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LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Announces Its Public Programming for 2021

After a 16-month pause due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes resumes its public programming, just in time as the downtown Los Angeles museum and cultural center celebrates its 10-year anniversary. Since its founding in 2011, LA Plaza has presented the best of Los Angeles Latinx music, film, dance, art and culture at its outdoor campus and stage, with the majority of programs offered free of charge.

Attendees will enjoy familiar favorites, including Family Days celebrating traditional Latino holidays; the Summer of Salsa dance concert series; film screenings; and Gregorio Luke’s Frida Kahlo Under the Stars lecture.  Also returning to LA Plaza are the Cuban-American Music Festival, Hola Mexico Film Festival Closing Night, LATINAFest, and Molcajete Dominguero Latinx vendor Pop-ups.

“We couldn’t be happier to be back and pick up where we left off,” said John Echeveste, LA Plaza CEO. “This summer LA Plaza will again be alive with a great lineup of programming that showcases the best of our Latinx community.”

Updated information is available at LA Plaza’s website at lapca.org and its Facebook page. Selected programs will be livestreamed via LA Plaza’s popular En Casa con LA Plaza virtual series.

July

Docs @ LA Plaza: Carlos Almaraz: Playing with Fire (2019) | Outdoor Screening
Saturday, July 17 | 6 pm | Free
This is the intimate untold story of the legendary painter Carlos Almaraz. It chronicles the life of this extraordinary artist and his impact on the Chicano Art Movement, giving life to his challenges, demons, struggles, travels, and explorations through sexuality and art movements around the globe. Enjoy pre-screening Chicano soul and oldies featuring Thee Sacred Souls and a dynamic panel with co-directors Elsa Flores Almaraz and Richard Montoya and artists Barbara Carrasco, Frank Romero, and John Valadez. Presented in conjunction with LA Plaza’s exhibition Carlos Almaraz: Evolution of Form. Sponsored by AARP California. Click here for more info.

Special Event: Molcajete Dominguero | Outdoor Market
Sunday, July 18 | 11 am – 4pm | Free
Molcajete Dominguero is an outdoor Latinx flea market with incredibly innovative vendors. It’s the largest Latinx Pop-up in the country, bringing you an experience and some fun events along the way. Click here for more info.

Summer of Salsa: Arsenio Rodriguez Project | Outdoor Dance Concert
Friday, July 23 | 6 – 10pm | Free
Arsenio Rodriguez Project is an all-star ensemble of today’s top LA musicians, designed to continue the legacy and to pay tribute to Arsenio Rodriguez, considered the father of salsa. The ensemble came together for the first time in 2011 to honor Rodriguez on his 100th birthday anniversary, presenting the original arrangements of the man who many credit with being one of Afro-Cuban music’s greatest innovators. Food and beverages available for sale. Sponsored by PacFed, Music Fund of Los Angeles, Teamsters Local 396, Teamsters Local 986. Click here for more info.

10 Year Anniversary Family Day | Outdoor Entertainment and Workshops
Sunday, July 25 | 12 – 4pm | Free
Enjoy an afternoon of puppetry, dance and music as we celebrate LA Plaza’s 10-year anniversary! Participants will be entertained by a dynamic stage line up with guest appearances by the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Afro-Peruvian educator and choreographer Nadia Calmet, Tierra Blanca Dance company and special guest, Las Colibri. Food and beverages available for sale. Kaiser Permanente’s mobile unit will provide free COVID vaccinations to attendees. Click here for more info.

Special Event: Dublab & Surround Present DJ Harvey | Outdoor Dance Concert
Saturday, July 31 | 5pm – 12am | Ticketed
In L.A.’s dance music community, events powered by Dublab resonate with a queer and femme crowd. DJ Harvey’s music is feel-good and uplifting house and electronica. Attendees will dance on the lawn as the sun sets, with visuals and lasers taking over at night. Click here for more info. Ticket info at dublab.com 

August

Summer Film: Selena Fest | Outdoor Celebration and Film Screening
Saturday, August 14 | 6pm | Free
Join LA Plaza in your best Selena-inspired look to celebrate the life and legacy of the Tejana sensation Selena Quintanilla. A musical performance by Selenamos, a Selena Quintanilla tribute band, and vendors selling cultural items will be a part of the screening of the Gregory Nava film y mucho mas! Food and beverages available for sale, including Macheen and Mateo’s paletas and a special Selena-inspired cocktail. Sponsored by AARP California. Click here for more info.

Special Event: Molcajete Dominguero | Outdoor Market
Sunday, August 15 | 11am – 4pm | Free
Molcajete Dominguero is an outdoor Latinx flea market with incredibly innovative vendors. It’s the largest Latinx Pop-up in the country, bringing you an experience and some fun events along the way. Click here for more info.

Summer of Salsa: The Echo Park Project | Outdoor Dance Concert
Friday, August 20 | 6 – 10pm | Free
 The Echo Park Project was founded in 2006 by Carlo Lopez, a Latin percussionist from Brooklyn New York who wanted to recreate the legendary “Nuyorican” salsa sound in Southern California. Food and beverages available for sale. Sponsored by PacFed, Music Fund of Los Angeles, Teamsters Local 396, Teamsters Local 986. Click here for more info.

Plática: Frida Under the Stars with Gregorio Luke | Outdoor Lecture
Saturday, August 28 | 7pm | $25
This fully-illustrated lecture presents a kaleidoscopic portrait of Frida Kahlo, with more than 300 slides of her paintings and documentary photographs as well as rare film footage. Presenter: Gregorio Luke, expert on Mexican and Latin American art and culture. Food and drinks and cultural items from vendors available for sale. Tickets available at Eventbrite.com. Click here for more info.

Special Event: Cuban-American Music Festival | Outdoor Dance Concert
Sunday, August 29 | 11:30am – 9pm | Ticketed
Yambu Productions presents the annual Cuban-American Music Festival featuring live music with Clave Dura; Generación Rumbera; Arsenio Rodriguez Project with special guests Nelson Gonzalez and Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez; and Charanga Cubana All Stars. The festival is a regional destination event featuring dancing, local Cuban artists, Cuban food, drinks, and cigars. The festival will feature fun activities, including domino tables, a cigar lounge, music, dance instruction, art exhibits, food, and adult beverages. Click here for more info. Tickets available at Tickeri.com

September

Special Event: Dolores Huerta Birthday Celebration
Friday, September 10 | 5pm | Ticketed
Help Dolores Huerta celebrate her 91st birthday and support the Dolores Huerta Foundation at a special birthday celebration. More details to come soon. Click here for more info.

Summer of Salsa: TROMBOR | Outdoor Dance Concert
Friday, September 10 | Doors Open at 6pm | Music Starts at 7pm | Free
TROMBOR, a new Salsa Orchestra in Los Angeles, makes its debut at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes. Created for the delight and listening pleasure of music and dance fans, the arrival of TROMBOR enriches the Salsa music scene in Los Angeles with the sound crafted in the style of Eddie Palmieri and then continued by Willie Colón and Hector Lavoe as well as Manny Oquendo & Conjunto Libre. Food and beverages available for sale. Sponsored by PacFed, Music Fund of Los Angeles, Teamsters Local 396, Teamsters Local 986. Click here for more info.

Family Day: Fiestas Patrias | Outdoor Entertainment and Workshops
 Sunday, September 12 | 12 – 4pm | Free
¡Viva México! September 16, 1810 marks the start of Mexico’s quest for independence. Celebrate Mexico’s dynamic history and culture with us! Enjoy live music and dance and art, culinary and garden workshops. Food from Mama’s Tamales and Tacos Too is available for sale. Click here for more info.

Special Event: Molcajete Dominguero | Outdoor Market
Sunday, September 19 | 11 am – 4pm | Free
Molcajete Dominguero is an outdoor Latinx flea market with incredibly innovative vendors. It’s the largest Latinx Pop-up in the country, bringing you an experience and some fun events along the way. Click here for more info.

Special Event: HOLA Mexico | Outdoor Film Screening & Closing Reception
Saturday, September 25 | 6 pm | Ticketed
The largest Mexican film festival outside of México brings the best contemporary films, director, and actors to Los Angeles, creating a festival atmosphere for a deep cultural cinematic experience. The closing night features an open-air screening and musical concert. Info at holamexicoff.com. Click here for more info.

Special Event: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico | Outdoor Concert
Sunday, September 26 | 6pm | Ticketed
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, commonly known as El Gran Combo, is a Puerto Rican salsa orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. El Gran Combo is the most successful Salsa group of all time. Since forming in 1962, the band has released over 60 studio albums and earned the honorary title of La Universidad de la Salsa (The University of Salsa). Celebrating its 59th anniversary in 2021, it is considered Puerto Rico’s most successful musical group. Click here for more info. Tickets available soon at Tickeri.com.

Special Event: LA Plaza Annual Pobladores Awards Gala | Outdoor Celebration
Wednesday, September 29 | 6pm | Ticketed
LA Plaza celebrates its ten-year anniversary with a gala dinner honoring the organization’s founders. Join us live on LA Plaza’s outdoor campus or watch the livestream on Facebook, YouTube and other sites. Click here for more info. More info at lapca.org

October

Special Event: LeaLA | Outdoor Festival of Spanish Language Literature and Ideas
Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10 | Hours Vary | Free
Festival Literario en Los Angeles. Las voces más importantes de nuestro idioma en diálogos abiertos a todo público. Más información: lea-la.org

Special Event: LATINAFest | Outdoor Entertainment and Vendor Festival
Sunday, October 17 | 11 am | Ticketed
LATINAFest develops and supports Latina entrepreneurs by creating a space for showcasing their businesses, promoting sales, exploring business survival tips and networking. LATINAFest guests include empowerment speakers, an inspirational spoken word artist, and a conversation on BLM and brown unity! Check out the vendors and mark your calendars to ensure you watch our livestream of LATINAFest. Info at LatinaFest.org. Click here for more info.

Family Days: Día de los Muertos | Coco (2016) | Outdoor Entertainment, Workshop and Screening
Sunday, October 31 | 12 – 4pm | Screening at 6pm | Free
Shake your bones! Join us in a celebration of life and death. Explore the historical and cultural significance of Day of the Dead traditions. Enjoy live music and dance and art, culinary and garden workshops. Food from Mamas Tamales and Tacos Too is available for sale. A screening of Pixar’s Coco (2017) follows. Click here for more info.

November

Special Event: Molcajete Dominguero | Outdoor Market
Sunday, November 21 | 11 am – 4pm | Free
Molcajete Dominguero is an outdoor Latinx flea market with incredibly innovative vendors. It’s the largest Latinx Pop-up in the country, bringing you an experience and some fun events along the way. Click here for more info.

December

Special Event: Molcajete Dominguero | Outdoor Market
Sunday, December 19 | 11 am – 4pm | Free
Molcajete Dominguero is an outdoor Latinx flea market with incredibly innovative vendors. It’s the largest Latinx Pop-up in the country, bringing you an experience and some fun events along the way. Click here for more info.