This BET Weekend, the most refreshing experience in the culture isn’t about flashing lights or velvet ropes—it’s about intention, connection, and reclaiming rest. On Friday, June 6, 2025, The Play Hooky Experience will land in Los Angeles at 802 Mateo Street with a powerful reminder that culture and self-care can exist in the same space.
The Play Hooky Experience, founded by DJ, entrepreneur, and community advocate Darryl “FollowtheDj” Dungee, is not just an event. It’s a national movement that challenges high-performing communities to reimagine what rest and joy truly look like. Following its incredible kickoff in Fort Lauderdale, which drew over 500 attendees including first responders, educators, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs, Play Hooky is turning up the volume in Los Angeles—right in the heart of culture’s biggest weekend.
Darryl created Play Hooky to fill a void—a space where mental wellness, cultural pride, and communal healing could converge. His personal journey from the streets of Baltimore to the frontlines of mental health advocacy is rooted in lived experience. Raised in environments where rest was rare and resilience was expected, music became his refuge. That foundation inspired his mission to build experiences that don’t just entertain, but uplift.
As the city prepares for BET Weekend’s wave of celebrity events and exclusive showcases, Play Hooky brings something deeper: a community-centered experience built around wellness activations, live music, local vendors, and family-friendly activities. Attendees will experience a curated atmosphere of joy and restoration, designed to meet them exactly where they are.
Darryl says the timing and location of the LA event are intentional. BET Weekend is a powerful expression of Black excellence and creativity, and Play Hooky adds a necessary dimension by centering healing and well-being. It’s a reminder that taking care of ourselves is a revolutionary act—and one worthy of celebration. The event will highlight emerging small businesses, cultural vendors, and artists from the local area, while also creating safe spaces for mental health support, high-energy play, and authentic connection across generations.
More than just a day to unwind, Play Hooky in LA is part of a larger movement gaining national traction. With plans to expand across cities and deepen partnerships with health organizations, school districts, and corporate wellness programs, this initiative is building momentum not just in entertainment spaces, but in everyday communities that need joy the most.
As Play Hooky grows, so does its impact—and Los Angeles is about to feel it. For those attending BET Weekend, the invitation is clear: protect your peace, honor your community, and remember that joy itself is power. Darryl’s mission with Play Hooky is to shift the narrative, to make wellness a visible and celebrated part of the cultural landscape. This isn’t about stepping away from the culture. It’s about honoring what keeps it alive.
Tickets are available at www.thesocialcollectivela.com. For media passes, interviews, or event coverage, contact Berry Dynamic Agency at Launch@berrydynamicagency.com. Follow @FollowTheDJ and @thePlayHookyExperience on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes moments.
Because Play Hooky isn’t just an event—it’s a lifestyle. And this weekend in Los Angeles, that lifestyle is center stage.
