Summer has (almost) arrived — and the Port of Los Angeles is getting ready to roll out the red, white and blue.

This year will mark a return of fireworks at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro to celebrate the nation’s independence following last year’s drone show. But the event won’t take place on Independence Day — but instead on Saturday, July 5.

And that’s just one of several events lined up from May to September in San Pedro and Wilmington that families and individuals of all ages can join together to enjoy.

Here’s a rundown of what to expect.

Los Angeles Fleet Week

For the Harbor Area, summer will get going in earnest next week with the arrival of L.A. Fleet Week, which will take place from Friday to Monday, May 23-26.

The annual four-day celebration of the nation’s Sea Services, which is one of the largest public events of the Memorial Day weekend in Southern California, will take place on the Los Angeles waterfront, at the Port of L.A., and will feature public tours of active-duty military ships; military displays and equipment demonstrations; live entertainment; aircraft flyovers; and competitions that include the popular Galley Wars culinary cook-off, the “Military Has Talent” show and a dodgeball tournament.

This year, the event will also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Armed Forces.

And Fleet Week will host neighborhood activations and military band performances across Los Angeles leading up to and during Memorial Day weekend, from Wednesday to Saturday, May 21-24.

The public is also invited to welcome parties on Thursday, May 22, in downtown San Pedro and Friday at the Banning Museum in Wilmington.

Free public ship tours will also take place from Friday to Monday.

Visit lafleetweek.com for more information, including how to get free boarding passes and timed ticketing instructions for ship tours. 

Festival of Sail

The annual Festival of Sail, presented by the Los Angles Maritime Institute, will coincide with Fleet Week — offering four days of tall ship sailing to learn how sailors conquered the seas back in the day.

The ships will be docked at the Downtown Harbor, at Sixth Street and Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro, and the four daily voyages will be presented in association with the Sherry Griswold Foundation.

And yes, once again there will be cannon battles.

STEM activities for kids and adults will be offered in the Tall Ship Village from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Details and tickets can be found at the LAMI sail page.

West Harbor After-Party

The Harbor Area’s new waterfront will have its own L.A. Fleet Week celebration — dubbed the West Harbor After-Party. The event will take place at the West Harbor Town Square, at Sixth Street and Harbor Boulevard, from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 24-25.

The after party, a short walk from the Fleet Week expo, will feature live music; local food and drinks from the San Pedro Fish Market, Miller Butler, Catalina Tea Bar; and the San Pedro Brewing Company will host a beer garden.

Water and land activities will include cruises and tours, and bicycle and surrey rides through Wheel Fun Rentals.

Italy Run

The fourth annual Italy Run LA 5K will take place on June 1.

The event is sponsored by the Little Italy of Los Angeles Association in honor of Italian Republic Day. Italy Run LA is a family activity open to participants of all ages and abilities — with runners, walkers and strollers welcome.

The event will start in downtown San Pedro at 8 a.m. Go to lilaa.org for details.

Fishtival

The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium’s Second Annual Fishtival & KJCRW Summer Nights will take place June 13.

KCRW DJs Chris Douridas and Dan Wilcox will lead the crowd at the aquarium’s glowing dance party from 7 to 11 p.m.. Guests will enjoy fare from local food vendors with a beer and wine truck.

Guests will also learn about one of California’s most enchanting fish species, the grunion, with a short film followed by a grunion egg hatching session. Guests will be invited to head over to the beach after that to observe the silvery fish come ashore in the moonlight.

For information, go to cma.recreation.parks.lacity.gov.

Shakespear by the Sea

The Harbor Area will get two open-air performances by Shakespeare by the Sea this summer. The first will be a performance of “Julius Caesar” at 7 p.m. June 26 at the LA Waterfront’s 22nd Street Park, 140 W. 22nd St., in San Pedro. The second performance will be “As You Like It” at 7 p.m. July 12 at the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, 301 S. Avalon Blvd.

Other performances throughout the summer will be in Long Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and elsewhere in the greater Los Angeles area and Orange County.

Events are free with open seating on the grass. Bring blankets and low-backed beach chairs. Information is available at shakespearebythesea.org.

Cars & Stripes Forever

The Port of Los Angeles will host its 16th Annual Cars & Stripes Forever event on June 27. The pre-Independence Day party has become one of San Pedro’s favorite kick-off events, revving up the town ahead of the Fourth of July.

The classic car show will take place under the Vincent Thomas Bridge, and will feature live music on two stages, dancing, a beer garden, food trucks and a fireworks display that will light up the sky beginning at 9 p.m.

The entire celebration, where Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street meet, will run from 5 to 10 p.m. For more information, go to lawaterfront.org.

Summer Art Walk

The Wilmington Summer Art Walk will take place on June 28, with visitors strolling along with the Avalon Arts and Cultural Alliance and checking out artwork, craft vendors and more. The event will run from 3 to 8 p.m.

There will also be live entertainment, including the Citywide Marching Band and other music. Food trucks and a beer garden will be featured as well. For more information, go to avalonaca.org.

Fireworks Spectacular

It’s back:

The 75th Annual John Olguin July 4th Weekend Fireworks Spectacular will take place on July 5, a Saturday, at Cabrillo Beach.

Bring a beach chair and blankets for the long-running fireworks spectacular.

It will begin at 9 p.m. — but come early. That’s because it gets packed. But also because there will be plenty of activities as well.

The event is sponsored by the Cabrillo Beach Boosters and the Port of Los Angeles.

San Pedro Pride

San Pedro Pride will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community on July 12.

The theme of this year’s San Pedro Pride celebration is “Hand in Hand,” recognizing the importance of connection, acceptance and community spirit.

The event will take place at the West Harbor Town Square, Sixth Street and Harbor Boulevard, on the L.A. Waterfront, and it will feature local merchants, live music with DJs and activities for all ages. Sponsored by the Bridge Cities Alliance, the celebration will take place from 3 to 9 p.m.

Details and ticket information is available at bridgecitiesalliance.com

Conquer the Bridge

The 16th annual Labor Day “Conquer the Bridge” run-walk race over the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro will take place on Sept. 1.

It’s a unique opportunity to travel the emerald green span by foot and see the port from a new vantage point.

The 5.3-mile race will start at 7 a.m. at Fifth Street and Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro and then travel up and over the bridge and back. Online registration is open now through Aug. 28. Go to conquerthebridge.com for more information.

Boat tours

And finally, before summer slips away, be sure to get a close-up look at America’s busiest trade gateway by taking a free boat tour on Sept. 13. The excursions will depart from the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade and the San Pedro Downtown Harbor, near the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. Details and schedules are available at portoflosangeles.org.