Another way to keep cool this summer and enjoy some family-friendly activities is not far from Echo Park in nearby Chinatown. Chinatown Summer Nights starts this weekend, July 28, and will continue for just two more Saturdays in August.

The event showcases food trucks, neighborhood shops, restaurants, bars and art galleries, along with cooking demonstrations and other cultural activities.

It’s a pretty easy bicycle commute from where I live in Echo Park, and they even offer free bike valet courtesy of Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition. This weekend, there’s a cooking demonstration, family workshop with Chinese calligraphy, food trucks (including B Sweet Mobile, Crepe N Around, Flying Pig, Jogasaki Burrito, Munchie Machine, Pigs Feet Under, Tabom Truck, Trailer Park Truck, and Tropical Shave Ice), dancing and DJs.

And what’s a celebration of summer without beer? A craft beer garden on the corner of Meiling Way and Jung Jing Road will have Eagle Rock Brewery on deck with its Solidarity & Umlaut Kolsch brews, along with Golden Road Brewery featuring IPA and Hefe, and El Segundo Brewing Company featuring Blue House Pale Ale and White Dog IPA.

Click here for the Chinatown Summer Nights website to view the event map and full schedule.