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Plenty of art. Plenty of music. Plenty of food and family fun.
This September 27-29 in Los Angeles, you’ll find a Salsa Night at Union Station, the Day of the Drum and Jazz Festivals at Watts Towers, the Family Style Food Festival, Los Angeles Libros Festival, the Montana Avenue Art Walk, a Free Day at The Academy Museum, an Art Space HP Makers Market at LA Plaza, and much more.
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Make Metro Part of Your Weekend
Metro Arts Presents: Salsa Night at Union Station -> L.A.’s central transit hub comes alive this Saturday night with a dynamic salsa performance from La Verdad, led by Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Gabriel Gonzalez. Salsa Night at Union Station will feature multiple sets of traditional salsa, cha-cha, boogaloo, funk, cumbia, and Latin soul, with some DJ-spun tunes in between. There will even be dance instruction to kick off the evening. It all runs from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Ticketing Concourse. Free to attend! More info here.
Go Metro: Take the A, B, D or J Line to Los Angeles Union Station
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
The Other Art Fair – TP > This four-day event at The Barker Hangar in Santa Monica showcases a curated selection of over 140 independent artists. From this Thursday to Sunday, you can spy art for sale while enjoying live DJ sets, activations, installations, and a cash bar. Opening night tickets are $50 (plus fees), and individual tix for the last three days start at $30 (plus fees). Get more info here.
West Side Vibes x Alta Adams Community Market -> This Friday, West Side Vibes teams up with Alta Adams for their first-ever collaborative Neighborhood Market. From 4 to 9 p.m., enjoy live music, interactive experiences, giveaways, local vendors, and delicious food and drink specials. Free and open to the community. More info here.
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor -> After a four-year hiatus, Dark Harbor is back at the iconic Queen Mary with terrifying characters, haunted mazes, live entertainment, ghostly experiences, sinister eats and secret speakeasies hidden inside and around Dark Harbor’s mazes and attractions. Tickets start at $39.99. The experience runs on select dates from September 20 through November 2, including this Friday to Sunday. More info here.
Crossing Over at Cal Tech – FA TP > The California Institute of Technology jumps into the PST ART wave this Friday with the debut of Crossing Over, a new exhibition that bridges science and art using over 250 objects pulled from the Caltech Archives along with contemporary artworks and installations. The art is spread over six distinct spaces within the campus, each offering a unique take on themes that range from light and geometry to time and scale. Free to visit from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on select days. Get more info here.
Secret Walls The Art of Competition Tour – TP > Get ready for an adrenaline-packed night as Secret Walls brings its electrifying touring live paint battle, The Art of Competition, to DTLA this Friday. Watch as graffiti artists and muralists go head-to-head in teams, racing against the clock with just 90 minutes to create their masterpiece. Fueled by Monster Energy Ultra and hyped by the roaring crowd, these artists battle for victory. Judges will use a decibel meter tracking audience reactions to crown the ultimate winners. Tickets start at $17.79. More info here.
Urban Death at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre -> Beginning this Friday, Zombie Joe’s annual tradition of Urban Death is back with a brand new series of terrifying vignettes, bookended by walks through a creepy maze. Runs on Fridays and Saturdays, plus a few more select dates during the show’s final week at the end of October. Advance tickets are $23 online, or it’s $28 at door. Get more info here.
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Dance MDR – FA > Every Friday night in September, shimmy over to Burton Chace Park for an evening of dance featuring beginner lessons from top L.A.’s dance teachers plus DJ spun tunes to get into the groove. This week, the series concludes with a night of hip-hop . Doors open at 6:30 p.m., dancing starts at 7 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Red Bull BC One Cypher USA -> This Friday and Saturday, Red Bull’s legendary one-on-one breaking competition, Red Bull BC One, is coming to Los Angeles for the U.S. National Finals. After regional competitions, the top breakers in the country will gather in the city for a weekend of action. It starts with Red Bull BC One Camp USA on September 27, offering workshops and panels led by world-class breakers. The main event, the Red Bull BC One USA National Cypher, will go down on September 28 at Venice Beach. More info here.
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride -> The signature Halloween experience held in Griffith Park is back for 2024. The whole thing takes place in Midnight Falls, a fictional horror-town filled with roaming monsters. Check out the haunted mortuary and hop on the signature Hayride, this year the wagons get an update with built-in comfy seats. The season opens this Friday and runs through November 2. Tickets start at $36.99. More info here.
Reign of Terror Haunted House -> This award-winning haunted house and walkthrough experience located in Thousand Oaks is now in its 24th season. The 2024 edition features 142 rooms in 11 different, inter-connected sections within 32,000 square feet of floor space. Standards tickets start at $42. Runs on select dates September 27 through November 2 starting this Friday. More info here.
Ivy Station Movie Night – M FA > Ivy Station’s monthly movie night returns this Friday with a screening of Selena, and it’s free to attend as always. Expect complimentary popcorn plus a selection of movie candy for purchase from Motion Flix. Or you can buy grub from one of the onsite vendors and/or food trucks. Lawn seating opens at 6:30: p.m. The movie starts a 7:30 p.m. More info here.
Los Angels Libros Festival – M FA > Banned Books Week concludes this Saturday with the 6th annual Los Angeles Libros Festival at Central Library, where you’ll packed lineup of entertainment featuring Spanish-language and bilingual storytelling, musical performances, authors, workshops, and books. Free and open to the general public. Runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
Montana Avenue Art Walk – FA > On Saturday, this annual art walk transforms 8 blocks of Santa Monica’s Montana Ave. into an art-focused, community activation featuring 150+ visual artists, live music, workshops by Paint Lab, and a VIP Wine Garden (ticketed). Art Walk is free and open to the public. Runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. More info here.
Family Style Food Festival -> The Family Style Food Festival is a one-day event bringing together top chefs, restaurants, and brands to create exclusive, limited-edition food and merchandise this Saturday at Los Angeles Historic Park. Highlights include Pikachu’s Electric Café, a boba tea concept by The Pokémon Company International, New York’s famed Katz’s Delicatessen, and local legends like Baroo, Holy Basil, Cobi’s, and 715 Sushi, among many others. Tickets start at $46.46. More info here.
Thai Fest by the Beach -> Thai Fest by the Beach offers an immersive experience that captures the essence of Thailand at one of LA’s most iconic locations—the Santa Monica Pier. Taking place this Saturday, the event celebrates Thai culture through food, art, and sports. Highlights include dishes from LA’s top Thai restaurants, such as Emporium Thai, Ayara Thai, Luv 2 Eat Thai Bistro, Heng Heng Chicken Rice, and more. Enjoy complimentary Thai massages, Thai vendors, special appearances by world-famous WBC Muay Thai fighters, and cultural performances. Free to attend. More info here.
We Place Life at the Center / Situamos la vida en el centro at the Vincent Price Art Museum – FA > This Saturday, Vincent Price Art Museum hosts an opening reception for We Place Life at the Center / Situamos la vida en el centro. The exhibition tackles issues of environmental justice and climate crisis solutions, centered around the work of Los Angeles-based Colombian artist Carolina Caycedo. The opening runs 6 to 10 p.m., and then exhibition remains on view through March 2, 2025. More info here.
¡Viva la Cultura! Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration – FA > Westfield Culver City celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month this Saturday with an afternoon of family-friendly activities. From 1 to 4 p.m., stop by to check out Folklorico Dance by Grupo Folklorico La Rosa, music and reading by Lucky Diaz, music by the Culver City-based Mariachi Alta California, plus complimentary fruit and face Painting. All free to attend!More info here.
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Topanga Social’s Oktoberfest -> Oktoberfest takes over Topanga Social this Saturday with an evening of traditional German music, soft pretzels, a beer garden, yard games, and a stein-holding competition. The event runs from 4 to 9 p.m., and admission is free. More info here.
Pickwick Market -> This Saturday, the Pickwick Vintage Show is back at ROW DTLA with 50+ vendors/exhibitors showcasing an incredible assortment of vintage clothing, jewelry, and accessories. Tickets range from $10-$20 depending on time of entry. Runs noon to 4 p.m. More info here.
Vegtoberfest: A plant-based Oktoberfest Celebration – FA > The Plant Base LA comes to Common Space Brewery this Saturday to curate an indoor/outdoor Oktoberfest market along with a host of vegan food vendors. Plus, you can enjoy a live brass band, a stein holding content, and plenty of fresh brews on tap. Runs noon to 5 p.m. and free to attend. More info here.
Day of the Drum + Jazz Fest at Watts Towers – M FA TP > Two big public events come to the Watts Towers this weekend! On Saturday, the 42nd Annual Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival brings together international percussion and poetry performers from around the globe, all paired with tours of the Watts Towers will be offered throughout the day. Then on Sunday, more music awaits as the 47th Annual Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival returns with a diverse lineup of next-gen Jazz artists. Both events run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are free to attend.
DTLA Brews & Bike Crawl – M FA > On Sunday, a quartet of Downtown tap rooms team up for an afternoon of biking and brews. Stops on the bike crawl include Audio Graph Beer Co., Creature Comforts Taproom and Brewery, Boomtown Brewery, and Angel City Brewery. The ride group will meet at Audio Graph starting at 11 a.m. Free to join in. More info here.
Art Space HP Makers Market at LA Plaza – M FA > As part of the PST Community Hub at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Art Space HP stops by this Sunday with a pop-up outdoor market featuring art making workshops, live music, and a range of local vendors. Starts at noon. Free to attend. More info here.
Free Day at The Academy Museum – FA > In celebration of their third anniversary, The Academy Museum will be offering complimentary admission this Sunday for all public visitors. Special activations for the day include a screening Charlie Chaplin’s silent comedyThe Gold Rush in 35mm at 2 p.m., along with plus music, tacos from Fanny’s, fruit vendors on The Walt Disney Company Piazza, and a drop-in tactile filmmaking workshop. Advance ticket reservations are encouraged, but not required (first come, first served!). More info here.
Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Blu Jam Café’s Spanish Bistro Night -> Blu Jam Café, a beloved breakfast and brunch spot in Los Angeles, is launching its new Blu Jam After Dark Series, transforming into an evening destination once a month. The series kicks off with a Spanish Tapas Bistro Night on September 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sherman Oaks location. Guests can enjoy a tapas menu inspired by Chef Kamil Majer’s recent travels, featuring 20 à la carte dishes such as Patatas Bravas, Grilled Lamb Chops, Saffron-Cauliflower Soup, and Sautéed Peaches with Burrata. Each month, Blu Jam Café After Dark will debut a new themed dinner, with upcoming events like Czech Oktoberfest and Japanese Fusion Bistro Night in November. The dinners are also BYOB with no corkage fee. More info here.
Breakfast Freebie at Wake and Late -> Breakfast burrito favorite Wake and Late is opening its third location in Hollywood on Sunday, September 29, at 6334 Selma Avenue. To celebrate, the new shop will be giving away free food and drinks from 8 to 11 a.m. on opening day. Diners can choose either a free breakfast burrito and drink or a free bagel with spread and a drink (limit one per person).
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Crossroads Kitchen Vegan Pastry Pop-Up -> After a sold-out run last weekend, Crossroads Kitchen in Hollywood is bringing back its pastry pop-up, Crossroads Sweet Stop. This time, they’ll again offer plant-based treats like croissants, French macarons, banana pudding, and whole apple pies on the patio. The pastries, available for pick-up along with a variety of coffee drinks, will be offered in limited quantities starting at 10 a.m. until sold out, with a select few available through delivery platforms.
World Sake Day Event at OTOTO + Tsubaki’s -> In celebration of World Sake Day, sake brewers from Japan and the U.S. will gather at OTOTO and Tsubaki this Sunday bringing rare and unique sakes available for tasting and purchase. Over 50 sakes will be featured, including some making their U.S. debut, with select brews poured by the brewers themselves. Tickets are $65 per person and include tastings along with light snacks from OTOTO and Tsubaki. Bottles will also be available for purchase at a discount.
Smorgasburg Presents: The Pizza Special -> Smorgasburg’s pizza-themed tour, which has traveled from Miami to New York, wraps up in Los Angeles this Sunday at ROW DTLA. Come enjoy delicious pizza from Smorgasburg vendors and special guest vendors, featuring some of the best local slice shops, pizza demos, and giveaways. More info here.
$35 All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Party at The San Fernando –> The San Fernando Bar in Glendale is hosting an End-of-Summer All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Party on Sunday, September 29, from 2 to 7 p.m. For just $35, guests can indulge in unlimited grilled favorites like salmon, chicken skewers, and grilled veggies, along with sides such as fries, hummus, pita chips, and bread. More info including presale tickets here.
Pitfire Pizza Oktoberfest Party -> This Sunday, Pitfire in North Hollywood is hosting an Oktoberfest Party featuring themed food, contests, beers, and live music by California’s premiere Oktoberfest band, Hazelnuss. Food specials include jumbo Bavarian soft pretzels, beer cheese, and the “All the Wurst” sausage and peppers pizza. The event runs from 3 to 7 p.m., and admission is free. More info here.
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