Looking for Something to Do? Free Pasadena Events June 15 to 21

Here are free events scheduled Saturday, June 15, to Friday, June 21.

All events are free, so take a look -- and don't you dare say there's nothing to do in Pasadena!

Pasadena's One City, One Story 2019 summer edition book selection, "The Ballad of Huck & Miguel" by Tim DeRoche, has been the topic of book discussion groups all over Pasadena. Drop in on any of the remaining groups:

• Hill Avenue Branch Library Book Discussion Group Saturday, June 15, at 10:30 a.m.
• West Pasadena Book Discussion Group Saturday, June 15, at 10:30 a.m. at Linda Vista Branch Library.
• Rave Reviews Monday, June 24, at 2 p.m. at Lamanda Park Branch Library.
  

The Juneteenth Festival Saturday, June 15, from noon to 4:30 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Center will feature the history of Juneteenth, live entertainment, plenty of family-friendly activities, food and more.

Third@First presents Thursday Morning Little Big Band for an open-air concert featuring classic jazz Saturday, June 15, at 4 p.m. in the courtyard in front of First United Methodist Church Pasadena.

Now in its 26th year and originally inspired by a chalk festival in Paris, the Pasadena Chalk Festival Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Paseo Colorado will feature hundreds of talented muralists who will use chalk as their medium and pavement as their canvas, as well as live music, art-making with chalk, plenty of fun, family-friendly activities, the Pasadena Police Classic Car Show (June 16 only, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and much more. See some of the first-place-winning chalk art from over the years here.

The Screening Mimis Film Discussion Group presents "Wilde" (1997, R) starring Steven Fry and Jude Law Tuesday, June 18, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. Based on true events, the film tells the story of genius, poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, whose homosexuality caused him enormous torment as he juggled marriage, fatherhood and responsibility with his obsessive love for Lord Alfred "Bosie" Douglas and an intolerant Victorian society. After legal action instigated for indecency by the Marquise of Queensberry, Bosie's father, Wilde refused to flee the country and was sentenced to two years of hard labor. The Screening Mimis Film Discussion Group features a provocative film the first and third Tuesday of every month, preceded by a presentation about the film's hidden history and followed by a lively discussion. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend, but you do have to be 50 or older.

"It's Showtime at Your Library!" is the theme of this year's summer reading program for children, tweens and adults through Aug. 3. Register here. In addition to reading, there are plenty of events and activities at all branches. Here are events scheduled June 15 to 21:

• Christopher T Magician will perform a not-so-traditional magic show with his lovely assistant Peanut the Rat Tuesday, June 18, at 1 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library and at 3 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library. 
• Abbit the Average will perform a funny, high-energy show with props, juggling, illusions and more Wednesday, June 19, at 1 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library and 3 p.m. at Lamanda Park Branch Library.
• John Abrams' Animal Magic will feature magic, comedy, music and live animals Wednesday, June 19, at 2 p.m. at Linda Vista Branch Library and 4 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library.

"Influenza 1918," a film produced by PBS, will be shown Wednesday, June 19, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A deadly new influenza virus began to spread across the country in 1918 and became the worst epidemic in American history, killing 600,000 people until it disappeared as mysteriously as it had begun. (As a side note, my great-grandfather's second wife died as a result of the epidemic.)

Calling all kids ages 9 to 16! If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a rock star, come learn a little about the history of rock music, listen to professional rock/jazz guitarist Kimberly "AC" Allison play rock tunes on an electric guitar, learn some easy riffs and take part in a rock jam session Wednesday, June 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. Beginning, intermediate and advanced players are welcome. Acoustic and electric guitars will be available, or you can bring your own. Ten guitars will be available for checkout with your library card on a first-come, first-served basis.

Meet and greet some of the local heroes from the Pasadena Fire Department and get up close and personal to a big red fire engine Thursday, June 20, from 4 to 5 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library.

"My Fellow Americans" (1996, PG-13) starring Jack Lemmon and James Garner will be shown Friday, June 21, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. Two former U.S. presidents who are hated rivals join forces to expose the current, corrupt president at the risk of their lives. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend, but you do have to be 50 or older.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory presents "Such Stuff as Dreams Are Made Of: Designing Tomorrow's Space Missions Today" Friday, June 21, at 7 p.m. in Caltech's Ramo Auditorium at Baxter Hall (#77 on this map). Dr. Randii Wessen, JPL systems engineer and A-Team lead study architect for the JPL Innovation Foundry, will take the audience through the lifestyle of a mission from its start as a crazy idea to concept, development, construction, testing and launch. Parking is free in Caltech lots and parking structures after 5 p.m. 

Photo credits: Flowerstales.com, City of Pasadena, PBS, School of Rock, Pasadena Fire Department, Samuelson Productions,  Peters Entertainment, JPL