Looking for Something to Do? Free Events July 9 to 15

Here are free events scheduled Saturday, July 9, to Friday, July 15.

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

The Sri Lanka Day festival Saturday, July 9, from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Paseo Colorado will feature live native music, dances, drummers, colorful costumes and much more.

The Ken Burns documentary "Jackie Robinson" will be shown Saturday, July 9, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. Jackie Robinson grew up in Pasadena, broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball, spoke out against racism and, after retirement, became a tireless advocate for civil rights. The documentary is four hours long; there will be one 15-minute intermission.

Parson's Nose Theater presents a reading of Thornton Wilder's iconic play "Our Town" Saturday, July 9, at 7 p.m. in the grand entrance (some call it the rotunda) at Pasadena City Hall, Reserve your seat here.

Area 51 will perform funk, Motown and rock Saturday, July 9, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavlion. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Old Pasadena Summer Cinema presents "Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954, NR) starring Julie Adams and Richard Carlson Saturday, July 9, at 8:30 p.m. at Central Park. Scientists try to capture a strange prehistoric beast lurking in the depths of the Amazonian jungle so they can bring it back to civilization for study, Come as early as 7 p.m. for DJ music. Bring a beach chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. 

Old Pasadena Summer Cinema presents "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006, PG-13) starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep Saturday, July 9, at 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado. A smart but sensible new graduate lands a job as an assistant to the demanding editor-in-chief of a high fashion magazine.

The Summer Jazz Concert Series in the Playhouse District kicks off with the Elliott Caine Quintet Sunday, July 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the courtyard outside Vroman's Bookstore. 

Tizer will perform world jazz fusion Sunday, July 10, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Old Pasadena Summer Cinema presents "Stargate" (1994, PG-13) starring Kurt Russell and James Spader Sunday, July 10, at 8:30 p.m. at Central Park. An interstellar teleportation device unearthed in Egypt leads an archaeological historian and a military man to a planet where humans resembling ancient Egyptians worship the god Ra. Come as early as 7 p.m. for DJ music. Bring a beach chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park.

Activities for Pasadena Public Library's Read for the Win! Summer Reading Club include the following (and much more!):

• For tweens 9 to 12: Bring your appetites and skills to compete in the Chocolate Olympics -- a variety of chocolate-related games and challenges -- Tuesday, July 12, at 4 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library.
• For children 12 and younger: You'll be dazzled and entertained by Mad Scientists Los Angeles as they introduce you to foggy dry ice storms, Eggbert the Egg and a special "burp" potion Thursday, July 14, at 4 p.m. at Hastings Branch Library. 
• Download Pasadena Public Library's newsletter for a full list of summer activities.

Pasadena Senior Center's Concerts in the Park presents Janet Klein and Her Parlor Boys Tuesday, July 12, at 6 p.m. in the band shell at Memorial Park. Bring a lawn chair and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. You do not have to be a senior or a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

"Gracie" (2007, PG-13) starring Carly Schroeder and Andrew Shue will be shown Wednesday, July 13, at 1 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. A teenager faces an uphill battle in 1978 when she fights to play on the boys' varsity soccer team. Based on a true story.

The Classic Films of Mexico Festival/Festival del Cine Clásico Mexicano presents films from the golden age of Mexican cinema in collaboration with the consulate general of Mexico. "Los Tres Huastecos" (1948) starring Pedro Infante and Blanca Estela Pavón will be shown Thursday, July 14, at 6 p.m. in the Donald R. Wright Auditorium at Central Library. Fate reunites three long-separated brothers -- a priest, a soldier and an outlaw -- who were raised by different families. Spanish with English subtitles.

Old Pasadena Summer Cinema presents the documentary "Plant This Movie" (2014, NR) narrated by Daryl Hannah Thursday, July 14, at 7 p.m. at Armory Center for the Arts. The film explores the zeitgeist of urban farming around the world from Cuba and China to India, England and beyond. A community discussion will follow the screening.

Trout Fishing in America will perform music for children Thursday, July 14, at 7 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The next supply of garden-ready mulch from Pasadena Public Works Department street-tree trimmings will be available Friday, July 15, at the southeast corner of the parking lot at Victory Park. Bring your own shovel, container and gloves between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. The mulch supply is replenished once a month through October and is available to Pasadena residents only.

"Gilda" (1946, NR) starring Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford will be shown Friday, July 15, at 1 p.m. in the Scott Pavilion at the Pasadena Senior Center. A gambling cheat goes straight so he can work for a casino owner and discovers his ex-lover is the owner's wife. You do not have to be a member of the Pasadena Senior Center to attend.

Dr. Marc Rayman, chief engineer and mission director for the Dawn Mission at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will explain the mission's two exotic destinations as well as the excitement and profundity of controlling a spacecraft in deep space during a discussion titled "To Boldly Go...Well, You Know" Friday, July 15, at 7 p.m. in the Vosloh Forum (Building UU on this map) at Pasadena City College. 

Paseo Colorado's Swingin' Under the Stars summer concert series presents Lil' Mo and the Dynaflos Friday, July 15, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. As an added bonus, if you've always wanted to learn swing dancing, instructors from the Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association will offer free lessons from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Old Pasadena Summer Cinema presents "Two for the Road" (1967, NR) starring Albert Finney and Audrey Hepburn Friday, July 15, at 8 p.m. at Distant Lands. An architect and his wife explore their 12-year relationship during a road trip in the South of France.

Darlingside will perform contemporary folk music Friday, July 15, at 8 p.m. at the Levitt Pavilion. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic or purchase dinner at the park. A pre-concert festival will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Old Pasadena Summer Cinema presents "Cool Hand Luke" (1967, PG) starring Paul Newman and George Kennedy Friday, July 15, at 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard at One Colorado. A new inmate refuses to conform to life in a rural Southern prison.