Here is a sampling of things to do in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier, April 28-May 5.

Go beyond margaritas at San Gabriel’s celebration of Cinco de Mayo, 6-9 p.m. May 3. The annual Cinco de Mayo Mercado event in the Mission Playhouse plaza is a free outdoor event with local artisans, live music, crafts, food trucks and a cocktail and beer garden.

Performers include Sol de Fuego Ballet Folkorico, Soto Band, and Roosevelt Elementary School’s Music Immersion Experience Mariachi Ensemble. Mission District, 320 S. Mission Drive, San Gabriel. 626-308-2875. SanGabrielCity.com/Cinco

Vroman’s Bookstore: Maggie Smith discusses her memoir “You Could Make This Place Beautiful,” 7 p.m. April 28 (ticketed event; $28 plus fees, includes hardcover book and admission; register here: bit.ly/3KM2n78). Angela Tucker discusses “You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity and Trans-racial Adoption,” 7 p.m. May 1. Lan P. Duong (“Nothing Follows”) and Diana Khoi Nguyen (“Ghost of”), discusses their books, 7 p.m. May 2. Ava Chin discusses “Mott Street: A Chinese American Family’s Exclusion and Homecoming,” 7 p.m. May 4. Stephen Buoro discusses “The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa,” 1 p.m. May 6 (on Crowdcast; register for the link: bit.ly/41Xl51g). Mona Gable discusses “Searching for Savanna — The Murder of One Native American Woman and the violence Against the Many,” 7 p.m. May 9. Vanessa Wilkie discusses “A Woman of Influence: The Spectacular Rise of Alice Spencer in Tudor England,” 7 p.m. May 11. Location, 695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-5320. vromans.com

Underdog Bookstore: Check out the newest indie bookstore that is whimsical, dog-themed and focused on diverse authors. Underdog Bookstore is also Queer, Latine, AAPI and Indigenous-owned. Store hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 29; noon-5 p.m. April 30. Location, 312 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia. For more information, including weekday hours, 626-415-1031. Follow “Underdog Bookstore” on Instagram.

Independent Bookstore Day – April 29: Indie bookstores have specials events and deals to celebrate the day including a performance by The Ukulele Orchestra of the Western Hemisphere, 1 p.m. April 29 at Vroman’s Bookstore (695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena). Learn more about the day and type in a zip code to find participating Indie Bookstore Day shops: www.bookweb.org/independent-bookstore-day

West Covina Farmers Market: Shop for in-season fruits and vegetables, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. April 29 (and also on most Saturdays). The market also offers prepared foods and artisan crafts. EBT is accepted. Location, 195 Glendora Ave., West Covina. For more information, email: Fmlcevendor@gmail.com. Check here for updates: www.facebook.com/westcovinafarmersmarket

Renaissance Pleasure Faire: Immerse yourself in the time of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign and have some fun with cosplay of the time period, speaking the lingo, shopping in the marketplace, listening to music and laughing at performances, Saturday-Sunday, to May 21. Fun dress code: period “faire” costume (optional). This weekend’s special theme: “Renncon,” with a “Time Traveler Costume Contest,” April 29-30). Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission $42; $21 ages 5-12; $225 season pass. There is a mandatory entry fee $12 to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation area. Parking is free, first-come, first served; VIP parking $25 (must be purchased in advance online). Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area, 15501 E. Arrow Highway, Irwindale. 626-969-4750. renfair.com/socal

Jackalope Pasadena: Shop the artisan market of more than 200 local vendors selling indie goods, clothing, jewelry, home décor, housewares, art and food. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 29-30. Free admission. Central Park, 275 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena.  jackalopeartfair.com/visitpasadena

Eclectic Music Festival and Arts Crawl: Explore the sounds and sights at the 13th annual event, 3-10 p.m. April 29. The event includes 15 music stages, an Artisans’ Alley with 80 vendors, a children’s activity zone, three beer gardens and a vintage flea market. Free admission. Central business district, 1121 Mission St., South Pasadena. www.instagram.com/sopaseclectic. TheEclectic.Rocks

The Drowsy Chaperone: Catch the closing night performance of the 1998 musical by Lisa Lambert, Bob Martin, Dan McKellar and Greg Morrison, 8 p.m. April 29. The play is presented by the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. Tickets $25; $35. Porticos Art Space, 2033 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena. jewishsgpv.org. www.jewishsgpv.org/our-work/cultural-arts/jfedplayers

Treat yourself and help a cause: As if you need a reason to get shaved ice. Meet Fresh and Michelin-starred chef Jon Yao is raising funds for the Downtown Women’s Center Los Angeles by collaborating on a special dessert through April 30. The shaved ice specialty features grass jelly, potaro balls, mini taro balls, boba, condensed milk and infused with a creamy milk tea sauce. Pick some up at the Meet Fresh stores in Arcadia, Hacienda Heights or Temple City. More on the product and the fundraiser: meetfresh.us/chef-jon-yao-collab. For more information, meetfresh.us

Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery: The restaurant launches its “Agnes Cheese Club” on May 1, just in time for American Cheese Month. Join a cheese club giveaway on Cheesery Instagram and an in-store launch party from 2-4 p.m. Location, Old Town Pasadena, 40 W. Green St., Pasadena. 626-389-3839. agnesla.com

Duarte Farmers Market: is open from 4 to 7:30 p.m. May 3 (and most other Wednesdays). Southeast corner of the Santa Teresita Assisted Living parking lot, 819 Buena Vista St., Duarte. duartechamber.com/duarte-farmers-market. Updates on Facebook: bit.ly/41OI0wJ

National Day of Prayer in South El Monte: The city of South El Monte invites everyone to its National Day of Prayer breakfast, 10 a.m.-noon May 4. South El Monte Community Center, 1530 Central Ave. 626-579-2043. www.cityofsouthelmonte.org/250/Special-Events

National Day of Prayer service: Arcadia Interfaith Council holds an event with the theme “Together Under One Roof,” 7 p.m. May 4. Temple Beth David, 9677 Longden Ave., Temple City. 626-287-9994. www.templebethdavidsgv.org/events/calendar

Los Angeles County Fair: The fair’s theme this year is “Spring into Fair,” May 5-29. Admission is available online now for discount. Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Admission online $15/$18/$21 (depending on date); ages 60 and older and ages 6-12 admission online $10/$12 (depending on date). Admission at the gate $30; $15 ages 60 and older and ages 6-12. Parking in advance online $17; $22 at the gate. Also, Fairplex is a cashless venue. Some concessionaires and vendors may accept cash, but credit or debit card is preferred. Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. www.lacountyfair.com

Cinco de Mayo Festival: The event in South El Monte includes live performances, a boxing show and food vendors, 6-9 p.m. May 5. Free admission. South El Monte Community Center, 1530 Central Ave. 626-579-2043.

Cinco de Mayo at the Rose Bowl: The second annual event, 1-7 p.m. May 6. The family-friendly event includes family fitness activities, live music, a youth soccer tournament, a marketplace and screenings of  “Coco” (2017) and “Encanto” (2021). Reservations are requested on the website. Rose Bowl Stadium, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena. Details on the website: bit.ly/41ZzXwp

The Pasadena Chorale: “Brahms and Beyond,” at 7:30 p.m. May 6. Enjoy some of Brahms’ most beloved choral works and explore the music of living composers influenced and inspired by the German composer. Admission is free but ticket reservations are required. First United Methodist Church, 500 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. pasadenachorale.org

Home Sweet Monrovia: Save the date for the 39th annual tour of vintage homes curated by the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group. Explore Monrovia’s rich architectural heritage, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 7. Houses include: an 1887 Queen Anne; 1900s Craftsman homes; a 1931 Spanish Colonial Revival; an 1885 Eastlake Victorian. The Monrovia Historical Museum and Anderson House Museum will also be open for viewing. Tickets are $25 advance; $30 on event day (purchase on the website or at Charlie’s House, 430 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia). mohpg.org

Mount Wilson Observatory’s Concerts in the Dome: The Lounge Art Ensemble of Peter Erskine on drums, Bob Sheppard on saxophone and Darek Oles on bass takes the stage, so to speak, within the 100-inch dome at 3 and 5 p.m. May 14. Tickets $55. Notes on attending the concerts: Access to the dome performance level is by a 53-step staircase. Mount Wilson Observatory is a mile high in elevation so the air is noticeably thinner. There is no ADA-compliant access. No children ages 12 and younger are permitted. Angeles Crest Highway (CA Highway 2) from the 210 Freeway at La Cañada Flintridge (use the map here: www.mtwilson.edu/1map). For more information, mtwilson.edu. Details and purchase tickets: www.mtwilson.edu/events/sunday-afternoon-concert-in-the-dome-may-14-tbd/

 

Ongoing

 

Pasadena Showcase House of Design: The 58th showcase highlights the talents of 32 interior and exterior designers who have transformed the Stewart House, a 1933 Pasadena colonial estate designed by Marston & Maybury. The estate is open for tours through May 21. Explore more than 30 design spaces and check out 20 boutique shops vendors, two restaurants, a wine bar and more than two-acres of gardens. Tour hours: 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Friday; 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Tour tickets are by a timed entry: $40 (1:30-4 p.m.); $50 (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.); $35 (“Happy Hour,” 4 p.m. to closing). Parking and shuttles depart from Santa Anita Race Track, Gate 6 Lot on Colorado Place. Proceeds from the tours of the house go to fund three music programs. For more information, pasadenashowcase.org

Pasadena Tournament of Roses House: The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association offers free guided tours, 2 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 31. The Tournament House tours reveals little-known facts and trivia and also includes the Wrigley Gardens. Explore the house that has served as headquarters for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Reservations are required for the hour-long tours. For groups of 10 or more, call 626-449-4100 or email membership@tournamentofroses.com. Book a tour here: tournamentofroses.com/house-tours

Book a castle visit: Rubel Castle is an elaborate folk-art medieval castle in the foothills of Glendora, with five-story tall towers solidly built out of junk and river rocks by the late Michael Rubel and his friends. The castle offers eight scheduled tours each month. Tours are two hours long. Admission is $20 for adults; $10 ages 8-18. The property is not Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible; see website for details. Rubel Castle, 844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora. Glendora Historical Society voicemail, 626-963-0419. rubeltours.org

Descanso Gardens: Ongoing special art exhibit: “Shiki: The Four Seasons in Japanese Art,” in the Sturt Haaga Gallery and runs through May 21. Gardens hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. The gallery is open, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission $15; $11 ages 65 and older and student with valid ID; $5 ages 5-12. Location, 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintidge. 818-949-4200. descansogardens.org

Duarte Historical Museum: Closed for remodeling. Scheduled re-opening May 6. Hours: 1-3 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, and 1-4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission is free/donation. Encanto Park, 777 Encanto Parkway. 626-357-9419. www.ranchodeduarte.org

Kidspace Children’s Museum: The 27th annual “Butterfly Season” at the museum is open with children’s activities including going on a big safari, playing dress-up, viewing live caterpillars, moths and honeybees, through May 14. Also, learn from “Los Trompos,” an interactive art installation that honors the monarch butterfly’s cultural and ecological ties to Mexico. Tickets are by time and date: $14.95 ages 1-61; $12.95 ages 62 and older (purchase here: bit.ly/3mJOFoh). Location, 480 N. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-9144. kidspacemuseum.org

Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden: Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Purchase tickets online and in advance. Admission $15; $11 ages 62 and older and students with ID; $5 ages 5-12. Due to construction of a new visitor entrance, entrance is temporarily at the south parking lot and north of Ayres Hall. The arboretum is at 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. 626-821-3222. arboretum.org

Monrovia Historical Museum: Explore the museum, 1-4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Docent-led tours are available. Free admission/donation. The museum is at 742 E. Lemon Ave., Monrovia. 626-357-9537. monroviahistoricalmuseum.org

Norton Simon Museum: New exhibit: “All Consuming: Art and the Essence of Food,” through Aug. 14. Ongoing special exhibit: “Saint Sebastian: Anatomy of a Sculpture,” learn about the 15th-century Italian painted sculpture from the Norton Simon collections, through July 3. An online exhibit: “Representing Women: Gender and Portraiture in 17th Century Europe” (view here bit.ly/3zLRR9p). Hours: noon-5 p.m. Monday and Thursday-Sunday. Admission $15; $12 ages 62 and older; free for ages 18 and younger and students with a valid ID. Location, 411 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. 626-449-6840. nortonsimon.org

USC Pacific Asia Museum: Ongoing special exhibit: “Global Asias: Contemporary Asian and Asian American Art — From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation,” through June 25. Also, explore the Sunkal Ceramics Gallery and the specific galleries for art of South and Southeast Asia, China, Himalaya, Pacific Island, Japan, Korea and Silk Road. Hours: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Admission is by advance timed purchase, $10; $7 ages 65 and older and students with valid ID; free for ages 17 and under. Also, free admission from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays and on the second Sunday of the month. 46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena. 626-787-2680. pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu

Whittier Museum: Exhibits on aspects of Whittier history including agriculture and Quaker settlers. Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission/donations. Location, 6755 Newlin Ave., Whittier. 562-945-3871. Email: info@whittiermuseum.org. whittiermuseum.org/visit

 

Send calendar items to Anissa V. Rivera at sgvncalendar@gmail.com. Please send items at least three weeks before the event. Please list phone, email and/or website for additional information.