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Events

Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival

The world’s largest lobster festival is one of the city’s great food events, in deference to the Maine lobster. The focus is on fresh steamed hot lobster meals, but in addition there is a variety of other seafood done the Californian way, as well as many international dishes. The festival also features non-stop live entertainment and activities for all ages, from magicians and lobster-calling contests, to music, dancing and arts and crafts, and the Lobster Dog Pet Parade, in memory of Bob the official mascot of the lobster fleet, where costumed dogs are invited to compete for the grand cash prize.

Venue: Ports O’Call village, Harbourfront, San Pedro
Date: September 2009
Website: www.lobsterfest.com

Whale-Watching

During the annual migration of the Californian Gray Whale from Alaska to Mexico, whales can be seen passing along the California Coast and numerous whale-watching excursions are available from Los Angeles city harbours or further south from the city of Dana Point. In January, the annual Whale Fiesta celebrates the start of the season at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, with a family day filled with activities, exhibitions, contests, arts and crafts, food, music and talks. In March the Dana Point Festival of Whales features fairs, street processions, and non-stop entertainment for the whole family.

Date: January to March
Website: www.dpfestivalofwhales.com

Tournament of Roses

This festival has been a Pasadena tradition for over a century and is one of the most colourful events in the world. The New Year’s Day celebrations feature the Rose Parade, which is a breathtaking spectacle of marching bands, equestrian units and magnificent floats, completely covered in flowers and petals. Float construction takes about a year to complete and the Post Parade is an opportunity for the public to admire the fantastic workmanship and the floral creativity from close up. After the parade the Rose Bowl Game takes place between two college champions and is renowned as the ‘Superbowl’ of college football.

Venue: Rose Parade: Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena. Rose Bowl Game: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena
Date: 1 January 2009
Time: Parade: 8am; Rose Bowl Game: 2pm
Website: www.tournamentofroses.com

Doo Dah Parade

Known as the ‘other’ parade, the Doo Dah Parade began as a parody of the Rose Parade – where the one had a list of rules and regulations and invited performers, the other decided to exult in the opposite with no theme, no judges and no commercials. Every year thousands of marching groups or acts are led through the streets in a colourful procession of humour, eccentricity and mayhem, doing almost anything they please and attracting enormous crowds of spectators along the route. Entries are unusual and entertaining, and have included Dead Rose Queens, The Spawn of Captain James T. Kirk, the Royal Doo Dah Orchestra, the Invisible Man Marching Band, Caesar’s Circus, BBQ and Hibachi Marching Grill Team and Bungee Barbies, among others.

Venue: Pasadena Old Town
Date: 18 January 2009
Time: 11.30am
Website: www.pasadenadoodahparade.info

Chinese New Year Festival

The greatest annual spectacle in Chinatown is the colourful Chinese New Year celebrations, which is famous for its Golden Dragon Parade involving a magnificent procession of painted, undulating dragons. Contests, fairs, firecrackers and lots of authentic food highlight the festivities.

Venue: Chinatown
Date: 26 January 2009
Time: Parade: 2pm to 5pm
Website: www.lagoldendragonparade.com

Academy Awards

The annual presentation of the Oscars is the biggest movie-related event in the world that recognises excellence in the film industry among producers, actors, directors, technicians and writers. Every year the world's attention is on the entertainment community to see who will receive the celebrated gold statuettes representative of the highest honour in filmmaking.

Venue: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood
Date: 22 February 2009
Website: www.oscar.com

Cinco de Mayo

Although it is actually a Mexican national holiday, Cinco de Mayo (5 May) is equally big in the United States, especially in those states near to the border or with a large Mexican population. The day commemorates Mexican victory over the French in the battle of Puebla in 1862. Throughout various cities across the United States there are many celebrations in bars, pubs, cantinas and restaurants, much like St. Patrick's Day in March however with more tequila and less green beer. In cities with stronger Mexican populations there may be numerous festivals and traditional dancing.

Venue: Various
Date: 5 May 2009

Summer X-Games

$1,000,000 in prize money is up for grabs for those death-denying stunt devils that enthral spectators annually in displays of gravity-defying manoeuvres. The competitors attend in their specialisations of skateboarding, Moto X, BMX, and climbing to set new records of madness, in this, the world's number one experience for alternative sports. Spectators from all over the globe come to watch this ESPN covered event which is showing no signs of slowing down.

Venue: Staples Center and Home Depot Center
Date: 31 July to 3 August 2009
Website: www.expn.com