Los Angeles provides no limit of things to do, some awesome and some not so awesome. Since time is precious in this fast paced city, we decided to curate a list of things to do in Los Angeles every week end that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).
This weekend includes the Burbank Beer Festival, a seafood fest in Santa Monica, a massive street festival in Sherman Oaks, CicLAvia in downtown, the 10th annual Taste of Soul, a vintage fashion expo, and tons more to choose from.
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So grab some friends or go at it alone, but most importantly have fun and enjoy yourself!
[RELATED: The Best Way to Find Discount Events in Los Angeles]
[REMINDER: In some cases We Like L.A. does receive revenue when visitors click on ticket links and make purchases, however we maintain complete editorial control over the events we suggest. Basically, it only makes it on to the website if we think it is cool!]
Friday October 16th, 2015
1. LA Haunted Hayride
If the idea of hopping on a bandwagon that travels through the darkness of Griffith Park while costumed characters seep out of the shadows to try to terrify you sounds like the time of your life… then step right up to the L.A. Haunted Hayride! The hayride will run from October 2-31 (every Friday-Sunday, plus some Thursdays and Wednesdays), and our friends at Goldstar have some special deals to save you about $5 on select dates.
2. Front Porch Cinema Screens The Imitation Game
The Santa Monica Pier presents Front Porch Cinema, a free movie night under the stars taking place every Friday during the month of October. Unwind on old-timey lawn chairs and watch oceanfront films on a giant inflatable screen, this week the featured presentation is The Imitation Game. The Cinema Lounge will open at 6:00pm and the movie begins at 7:30pm.
3. Oktoberfest At Fairplex
The Fairplex transform into a German playground for Oktoberfest every Friday and Saturday of this month. Expect Bavarian music, chicken dancing, bratwurst and pretzels while knocking back some authentic German beers. Entry is only $5.
4. Free Meditation Classes At The Springs DTLA
Urban wellness oasis The Springs is offering free meditation class, Monday through Fridays at 1:00pm! Grab one of their fresh pressed juices after, it’s pretty much the best in town.
5. LA Boo at the Zoo
Every weekend in October, the LA Zoo’s special season program offers live music, storytelling, fun photo opportunities, jack-o-lantern carving demonstrations, costumed characters, crafts and more. There will even be a “Graveyard Safari” to discover creatures that emerge in the dark corners of Los Angeles.
6. Screamfest Horror Film Festival
Happening the 13th through the 22nd, the Screamfest Horror Film Festival is the largest and longest running film festival for horror in the U.S. Paranormal Activity was discovered in 2007 here since then the festival has been called the “Sundance of Horror.”
7. Giant Robot Biennale 4
The Japanese American National Museum is hosting the Giant Robot Biennale 4, its fourth exhibition in collaboration with Giant Robot founder, Eric Nakamura. This edition of the popular series, first presented in 2007, will examine the evolution of the Giant Robot aesthetic from its humble origins in drawing to its many celebrated manifestations in painting, installation, muralism, and photography. The show will run through January 24, 2016.
8. Oktoberfest at Alpine Village
Enjoy traditional Bavarian fun, food, and beer at the oldest running Oktoberfest celebration in Southern California at Alpine Village in Torrance. Things kick off on September 11 and the festivities continue all the way until October 31.
9. Odd Nights At The Autry
From the man who brought you Dodger Stadium Flea, Downtown Flea and Melrose Flea presents Odd Nights At The Autry. Curator Phillip Dane brings another community hot spot to life with a collection of over 200 vendors from 20 gourmet food trucks, a beer garden, custom handmade treasures and live local bands. Perfect for all ages and families to bring a blanket, host an evening picnic while enjoying the great outdoors. Both the event AND parking are free!
10. Halloween Horror Nights
Halloween is just a couple weeks away but if you can’t wait till then head on over to Universal Studios for a pre-game scarefest! Universal Studios has announced some new features to their annual horror night including the Crimson Peak: Maze of Madness, based on the upcoming Guillermo del Toro film. Walk into the world of Insidious, outrun the park’s monsters and try to survive the walkers of The Walking Dead. They even revamped the Terror Tram with a 3-D maze based on the apocalyptic comedy This is the End.
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Saturday October 17th, 2015
11. The First Ever Burbank Beer Festival
This October 17, the Burbank Beer Festival will present its inaugural tasting event with a massive celebration of craft beer and crafted goods. Put on by the folks over at California Beer Festival the fest will showcase over 85 craft beers on tap from both local and out of state craft breweries.
12. Vintage Fashion Expo
Looking to reinvigorate your wardrobe? This weekend at The Reef in Downtown L.A. you can find 50 dealers of vintage clothing, accessories and textiles for men and women at the Vintage Fashion Expo. 10:30am – 6:00pm on Saturday, and 11:00am – 5:30pm on Sunday. Get more information and discount tickets (half-off!) via our friends at Goldstar.
13. FREE Public Star Party At The Observatory
See the Sun, Moon, Planets and constellations magnified for your pleasure with the powerful telescopes at the Griffith Observatory. Their popular (and free) monthly Public Star Party happens from 2:00 pm to 9:45 pm this Saturday outside on the lawn of the Observatory.
14. Saved By The 90s
The worlds most epic 90’s party is making its LA debut this Saturday at the Bootleg Theatre in Echo Park. Saved by the 90s is part live cover band, part costume party and all things 90’s, this is probably the most radical event of the season.
15. Take an Insider’s Tour Through East Hollywood’s Ethnic Neighborhoods
Thai Town, Little Armenia and Korea Town are filled with great food, shops and culture. For those interested in getting to know these neighborhoods this tour is the perfect introduction. Tour includes food, transportation and more. For more information and discount tickets visit Goldstar.
16. Saturday Sale: California Market Center
Brace yourself a really big SALE is coming your way! The Saturday Sale at the California Market Center is open to the public with slashed prices of 50 to 80% off tons of contemporary brands.
17. Knotts Scary Farm
For 2015, the Knotts Scary Farm features 11 menacing mazes, tons of interactive scare experiences and more than 1,000 monsters roaming the park and lurking in the fog, whatever you’re imagining, it’s here…at Knott’s Scary Farm. Knott’s Scary Farm takes place on select nights September 24 – October 31. Tickets go for around $46, but sure to check our friends at Goldstar for discount offers throughout the month.
18. Santa Monica Seafood Festival
Taking place at the iconic Santa Monica Pier on October 17, The OFF THE HOOK Santa Monica Seafood Festival celebrates National Seafood month with seafood tastings, live music, beer gardens, wine and champagne tastings, oyster shucking demos, a raw bar and more.
19. Yoga Poolside At The Line Hotel
One Down Dog has teamed up with the Line Hotel in Koreatown to provide Angelenos and hotel guests with yoga this Saturday and Sunday (next weekend too.) Yogis can take a class on the pool deck and hang by the pool afterward or catch brunch at Commissary. Classes are $15 ($10 for hotel guests) and run from 9:30am to 10:30am.
20. Barnsdall Art Park’s Famed Outdoor Movie Night Series
Barnsdall Park is bringing it’s fall outdoor screening series to help fund raise funds for the park’s capital projects, art programs, historic renovations and gallery exhibitions. Each event will include pre-screening tunes spun by D.J. youNGNoon from 5.30pm till dusk, plus a selection of wines per Dark Horse Wines as well as several local food trucks (TBD) on hand to make sure no one goes hungry. This week’s movie: Dear White People.
21. Taste of Soul
This Saturday, check out the 10th annual Taste of Soul, a FREE family festival with plenty of food (for purchase), activities, community exhibitors and soulful sounds from some familiar voices.
22. Old World Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is in full effect down at the Old World Village in Huntington Beach. Enjoy beers, brats, German baked goods and plenty of live music and activities. Happening Wednesday through the weekend.
23. Stila’s Massive Makeup Warehouse Sale
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From 8:00am -3:00pm, the annual Stila makeup sale will take over the new Derby Dolls’s 31,000-square-foot space for a blowout sale. Score up to 80% off the Stila entire beauty line. Keep in mind no large bags or strollers are allowed, cash/credit are accepted, and there’s a $600 spending limit.
Location: 4900 Alhambra Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90032
24. 826LA Presents: Life Into Art Into Art: Memoirs Adapted For Film & Television
Join Susan Orlean (Adaptation), Jerry Stahl (Permanent Midnight), Stephen Elliott (founding editor, The Rumpus), Evan Wright (Generation Kill), and host Derrick C. Brown (Write Bloody Publishing) for “Life Into Art Into Art,” a conversation about what happens when your memoir is adapted for television or film. Proceeds from this lively panel discussion directly support local youth literary arts non-profit, 826LA. Doors open at 7:30pm and the conversation will begin at 8:00pm. Admission can be purchased for $15, through 826LA’s Echo Park storefront, The Echo Park Time Travel Mart, online or at the door.
25. Street Food Cinema
Good movies, amazing venues, up and coming local bands and tasty food trucks. What more could you ask for? This weekend Street Food Cinema screens Back to the Future I & II at Victory Park, Pasadena. The screening event will open at 5:30pm with the movie starting at 8:30pm.
26. Grab A Partner And Compete In The Amazing Santa Monica Race
Part sightseeing, part scavenger hunt and 100% team work! This race will have you and your partner exploring Santa Monica Beach and the Venice Boardwalk searching for clues to solve the ultimate puzzle. Grab your discounted tickets via Goldstar.
27. Fall Festival At The Original Farmers Market
Now in its 81st year, the Fall Festival is one of the longest-running events in Los Angeles. Festival goers get to enjoy events like the Artisan Alley, kids’ crafts, a petting zoo, a “no-hands” pie-eating contest and live music performances to name a few. The festival is free and takes place the 17th through the 18th.
28. Taste of Mexico
The 5th Annual Taste of Mexico Food Festival & Mercado, the city’s premier celebration of Mexican cuisine and culture is back this Saturday, October 17th. Enjoy unlimited food tastings and access to all-you-can-drink in top tequilas, mezcals, micheladas, agua fresca, Mexican beer and more!
Sunday October 18th, 2015
29. LA Weekly’s First Ever ‘Brunch at the Races’
LA Weekly restaurant critic Besha Rodell and food editor Sarah Bennett will curate a brand new signature brunch event featuring some 29 of Los Angeles’s most iconic breakfast and brunch spots, all taking place at Santa Anita Park.
30. Carrie: The Killer Musical
An immersive, one-of-a-kind musical production of the classic Stephen King tale of bullying, cruelty, and revenge. Now playing at the historic Los Angeles Theater. Performances all week and weekend long. Discount tickets and more information available via our friends at Goldstar.
31. CicLAvia: Heart of the City
CicLAvia has become L.A.’s signature celebration of urban walking and cycling, and to commemorate their 5th anniversary they’re creating a 6-mile route that will weave through Boyle Heights, the Arts District, Little Tokyo, Civic Center, Chinatown, Historic Core and as far west as Macarthur Park. It all goes down on October 18 from 9:00am – 4:00pm.
32. Bootleg Theatre Offering Free Yoga With Kali Yoga All October
The Bootleg Theatre in Echo Park is offering one hour long FREE yoga classes with Kali Yoga every Wednesday and Sunday at 11:00AM all October long. Updates,schedules and an indie rock instrumental playlist for the classes can be found on their Facebook event page.
33. 25th Annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair
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The 25th Annual Sherman Oaks Street Fair is (according to the organizers) the largest event in the entire San Fernando Valley. The all-day fair will take place on Ventura Blvd. over a nine block stretch from Van Nuys Blvd. to Kester Blvd., and with free admission, the fair is expected to garner some 100,000 (100,000!) attendees.
34. Rooftop Film Club
The popular screening series that has already held court in London and New York is now here in Los Angeles! For each screening of the Rooftop Film Club series organizers will set up rows of lawn chairs on the r oof of the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre and provide headphones for each attendee. Doors open at 6:00pm with the screening starting at 8:00pm. This weekend When Harry Met Sally will be screened.
35. Brewtopia At Abigaile
Brewtopia is goes down this Sunday at Abigaile in Hermosa Beach from 12:00pm-7:00pm. The event celebrates a day of brews with a rooftop BBQ, featuring live music from Mark Righteous and Jason Juices. Tickets are $35 and $55 for VIP admission.
36. The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor
Long Beach Harbor transforms into a seaport of the damned this Halloween. At Dark Harbor, six mazes await you that will take you through never-before-visited areas of the haunted Queen Mary. There’s also the Monster Midway, where you, zombies, food and entertainment intertwine, including a sinister freak show and the Mechanical Monster. Be sure to grab discount tickets (while available) for select dates via our friends at Goldstar.
37. Eastside Food Festival
On Sunday, foodies can get a crash course on some of Eastside’s hottest spots and try them all first hand at The Eastside Food Festival. Returning to Mack Sennett Studios for its second year, the EFF is an afternoon-long celebration of some of Los Angeles’s top restaurants and features a roster buoyed by many of the brightest culinary minds our city has to offer.
38. Lolita Day At Disneyland
Lolita Day is a annual event held at Disney every year around Halloween. This is a time where SoCal Lolitas come out to the happiest place on earth to show off their outfits and of course take plenty of photos.
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