Rose Bowl Demo Days

Test drive dozens of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and e-bikes at the Rose Bowl's Demo Days Festival this weekend, plus more events this weekend!

News N' Roses
June 26, 2026

Good morning, Pasadena. This is News N’ Roses. Just in time for the Fourth of July, Pasadena Police seized 10,000 pounds of illegal fireworks! That's a lot of backyard grand finales that won't be happening this year.

Test Drive Dozens of Vehicles at the Rose Bowl This Weekend
How Pasadena Helped Inspire the Soap Opera
Events this Weekend
Live Music Lowdown

Let’s get to it.

—Matthew Ramirez

THE DIGEST⚽

Test Drive Dozens of Vehicles at the Rose Bowl This Weekend

Looking for something different to do this weekend? Here’s a cool event. Demo Days Festival rolls into the Rose Bowl this weekend, June 27–28, bringing two days of hands-on automotive and powersports experiences to Pasadena.

The event gives attendees the chance to test drive a wide variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, e-bikes, and UTVs. Rather than simply viewing vehicles on display, visitors can get behind the wheel on demo routes and experience many of the latest models firsthand. The festival also features off-road driving experiences and exhibits from major manufacturers.

Created by the team behind Electrify Expo, Demo Days expands beyond electric vehicles to include gas, hybrid, and electric models, making it a destination for anyone interested in cars, motorcycles, or outdoor recreation. The event takes place from 10AM to 5PM both days at the Rose Bowl. Click here for more details.

How Pasadena Helped Inspire the Soap Opera

Did you know Pasadena has a connection to the origin of the term "soap opera"?

The connection can be found at the Gamble House, built in 1908 for David B. Gamble of Procter & Gamble. Founded by brothers-in-law William Procter and James Gamble, the company grew into one of America's largest consumer brands and became a major sponsor of serialized radio dramas aimed at homemakers.

Because many of these programs were sponsored by soap manufacturers like Procter & Gamble, they became known as "soap operas"—a term that later carried over to television and remains in use today.

P.S. Thank you Christopher for your contribution to this piece!

WHAT'S HAPPENING

This Weekend

🚗 Demo Days Festival – Los Angeles 2026: Test drive cars and trucks, ride motorcycles, try e-bikes and autonomous vehicles, and enjoy live music, food trucks, and a Kids Zone. Rose Bowl Stadium | Saturday–Sunday | June 27–28 | 10AM–5PM

Friday (6/26)

🎮 LA Game Rock Truck for Tweens & Teens!: A mobile gaming truck rolls in with multiple consoles for first-come, first-served fun. Loma Alta Dr. & Lincoln Ave., Altadena | Friday | June 26 | 1PM

🎬 Friday Movie Matinee: Amadeus: The 1984 period drama about Mozart and Salieri comes to the big screen at the Senior Center. Pasadena Senior Center | Friday | June 26 | 1PM

🧒 Curiosity Connection at Kidspace: Browse books and sign up for a library card at this pop-up from Altadena Libraries. Kidspace Children's Museum | Friday | June 26 | 2PM

🧶 Cozy Crafters: Bring your own project or dig into the supply basket and craft alongside fellow locals. Callisto Tea House | Friday | June 26 | 4PM

🧵 Kids Hand Sewing (Ages 9–14): Kids practice hand stitches to create their own stuffed animal from fun fabrics and trims. Remainders Creative Space | Friday | June 26 | 4PM

🍸 WISPPA Cocktail Party: The annual social gathering for members and supporters features cocktails, a brief meeting, and live music. Private Residence in Pasadena | Friday | June 26 | 5:30PM

🥁 Sunset Music Series: West African Rhythms: Kidspace stays open late for live West African music, dance, and art activities for families. Kidspace Children's Museum | Friday | June 26 | 5–8PM

🥂 Pasadena Chamber Inaugural Gala and Silent Auction: The Pasadena Chamber celebrates its new Board Chair with cocktails, dinner, and a silent auction. The Langham Huntington Pasadena | Friday | June 26 | 6PM

🥋 Caltech Tai Chi Club: A welcoming session for anyone looking to learn or practice tai chi on campus. Hameetman Center, Caltech | Friday | June 26 | 7PM

🎶 Sunset Sessions | Live Music & Libations: Live jazz and cocktails in the courtyard, featuring vocalist Carly O'Neill. One Colorado Courtyard | Friday | June 26 | 7:30PM

📖 El Martillo Press Reading: Playwright Herbert Siguenza and poets Lorna Dee Cervantes, Paul S. Flores, Sonia Gutiérrez, and Ceasar K. Avelar read together. Vroman's Bookstore | Friday | June 26 | 7PM

🌙 Musical Interludes: Night: An after-hours concert of nocturnes, songs, and haunting tales in the garden. Descanso Gardens | Friday | June 26 | 7–8:15PM

🌪️ The Wizard of Oz the Musical: A community fundraiser production bringing together local families, students, and alumni under the stars. Maranatha High School, Keith Family Field – Outdoor Stage | Friday | June 26 | 7PM

🔭 Astronomy Lecture – Illuminating the “Emptiness” of Space with Radio Beacons: Caltech postdoctoral fellow Stella Ocker discusses how pulsars and fast radio bursts help astronomers study the universe, followed by a Q&A panel and telescope-aided stargazing. Cahill Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Caltech | Friday | June 26 | 8PM

Saturday (6/27)

🌽 Pasadena Farmers' Market at Victory Park: Stock up on fresh, locally grown produce and farm goods at this certified weekly market. Victory Park | Saturday | June 27 | 8AM–12PM

🌱 Weekend Projects on Final Saturdays: Roll up your sleeves and learn regenerative gardening alongside fellow volunteers at this monthly hands-on project day. Arlington Garden Pasadena | Saturday | June 27 | 9–12PM

🎂 AIM 32nd Birthday Celebration Fair: A community fair celebrating 32 years of AIM at Caltech's scenic Hall Pond. Caltech Hall Pond | Saturday | June 27 | 10AM–1PM

🎨 Family Art – Nevelson Assemblages: Create your own 3D wood assemblage inspired by artist Louise Nevelson's iconic stacked, monochromatic style. Remainders Creative Space | Saturday | June 27 | 10AM

📻 ARRL Field Day: Local amateur radio clubs set up emergency communications stations for a 24-hour public demo. ArtCenter College of Design – Hillside Campus, South Parking Lot | Saturday | June 27 | 11AM

🎨 Drawing with Confidence: Fundamentals for Teens: Teens explore chalk pastels, bold mark-making, and color inspired by the Impressionists in this hands-on workshop. Norton Simon Museum | Saturday | June 27 | 1–3PM

📚 Octavia E. Butler Science Fiction Book Club: A book club celebrating Butler and other sci-fi authors of color, this month discussing Octavia's Brood. Octavia's Bookshelf | Saturday | June 27 | 3–4:30PM

🧵 Freeform Slow Stitching: A meditative hand embroidery class blending sashiko and kantha styles, open to all skill levels. Remainders Creative Space | Saturday | June 27 | 3:30PM

🎶 KCRW Summer Nights with Kidspace Museum: KCRW's beloved outdoor music series brings all-ages live performances to Kidspace this summer. Kidspace Children's Museum | Saturday | June 27 | 4–8PM

🎷 Centennial Celebration of Colorado Ave | Vroman's Summer Concert Series: PCM Jazz faculty take the Vroman's Paseo for a free outdoor set. Vroman's Bookstore | Saturday | June 27 | 5–6PM

🎶 Wine & Song Road Show: Nathan & Jessie; Great Willow: An outdoor evening of jazzy folk, blues, and close harmonies with two acoustic duos. Spyksma Patio | Saturday | June 27 | 6PM

🎲 Game Night at the Museum!: Enjoy an evening of board games, social games, and meeting new people at the Pasadena Museum of History. Jaycees Office, Pasadena Museum of History | Saturday | June 27 | 7PM

🌪️ The Wizard of Oz the Musical: A community cast of 50+ locals brings the beloved classic to life on an outdoor stage. Maranatha High School, Keith Family Field – Outdoor Stage | Saturday | June 27 | 7PM

Sunday (6/28)

🔭 Special Behind the Scenes Engineering Tour: A rare look behind the scenes at the historic observatory's engineering and inner workings. Mt. Wilson Observatory | Sunday | June 28 | 9AM–2:30PM

🎉 THIS LAND IS … Community Festival: A full day of performances, dancing, storytelling, artmaking, and film at The Huntington. The Huntington, San Marino | Sunday | June 28 | 10AM–5PM

🎳 Lucky Strike Pasadena Lucky Launch Party: Celebrate the launch of Lucky Strike Pasadena with free bowling, arcade play, food specials, and more. Lucky Strike Pasadena | Sunday | June 28 | 11AM–2PM

🎵 Monrovia Music Fest: This free festival features live performances from artists including LA Winter, The Snipes, Captain Danger, Young Keta, and The Whistling Diva. Browse an artisan marketplace, enjoy food from local vendors, and take part in family-friendly activities throughout the day. Library Park | Sunday | June 28 | 12PM–7PM

🚗 The Hemmings Great Race: Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 as The Hemmings Great Race rolls into Pasadena. The nine-day rally spans more than 2,300 miles and features 120 antique automobiles from around the world. Visitors can watch the finish line ceremony and see the participating vehicles in front of City Hall. Pasadena City Hall | Sunday | June 28 | 1:15PM

🐚 Sand & Seashell Centerpiece: Layer coastal sands, shells, and sea glass into a serene glass centerpiece. Remainders Creative Space | Sunday | June 28 | 3:30PM

🎷 Jazz in the Park: Little Brazil: A free outdoor concert bringing Brazilian jazz to a breezy Sunday evening in the park. Playhouse Village Park | Sunday | June 28 | 6–8PM

🎶 Kontrapunktus presents Con Fuoco: An Italian Opus: A classical music evening celebrating Italian repertoire in a beautiful Pasadena church. St. Andrew Catholic Church | Sunday | June 28 | 7:30PM

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

77 🌡️ 60 |☀️| 💨 SW 9 mph

🌆 Air Quality Index: 70 (Moderate)

Saturday

74 🌡️ 60 ☀️| 💨 S 10 mph

Sunday

71 🌡️ 60 |☀️| 💨 S 8 mph

Temperature readings taken from the Pasadena Doppler Radar.

LIVE MUSIC

🎶 Golden Hour: Music in the Garden: Flutist Heather Clark brings live music to the museum's garden with PCM Flute Camp students. Norton Simon Museum | Friday | June 26 | 4:30PM

🤘 Khemmis: Colorado metal band Khemmis headlines a night of heavy music with Necrofier, Wretched, and Dog Smoke. The Lodge Room (Highland Park) | Friday | June 26 | 7PM

🎤 Chloe Perrier at Edwin Mills: French jazz singer Chloe Perrier performs an evening of jazz standards, bossa nova, French songs, and original compositions. Edwin Mills | Friday | June 26 | 7PM–11PM

🎶 Sunset Sessions | Live Music & Libations: Live jazz and cocktails in the courtyard, featuring vocalist Carly O'Neill. One Colorado Courtyard | Friday | June 26 | 7:30PM

🎷 Jenny & The Jazz Birds: A beloved local jazz group brings their classic blues, funk, and jazz sound back to Raymond Ave. Jones Coffee Roasters | Saturday | June 27 | 10AM

🎻 Pasadena Summer Youth Chamber Orchestra Annual Concert: Local young musicians take the stage for their annual showcase performance. First Baptist Church | Saturday | June 27 | 7PM

🤠 Neon Moon – An LA Honky Tonk: Enjoy a night of honky-tonk music featuring Caravan 222, The Nevi Band, and Hamilton Boyce. The Lodge Room (Highland Park) | Saturday | June 27 | 8PM

🎵 Sons and Daughters of Hermon: Enjoy a live music performance by Sons and Daughters of Hermon at Old Towne Pub. Old Towne Pub Pasadena | Saturday | June 27 | 8PM

🎷 The Gold Line Jazz Collective: A locally rooted jazz ensemble blending Cool Jazz, Hard Bop, and Latin Fusion over morning coffee. Jones Coffee Roasters | Sunday | June 28 | 10AM

🎷 Jazz Sundays with Catlin & Rosser: Barb Catlin and Ken Rosser bring an eclectic jazz set of beloved composers and originals to a cozy coffee shop. Jones Coffee Roasters | Sunday | June 28 | 2PM

🎵 2026 Summer Concerts in the Park: Acme Time Machine: A free outdoor concert at the historic bandshell in the heart of Sierra Madre. Memorial Park Bandshell (Sierra Madre) | Sunday | June 28 | 6PM

🎷 Jazz in the Park: Little Brazil: A free outdoor concert bringing Brazilian jazz to a breezy Sunday evening in the park. Playhouse Village Park | Sunday | June 28 | 6–8PM

THANKS!⚽

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Test drive dozens of cars, trucks, motorcycles, and e-bikes at the Rose Bowl's Demo Days Festival this weekend, plus more events this weekend!

THE DIGEST⚽

Test Drive Dozens of Vehicles at the Rose Bowl This Weekend

How Pasadena Helped Inspire the Soap Opera

SPONSORED BY UNIVERSAL LANDSCAPING SERVICES

Professional Landscaping in Pasadena