Posted by 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 weekend that’ll help you decide how you want to spend your limited supply of attention (not to mention dollars!).
This weekend includes a campout at Vista Hermosa Park, the Redondo Beach Lobster Festival, a supermoon lunar eclipse spectacle, a chocolate Salon, free rooftop cinema in Pasadena, and plenty 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 September 25th, 2015
1. The Feast of San Gennaro
Get ready to celebrate all things Italian at the 14th Annual Feast of San Gennaro taking place this weekend. In addition to the Italian feast, live music, entertainment, genealogy research and plenty of family friendly activities that include pony rides, bocce, bingo, ferris wheel, games and more will be on hand. Admission to the festival cost a modest $5.
2. Redondo Beach Lobster Festival
Did you miss the Original Lobster Festival earlier in the month? You can still check out the Redondo Beach Lobster Festival over the weekend of September 25-27. Highlights include tons of live music, a kids’ area, cocktails, food, craft beer, and of course many great lobster creations for your consumption. Get more information and discount tickets (while supplies last) via our friends at Goldstar.
3. Catalina Film Festival
The Catalina Film Festival celebrates the art of film and will feature over 90 films, nightly events and entertainment like a Treasure Hunt. Films are screened at multiple venues around the island, including the Avalon Theatre – the world’s first sound theatre.
4. Surf City Surf Dog
The Huntington Beach annual surf dog competition, Surf City Surf Dog is coming this weekend! Friday and Saturday will usher in “yappy hour” specials, surfing exhibits, contests and plenty more doggone fun with the actual competition taking place on Sunday. The surf competition will start with bigger dogs with the little guys surfing afterwards. The competition is free for spectators and for those who wish to register their dog to surf the fee is $63.
5. 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 roof of the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre and provide headphones for each attendee. Doors open at 6:00pm with the screening starting at 8:00pm. Pulp Fiction will be screened this Friday.
6. 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.
7. Los Angeles Green Festival Expo
The Los Angeles Green Festival Expo is the largest and longest-running sustainability event in the U.S. Every year hundreds of eco-friendly businesses from food, fashion, health, energy and design make their way to the LA Convention Center, for a day of shopping, tastings, cooking demonstrations, educational activities, inspirational speaking and live music. Grab some comped or discounted tickets via Goldstar before they run out.
8. Last Week of The LA County Fair
Few events combine live music, art, agricultural attractions, farm exhibits, and more fried food than your arteries can handle, but it’s all part of the LA County Fair, running until September 27. More information and discounted tickets (for select dates) can be found via Goldstar.
9. LA EigaFest
The LA EigaFest is back for it’s 5th year in a row! Presented by the Japan Film Society the film festival will showcase Japanese and Japanese influenced films that appeal to the broad American audience, introducing and promoting new and upcoming filmmakers and talent to Hollywood. The festival will take place at the LA Live Regal Cinemas in DTLA and and will run for the entire weekend.
10. Halloween Horror Nights
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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.
11. Friday Night Jazz at LACMA
LACMA’s award winning Department of Music Program is a remarkable city resource, providing hundreds of free concerts and musical events every year for Angelenos to enjoy. This Friday their summer-long jazz series continues at the BP Grand Entrance.
12. 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 this Wednesday through the weekend.
13. Day of the Drum Festival + Jazz Festival at Watts Towers
The Watts Towers Day of the Drum Festival celebrates the role of drums and drummers in world cultures, past and present. The Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival pays homage to jazz, gospel and rhythm and blues through a day-long celebration and concert. Best part? Free admission to both events!
Saturday September 26th, 2015
14. Campout Under the Stars at Vista Hermosa Park
The folks from the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority and Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy have created a special overnight community campout at Vista Hermosa Park on the evening of September 26. This event is part of a series of overnight camping opportunities open to the public.
15. Museum Day Live!
Museum Day Live! is a national event created by Smithsonian Magazine that will provide free entry to some 1,300 museums throughout the country, including 12 around the city of Los Angeles. Among the the confirmed L.A. participants are The Grammy Museum, The Japanese American National Museum, The Autry, and the Museum of Latin American Art.
16. The 9th Annual Los Angeles Chocolate Salon
The LA Chocolate Salon will take place at the Pasadena Convention Center and promises to indulge chocolate aficionados and addicts with chocolate tastings from the finest artisan, gourmet and premium chocolatiers. Expect some wine tasting, artisan confectioners, demonstrations, talks and of course CHOCOLATE- call your dentist the next morning.
17. Tar Fest
88.5 FM KCSN and Launch LA present a day of family friendly activities and live music (all for FREE) at Hancock Park for Tarfest LA, 2015.
18. 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 80’s Double Feature: Some Kind of Wonderful AND Fast Times at Ridgemont High at Exposition Park and Ghostbusters at Marriott Golf Course, Manhattan Beach. Both screening events open at 5:30pm and movies start at 8:30pm. Find discount tickets on the double feature via Goldstar.
19. A Current Affair Pop Up Vintage Marketplace
A Current Affair brings together over 60 premier vintage retailers and private dealers from Los Angeles and beyond for a one stop shop for unique and covetable collections. This weekend’s event will feature an exclusive exhibit curated by celebrity stylist Simone Harouche, which will be on display and available for purchase. Shop and enjoy an open bar, sway to DJ tunes by Reverberation Radio, lounge by antique and design collective Urban Americana, along with small bites from Amara’s Kitchen and the Share A Meal Project. The pop up will take place at the Cooper Design Space and tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.
20. LA Fall Beer Festival
The LA Fall Beer Festival is back and will feature over 200 international and domestic beers on tap for your sipping pleasure. In addition to the beer tasting food trucks and live entertainment will also be on hand. The event will take place at LA Center Studios from noon to 4:00pm. Admission is $40 for general admission and $50 for VIP which gives you access to specialty beers and early entrance.
21. Matthew Barney: River of Fundament
Matthew Barney: RIVER OF FUNDAMENT is Barney’s first major solo museum exhibition in Los Angeles. Barney’s newest film might be his largest undertaking since his five-part CREMASTER film cycle. The artist made 85 pieces for this movie, including a 25-ton sculpture, drawings, photos, and storyboards, all will be displayed at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA starting this Sunday and will run through January 18.
22. Beecasso Live Art & Honeybee Awareness Event
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Folks bees are our planets major pollinators, without them we won’t be able to survive! So come out for this very buzzed about benefit where bee’s and art collide to raise awareness for the Honey Bees. Taking place at THE SHED (1355 Lincoln Ave, Pasadena) folks will enjoy live painting, music, live bee exhibits and more. Admission is donation based and proceeds go to the Chumash Village Bee Sanctuary.
23. Barnsdall Art Park’s Famed Outdoor Movie Night Series Begins
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: Coming To America.
24. Imagine Fest 2015
Yogis, local musicians, artisans and entrepreneurs unite for a day of yoga and live music. More than a festival, Imagine Fest’s mission is to unite people from several walks of life in an effort to raise funds and awareness to rescue and rehabilitate the child victims of sex slavery, both domestically and abroad. Hosted by WELLFIT Malibu on Saturday, September 26th at the Peter Strauss Ranch, one hundred percent of the proceeds from the festival will be donated to Unlikely Heroes, a locally based 501(c)3 non‐profit, which provides safe homes and restoration for the child victims of sex slavery both domestically and abroad. Get more information and discount tickets via Goldstar.
25. VAN Beethoven A Virtual Reality Experience
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is bringing classical music to you! Board the VAN Beethoven mobile experience, touring Los Angeles and making an appearance in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Street Food Cinema that evening. Put on the Oculus virtual reality headset and be transported to a 360° 3-D performance featuring the opening of Beethoven’s timeless Fifth Symphony performed by the LA Phil, and conducted by Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel. VAN Beethoven, is a virtual reality project touring around LA in September through October in different locations of the city.
26. FREE Rooftop Cinema Series In Pasadena
There is nothing better than an outdoor movie screening to wind down the summer here in Los Angeles. The Rooftop Cinema Series in Pasadena, is a free open air movie screening taking place along South Lake Avenue. Now in its third year, the complimentary movie series presented by the South Lake Business Association will screen Tron Legacy this weekend. Each screening will be paired with a family friendly atmosphere and unique food trucks. Guests are encouraged to arrive by 6:00pm to enjoy the resident DJ and activities such as neon airbrush artists, glitter tattoos and ping pong. Movie starts at 8:00pm and parking is free!
27. Ancient Forest Opening At Descanso Gardens
Descanso Gardens will open their brand new Ancient Forest featuring plants virtually unchanged since dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Highlighting the Ancient Forest is a new cycad collection that includes almost 175 plants representing 66 species including several endangered species.The public opening of the new preserve includes a daylong celebration featuring guided walks of the forest, a fossil table from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, plus tons of prehistoric inspired children’s activities.
28. Abbot Kinney Marketplace (Event removed this week, will return next Saturday)
The Abbot Kinney Marketplace is a weekly free outdoor marketplace located on the front athletic field of Westminster Elementary. The marketplace which is organized by a family of artistic individuals, was put together so that artist, designers, craftsmen, and more can come together and have a platform to sell their pieces. They also have food trucks and different dj’s who participate weekly. A percentage of the proceeds go to funding school art and after school programs.
29. David Bowie Exhibit At Taschen Gallery
“Mick Rock: Shooting for Stardust, the Rise of David Bowie & Co.” will be glam-rocking it up for one month as Taschen Gallery’s latest exhibit. Showcasing prolific music photographer Mick Rock’s extremely rare photographs of David Bowie and friends during his “Ziggy Years.”
30. Truffle Farmers’ Market Extravaganza
This Saturday, Wally’s Wine and Spirits in Beverly Hills is ringing in truffle season by hosting a Truffle Farmers’ Market Extravaganza from 10:00am – 1:00pm to launch their new truffle market. Executive Chef David Feau will be sampling various truffle menu dishes, the Cheese Box will be featuring all of the truffle products now carried in store, and wines will be offered from locations where the truffles are sourced from. This new truffle market at Wally’s Wine and Spirits will be the go to place for truffles and truffle products and carry the largest selection of truffles seen in Los Angeles!
Sunday September 27th, 2015
31. Star Trek Into Darkness Screening With A Live Symphony
Put on your Starfleet uniform and join world-renowned composer and conductor David Newman as he leads the American Youth Symphony to the exhilarating score of Michael Giacchino’s Star Trek Into Darkness, live to picture. While you watch Kirk, Spock and the rest of the crew in J.J. Abrams’ sci-fi blockbuster the AYS will follow the score note for note- it doesn’t get any cooler than this! OR does it? Since this is not a typical night, guest are encouraged to dress up and boo when villains appear and cheer when the team on the Enterprise kicks some ass. Happening at Royce Hall at UCLA, the event’s host and the Oscar winning composer himself, Michael Giacchino along with renowned pop culture critic Jon Burlingame, will hold a brief pre-concert Q&A. Find more information and discounted tickets via Goldstar.
32. Catch A Supermoon Lunar Eclipse!
This Sunday be sure to grab a vantage point and catch the final supermoon of the year, which promises to be spectacular not only because the moon will be at its closest proximity to earth for all of 2015, but also because it happens to coincide with a total lunar eclipse. They’re even having a special party for it at Griffith Observatory!
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33. Discount Tickets to the LA Opera
The LA Opera’s 2015-2016 season opens with a Woody Allen directed production of Gianni Schicchi (starring Plácido Domingo) followed after the intermission by Franco Zeffirelli’s epic production of Pagliacci (which Domingo will conduct!). The double-billing runs from September 12 to October 3, and Goldstar has some discount tickets for select dates, including this Thursday’s performance.
34. Yoga With A View
One Sunday per month, Andaz West Hollywood partners up with personal trainer and yoga instructor Jake Feree to offer a one hour yoga class in the rooftop Panorama Lounge. Yoga lovers get a fun, flowing, inspirational workout with one extraordinary view of the Los Angeles skyline. Book your spot for $15.
35. Frank Gehry At LACMA
LACMA will be honoring Frank Gehry and his iconic architecture with a career-spanning retrospective. The exhibition will focus on the development of Gehry’s digital design and fabrication programs, along with the architect’s relationship with urbanism.
36. Abbot Kinney Festival
This annual festival brings the local flavor of Venice Beach’s beloved Abbot Kinney to life, hosting a ton of food trucks, over 300 artisan vendors and five performance stages featuring music, DJ and spoken word acts. In addition there will be three beer gardens, plenty of kids attractions and a bike valet for those who decide to go green that day. Admission is free!
37. Aladdin on the Big Screen
Never seen “A Whole New World” sung on the big screen? Come to the El Capitan Theater this Friday as the Disney classic returns to the big screen! Get more information and discount tickets (while available) via our friends at Goldstar.
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