Obama trip may snarl L.A. traffic; Clinton to visit downtown L.A.

Brace yourselves Los Angeles commuters, the presidents are coming.

In two separate events Friday, President Obama and Bill Clinton are expected to make appearances in the City of Angels, diverting traffic, closing roads and bringing with them lots of serious-looking people with sunglasses who speak into their wrists.

Obama will be attending a late-morning, early-afternoon fundraiser at the Santa Monica home of Hollywood executive Peter Chernin.

From there, the president is expected to travel to Rancho Mirage for a two-day summit with China’s new president, Xi Jinping.

The Los Angeles Police Department, working with the U.S. Secret Service, is asking motorists to help prevent traffic jams by staying away from the following areas between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. and again from 1 to 3 p.m.:

Centinela Avenue and West Olympic Boulevard

West Olympic Boulevard and Cloverfield Boulevard

26th Street and San Vicente Boulevard

Later in the day, Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear at Celebrate L.A., a block party at Grand Park in downtown. The 42^nd president is expected to help send off Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and welcome in Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti.

The event begins at 5 p.m. and ends after 9 p.m. Officials say the event costs $265,000.

Clinton is scheduled to speak sometime between 6 and 7 p.m. followed by the outgoing mayor, famed Three Tenors opera singer Placido Domingo and Garcetti.

City officials promise surprise concerts by Grammy-winning artists, along with Spanish and Native American musical performances. Food trucks will be on hand too.

Ryan Seacrest, radio personality Dominique DiPrima and comedian Wanda Sykes will help host the event.

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Joseph.serna@latimes.com

@josephserna