, food, drinks, and a celebration of theater, culture, and community. Outside In Theatre | Saturday | June 20 | 8PM

Sunday (6/21)

🧘 The Courtyard Series | Wellness: Start your Sunday with Pilates, yoga, breathwork, and sound bath sessions led by Equinox instructors and Somer Skye Energy Works. One Colorado Courtyard | Sunday | June 21 | 10AM

🏈 Kick a Football on the Rose Bowl Field, Father’s Day Stadium Tour: Explore behind-the-scenes areas of the Rose Bowl, including the original locker rooms, press box, broadcast center, and the field itself. Rose Bowl Stadium | Sunday | June 21 | 10AM & 2PM

🍽️ Father's Day Brunch: Celebrate Father's Day with a brunch buffet featuring seasonal dishes, chef-crafted favorites, desserts, and family-friendly options. The Huntington | Sunday | June 21 | 11AM–1PM

🎷 Jazz in the Park: Louie Cruz Beltran Trio: Bring a blanket or low chair and enjoy a free outdoor concert by the Louie Cruz Beltran Trio, blending Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz, Latin jazz, pop, and R&B. Playhouse Village Park | Sunday | June 21 | 6PM–8PM

Upcoming Events

Upcoming events get added to the News N’ Roses events page. Check them out here.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. These are just the things you need to know. I’ll always let you know if something is sponsored!

WEATHER🥅

Friday

73 🌡️ 56 |☀️| 💨 SW 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 64 (Moderate)

Saturday

75 🌡️ 57 ☀️| 💨 S 9 mph

Sunday

76 🌡️ 58 |☀️| 💨 S 7 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC⚽

🎹 Live Piano Night with Mitchel Campbell at Visionarium Live Italian: Enjoy an evening of live piano featuring jazz standards and pop favorites while dining on authentic Italian cuisine in South Pasadena. Visionarium Live Italian | Friday | June 19 | 7PM–9PM

🎸 Electro Bowie Specialty Show: Dance the night away to an electronic, new wave-inspired tribute to David Bowie featuring 80s favorites and music from Electric Duke. The OffBeat – A Bar On York | Friday | June 19 | 8PM

🇯🇲 The Expanders: The longtime Southern California roots reggae band returns with its original lineup for a night of classic Jamaican-inspired reggae, joined by Simpkin Project, Eureka Sound, and DJ Boss Harmony. The Lodge Room (Highland Park) | Friday | June 19 | 8PM

🎶 Friday Ska Night at The Barkley: Enjoy an evening of ska, reggae, and rocksteady music with DJs at The Barkley Restaurant & Bar. The Barkley Restaurant & Bar | Friday | June 19 | 9PM–1AM

📚 Musical Storytime at the Gamble House with Pasadena Conservatory of Music: Children’s books come to life through music and interactive activities in this outdoor storytime led by Pasadena Conservatory of Music. The Gamble House | Saturday | June 20 | 11AM

🎹 Third@First: Christoph Bull, Organ: Organist Christoph Bull performs as part of the Twelfth Season of the Third@First concert series. First United Methodist Church (FUMC) | Saturday | June 20 | 4PM

🎶 Listening to the Future 10th Annual Concert!: Hear world premieres of original choral works by emerging composers and students as Pasadena Chorale celebrates the 10th anniversary of its young composers initiative. Pasadena Presbyterian Church | Saturday | June 20 | 5PM

🎼 Music Through the Seasons – Summer Solstice: Celebrate the summer solstice with performances by the Rogue Lemon Collective string quartet and the Indian classical duo of Neelamjit Dhillon and Chris Votek. The Gamble House | Saturday | June 20 | 6PM–8PM

🎸 Music Under the Stars – U2xPERIENCE: Enjoy an outdoor concert by U2 tribute band U2xPERIENCE on the historic Pomegranate Patio, with access to the Old Mill and its current art exhibition. The Old Mill | Saturday | June 20 | 7PM

🎬 Star Spangled Salute to the Movies: A Special Tribute to John Williams: Hear iconic film music from Star Wars, E.T., Raiders of the Lost Ark, Superman, and more during the opening concert of the Pasadena Symphony & Pops Summer Series. LA County Arboretum | Saturday | June 20 | 7:30PM

🎸 Missing Wiba and the Burbank Philharmonic: Catch an evening of indie rock and alternative music featuring Missing Wiba and the Burbank Philharmonic, with support from Operator and Skylar and the Socks. The Lodge Room (Highland Park) | Saturday | June 20 | 8PM

🎶 Doug Legacy & The Zydeco Party Band Saturday Night: Enjoy a night of live zydeco music with Doug Legacy & The Zydeco Party Band at The Barkley Restaurant & Bar. The Barkley Restaurant & Bar | Saturday | June 20 | 9PM–1AM

🎷 Father's Day Jazz Brunch with James Love & Patrick Barnitt: Celebrate Father's Day with live jazz, Italian brunch specialties, mimosas, and cocktails as vocalists James Love and Patrick Barnitt perform classic standards and timeless favorites. Visionarium Live Italian | Sunday | June 21 | 12PM–2PM

🎷 Jazz in the Park: Louie Cruz Beltran Trio: Bring a blanket or low chair and enjoy a free outdoor concert by the Louie Cruz Beltran Trio, blending Afro-Cuban rhythms with jazz, Latin jazz, pop, and R&B. Playhouse Village Park | Sunday | June 21 | 6PM–8PM

THANKS!⚽

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