Year of parties
Dance the tango, wear beads to a Mardi Gras fest and take in a Year of the Dog celebration. Choices are all over the map for next weekend.
Oceanside
And you thought Valentine’s was just a day, but Oceanside Valentine’s Week includes a sunset market, a family bike ride and a wine-tasting harbor cruise. When: Various times from Thursday-Feb. 14 Cost, info: Prices vary by activity. Family friendly. Well-behaved dogs on leash OK in some areas, but not on rides or in some businesses. (800) 350-7873, oceanside valentinesweek.org
Irvine
Attend a thought-provoking conference titled “Who Do We Think We Are? American Identity and the Ideal of Democracy in the 21st Century” in room EDU 1111 at UC Irvine. Friday’s keynote speaker is Jill Lepore, Harvard professor, staff writer at the New Yorker and author of “The Secret History of Wonder Woman.” When: Jill Lepore, 4 p.m. Friday. Panels 10 a.m., Saturday. Cost, info: Free. Not suitable for children. Only service dogs permitted. (949) 824-3638, lat.ms/americanidentity
Venice
Wear flashy costumes, put on face paint, find some Mardi Gras beads and dress to parade and party Saturday at the 17th Venice Beach Mardi Gras along the Venice Beach Boardwalk. When: Pre-party at 10 a.m. at the Venice Ale House; parade at 11:45 a.m.; after-party at 2 p.m. at Surfside Venice. Cost, info: Free (food and drinks for purchase). Family friendly. Dogs on leash OK. (310) 7451064, lat.ms/mardigrasvenice
Santa Monica
Wear undies or a more creative wacky costume for Cupid’s Undie Run, “a mile-ish” trot at your own pace. It’s a party and fundraiser for the Children’s Tumor Foundation for neurofibromatosis research. The race starts and ends at the Victorian Santa Monica. When: Noon Saturday Cost, info: Adults 21 and older. $40. No children. No dogs. (847) 636-9976, cupids.org/city/losangeles
San Pedro
Celebrate the Year of the Dog by watching traditional lion dances and listening to cultural storytellers at the Port of Los Angeles Lunar New Year Festival at Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles. Visitors will find crafts and food trucks, and kids can visit the Chinese zodiac petting zoo. Don’t miss the fireworks finale. When: 3 p.m. Saturday Cost, info: Free. Family friendly. Dogs on leash OK. (310) 732-1270, lat.ms/sanpedronewyear
Beverly Hills
The seventh celebration of Chinese New Year at the Saban Theatre will feature the “Charming Jing Jin Ji” variety show, which includes music performances and acrobats. When: 2 p.m. Feb. 11. Cost, info: $8 plus fees. Family friendly. Only service dogs permitted. (888) 645-5006, lovebeverlyhills.com/dog or lat.ms/bhyearofdog