20th Annual DragonFest Takes Center Stage Today

Glendale, CA · August 1, 2026

Hydrate early and keep your afternoon flexible — between intense heat and martial arts legends taking over the civic auditorium, today is not a day for sitting still.

The Lead

The Glendale Civic Auditorium welcomes martial arts icons, stunt performers, and fans today as the 20th Annual DragonFest Expo takes over the upper auditorium from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The popular single-day event returns to its longtime local home, featuring more than 100 vendor booths, live stage demonstrations, and interactive Q&A panels with industry legends. Operating as a charity fundraiser, 100 percent of ticket proceeds benefit the Martial Arts History Museum to support cultural programs and working artists across Southern California. Beyond the action on stage, attendees can browse rare memorabilia and meet veteran stunt coordinators. Organizers expect strong turnouts throughout the afternoon, with doors opening promptly at 11:00 AM for early wristband pickup.

Local Pulse

  • Cooling Centers Active Through Sunday Evening City officials opened air-conditioned spaces at local recreation centers to help residents escape this weekend's extreme temperatures.

  • Federal Grant Funds Police Technology Upgrades Federal funding will modernize the city's Real Time Information Center to enhance emergency response capabilities ahead of 2028.

Today's Outlook

  • High 97°F · Low 67°F — Overcast
    • Overcast skies will not soften the high heat, so prioritize indoor plans after midday.

What's On Around Town

  • DragonFest Expo Glendale Civic Auditorium, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM Twentieth annual martial arts expo with seminars, live demos, and 100 vendors.

  • The BFDI and Inanimate Insanity Alex Theatre, 12:00 PM & 5:00 PM Live animation show and fan screening on Brand Boulevard.

  • Build It! Pacific Park Library, 12:00 PM–2:00 PM Hands-on creative building session with blocks and MakerSpace materials.

  • Los Angeles: KCRW Summer Nights California African American Museum, 7:00 PM–11:00 PM Free evening outdoor dance party featuring live DJ sets and food trucks.

Spotlight & Story

  • Catalina Verdugo Adobe
    • Built around 1828 in the Verdugo Woodlands, this historic structure sits beside the stump of the Oak of Peace. Local leaders negotiated preliminary terms ending the Mexican-American War in California under that tree's shade in 1847.

Glendale Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.

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