Normal Heights is a lively residential area with many hip cafes, gastropubs, craft beer bars and diverse restaurants, especially along Adams Avenue. The neighborhood is also known for concerts in grassy Trolley Barn Park as well as outdoor movie screenings at Ward Canyon Park, which also has play areas and walking paths. The nearby University Heights area offers Asian, Mexican and Ethiopian eateries. Several important neighborhood events take place in Normal Heights.
The Adams Avenue Street Fair, Southern California’s largest free music festival, is typically held the last weekend in September. Adams Avenue Unplugged, formerly the Adams Avenue Roots Festival, another free music festival, is held the last weekend of April. Another large Art Around Adams is a local community art event where unique and talented artists showcase their work inside and outside businesses and spaces along Adams Avenue.