> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Around Town - URL: https://www.smdp.com/about-town/ - Published: 2023-06-29T13:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2025-04-29T20:54:23.000Z - Description: Your Independance Day weekend starts here with the “Celebrate America” SMC Fireworks, Main Street 4th of July Parade, Outdoor Movie Nights, food and drink highlights, and much more - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Events, Lifestyle, Opinion, around town, things to do in santa monica, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-11-06 12:28 Welcome to SMDP’s weekly column highlighting upcoming goings on in and around Santa Monica. Your Independence Day weekend starts here with the **"Celebrate America"** **SMC Fireworks**, **Main Street 4th of July Parade** , Outdoor Movie Nights, food and drink highlights, and much more! **"Celebrate America"** **SMC Fireworks (** **Saturday** **, July 1, 9p.m.)** **:** Billed as "the biggest, most sensational patriotic event on the Westside," the free celebration returns after a three year hiatus at SMC’s main campus.[https://www.smc.edu/student-support/campus-life/celebrate-america.php](https://www.smc.edu/student-support/campus-life/celebrate-america.php?ref=smdp.com) **Main Street 4th of July Parade (Tuesday, July 4, 9:30a.m.):** The parade starts near City Hall and runs south down Main St to the Venice border. Click here to learn more or volunteer to help with the event:[https://www.santamonicaparade.com/home.html](https://www.santamonicaparade.com/home.html?ref=smdp.com) **Free Film Screening - "Give Me an A" @ Aero Theatre (Thursday June 29, 7:30p.m.):** 17 filmmakers created 17 short films in response to the Supreme Court overturning Roe vs. Wade. This free screening of the film and a Q&A with cast and crew members. Instead of purchasing a ticket, they encourage donations that will be given to Planned Parenthood. RSVP here: [https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/give-me-an-a-6-29-23/](https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/give-me-an-a-6-29-23/?ref=smdp.com) **Heal the Bay Aquarium Comedy Club (Friday, June 30, 8p.m.):** Where else can you watch comedy while the fish are swimming around you? The pop-up comedy club features headliners from Comedy Central, HBO Max and more with 100% of the gift shop & beverage proceeds going to Heal the Bay. [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-monica-aquarium-comedy-club-july-1st-tickets-631051691597](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/santa-monica-aquarium-comedy-club-july-1st-tickets-631051691597?ref=smdp.com) **Organic Gardening - Orchids 101 (Saturday, July 1, 12p.m.):** Master gardener Emi will show attendees at the Venice-Abbot Kinney Memorial Branch Library how to grow and care for orchids. Limited to 20 participants.[https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/organic-gardening-orchids-101](https://www.lapl.org/whats-on/events/organic-gardening-orchids-101?ref=smdp.com) **The Princess Bride FREE Movie Night @ Reed Park (Saturday, July 8, 6p.m.):** Expect "FREE Music, Movie, Popcorn & Lemonade!"[www.wilmont.org](http://www.wilmont.org/?ref=smdp.com) **La La Land @ Street Food Cinema Will Rogers State Historic Park (Saturday, July 1, 5:30p.m.): "** LA’s largest outdoor cinema and music series is back for another season around town with this dog friendly event on the Westside that includes food trucks and live music."[https://www.streetfoodcinema.com/events/la-la-land-63950](https://www.streetfoodcinema.com/events/la-la-land-63950?ref=smdp.com) **Marina del Rey 4th of July Fireworks Show (Tuesday, July 4, 9p.m.):** Popular viewing spots for the free 20-minute show include Burton Chace Park and Fisherman’s Village. [https://events.visitmdr.com/event/4th\_of\_july\_fireworks](https://events.visitmdr.com/event/4th%5Fof%5Fjuly%5Ffireworks?ref=smdp.com) **Kids Club @ SaMo Place (Wednesday, July 5, 11a.m.):** "Come play with us on the first Wednesday of every month for a FREE, fun, family-friendly musical morning hosted by Twinkle Time, a bilingual, Billboard pop-artist for kids, and featuring special guests each month." [https://www.downtownsm.com/events-calendar/8384/kids-club-at-santa-monica-place](https://www.downtownsm.com/events-calendar/8384/kids-club-at-santa-monica-place?ref=smdp.com) **What to Eat & Drink?** **Mediterranean Fusion Restaurant Mon Ami @ 1541 Ocean Ave & Colorado:** This Eater report has a lot of delicious looking food pics. [https://la.eater.com/2023/5/1/23706900/mon-ami-santa-monica-open-photos-inside-courtyard-hangout](https://la.eater.com/2023/5/1/23706900/mon-ami-santa-monica-open-photos-inside-courtyard-hangout?ref=smdp.com) **Holey Grail Donuts Featured in NY Times:** This "Los Angeles Is a Doughnut Town’’ article highlights the Hawaiian based Main St taro doughnut shop. [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/dining/los-angeles-doughnuts.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/dining/los-angeles-doughnuts.html?ref=smdp.com) **SaMo Seafood Six Week Sustainable Fishing Awareness Campaign:** This SMDP article details how the "six week initiative is being broken down into three, different twice-rotating ASC-certified product promotions." [https://smdp.com/2023/06/22/santa-monica-seafood-starts-six-week-sustainable-fishing-awareness-campaign/](https://smdp.com/2023/06/22/santa-monica-seafood-starts-six-week-sustainable-fishing-awareness-campaign/?ref=smdp.com) **Planta is a New Meat-Free Restaurant in the Marina:** This Eater LA article details how they are "focusing on Latin-inspired dishes, a robata grill, and more" in a waterfront spot biking distance from Santa Monica.[https://la.eater.com/2023/5/17/23725853/planta-cocina-marina-del-rey-brentwood](https://la.eater.com/2023/5/17/23725853/planta-cocina-marina-del-rey-brentwood?ref=smdp.com) If there’s something you think is worth highlighting, you can reach out directly to me at [sean@smdp.com](mailto:sean@smdp.com).