Casino/Entertainment Reporter

Charlie Vargas

Charlie Vargas is a Casino and Entertainment reporter for the Southern California News Group. Charlie transferred from Chaffey College to San Diego State University where he graduated with a degree in journalism. He previously worked for the colleges' publications The Breeze Paper and The Daily Aztec where he covered a variety of topics from news to arts and entertainment.

In this June 2022 file photo, festival goers share an ice-cold drink as they cool off from the high heat during the Upland Lemon Festival. The event returns to Historic Downtown Upland June 6-7. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

10 festivals and conventions to keep on your summer radar

May 20, 2026 at 4:02 p.m.

Some things to do include a free lemon festival, a tattoo convention, cultural celebrations, and horror-themed events.

Don Omar (pictured performing onstage during Univision’s 36th Premio Lo Nuestro at Kaseya Center on February 22, 2024, in Miami, Florida) will perform at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on October 29 and at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on November 6. (Photo by Ivan Apfel, Getty Images)

Reggaeton pioneer Don Omar sets fall tour stops in Southern California

May 24, 2026 at 2:21 p.m.

Last King World Tour follows the Puerto Rican rapper and singer-songwriter's 2024 outing, which was his first in over a decade.

Billy Corgan (pictured on stage with Sombr at the Outdoor Theatre during the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 11, 2026, in Indio, California) will perform with Smashing Pumpkins at the Kia Forum in Inglewood on Thursday, November 12. (Photo by Frazer Harrison, Getty Images for Coachella)

Smashing Pumpkins announce new tour with stop at Kia Forum

May 21, 2026 at 8:33 p.m.

The Rats in a Cage tour will wrap up at the Kia Forum before the band headlines the Darker Waves festival at Huntington City Beach.

William Cannon, left, dresses as Lobo while Cynthia Robb is Venom during Comic Con Revolution at the Ontario Convention Center on Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)

Comic Con Revolution 2026: Star-studded panels, cosplayers, and artists return to Ontario

May 16, 2026 at 2:24 p.m.

The largest comic con in the Inland Empire kicked off Saturday with "The Flash" and "Beverly Hills, 90210" cast reunions.

Steve Carell, Jon Stewart and CM Punk share the stage at the Night of Too Many Stars at The Hollywood Bowl on Thursday, May 7, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Adam Rose/Netflix)

Netflix is a Joke 2026: The Night of Too Many Stars makes LA debut

May 10, 2026 at 5:43 p.m.

The event hosted by Jon Stewart took over the sold-out Hollywood Bowl on Thursday, May 8 and featured appearances by Jimmy Kimmel, Steve Carell, Adam Sandler, Nikki Glaser and others...

A Captain Crunch cereal chicken sandwich, fried mangonadas and more fun foods you can try at the 2026 LA County Fair. (Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)

LA County Fair 2026: Your ticket to 5 wacky foods to try this year

May 7, 2026 at 8:10 p.m.

This year's LA County Fair foods include a mix of spicy, sweet and downright outlandish bites.

In this May 2025 file photo, Angle Pena, from San Bernardino, portrays Batman Beyond during the Comic Con Revolution at the Ontario Convention Center. The event will return to the Ontario Convention Center on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Comic Con Revolution 2026: Marvel, DC, and TV show panels top lineup

May 7, 2026 at 8:31 a.m.

The two-day event at the Ontario Convention Center, happening May 16 and 17, includes a 35th anniversary spotlight of "Sonic the Hedgehog," "The Flash" cast reunion, and panels on "Star...

Festivalgoers walk by the ferris wheel during the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Contributing Photographer)

Stagecoach and Coachella 2026: Differences and similarities between the festivals

May 13, 2026 at 5:20 p.m.

Here's how the two annual three-day music festivals compared and differed in fashion, food, music and more.

Hootie and the Blowfish’s Darius Rucker performs on the Mustang Stage during the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Contributing Photographer)

Stagecoach 2026: Post Malone, Hootie and the Blowfish, and other Day 3 highlights

April 27, 2026 at 2:42 p.m.

Some of Day 3's most memorable sets included Hootie and the Blowfish, Third Eye Blind and more.

Festivalgoers by the Mustang Stage during the Stagecoach Country Music Festival at the Empire Polo Club in Indio on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher, Contributing Photographer)

Stagecoach 2026: Fans react to evacuation, restart of festival

April 27, 2026 at 3:36 p.m.

"There was like 30 minutes when it felt like chaos," one Stagecoach merchant said of Saturday's wind.

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