50 things to do in and around Santa Monica (Nov. 13 – 19)

So much to do, so little time! Here’s a comprehensive, one-stop list of local happenings and major city-wide events taking place from Friday, November 13 through Thursday, November 19.

🏛️ Community Meetings

Friday, November 13

• Slayer: Reign in Blood 40th Anniversary
  Kia Forum
• How the West Was Won
  YouTube Theater
• The Who’s Tommy
  Pantages Theatre
• Movie: How to Rob a Bank (Opening)
  AMC Theatres
• NBA: Oklahoma City Thunder @ LA Clippers
  Intuit Dome
• CIF Playoffs: St. Monica at Paramount
  Paramount High School
• CIF Quarterfinal: Samohi at Santiago
  Santiago High School, Corona
• CIF Quarterfinal: Garfield at Venice
  Venice High School
• CIF Quarterfinal: University at Kennedy
  John F. Kennedy High School, Granada Hills
• CIF Quarterfinal: Palisades at Carson
  Carson High School
• 2026 Japanese Food Expo
  Ovation Hollywood

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Saturday, November 14

• Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival (Day 1)
  Dodger Stadium
• Slayer: Reign in Blood 40th Anniversary
  Kia Forum
• Westside Chamber Orchestra: From Philosophy
  St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Santa Monica • 7:00 PM
• Tiffany Music Academy 2026 Fall Concert
  Miles Playhouse
• Verdi Chorus: “From Verdi to Verismo”
  First Presbyterian Church
• The Who’s Tommy
  Pantages Theatre • 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM
• Binge Fringe Festival: Alice Cutler Show
  Santa Monica Playhouse • 3:30 PM
• “Bring Your Own Baby” Comedy
  The Crow, Bergamot Station • 5:00 PM
• Laffeinated Comedy Show
  One Cedar Coffee Shop • 8:00 PM
• The Nightmare Before Stripmas (Burlesque)
  Illusion Magic Lounge, 1418 4th St.
• NCAAF: Illinois at UCLA
  Rose Bowl • 12:00 PM
• NCAAF: USC at Indiana
  12:00 PM
• NHL: Calgary Flames at LA Kings
  Crypto.com Arena • 7:00 PM
• 5K Beach Run at SoCal Vibes Co. Surf Club
  SoCal Vibes Co. Surf Club • 10:00 AM
• 2026 Japanese Food Expo
  Ovation Hollywood • 11:00 AM
• Paws in the Park
  Ivy Station, Culver City • 11:00 AM
• Holiday Tree Lighting
  Broxton Plaza, Westwood Village • 4:00 PM
• Friendsgiving on the Promenade
  3rd St. Promenade • 5:00 PM
• Santa Monica Block Fest Vol IX “Friendsgiving”
  3rd St. Promenade • 5:00 PM
• AI Reality Check
  Virginia Avenue Park, Patio Room • 5:00 PM
• Santa Monica Women’s Rugby Club Lip Sync Battle
  Mattie’s WeHo, 8900 Santa Monica Blvd. • 6:30 PM
• ¡Ordena! Santa Monica
  Third Street Promenade • 7:30 PM
• Rose Parade Volunteer Float Decorating
  Location TBD
• Pico Farmers Market
  Virginia Avenue Park • 8:00 AM
• Downtown Farmers Market
  155 – 199 Arizona Avenue • 8:30 AM

Sunday, November 15

• Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival
  Dodger Stadium Grounds
• LA Youth Orchestra Fall Concert
  Barnum Hall, Santa Monica H.S. • 7:30 PM
• The Toledo Show
  Harvelle’s • 9:30 PM
• NFL: LA Rams at Arizona Cardinals
  1:05 PM
• NBA: LA Lakers at Phoenix Suns
  1:00 PM
• NBA: Charlotte Hornets at LA Clippers
  Intuit Dome • 1:30 PM
• NCAAM: USC Men’s Basketball vs. Arkansas–Pine Bluff
  Galen Center • 4:00 PM
• Lions Breakfast Club Pajama Party
  Tavern on Main, 2907 Main St. • 6:00 AM
• Westside Repair Cafe
  Santa Monica Elks Lodge • 8:30 AM
• BEACH Cirque Social
  Muscle Beach • 11:00 AM
• Lance Bass reads “The Legend of Mrs. Claws”
  Barnes & Noble at The Grove • 12:00 PM
• Sunday Funday Makers Market
  Santa Monica Brew Works • 12:00 PM
• Palisades Park Mom Walk
  Palisades Park Rose Garden • 3:30 PM
• Venice Electric Light Parade
  Windward Plaza, Venice • 4:15 PM
• Main Street Farmers Market
  2640 Main Street • 8:30 AM

Monday, November 16

• R&B Tour: Usher & Chris Brown
  SoFi Stadium • 7:30 PM
• NCAAM: UCLA Men’s Basketball vs. Long Beach State
  Pauley Pavilion • 7:00 PM
• SMC Public Policy Institute Fall Forum: Art, Politics & Democracy
  SMC Main Campus, 1900 Pico Blvd. • 7:00 PM
• Trivia with Jon Rosenthal
  O’Brien’s Irish Pub • 8:00 PM

Tuesday, November 17

• Movie: A Simple Machine (Premiere + Bike Ride)
  Laemmle Monica Film Center • 7:30 PM
• NBA: Charlotte Hornets at LA Lakers
  Crypto.com Arena • 8:00 PM
• ‘It’s Giving Storyectomy’
  The Crow • 8:00 PM
• Tile Tuesday Mahjong Open Play
  Gott’s Roadside, Fourth Street, Santa Monica
• Teen Craft Club: Embroider a Tote
  Fairview Branch Library • 4:30 PM
• Clever Girl Trivia
  The Venice West • 6:00 PM
• Brits In LA Trivia
  O’Brien’s Irish Pub • 8:00 PM

Wednesday, November 18

• NCAAM: UCLA vs. Cal State Fullerton
  Pauley Pavilion • 7:30 PM
• “A Bad Case of Stripes” Callbacks
  Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Blvd.
• PLUS ME Project: Teen Edition Writing Workshop (Ages 13–18)
  Montana Branch Library, Santa Monica • 4:30 PM
• Mahjong at Main
  Main Library Multipurpose Room • 6:00 PM
• After the Fire Recovery Plan Workshop
  Virtual • 6:00 PM
• Swiss Winter Village (Opening)
  
  Santa Monica Pier
• Hang Ten Comedy Night
  Gladstones Restaurant, P.P. • 8:00 PM
• ‘Jeopardy’ Alumni Trivia
  O’Brien’s Irish Pub • 8:00 PM
• Live Band Karaoke
  Harvelle’s • 9:00 PM
• Bunny Hoppy Hour
  The Cook’s Garden
• Western Wednesday Line Dancing
  Santa Monica Place
• Downtown Farmers Market
  3rd St. & Arizona Ave. • 8:00 AM

Thursday, November 19

• SMC Vocal Jazz: Golden Hour & Seaside Swing
  The Broad Stage • 7:30 PM
• Shitty Movie Club: ‘Now You See Me’
  + Live Magic with David Wain
  Illusion Magic Lounge • 7:30 PM
• NBA: LA Clippers @ San Antonio Spurs
  5:00 PM
• NCAAM: USC vs. Tarleton State
  Galen Center • 8:00 PM
• LA Law Library Office Hours
  Main Library Lobby, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. • 2:00 PM
• Beach Holiday Tree Lighting
  Regent Santa Monica Beach • 4:30 PM
• Santa Monica Pier Fest / Locals’ Night
  Santa Monica Pier • 5:00 PM
• Native American Heritage Month: Voices of Indigenous Waters
  Main Library • 6 PM
• Music Bingo
  O’Brien’s Irish Pub • 6:00 PM
• Tulum Thursdays
  Lulu Santa Monica • 7:00 PM

Recurring

• Karaoke
  Nightly · The Gaslite
• Olivia Rodrigo: The Cure Unraveled
  Ends Feb 22 · Grammy Museum

Did we miss an event? If you know of something exciting taking place in or around Santa Monica, please submit details to our editorial team via email tips@santamonicasun.com.