Michele Stueven2026 marks the Year of the Astral Affair, and Big Bear is ringing it in with the ultimate night sky adventures that include star parties, Skyfest, guided night hikes, and sidewalk astronomy for noctotourists.
The Perseid Meteor Shower is visible now through Monday, Aug. 24, and is expected to peak Wednesday, Aug. 12, and Thursday, Aug. 13. According to NASA, this meteor shower can generate upwards of 50 to 100 meteors per hour in ideal viewing conditions, which is more than any other meteor shower during this part of the year by a country mile. From the amateur eye, shooting stars will hit off hourly, not to mention bright meteors known as fireballs.
SkyFest Big Bear includes night hikes, sound baths, local astrophysicists, and takes place Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 16. Tap into telescope stargazing, virtual reality experiences, and expert speakers from NASA Roman Space Telescope, Caltech and DarkSky International. Pack the hiking boots and a sense of adventure.
Milky Way: While portions of the Milky Way are visible year-round, the most dazzling section, the luminous core, is especially visible this summer. The glittery heap of stars, clouds and gas is eye candy, especially on a New Moon night in Big Bear. Ideal vantage points include a hot tub on the cabin deck, poolside at Marina Riviera Hotel or during a designated night hike with Big Bear Hiking Adventures.
Courtesy Visit Big Bear
Summer Constellations: It’s easy to tie into the ongoing outburst of summer constellations including the Summer Triangle, shaped with three bright stars, Vega, Altain and Deneb. Ursa Major will also be on tap, part of the Big Dipper, set high in the sky during the summer months.
Solar and Lunar Eclipses: The Total Solar Eclipse steps up Wednesday, Aug. 12, an eye-popping phenomenon that occurs when the moon slips between the Earth and sun, turning daytime into temporary dusk. Although most prominent in Greenland, Portugal and Spain, North America has high hopes of catching a glimpse. Thursday, Aug. 27 to Friday, Aug. 28 marks the Partial Lunar Eclipse, when the Earth will slide between the sun and moon, covering up 96 percent of the latter. This eclipse will be visible across half of the Earth, including all 50 U.S. states and Canada.
Planet Parade: Six planets will align, sharing the sky, including Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune. Some will be visible with the naked eye; others will require high-powered binoculars or a telescope. Thursday, Aug. 20 is the starting point, and it’ll run through the rest of the month. Once September hits, Mercury will be too close to the sun, which will obscure it. From that point, there will be a five-planet parade for a while until Venus sinks below the horizon in early October. There won’t be a repeat performance until October of 2028.
Tie in a stay at the new Arkouda House, retooled Burgundy Inn or lakefront Hotel Marina Riviera, which debuted in 2025, and pay homage to Big Bear’s two biggest international stars, bald eagles Shadow and the recovering Jackie.
There are plenty of nighttime outdoor screenings across Los Angeles to help keep cool. The Regent Santa Monica Beach’s signature oceanfront film series, Cinema by the Sea, takes place on Saturdays from now until Saturday, Aug. 29, on its lower pool deck.
The hotel is featuring popular road-trip and travel movies that honor the 100th anniversary of Route 66 alongside Route 66–inspired cocktails and bites and classic movie treats like popcorn and soft drinks.
This month’s films include:
- 8/1/26 – Eat Pray Love (PG-13)
- 8/8/26 – To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (PG-13)
- 8/15/26 – Little Miss Sunshine (R)
- 8/22/26 – Almost Famous (R)
- 8/29/26 – Grease (PG):
Tickets can be purchased HERE; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and blankets will be provided for extra comfort.
Regent Santa Monica Beach Hotel (@TANVEERBADAL)
The inaugural 17-day LA Jazz Festival will take place from Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 23, celebrating jazz, culture and community across Los Angeles and Southern California. The landmark event will feature performances across beaches, parks, neighborhood venues, and cultural landmarks throughout the region:
- Opening Night, Friday, Aug. 7: The festival’s official launch will take place in Leimert Park, with performances by Lalah Hathaway, Chief Adjuah, and more, setting an evocative tone for the festival’s 17-day journey.
- Jazz in the Park, Saturday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 16: A series of free concerts to be held in urban parks all across LA County, including Edward Vincent Park, Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, MacArthur Park, Magic Johnson Park, North Hollywood Park, Ted Watkins Memorial Park and more. Free tickets can be secured through the LA Jazz Festival site.
- Jazz After Dark, Wednesday, Aug. 19 through Sunday, Aug. 23: A series of late-night pop-ups in clubs, restaurants, and other small, community-based venues throughout the city.
- Caribbean Street Carnival on Friday, Aug. 21: A massive, free block party and multicultural celebration in Venice with four stages featuring legends of New Orleans, Cuba, Afrobeats and Latin Jazz. Featured artists include Adekunle Gold, Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Arturo O’Farrill & The Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble, Tito Puente Jr., Charlie Sepúlveda & The Turnaround, Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre, Herlin Riley and more. Free tickets can be secured through the LA Jazz Festival site.
- Jazz on the Beach on Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug 23: The Two-night finale at Dockweiler Beach featuring a diverse lineup of jazz, soul, funk and contemporary artists. Featured artists include John Legend, Janelle Monáe, Charlie Wilson, Raphael Saadiq, Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton, Original Koffee, Big Freedia, and more.
Tickets for events, including the free Jazz in the Park and Caribbean Street Carnival, can be secured on the LA Jazz Festival website here.
The Velvet Lounge (Courtesy of The Culver Hotel)
Opened in 1924 during Culver City’s golden age of filmmaking, The Culver Hotel has been woven into the fabric of Hollywood history for more than a century. Once a gathering place for actors, filmmakers, and rambunctious munchkins, the landmark hotel continues to carry forward its legacy as a destination where culture, conversation, and connection come together.
The hotel’s Velvet Lounge is carrying on the mystique with Vinyl at Velvet, a new weekly Thursday night experience where the lounge’s resident DJ spins records the old-school way from 9 p.m. to midnight. Part listening lounge, part dance floor,
Hotel guests and locals alike can pick up a Velvet Lounge postcard upon arrival at the hotel and present it to their bartender for a complimentary second cocktail of the same kind. The offer is valid through Labor Day 2026. Patrons dining at The Culver Hotel Bar & Restaurant can continue the evening upstairs at Velvet Lounge and receive 50% off the first cocktail by showing the dinner check to the bartender.
The Velvet Lounge is open Thursday through Saturday from 7 p.m. until midnight, but Vinyl at Velvet takes place on Thursday evenings only.