Potlucks in Los Angeles don’t get advertised the way concerts or restaurant openings do. Most happen through community groups, churches, or Meetup pages that only people already in those circles see. January and February 2026 have a few worth knowing about if you’re looking to share food with people outside your usual routine.
Unitarian Universalist Church of the Verdugo Hills – Third Friday Potluck
When: Friday, January 16, 2026 (recurring monthly event)
Where: 4451 Dunsmore Ave, La Crescenta, CA 91214
This church runs a monthly potluck on the third Friday. January 16 would be the next one based on their usual pattern, though their website and newsletters mention the event exists without always listing specific times for upcoming months. Shows up in their January 2026 newsletter as one of their regular happenings.
It’s a casual community thing. Bring something to share, show up, meet people who live in Glendale and La Crescenta. The church itself is progressive and welcoming—nobody’s checking if you’re religious or what you believe. Parking can be tight since it’s in a residential area, so street parking might take a minute to find.
If you want confirmation on timing before driving out there, check uuverdugo.org or their X account @VerdugoUU. They post updates when the date gets closer.
Lunar New Year Potluck Picnic at The Wallis
When: Saturday, January 17, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM
Where: Promenade Event Terrace at The Wallis, 9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
This one ties into The Wallis’ free Lunar New Year Family Fest. They’re doing lion and dragon dances, arts and crafts, traditional foods—all that festival stuff. But there’s a group organizing a separate potluck picnic on the Promenade Event Terrace while the festival runs.
You bring your own dish, plates, utensils, drinks, blanket. After eating and hanging out, there’s a planned group walk through Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. Family-friendly, so expect kids running around.
Sign up through Meetup if you want details or to coordinate what you’re bringing. The festival itself is free and runs from 11 AM to 2 PM with performances by the Qing Wei Lion and Dragon Dance Cultural Troupe and Cold Tofu Improv Comedy Troupe.
Weather should be decent for January in Beverly Hills. Umbrellas and shaded areas available if it gets hot, but mid-January in LA usually sits around 60s during the day.
VegansOfLA Potlucks in Silver Lake
Last Event: Saturday, January 3, 2026, 12:00 PM
Location: 1926 W Silver Lake Drive, Los Angeles (grassy patch)
VegansOfLA runs regular potlucks around the city. Their New Year’s one already happened on January 3, but they typically do these monthly or every couple months. If you’re vegan or vegan-curious, worth keeping an eye on their Meetup page.
Rules are simple: bring vegan food (no meat, dairy, eggs, honey), your own utensils and plates, maybe a blanket if you want to sit on the grass. Dogs and kids welcome. They usually pick outdoor spots like parks when weather cooperates.
Check meetup.com/vegansofla for their next event. They don’t always schedule far in advance, but when they do announce something, it fills up quick. The group’s been around for years and has a solid community of regulars.
Galentine’s Day Bunco & Potluck in Long Beach
When: Saturday, February 7, 2026, starting at 4:00 PM
Where: The Flight Deck (2nd Floor), Sports Basement, 2100 N Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90815
This is run by the FunTime Girl Friends Meetup group. Part Bunco game night, part potluck dinner. $20 entry covers prizes and game supplies. You bring a savory dish—appetizers, entrees, salads, whatever. Desserts are already covered, so stick with savory.
Bunco’s a dice game where luck matters more than skill. If you’ve never played, doesn’t matter—you’ll figure it out fast. The point is hanging out, eating, maybe winning something small.
Bring cash if possible ($5 or $10 bills help with prize distribution). RSVP through their Meetup page and sign up for what dish you’re bringing so there’s variety. They provide plates, cups, napkins, water.
Gets crowded—4 PM start means arrive early if you want time to settle in before the games kick off. Parking at Sports Basement is usually fine, big lot out front.
Why These Potlucks Work
None of these require you to know anyone beforehand. That’s kind of the point—show up with food, leave having talked to people you wouldn’t meet otherwise. Church potlucks tend to skew older but welcoming. Meetup-organized ones attract a wider age range depending on the group.
Potlucks solve the problem of expensive LA dining without making it feel cheap. Everyone contributes something, nobody’s stuck with the full bill, and the food ends up more interesting than whatever restaurant you’d pick anyway.
Dietary restrictions usually get handled naturally—someone always brings vegetarian options, someone else does gluten-free. If you have strict needs, bring your own dish you know works and you’re covered.
What to Bring
Dishes that travel well work better than things that need to stay hot or cold. Pasta salads, grain bowls, cut vegetables with dip, baked goods that sit fine at room temperature. Bringing serving utensils for your dish saves everyone hassle.
If you’re going to an outdoor potluck, pack your own water bottle and maybe a sweater. January and February in LA mean cool mornings that warm up by noon, then drop again once the sun goes down.
For indoor potlucks like the Bunco one, ask ahead if there’s kitchen access for reheating. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
Finding More Potlucks
Beyond these specific events, potlucks pop up constantly through:
- Meetup groups (search “potluck Los Angeles” and join a few)
- Church bulletins and community boards
- Neighborhood Facebook groups
- Community centers
Most don’t get listed on Eventbrite or official calendars. Word spreads through existing members who tell friends, post in group chats, or mention it at previous gatherings. Once you attend one and connect with the organizers, you start hearing about others.
The vegan community, interfaith groups, and social clubs like the singles or girl friends groups all run regular potlucks. Getting on their email lists or following their social media means you’ll know when the next one’s scheduled before it fills up.
