Nisei Week Japanese Festival

This two-weekend event celebrates Japanese culture with displays of taiko drumming, tea ceremonies, calligraphy, dancing and more. Crowds of nisei—the word refers to the first generation of Japanese to be born in America—gather for festivities and a parade through Little Tokyo that culminates with the coronation of the Nisei Week Queen (Aug 10, 4pm). The following weekend, the Nisei Week Plaza Festival offers plenty of live entertainment, shopping, games, Japanese food and sake. Most events are free and centered around the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, with the exception of Crazy Talented Asians—a showcase of AAPI creativity at the David Henry Hwang Theater (Aug 16, 8pm, $45). Find the full calendar of events here.