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Big weekend of big free events ahead. Let’s get you primed for it.
From October 18-20 in Los Angeles, you’ll find Taste of Soul on Crenshaw Blvd, a weekend of PST ART activations in West LA and South LA, Pasadena Artnight, Grand Ave Arts: All-Access, Downtown Día de los Muertos at Grand Park, the Long Beach Zombie Walk, the Sherman Oaks Street Fair, and much more. Jump into the full list below!
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Make Metro Part of Your Weekend
Taste of Soul -> On Saturday, experience the flavors and culture of South Los Angeles at Taste of Soul, a free family festival on Crenshaw Blvd. between Barack Obama Blvd. and Stocker Avenue that annually draws over 350,000 attendees. Expect a showcase of the neighborhood’s best with 150+ vendors paired with live performances and community activations. Runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Go Metro: Take the E Line to Expo / Crenshaw station OR the K Line to Martin Luther King Jr. station.
Things To Do This Weekend
M = Less than .5 miles from an L.A. Metro Station, FA = Free Admission, TP = Top Pick
New Fall Exhibitions Opening at The Skirball -> The Skirball Cultural Center opens three fall exhibitions this Thursday, headlined by the U.S. debut of the traveling exhibition, Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion. For the opening day, the museum will offer free admission all day long (normally $18 for adults). Visitors can catch spotlight tours with artists and curators throughout the afternoon, experience the Jewish fall harvest festival of Sukkot, and enjoy sips and snacks for purchase. The celebration culminates with evening remarks from the Skirball team and a few special guests. Tickets are available for daytime (noon to 5 p.m.) or after hours (6 to 9 p.m.). Onsite parking is free. More info here.
PST ART Weekend: West LA to South LA – FA TP > PST ART: Art & Science Collide is activating West and South Los Angeles this weekend with a host of free activities to engage visitors with ongoing exhibitions as part of the initiative. On the schedule over the next three days you’ll find an evening of science fiction screenings presented by UCLA Cinema & Media Studies a The Hammer (Friday), a hike from Park to Playa Trail to Baldwin Hills Overlook (Saturday), a Culver City Block Party centered around The Wende Museum (Saturday), interactive gatherings and workshops at Crenshaw Diary Mart (Saturday), and an Art & Science Family Festival at The Getty featuring hands-on activities and musical performances in the museum courtyard and lower central garden (Saturday and Sunday). Get more info on all the activations here.
Pasadena’s biannual ArtNight – M FA TP-> On Friday, the fall edition of Pasadena’s biannual ArtNight includes free activations at myriad partner locations, including the Gamble House, Armory Center for the Arts, and the USC Pacific Asia Museum. There will be limited free shuttle service as well to transit guests from various location hubs. Runs 6 to 10 p.m. More info here.
Bee Week at The Hammer – FA > In conjunction with their PST ART: Art & Science Collide exhibition Breath(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice, The Hammer is hosting a Bee Week from October 13-20. As part of the programming, beekeeper Joe O’Brien will be on hand at the museum this Tuesday through Sunday to discuss beekeeping, honey bees, varieties of honey, and native California bee and plant species. This weekend you can also catch screenings of the documentary My Garden of a Thousand Bees at multiple times on Saturday and Sunday. More info here.
Things That Go Bump in the Night -> This Friday and Saturday, California Botanic Garden in Claremont hosts back-to-back evenings of family friendly entertainment featuring educational exhibits focused on animals of the night and creepy crawlies. There will be animal ambassadors as well (wolf dogs, raptors, insects), interactive activities, and food trucks. Runs 5:30 to 9 p.m. both nights. Adult tickets are $20. More info here.
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Salsa Night at Ivy Station – M FA > This Friday, Ivy Station in Culver City concludes their salsa night series with a Halloween-themed Salsaween party featuring an into lesson by dance instructor Pepe Gonzalez (6:30 to 7 p.m.) followed by a live set from Fermin Fusion Salsa from 7 to 8:45 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. The event is free and takes place outdoors. More info here.
Love Isn’t Blind -> This Friday, the latest edition of Love Isn’t Blind pops up at The Kookaburra Lounge in Hollywood. This live dating show/experiment challenges the standard meet-cute by having a group of men complete to go on a date with an eligible bachelorette… only no words will be spoken. Instead, a series of games unfolds to determine her choice, including calling the mens’ moms and unlocking their phones, until a final selection is made and the couple exchanges words for the first time. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $30, and there’s a 2-item minimum for attending the show. More info here.
Urban Death at Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre -> 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. The scares continue this Friday and Saturday with shows at 7 p.m. 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10:45 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $23 online, or it’s $28 at door. Get more info here.
Boo-ze Bites & Frights – M > For four nights this October, Street Food Cinema transforms Heritage Square Museum into a spooky playground featuring tours of the historic homes, adult trick-or-treating, food trucks, pop-up bar, and a double-feature of scary flicks for each evening. The series kicks continues this Friday with a double-feature of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Freddy vs Jason. Then on Saturday, catch X starring Mia Goth along with Pearl. GA tickets start at $49.08 per person (including fees), and if you decide to drive it’s $31.07 for GA parking. Doors open on both nights at 5:30 p.m. More info here.
Black Lagoon Bar at The Normandie -> The touring, immersive Halloween pop-up bar Black Lagoon has a new L..A. home this Halloween season at The Normandie Club in Koreatown. Over the last three weeks of October they’ll offer a delightful blend of spooky decor and scary good cocktails. No reservations required. 21+ only! Open nightly. More info here.
Downtown Día de los Muertos – M FA > Gloria Molina Grand Park’s Downtown Día de los Muertos welcomes park-goers to contribute to a community altar, enjoy family-friendly activities, a free film screening, and the first-ever Downtown Día de Muertos parade. Opening festivities run this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the altars remain on view through November 2. More info here.
LA TACO Birriamania -> L.A. TACO has wrangled some of the top birria taco vendors in Los Angeles for a two-day event Santa Anita Park this Saturday and Sunday. The infield at Santa Anita will come alive with Mariachi, Folklorico dancers, and live DJs, all paired with samples from Teddy’s Red Tacos, Birrieria San Marcos, Birria Don Cuco, Birria Pa La Cruda, Basket Taco Co., La Cosina De Yesi, The Drunk Chef, and Taqueria Frontera. Runs noon to 5 p.m. each day. Online advance admission starts at $10 per person, or you can purchase a starter pack for $39 that includes 3 taco samples and a craft beer. More info here.
Grand Ave Arts: All-Access – M FA TP > Dive into L.A.’s arts and culture scene when Grand Ave Arts: All Access returns to Downtown Los Angeles. Now in its eighth year, this free community event invites Angelenos to explore DTLA’s cultural corridor and enjoy performances, workshops, and activities provided by 15 iconic L.A. cultural institutions. The event is free to attend, but visitors are encouraged to RSVP here
Beverly Hills Art Show – FA > The fall edition of the bi-annual Beverly Hills Art Show comes to Beverly Gardens Park this Saturday and Sunday with over 200 artists expected to participate. You’ll also find a a wine and beer garden with live music, demonstrating artists, children’s activities, and more. Runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Free admission More info here.
Enchanted Halloween at Discovery Cube L.A. -> On three Saturdays this October, Discovery Cube L.A. offers an evening of science, magic, and family fun with a festive Halloween event featuring trick-or-treating stations, pumpkin catapults, a magic show, food trucks, and an LED robot dance party. Plus, you can check out over 50 exhibits on view at the museum. Tickets start at $24 for non-members. Runs 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. More info here.
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L.A. Archives Bazaar – M FA > Attention SoCal history hounds! Come to L.A. as Subject’s Los Angeles Archives Bazaar this Saturday to peruse a trove of historical treasures and interact with experts from dozens of institutions and archives. The event takes place at Doheny Memorial Library on the campus of USC and is free and open to the public. Runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. More info here.
Shoreline Village Zombie Walk & Halloween Party – M FA -> The Shoreline Village Zombie Walk brings a slew of family-friendly activities to Downtown Long Beach, including kids face painting, special vendors, aerial artists, roaming scarers, and DJ sets, all leading up to the signature walk starting at 8 p.m. The festival runs from 4 to 10 p.m. and it’s free to attend, no tickets required. More info here.
The P-22 Day Festival – FA > The P-22 Day Festival honors L.A.’s most famous big cat this Saturday with a one day, family-friendly celebration in Griffith Park. Expect exhibits and educational activities for big cat lovers of all-ages. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is free to attend. More info here.
LA Succulents’ Cactus & Succulent Show – FA > LA Succulents’ Cactus & Succulent Show is back for the fall this Saturday and Sunday with a cactus extravaganza featuring hundreds of incredible specimen plants as well as many weird and wonderful mutant plants grown by LA Succulents at their San Fernando Valley location. Runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Free to attend. More info here.
Boo At The Zoo -> On back-to-back weekends heading into Halloween, swing over to the Los Angeles Zoo for Boo at the Zoo, a family-friendly assortment of seasonal activities, including animal pumpkin feedings, themed photo ops, trick-or-treating stations, story readings, and an extinct animal graveyard. Entry is included with zoo admission, which starts at $22 for adults. Runs this Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.. More info here.
Fall Festival at the Original Farmers Market FA – This Saturday and Sunday, the Fall Festival at the Original Farmers Market returns offering two days of festive seasonal activities, including a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, fall-themed games, live music, kids crafts, and photo opps. Runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days. Free to attend. More info here.
Change the Future at 18th Street Arts Center –M FA > On Sunday, 18th Street Arts Center hosts an all-ages event to celebrate the exhibition An Earth Twin at the Digital Dawn: Tom Van Sant’s GeoSphere Project. The afternoon event includes a DJ set by “The Jazzcat” LeRoy Downs, curator-led, augmented reality kite flying, and hands-on craft making. Runs 3 to 7 p.m. Free to attend. The More info here.
Sherman Oaks Street Fair – FA TP > Head to the Valley on Sunday for the 32nd annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair where you’ll find multiple stages of live entertainment, a 21+ cocktail lounge, carnival games, a pet zone, and tons of special vendors, all populating a half-mile stretch of Ventura Blvd from Van Nuys to Kester. Runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free to attend. More info here.
Kokoro Craft Show at JANM – M FA > Admission will be free this Sunday at the Japanese American National Museum in conjunction with the Kokoro 2024 Craft Show. The event showcases fashion apparel and accessories, jewelry, ceramics, and other gifts from 50+ vendors and also include a pair of live performances. Runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More info here.
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Dining & Drinking
(picks by Christina Champlin)
Holy Water Anniversary Party & New Menu -> Holy Water in West Hollywood is celebrating its 1-year anniversary on Sunday, October 20, with the launch of its new fall menu. The party, open to guests 21 and over, runs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature $2 Holy Water shots from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., along with the return of owner Woody Harrelson’s special cocktail, “The Woodever,” served as a punch for one day only. The new fall menu introduces creative craft cocktails, including the colorful “It’s Giving Lisa Frank” made with Sol Tarasco Charanda, Blue Curaçao, Liquor 43, Lions’ Mane, pineapple, lime, and dragonfruit foam. Holy Water is also adding two vegan grilled cheese options to its NOSH menu. The celebration will include discounts at The Woods, raffle giveaways, and a grand prize of a private Holy Water Happy Hour with a cabana reservation at The Woods. More info here.
Matcha’s Journey from China to Japan Tea Experience -> Join Steep this Sunday for a special hands-on experience exploring matcha’s journey from China to Japan. Led by tea expert Tomoko Imade Dyen, this event delves into the origins of matcha, its connection to Chinese tea, and the artistry of stone milling. Guests will also meet Taka Saida, a master stone artisan from Japan, and witness the traditional stone milling process up close. You’ll have the chance to use the mill and create matcha on the spot, while learning about its evolution into a cornerstone of Japanese tea culture. The experience cost $100 and includes tea and pastry pairings, offering a unique opportunity to taste, learn, and connect with tea’s rich heritage. More info here.
Indian High Tea at Valerie Confections -> This Saturday, Valerie Gordon of Valerie Confections will host a special Indian High Tea event featuring Khushbu Shah, former Food & Wine restaurant editor and author of AMRIKAN: 125 Recipes from the Indian American Diaspora. The event is priced at $125 per person and includes a curated Afternoon Tea Service at Valerie Confections Glendale location, along with a signed copy of Amrikan by Khushbu Shah. The tea menu features Dad’s Adu Ka Jaddu Masala Chai, chutney tea sandwiches, crispy paneer sandwiches, masala deviled eggs, mango pielette, masala chai Basque cheesecake, and jaggery & fennel rice krispie treats. More info here.
$1 Tacos at Avenue 26 Tacos -> Avenue 26 Tacos has announced $1 tacos this weekend at both their Eagle Rock and Chinatown locations. The deal will be available all night on Saturday and Sunday, as shared on their Instagram.
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