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Cats, concerts, costumes, cosplay and California avocados. Lots to “c” this weekend in Los Angeles, and we hope you get your pick of the litter!
From September 30 to October 2, catch Zombie Joe’s Urban Death, CatCon in Pasadena, the California Avocado Festival, Nights of the Jack, Pup-O-Ween, Black Family Reunion, the Reign of Terror Haunted House, and more. Lots of options. Start your weekend planning with our list below.
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Things To Do This Weekend
Los Angeles Haunted Hayride -> The signature Halloween experience held in Griffith Park is continues this Friday–Sunday. Visitors will experience a revamped version of Midnight Falls, a fictional horror-town filled with roaming monsters, a haunted mortuary and macabre theatre. Hayride-only tickets start at $29.99, and GA tickets for all attractions start at $39.99. Get more info here.
Knott’s Scary Farm -> Continuing Thursday-Sunday, Knott’s Scary Farm is back with their signature lineup of haunted attractions, mazes and thousands of monsters ready to scare the living daylight out of you and your crew. More info here.
Halloween Horror Nights -> Scary season continues at Universal Studios this Thursday to Sunday. The fall horror takeover features the signature Terror Tram, plus a litany of scare zones, lives shows, and eight different haunted houses, including a nightmare experience based on The Weeknd’s After Hours video series. GA tickets start at $72, but VIP and express packages can push the price point well over $300 depending on the offer. Runs on select dates through October 31. Get more info here.
Latin Nights at Runway -> Every Friday in September, Runway Playa Vista hosts free salsa dancing classes with live latin musical performances to follow. Lessons start at 5:30 p.m. No RSVP required. More info here.
Redondo Movie Nights -> On Fridays through September 30, catch free movie screenings on the Redondo Beach Pier. This week they’ll screen Disney/Pixar’s Soul. Event starts at 7 p.m. More info here.
Free Friday Film Screening at Ovation Hollywood -> Ovation Hollywood hosts a free film screening on the last Friday of every month that includes a pre-film DJ set and free popcorn. This week they’ll screen Encanto. Get more info here.
Urban Death Tour of Terror -> Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre’s annual tradition of Urban Death is back with a brand new series of terrifying vignettes, bookended by walks through a creepy maze. Performances begin this Friday, and continue on Fridays and Saturdays through October 29, with two bonus shows on Sunday, October 30 and Halloween Monday, October 31. Advance tickets are $20 per person. More info here.
Haunt O’ Ween -> Haunt O’ Ween’s 200,000 square-foot playground of Halloween-themed games, performances, rides, and attractions is back in Woodland Hills beginning this Friday, with the action continuing on select dates through October 31. GA tickets run $36-$44. Get more info here.
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Nights of the Jack -> The annual 1-mile trail of Halloween lights and jack o’lanterns at King Gillette Ranch returns this Friday, and continuing on select dates through October 31. In addition to the signature walk, expect live pumpkin carving demos, face painting, a souvenir shop, and a “spookeasy” offering adult beverages for sale. Admission runs $29.99-$44.99 depending on which day of the week you attend. Get more info here.
Reign of Terror Haunted House -> This award-winning haunted house and walkthrough experience located in Thousand Oaks is now in its 22nd season. The 2022 edition features 135 (!) rooms in 10 different, inter-connected sections within 28,000 square feet of floor space. Standards tickets are $30. Available on select dates through Nov. 5, including this Friday and Saturday. More info here.
Beyond Fest -> Now through October 23, the 10th anniversary lineup for Beyond Fest offers a bold of lineup of 63 films screened across 5 Los Angeles locations: Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3, TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Legion Theatre and IMAX Headquarters/Playa Vista. And the best part? Many of the screenings are free. See the full film schedule here.
Batty for Bats -> This Saturday, wildlife education org Teranga Ranch comes to Sun Valley urban farm Hungry Gardens for a special educational session on bats, including facts on which species live in our area, what they eat, and how they communicate. The session is free and open to the public, no reservation required. Runs 5:30 to 7 p.m. More info here.
Wet Hoptoberfest -> Eight local breweries, including Frogtown and Far Fields, harvested hops from Sage’s 18 acre regenerative and organic farm in Fillmore to make wet hop beers, and now it’s time to taste them all in one place. Happening this Saturday at Sage Vegan Bistro’s Old Town Pasadena location, the mini festival includes unlimited taster pours, lawn games, music, vegan eats and a farm stand. Tickets are $25 per person. More info here.
NAIJA FEST -> On Saturday, NAIJA FEST brings a celebration of Nigerian culture to DTLA’s Grand Park. Expect a fashion show, kids game, a dance competition, and more. Free to attend. More info here.
Black Family Reunion -> This Saturday, Pasadena City College hosts a free day of musical entertainment headlined by MC Lyte, and featuring performances by 6lack, DJ Millie, and QUIN. Expect family-friendly games, Black-owned food and craft vendors, and plenty of fun vibes. RSVP encouraged but not required. Runs 2 to 7 p.m. More info here.
BELLATOR MMA 286 -> This Saturday, the Long Beach Arena hosts an exciting night of mixed martial arts action, as Patricio “Pitbull” defends his Bellator Featherweight title against number two ranked Adam Borics. Plus, Long Beach’s own AJ McKee tests his mettle in the lightweight division against “the Alpha Ginger” Spike Carlyle. Get more info and grab tickets here.
36th Annual California Avocado Festival -> This Saturday or Sunday, Take a drive up the coast to visit the 36th Annual California Avocado Festival in Carpinteria. The two-day event includes an Avocado Expo, a food court with loads of creative ‘cado inspired dishes, an arts and crafts venue, plus three stages of live music with over 60 performers scheduled. Entry is free. More info here.
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Boo At The Zoo -> Starting this weekend, head to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens for Boo at the Zoo on any Saturday or Sunday during the month of October for an assortment of family-friendly, seasonal activities, including open-air shows, animal pumpkin feedings, themed photo ops, and education stations. Entry is included with zoo admission, which starts at $22 for adults. More info here.
CatCon -> This Saturday and Sunday, Catch the latest in feline culture at this two-day expo in Pasadena featuring cat-centric merchandise, workshops, performances, cosplay, and an immersive Kitty Kitsch Pop-Up. Individual day GA tickets start at $42 per person. Get more info here.
Jack Johnson at The Bowl -> Catch beach city vibes and mellow tunes at the Hollywood Bowl this Saturday and Sunday as Jack Johnson performs on back-to-back evenings. Get tickets and more info here.
Angel City Oktoberfest -> Sunday’s Oktoberfest at Angel City Brewery includes special beers on tap, an Oompa band, contests in kraut eating as well as stein hoisting plus tasty German bites including pretzels from Röckenwagner and brats from Huntington Meats. More info here.
Japan Family Day -> This Sunday is Japan Family Day at Santa Anita Park, featuring a live taiko drum performance, cosplay contest, and J-pop performance. Free admission with online sign-up. More info here.
Pup-O-Ween -> Pet owners and their pups can head to L.A. State Historic Park this Sunday for an afternoon of costumed doggies, raffles, dog massages, pet portraits and dog-friendly vendors, with a portion of the proceeds going towards Pup Culture Rescue and A Wish For Animals Foundation. Tickets are $30, and the event runs from noon to 5 p.m. Get more info here.
Cochon555’s Heritage Fire -> On Sunday, Cochon555’s Heritage Fire returns to Los Angeles with an all-star lineup of local chefs and artisans gathering to celebrate heritage breed livestock and heirloom produce. The all-inclusive event features unlimited food, a bevy of wines, cocktails, craft beers and live entertainment. Happening at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in DTLA. General admission costs $99 and VIP is $150. More info here.
14th Annual Hola Mexico Film Festival -> Running October 2-10, the 2022 Hola México Film Festival is the largest Mexican Film Festival outside of México, with the nine-day lineup featuring screenings at the Montalbán Theatre, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, and Regal Cinemas LA LIVE. See the full slate and get tickets for individual events here.
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Dining & Drinking
(round-up by Christina Champlin)
This Saturday, October 1 is National Sake Day, so for this weekend’s guide we thought we’d give you a few fun ideas on how to celebrate.
Sake Based Cocktails at Fiish -> Sustainable sushi purveyor Fiish serves a number of dry aged seasonal fish in the form of maki, nigiri, and sashimi. Chef Whitbread proudly displays the restaurant’s on-site dry aging refrigeration system, where whole fish hang and are treated for 5-12 days. Complementing the menu are a number of refreshing sake-based cocktails. The Hanky Panky is a vibrant spritz made with Junmai namachozo sake, strawberry, yuzu, sparkling rose and bitters. Another sip highlight is the eye-catching Bingo Bango made with a cloudy Nigori sake, butterfly pea, yuzu, lemon and jasmine water.
Japanese Sake & Food Pairing at Sushi Note -> Sushi Note’s beverage director Ian Lokey curated a selection of Japanese sake from hot, cold to sparkling varieties from Hiroshima, Osaka, and Nagano. The staff is known to expertly guide guests to the perfect sake and sushi pairing experience which is prepared by celebrated sushi master, Kiminobu Saito. The Sherman Oak’s restaurant also offers a (relatively) affordable omakase for $140, featuring 12 pieces of fish supported by a number of inventive bites such as a Hokkaido scallop tartare, goma tofu and yuzu gelato. Smaller appetites can request the Half Note tasting for $70 or curate a meal à la carte style.
Support an LA-based Sake Company -> When I first tried Sake High!, I was impressed by the smooth drinkability. I also liked that they came in mini cans, which is great for mixing into cocktails, cooking and sipping straight up. Made of premium Junmai Sake, the fermented rice drink is brewed in Kyoto and made with only four ingredients: water, rice, yeast, and koji. Pick up a pack at local establishments from indie grocery stores to wine shops like Vinovore. Restaurants like Good Clean Fun and Little Sister serve Sake High!, and the company also ships nationwide.
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