Memorial Day Weekend in Pasadena

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day because people would decorate soldiers’ graves with flowers. It became an official federal holiday in 1971, but the tradition goes back to the Civil War.

In today’s News N’ Roses:

• Pasadena to Hold Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony

• Play Day in the Park Brings Giant Games to Playhouse Village

• Events this Weekend

• The Box Office: Plays & Musicals

• Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

THE DIGEST

Pasadena to Hold Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony

Pasadena’s Memorial Day Remembrance will honor members of the local community who lost their lives in military service. During the ceremony, 320 Pasadena service members from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East will be recognized by name. The program also includes a Condor Squadron Missing Man flyover, military funeral honors with a flag presentation to a Gold Star family, a 21-gun salute, and remarks from Lt. Colonel Steven Uziel. The ceremony takes place this Monday, May 25 at 10:30 AM at Memorial Park. For more details, click here.

Play Day in the Park Brings Giant Games to Playhouse Village

If your ideal Sunday involves giant board games and a little friendly competition, this one looks fun. Playhouse Village is turning its park into one big game board for its annual Play Day in the Park with oversized versions of classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, Sorry, Candyland, Uno, Checkers, giant blocks, and more. There’ll also be regular board and card games, DJ music, prizes, and craft activities for kids. Feels like a good excuse to put the screens down for a few hours and argue over Monopoly rules in real life.

The event takes place on Sunday, May 24 from 12PM–4PM at Playhouse Village Park (701 E Union St., Pasadena). Click here for more information.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

This Weekend

🎸 Arroyo Secodelic Festival: This four-day music festival brings together 60+ bands across multiple walkable venues in Highland Park with a lineup spanning punk, rock, and power pop. Highland Park, Los Angeles | Friday–Monday | May 22–25 | All Day

Friday (5/22)

🪔 Create Your Own Mosaic Lamp!: Design and build your own Turkish mosaic lamp while enjoying complimentary Turkish tea and treats in this hands-on workshop. Hyatt Place Pasadena | Friday | May 22 | 10AM, 2PM & 6PM

🍷 Friday Nights at The Gamble House with West Altadena Wine: Spend the evening on the Gamble House lawn with wine flights, access to the first floor of the house, live music, and food available for purchase. The Gamble House | Friday | 5:30PM

🐱 Meow N Paint with Tail Town Cats: Create your own cat-themed canvas painting while hanging out with cats in this 21+ BYOB session with all art supplies included. Tail Town Cat Cafe | Friday | 6PM

🍷 Trivia Night For USHS at Angeleno Wine Co: Test your knowledge during a trivia night supporting Union Station Homeless Services with multiple rounds, drinks, and prizes. Angeleno Wine Co | Friday | May 22 | 6:30PM

🎭 NT Live: The Fifth Step: This filmed National Theatre Live production follows two men in a 12-step program whose growing friendship is tested as difficult truths emerge. Boston Court | Friday | May 22 | 7PM

☯️ Caltech Tai Chi Club: Learn and practice Hao-style tai chi along with other martial arts forms in a beginner-friendly environment. Caltech’s Hameetman Center 220 – Multipurpose Room | Friday | 7PM

🌿 Cultivate: Movement!: Explore Descanso Gardens after hours with live music, dancing, refreshments, and interactive experiences centered around movement in nature. Descanso Gardens | Friday | May 22 | 7PM

Saturday (5/23)

🏃 Mount Wilson Trail Race 2026: One of California’s oldest trail races returns with an 8.6-mile course from Kersting Court to Orchard Camp and back. Mt. Wilson Trail Race | Saturday | May 23 | 7:30AM

🥕 Pasadena Farmers’ Market at Victory Park: Shop fresh locally grown produce and farm products directly from certified California farmers. Victory Park | Saturday | 8AM – 12PM

🔭 Special Behind the Scenes Engineering Tour: Go behind the scenes at Mt. Wilson Observatory to explore the mechanical, optical, and electrical systems of its historic telescopes and facilities. Mt. Wilson Observatory | Saturday | May 23 | 9AM

🐐 Goat Yoga At The Gamble House: Join a lighthearted outdoor yoga session with Nigerian Dwarf goats roaming and interacting throughout class. The Gamble House | Saturday | May 23 | 9AM & 10AM

🃏 Front Row Card Show: Browse collectibles ranging from sports cards and trading card games to comics, toys, memorabilia, and more with opportunities to buy, sell, and trade. Pasadena Convention Center | Saturday | May 23 | 11AM

✏️ Drawing for Fun: Explore drawing with hands-on instruction in a session designed for all experience levels; participants should bring their own art supplies. Pasadena City Hall | Saturday | May 23 | 12PM

🎎 Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration: Celebrate Asian culture and intergenerational connection with student performances followed by light snacks and refreshments. Pasadena Senior Center | Saturday | May 23 | 1:30PM

🎤 From Silence to Song: The Comeback Concert Featuring Monet Bagneris: Experience an intimate afternoon of music and storytelling as Monet Bagneris returns to the stage in a personal comeback performance. Lineage Performing Arts Center (LPAC) | Saturday | May 23 | 3PM

🎭 NT Live: Inter Alia: This filmed National Theatre Live production follows a Crown Court judge whose personal and professional life is thrown off balance. Boston Court Pasadena | Saturday | May 23 | 7PM

Sunday (5/24)

🚴 Trek Pasadena Sunday Morning Shop Ride: Join this weekly 20-mile intermediate group ride through the Rose Bowl, South Pasadena, and San Marino with regroup stops along the way. Trek Bicycle Pasadena | Sunday | May 24 | 8AM

🃏 Front Row Card Show: Browse collectibles ranging from sports cards and trading card games to comics, toys, memorabilia, and more with opportunities to buy, sell, and trade. Front Row Card Show | Sunday | May 24 | 11AM

🎲 Play Day in the Park: Giant Games: Challenge friends and family to giant versions of classic games along with board games, music, prizes, and kids activities. Playhouse Village Park | Sunday | May 24 | 12PM

🎼 Sunday Afternoon Concerts in the Dome: Piano & Strings: Mt. Wilson Observatory opens its 2026 concert season with performances of works by Mendelssohn and Fauré for piano and strings. Mt. Wilson Observatory | Sunday | May 24 | 3PM & 5PM

🎭 An Evening with Stephen Schwartz: Altadena Music Theatre hosts a one-night gala featuring composer Stephen Schwartz performing alongside guest artists in support of rebuilding its musical theatre programs. Manoukian Performing Arts Center | Sunday | May 24 | 6:30PM

🎭 NT Live: Mrs. Warren’s Profession: This filmed National Theatre Live production follows a mother and daughter confronting questions of morality, independence, and social expectations. Boston Court Pasadena | Sunday | May 24 | 7PM

Upcoming Events

🇺🇸 US Pasadena Memorial Day Remembrance: Join a Memorial Day ceremony honoring service members with a Missing Man Formation flyover, 21-gun salute, military honors, and community remembrance. Memorial Park | Monday | May 25 | 10:30AM

New events 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!

THE BOX OFFICE

🪴 Little Shop of Horrors: Lineage Performing Arts Center closes its season with a dance-infused production of the sci-fi musical about a florist’s assistant and a mysterious plant. Lineage Performing Arts Center (LPAC) | This Weekend | Various Times

👑 Exit the King: An absurdist comedy by Eugene Ionesco about a crumbling king who refuses to accept that his last day on Earth has arrived. A Noise Within | This Weekend | Various Times

🎶 Lerner and Loewe’s Brigadoon: This classic musical follows two American travelers who discover a mysterious Scottish village that appears only once every hundred years. The Pasadena Playhouse | This Weekend | Various Times

🎭 THEATRE | Alex Xander Luu’s Three Lives: In this solo performance, Alex Xander Luu traces his family’s journey from Saigon to America through the perspectives of three generations. Sierra Madre Playhouse | This Weekend | Various Times

WEATHER

Friday

72 🌡️ 56 |🌤️| 💨 S 8 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 67 (Moderate)

Saturday

71 🌡️ 56 |🌤️| 💨 S 8 mph

Sunday

70 🌡️ 56 |🌤️ | 💨 SW 8 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎸 Arroyo Secodelic Festival: This four-day music festival brings together 60+ bands across multiple walkable venues in Highland Park with a lineup spanning punk, rock, and power pop. Highland Park | Friday–Monday | May 22–25 | All Day

🎹 Larry Garf Performs: Pianist Larry Garf performs a mix of Ragtime, Early Jazz, Blues, Standards, Beatles songs, and other favorites. Jones Coffee Roasters | Friday | May 22 | 9AM

🎷 Chloe Perrier: French jazz singer Chloe Perrier performs an evening of jazz standards, bossa nova, French songs, and original compositions. Edwin Mills | Friday | May 22 | 7PM

🎷 Live Jazz at Visionarium with The Adam Cohen Band & Stephanie Barone: Enjoy an evening of live jazz featuring The Adam Cohen Band and vocalist Stephanie Barone performing alongside Italian food and drinks. Visionarium Live Italian | Friday | May 22 | 7PM

🎸 MORRISSEY BIRTHDAY WEEKENDER Live Tribute with The Arsenal Band: Celebrate Morrissey’s birthday with a live tribute by The Arsenal Band followed by a dance party and music from DJ Jack Tames. The Mixx Pasadena | Friday | May 22 | 8PM

🎷 Friday Night Jazz at The Barkley: Enjoy an evening of live jazz featuring a trio led by guitarist Riner Scivally. The Barkley Restaurant & Bar | Friday | May 22 | 9PM

🎻 Melodia Mariposa Presents The Lyris Quartet “Through Darkness, Light and Shadow”: The Lyris Quartet performs works by Savannah Jo Lack, Caroline Shaw, Benjamin Britten, and Beethoven in an evening spanning contemporary and classical music. Neighborhood Church | Saturday | May 23 | 7PM

🎸 Daryl Darden: Guitarist Daryl Darden performs an evening of jazz and blues backed by more than five decades of professional experience. Edwin Mills | Saturday | May 23 | 7PM

🎸 The Walrus Beatles Tribute @ Hawg Heaven BBQ & Gastro Pub in Pasadena: Enjoy a Beatles tribute performance featuring two sets spanning songs from the early years through the rooftop era. Hawg Heaven BBQ & Gastro Pub | Saturday | May 23 | 7PM

🎶 Sons of Hermon at the OffBeat: Sons of Hermon brings its take on the Arroyo Secodelic festival to a live performance at The OffBeat. The OffBeat – A Bar On York | Saturday | May 23 | 7:30PM

🎷 The Gold Line Jazz Collective: Led by pianist Hank Mehren, this jazz collective performs a mix of cool jazz, hard bop, and Latin fusion with musicians from across the local area. Jones Coffee Roasters | Sunday | May 24 | 10AM

🎷 Jazz Sundays with Catlin & Rosser: Catlin and Rosser perform an eclectic mix of jazz favorites and original compositions shaped by years of collaboration as a duo. Jones Coffee Roasters | Sunday | May 24 | 2PM

🎹 St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church Presents Organist Juhee Lee: Enjoy an organ recital by Juhee Lee featuring works by Bach, Brahms, and Duruflé. St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church | Sunday | May 24 | 4PM

🎶 Live Music at Stone Brewing: Spend the afternoon on the patio with live performances from local musicians. Stone Brewing Tap Room Pasadena | Sunday | May 24 | 5PM

🎷 Ken Song: Enjoy an evening of live jazz with Ken Song. Edwin Mills | Sunday | May 24 | 6PM

🎭 An Evening with Stephen Schwartz: Altadena Music Theatre hosts a one-night gala featuring composer Stephen Schwartz performing alongside guest artists in support of rebuilding its musical theatre programs. Manoukian Performing Arts Center | Sunday | May 24 | 6:30PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading News N’ Roses today. If you found something useful, share it with someone who’s gonna go to the beach this weekend. 🏖️

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